Chapter 9 of Design: A Very Short Introduction, by John Heskett, talks about how design has helped some companies distinguish themselves. I thought it was interesting how it is easier for large companies to distinguish themselves. On the other hand, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) either have to change their products to adjust to trends or use design to create a new market (116-7). One example of this is the Oxo Goodgrips brand, which I have often seen at stores and I notice that many companies have now come out with products similar to the Goodgrips products.
This chapter also discussed how governments and rules have incorporated design into their principles. I found it interesting how at the end of WWII, the UK established the Council of Industrial Design. This council functioned through persuasion and eventually died down to a smaller body. In Denmark, the Danish Design Centre was established at the end of WWII, and has been an important factor in the design of the Danish economics as well as their society. I think it is interesting how the major European countries have had a design council at some point in time, when the US has never had one. I think design isn’t given enough importance in the US Government and is just left up to companies and design firms. I didn’t realize how many countries have a design support program set in place by the government.
The last chapter of the book discusses the future of design. The advancement of the computer has made significant contributions to the field of design. It is amazing to think of what developments will arise in the next ten or twenty years as computers and their technologies will continue to advance. Also, as parts of the world become more impoverished, more design advancements will be made to adapt to all different types of cultures.
As more and more products are made, will the basic needs of humans eventually be met? What will designers do then? It is interesting to think if we will eventually reach a point where humans are content with all products and processes where no more advancements need to be made. Only time will tell!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Journal 10: Course Reflection
I really enjoyed the course Design 200. I feel that it was a good introduction to design and gave me a feel for what to expect as being a part of the Design Program. I was introduced to some new concepts and saw some very interesting videos about design and how to design for all types of people and cultures.
I feel like the course load was just right, there wasn’t too much to do for a 5 credit hour class, but I still felt like a have a good, general understanding of design. I also thought there was a good balance of individual and group work.
One think that I didn’t like was the readings. I felt like the books just rambled on and were saying the same thing that we were learning in class. I feel like watching some assigned videos instead of reading would be interesting because I think that the videos broadened my knowledge and interest in design more than the readings.
Overall, I really enjoyed the course and I am excited to take more of my design classes!
I feel like the course load was just right, there wasn’t too much to do for a 5 credit hour class, but I still felt like a have a good, general understanding of design. I also thought there was a good balance of individual and group work.
One think that I didn’t like was the readings. I felt like the books just rambled on and were saying the same thing that we were learning in class. I feel like watching some assigned videos instead of reading would be interesting because I think that the videos broadened my knowledge and interest in design more than the readings.
Overall, I really enjoyed the course and I am excited to take more of my design classes!
Journal 09: Coleman Project
The past couple weeks of class have been spent working on the Coleman for the Home Design Project. The assignment was for Coleman to create a product for them to enter into the home goods market. We were assigned groups based on our cards we drew at the beginning of the quarter, and I was in a group with Becky, Jonathan and Lindsay.
The first class was spent defining Coleman, what their values are and who their customers are. We decided that Coleman is an outdoor goods company that produces quality products that are also environmentally friendly. Their customers are adventurous people who are also concerned with saving the environment.
We then started to think about some home goods products that Coleman would be interested in making. We came up with some of the following ideas:
o A lamp that used solar power as its source of electricity
o A coffee table that had an outlet on it powered by solar power
o A “power mat” that could wirelessly charge electronics that was powered by solar energy
o Coleman Fabrics that are able to heat, cool and power whatever was set on them
o A set of drapes that used the sun’s energy to wirelessly power an outlet
Overall, we wanted to go with the idea of using solar energy to help customers save money while also being environmentally conscious.
I would say my role in the team was the “naysayer.” As a team, we came up with some very creative ideas. I am an engineer so my mind was constantly thinking about how possible these ideas would be to make and how well they would function. There were some ideas that I think are really cool, but probably too futuristic for a product to be released soon. I think that overall, our product is a good idea that will be possible to make in the near future.
I think that my team worked really well together. We had a good balance of creative ideas but also ones that would be possible. Also, Jonathan was able to learn enough about Google Sketch-Up to create the kiosk model. Becky created the logo and packaging and Lindsay looked up information about the technology and created some informational slides.
I created the “plug box” on Google Sketch-Up (see below) and also made some sketches for the product logo and Coleman logo. Also, Lindsay and I worked on our Prezi, which was our presentation that we showed to the class.
