Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Meeting with Rhona
David, Marian and Miliana meeting in Rhona's office concerning DIY aspect of project and new direction.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Prototype presentations I
2A - The Tubepad
- Recycled movie banner
- Modular can be detached and attached elsewhere
- Constructed bike simile during play session
- Eliminates gender issue
- Functionality and style, exists in fixie shops
- Visited “Breakless” a fixie shop on Parc Avenue
- Independent and waterproof circuit
- Use of glow sticks in first prototype
2B – D I Flashy
- Greatly inspired by the strong visual effect of Vadim's glowing ELwires during play session
- Any coat can be modified and glowing ELwires can be sewn on in any desired design.
- Offer online tutorials of how to create such a coat.
- Looked at pre-existing DIY web communities that are flourishing and use that as a model for creating our own for this particular bike visibility night vest.
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Feedback:
- Too DIY, Desmond might not want to actually sew glowing wires onto his favorite Prada coat
- Our design will not necessarily be duplicated if users are encouraged to arrange wires in their own aesthetical way, therefore how can we say we have designed this?
- Perhaps incorporating pockets or slots into the coat that allows the user to change the placement of the wires
- Perhaps use pre existing construction of shirts, ex: hoody, instead of string, putting an ELwire through.
- Desmond would not wear this coat as a halloween costume.
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2C - Fixie clothing/accessories Gear
- Use of reflective materials
- Fixie Aesthetic began around 2005.
- Started by West Indian immigrants in NY.
- Explored accessories
- Incorporating safety aspects in fixie fashion.
- Behavior of inserting cards in sporks used as reflective possibility by adding an independent light source and making the card reflective.
- Simple and striking
- Creating a brand
- Visual communication of product
- Micro economy
1A – Cushion Laptop multitasking support
- Soft approach to object as opposed to hard
- Research: soft and organic looking products
- Easy to assemble
- Tactile relationship with product
- Pillow as support and blends into bed context.
- Modular, can be modified for different uses
- Used as a unit or in pieces
- Can be used as a pillow or toy or whatever imagined
- Engages notions of play and work together.
1B – swivel laptop bedside desk
- Compressed office space similar to the compressed computer being the laptop.
- Swivels, does not rest on actual lap
- Lighting, passage of time represented by a diming of light every 30 min after which the brightness returns. Passive suggestion of not spending all day on computer work.
- Drawer included that can be removed
o Accommodates lefties and righties
- Height can be modified
- Not constricted by the product and allows for movement
- No dedicated purpose, can be appropriated
- Back lighting considered as opposed direct light of the screen.
- Small size for small apartments.
1C – Wood laptop support
- Wood, accessible material
- Desk inspiration
- Ergonomics of most comfortable position combined with effective working
- Simplistic aesthetic approach
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Post 4 - Questions
Rhona's Questions
How much of what you present next week should be virtual/digital (if at all), or visualized in drawings or sketches, and how much should be made with real-live physical material? With regard to the latter physical material), should you use the actual material you envision for the artifact, or a stand-in (eg. Cardboard or something else instead of wood if the final thing is supposed to be made of wood)? I do not expect the prototype to look like a finished artifact (it would be a waste to spend time and materials on something premature), but that doesn’t mean the prototype can be falling apart or super-sloppy. It does need to have, or convincingly suggest, sufficient functionality so as to be able to represent your
idea enough for you to communicate what you’re trying to do so that we can understand and respond to your design.
We will be presenting visually with a basic prototype. The material we chose is a great example of our DIY project- in which we will be encouraging others to reuse their own jackets and materials in order
to recreate this, our project.
Should you build a prototype of the whole artifact or part of it (A WHOLE manual or just a section)? If a piece will sufficiently represent the whole, don’t waste time doing the whole certainly not at this stage
We are currently building the prototype in its entirety.
I recommend that you focus on two or three details of the prototype to give a bit more attention to for next week (or the week after), beyond a basic representation of the rest. Which two or three
details should you choose; how far should you take them?
The basic details are: The jacket, the wires and the DIY design.
