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.

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.

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.

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

Post 2

• Play Session
  
  So group 2B got a little crazy last class. Two decks of playing cards, an assortment of legos, a ball of yarn, some duct tape and neon lights... which was all we needed. The intention of our PLAY session was to create basic prototypes through random creativity. Using objects with or without relation to our project, we needed to expand any potential outcome. “PLAY” as a form of collaborative field work was explained extensively during our last class. Tim Brown, through a recorded lecture on TED.com explained the importance PLAY has on innovation, that in order to create, one must have fun. Needless to say, group 2B had fun... By the end of our meeting, we had established that the focus of our project would be based on distraction. One of Desmond’s main concerns was that he was unnoticeable at nighttime. What we established was that fashionability is as intrinsic a quality as our product’s ability to distract. Kerri made a string vest out of yarn, Marian explored the application of flashing lights in a helmet and I made a ridiculous hat out of playing cards, a frightened miniature cow and a ruler. What was finally determined was that Vadim’s creation worked the best. Symbiotically, a series of neon wires circulated his arms, chest and back... Once the lights were turned off, all other prototypes became invisible, Vadim’s symbiotic neon wires glowed with full radiance, just the distraction 2B needs... without being too abrasive.
  
  
• PLAY SESSIONS AVAILABLE @
  
  http://www.vimeo.com/6843987
  
  
  

• ELIO + SENSORS:
  
  I speak for every student who hasn’t taken second skin and software when I say: I WISH I TOOK SECOND SKIN AND SOFTWARE... During last class we were given a short lecture on conductive textiles and smart materials. This is what I gathered from Elio’s visit: Smart materials react to natural elements like heat, magnetism or solar exposure (There are probably different elements take are applicable, but for the moment I’m unsure). Photochromic thread is a smart material that responds to solar exposure, while I’ve never actually witnessed this miracle, I look forward to the day I can point it out and look intelligent in public. We also took a look at conductive textiles, which could be used as pressure sensors, soft buttons and tilt switches, all of which are activated by heat and applied through pressure.
  
  http://slab.concordia.ca/

Post 1

Desmond needs a stylish bike vest. A young man with a peculiar fashion sense demands safety, attention and style. On September 17th, group 2B was formed to offer Desmond exactly what he’s looking for. What we gathered from our pre-project discussion with Rhona was that these details should be kept in mind:

• Think outside the vest; possibly implicate gloves, helmet or pants.
• Think Identity, Desmond doesn’t want to wear just any bike vest.
• Think sustainable!
• Think multi-use: Use bike as energy?
• Can be more expensive, Desmond won’t mind paying more, but he’s gotta look good.
• Usage of sound could be an interesting application.
• Maybe something can happen in case of emergency (horns/lights)?
• Weather protection will play a big factor in his willingness to purchase our product.
• Think weight+size
• Sensors? LEDs, usage of wire...
• possible material: Leather
• Desmond does not want to be sweaty.

• • > Persistence of Vision

While looking into the possibility of LED lights, we came across POV. Persistence of Vision Technology is the usage of LED (in this case on a bicycle) which creates a moving image with persistent movement. In the following video, you can see it’s application onto bicycle wheels.

• http://www.ladyada.net/make/spokepov/

One of Desmond’s main motivations was that his friend got into an accident at nighttime. For safety reasons, POV technology can greatly heighten his presence at night, it is also quite flashy, which can totally create a sense of identity on the streets... satisfying his fashionable needs.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT13ZcpwYtA

• • > FASHION
• http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/08/5-bike-friendly-fashions.php

Montreal has incredibly temperamental weather. It can go from complete sunshine to pouring rain, or slightly cloudy to vicious snow pellets... Group 2B is conscious of any cyclist’s climatic awareness and is closely investigating it with fashion in mind.

• http://www.cordarounds.com/bike-to-work/

This link displays an interesting use of reflectors on jean pants. During the first open class project discussion, the idea of using leg movement as a solution to Desmond’s problem was brought up. Perpetual leg movement was the subject of the “Bike to work pants” which work as excellent reflectors, splash guards while actually looking half decent. Reversible coats are another concept group 2B is currently looking into, we figured it would add another reason to buy our product. While looking fashionable, a reversible coat gives the consumer a sense economical logic, because they would essentially be buying two coats in one.

• http://kuwait-style.com/2008/09/28/are-you-a-fan-of-the-reversible-coat/

Looking outside the vest and into different clothing articles, group 2B came across this following bag, which is stylish and practical. If we could somehow implement reflectors or a sort of lighting/glowing system, we could not only have a successful safety tool but something stylish enough for Desmond to wear.

• http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/bike-in-style.php

• • > Sketches

Vadim’s sketches are quite interesting, they not only combine essential group ideas, but what the whole class discussed on September 17th... it’s a good start point, and will be great to see when group 2B finally has a finished product.

For sketches go here.

Sketches

Vadim:

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Miliana:

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Keri:


I know mine aren't as nice sketches but I feel they get the point across. My ideas were using some sort of clip to put on a pre-existing jacket in a pattern that you like and then fitting the LED wire onto it with the battery pack going into your pocket or an inside pocket.

My other ideas were sewing the wire into your own created pattern onto your jacket (such as the flower).

And my final idea was to perhaps have pockets or some kind of holding device that you can role out some material that has the wires of LED lights.