Should you build a full-scale prototype, or a maquette?
We are building a full scale prototype.
Guidelines about the presentation:
1. Influence of the “play” session:
Which aspect of the play session had the strongest effect on the developing design?
The biggest influence of the play session was when we all started creating vests and different variations. Secondly, the use of the wire and the reaction from the class made us decide to definitely incorporate the wires.
How is it manifested in the prototype?
It is manifested as the main light source on our jacket. The wires are sewn onto the jacket.
2. Influence of the “research” session:
Which research resource proved particularly influential in developing your design?
Eco Velo is a great webpage for its various resources such as: What does a cyclist wear? What kind of green materials do cyclists incorporate into their wardrobes? What is trendy in the cyclist world?
How is it manifested in the prototype?
By making our project a DIY project we are making it sustainable which is the whole idea of the webpage Eco Velo. We will provide information on how to create your own safety jackets to use when cycling based on cycling needs for visibility and aesthetics.
3. Influence of the questions we developed on sustainability/ecology/ecosophy:
Which question(s) are especially relevant in your evolving design?
How do these questions apply to your scenario, and the design decisions you have made so far?
4. What are the three best things about your design? Why?
The three best things about our design are the three things we included in our prototype. The glowing neon wires, the jacket and DIY direction we plan to take. The jacket is essential as a vessel to carry the light on. The glowing neon wires are the safety feature which makes cyclists visible to others on the road. And the DIY direction we are taking makes our project sustainable, customizable and easy for others to do.
5. What are the three weakest things about your design?
The three weakest things about our design are the attachments of the
wires, the cutting and sewing of the jackets and??(help)
6. What’s your next step? What ideas do you have to drive the design as you go to the next level of the design?
Our next step is to create a final project based on the suggestions of our classmates. We also plan to make a DIY instruction website for our project so that others will also be able to make our project.
How much of what you present next week should be virtual/digital (if at all), or visualized in drawings or sketches, and how much should be made with real-live physical material? With regard to the latter physical material), should you use the actual material you envision for the artifact, or a stand-in (eg. Cardboard or something else instead of wood if the final thing is supposed to be made of wood)? I do not expect the prototype to look like a finished artifact (it would be a waste to spend time and materials on something premature), but that doesn’t mean the prototype can be falling apart or super-sloppy. It does need to have, or convincingly suggest, sufficient functionality so as to be able to represent your
idea enough for you to communicate what you’re trying to do so that we can understand and respond to your design.
We will be presenting visually with a basic prototype. The material we chose is a great example of our DIY project- in which we will be encouraging others to reuse their own jackets and materials in order
to recreate this, our project.
Should you build a prototype of the whole artifact or part of it (A WHOLE manual or just a section)? If a piece will sufficiently represent the whole, don’t waste time doing the whole certainly not at this stage
We are currently building the prototype in its entirety.
I recommend that you focus on two or three details of the prototype to give a bit more attention to for next week (or the week after), beyond a basic representation of the rest. Which two or three
details should you choose; how far should you take them?
The basic details are: The jacket, the wires and the DIY design.
Should you build a full-scale prototype, or a maquette?
We are building a full scale prototype.
Guidelines about the presentation:
1. Influence of the “play” session:
Which aspect of the play session had the strongest effect on the developing design?
The biggest influence of the play session was when we all started creating vests and different variations. Secondly, the use of the wire and the reaction from the class made us decide to definitely incorporate the wires.
How is it manifested in the prototype?
It is manifested as the main light source on our jacket. The wires are sewn onto the jacket.
2. Influence of the “research” session:
Which research resource proved particularly influential in developing your design?
Eco Velo is a great webpage for its various resources such as: What does a cyclist wear? What kind of green materials do cyclists incorporate into their wardrobes? What is trendy in the cyclist world?
How is it manifested in the prototype?
By making our project a DIY project we are making it sustainable which is the whole idea of the webpage Eco Velo. We will provide information on how to create your own safety jackets to use when cycling based on cycling needs for visibility and aesthetics.
3. Influence of the questions we developed on sustainability/ecology/ecosophy:
Which question(s) are especially relevant in your evolving design?
How do these questions apply to your scenario, and the design decisions you have made so far?
4. What are the three best things about your design? Why?
The three best things about our design are the three things we included in our prototype. The glowing neon wires, the jacket and DIY direction we plan to take. The jacket is essential as a vessel to carry the light on. The glowing neon wires are the safety feature which makes cyclists visible to others on the road. And the DIY direction we are taking makes our project sustainable, customizable and easy for others to do.
5. What are the three weakest things about your design?
The three weakest things about our design are the attachments of the
wires, the cutting and sewing of the jackets and??(help)
6. What’s your next step? What ideas do you have to drive the design as you go to the next level of the design?
Our next step is to create a final project based on the suggestions of our classmates. We also plan to make a DIY instruction website for our project so that others will also be able to make our project.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Post 3
CONTEXT
What is the cultural, social, functional, market and technological context?
- cultural ~ Cyclists
- social ~ ?
- functionality ~ visible safety
- tech context ~ flexible wires
How does this artifact fulfil the requirements without unnecessarily compromising the non-human world?
How does this artifact encourage exchange across cultural/social/ethnic etc. groups?
Our website will exchange our idea and allow other individuals across the world to implement our design as they please.
How are perceived cultural needs/values exploited as a means to gain an audience for a product?
DIY movement is encouraged through online participation.
How does the artifact impact on trends / tendencies of consumption and the creation of needs?
We are creating a trend, and taking part in one as well (DIY)
CONNECTION
How should the design engage emotionally with the consumer?
By making this product something self-made, and easily done...this quickly becomes intimate with it’s user.
How should the design draw attention to the ways in which the consumer makes an emotional attachment to the artifact?
A consumer will look at the product, ask questions about where it was bought, the user will then explain he made it, adding emotional attachment.
Is the designer’s perception of the user [empathetic (realistic?)] consistent with a “sustainable” outlook?
Yes.
How is the designer fulfilling his/her role in terms of sustainability?
Look at all our responses thus far.
CONSUMPTION
What are the functional and emotional requirements of everyday use?
Our product is intended to create an emotional connection with it user, whic hopefully will have him/her use it every day.
CLOSURE
How can the user’s disengagement become a positive experience?
Will be a lasting experience for the user because he/she made the product.
Wires can be taken off to be used as a regular jacket.
Will the product exist USEFULLY once the user is finished with it?
Materials = reusable
Lights can be used as lighting fixture
Makes an interesting halloween costume.
Was the initial need fulfilled?
Once worn while cycling it has.
Has the user learned anything (useful, culturally productive?) in terms of future practice and desires?
- DIY has inspired his creativity much more than if it was bought at a store.
What is the cultural, social, functional, market and technological context?
- cultural ~ Cyclists
- social ~ ?
- functionality ~ visible safety
- tech context ~ flexible wires
How does this artifact fulfil the requirements without unnecessarily compromising the non-human world?
How does this artifact encourage exchange across cultural/social/ethnic etc. groups?
Our website will exchange our idea and allow other individuals across the world to implement our design as they please.
How are perceived cultural needs/values exploited as a means to gain an audience for a product?
DIY movement is encouraged through online participation.
How does the artifact impact on trends / tendencies of consumption and the creation of needs?
We are creating a trend, and taking part in one as well (DIY)
CONNECTION
How should the design engage emotionally with the consumer?
By making this product something self-made, and easily done...this quickly becomes intimate with it’s user.
How should the design draw attention to the ways in which the consumer makes an emotional attachment to the artifact?
A consumer will look at the product, ask questions about where it was bought, the user will then explain he made it, adding emotional attachment.
Is the designer’s perception of the user [empathetic (realistic?)] consistent with a “sustainable” outlook?
Yes.
How is the designer fulfilling his/her role in terms of sustainability?
Look at all our responses thus far.
CONSUMPTION
What are the functional and emotional requirements of everyday use?
Our product is intended to create an emotional connection with it user, whic hopefully will have him/her use it every day.
CLOSURE
How can the user’s disengagement become a positive experience?
Will be a lasting experience for the user because he/she made the product.
Wires can be taken off to be used as a regular jacket.
Will the product exist USEFULLY once the user is finished with it?
Materials = reusable
Lights can be used as lighting fixture
Makes an interesting halloween costume.
Was the initial need fulfilled?
Once worn while cycling it has.
Has the user learned anything (useful, culturally productive?) in terms of future practice and desires?
- DIY has inspired his creativity much more than if it was bought at a store.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Ressources and Citations
http://www.bicyclekitchen.com/
http://www.velosolo.co.uk/
http://www.surlybikes.com/frames/steamroller_frame/
http://www.ecovelo.info/
“The Cyclist Lifestyle -- The Culture of Cycling Enthusiasts and Bike People,” http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/lifestyle/index.htm.
http://www.velosolo.co.uk/
http://www.surlybikes.com/frames/steamroller_frame/
http://www.ecovelo.info/
“The Cyclist Lifestyle -- The Culture of Cycling Enthusiasts and Bike People,” http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/lifestyle/index.htm.
What objectives do we want to fulfill?
Here are some things we took the time to think about an answer
Is our project Reversible?
Detachable?
Weather resistant?
Eco Friendly/ Sustainable?
Wires?
Wires implemented in the Design?
Gender specific or general?
A vest/jacket/cape/pants/helmet/shoes/belt?
Can it be attached to bike for storage?
Is it fixi culture?
Is it non-fixi?
Strictly for when using a bike? Or for all the time?
Issues:
The design and how it looks (Desmond wants something stylish)
Weather- The summer and fall/spring can have a wide spectrum of temperatures (in the winter it is usually very hard to cycle through the snow)
Materials- Thick warm materials or light materials?
Attachments- If it is not sewn into the object itself, how is it attached?
Conclusion:
Our product is reversible, detachable, weather resistant (the wire is but the material can get wet and will have to dry. Not necessarily sustainable/eco-friendly but the materials and wire can be reused until it degrades. It is gender general therefore males and females can wear this. It can be worn only for bike use or it can be worn for bike use and even during the day. It can appeal to fixi culture as well any kind of cyclist. It looks sophisticated and appealing (especially in the dark).
The wires are sewn onto a 3 meter strap that can be fitted to your body the way you like it. It can go over jackets, under backpacks, over backpacks, attached to the bike etc... This way it won't be made of something that is too hot or too cold for the person.
The 1 main con- It requires the use of batteries
Potential (somewhat) sustainable solution: Rechargeable batteries
Is our project Reversible?
Detachable?
Weather resistant?
Eco Friendly/ Sustainable?
Wires?
Wires implemented in the Design?
Gender specific or general?
A vest/jacket/cape/pants/helmet/shoes/belt?
Can it be attached to bike for storage?
Is it fixi culture?
Is it non-fixi?
Strictly for when using a bike? Or for all the time?
Issues:
The design and how it looks (Desmond wants something stylish)
Weather- The summer and fall/spring can have a wide spectrum of temperatures (in the winter it is usually very hard to cycle through the snow)
Materials- Thick warm materials or light materials?
Attachments- If it is not sewn into the object itself, how is it attached?
Conclusion:
Our product is reversible, detachable, weather resistant (the wire is but the material can get wet and will have to dry. Not necessarily sustainable/eco-friendly but the materials and wire can be reused until it degrades. It is gender general therefore males and females can wear this. It can be worn only for bike use or it can be worn for bike use and even during the day. It can appeal to fixi culture as well any kind of cyclist. It looks sophisticated and appealing (especially in the dark).
The wires are sewn onto a 3 meter strap that can be fitted to your body the way you like it. It can go over jackets, under backpacks, over backpacks, attached to the bike etc... This way it won't be made of something that is too hot or too cold for the person.
The 1 main con- It requires the use of batteries
Potential (somewhat) sustainable solution: Rechargeable batteries
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