I think that this was a good way to wrap up the quarter and get a preview as to the dynamics of working in a group on a design project. I think that our group worked really well together and we came up with a good idea for a product that Coleman customers would be interested in!
The first class was spent defining Coleman, what their values are and who their customers are. We decided that Coleman is an outdoor goods company that produces quality products that are also environmentally friendly. Their customers are adventurous people who are also concerned with saving the environment.
We then started to think about some home goods products that Coleman would be interested in making. We came up with some of the following ideas:
o A lamp that used solar power as its source of electricity
o A coffee table that had an outlet on it powered by solar power
o A “power mat” that could wirelessly charge electronics that was powered by solar energy
o Coleman Fabrics that are able to heat, cool and power whatever was set on them
o A set of drapes that used the sun’s energy to wirelessly power an outlet
Overall, we wanted to go with the idea of using solar energy to help customers save money while also being environmentally conscious.
I would say my role in the team was the “naysayer.” As a team, we came up with some very creative ideas. I am an engineer so my mind was constantly thinking about how possible these ideas would be to make and how well they would function. There were some ideas that I think are really cool, but probably too futuristic for a product to be released soon. I think that overall, our product is a good idea that will be possible to make in the near future.
I think that my team worked really well together. We had a good balance of creative ideas but also ones that would be possible. Also, Jonathan was able to learn enough about Google Sketch-Up to create the kiosk model. Becky created the logo and packaging and Lindsay looked up information about the technology and created some informational slides.
I created the “plug box” on Google Sketch-Up (see below) and also made some sketches for the product logo and Coleman logo. Also, Lindsay and I worked on our Prezi, which was our presentation that we showed to the class.
I think that this was a good way to wrap up the quarter and get a preview as to the dynamics of working in a group on a design project. I think that our group worked really well together and we came up with a good idea for a product that Coleman customers would be interested in!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Course Reflection 05
The last two classes of the quarter were spent presenting our Coleman for the Home Projects. It was very interesting and fun to see all of the groups and the cool ideas that they came up with.
Team 2 had an interesting idea with the HotTop indoor kitchen, and I could see it as something that I would want to use. I was a little confused when the group showed the sketch of the Coleman product that already existed, because it seemed very similar to their product that they came up with.
Team 3 proposed a desk storage unit that I found really interesting. It seems like something I would like to use, or I could see my younger siblings liking.
Team 5 had the idea of creating a twin bed design that brings the outdoors in. It was a really cute idea and I could see someone using it to decorate their kid’s room if they wanted an outdoor theme.
Team 6 designed a table/hammock that can be used in small spaces. I think this is a really good idea because it is difficult to find tables that can fit into small spaces. I alto thought the hammock idea was cool because it is a interesting way to incorporate seating into an existing item in your house.
Team 7 designed a bowl that is able to collapse to save space. I think this is a good idea and something that I would use in my dorm room or kitchen.
Team 8 came up the idea of creating the EcoStat plug adapter and app. I think this is a really cool, revolutionary idea that a lot of people would use. As long as it is user friendly and simple to use, I think this idea could become really popular.
Team 9 designed the Elements white board lamp. I really like this idea and I would definitely buy this if I saw it. I think adding a plug to power the lamp inside and also batteries for outdoor use would make this product more versatile.
Team 10 proposed the nature hiking treadmill. I think this is an interesting idea for a new video game and it was cool that they thought of partnering with Wii.
Team Jacks had the idea of the versatile utensils. I think this is a good way to save space in the kitchen with utensils that are not used very often, such as a whisk, spatula and strainer. I also liked how the packaging was also part of the product.
Team Queen came up with the idea of the green lantern. I think it was a cool idea to have a lantern that looks like a home décor product.
Team King designed the space saving cook top and table. I really liked this idea and I think they did an awesome job with their graphics. I thought they did a lot of research behind the induction cook top and it seems like a really cool technology.
Team Ace designed the deluminator, which is a device used to remove light bulbs form ceilings, along with attachments to paint ceilings and dust ceilings. I think this is an interesting way to combine a lot of different products.
Overall, I think everyone proposed really interesting products and I enjoyed listening to people’s presentations.
Team 2 had an interesting idea with the HotTop indoor kitchen, and I could see it as something that I would want to use. I was a little confused when the group showed the sketch of the Coleman product that already existed, because it seemed very similar to their product that they came up with.
Team 3 proposed a desk storage unit that I found really interesting. It seems like something I would like to use, or I could see my younger siblings liking.
Team 5 had the idea of creating a twin bed design that brings the outdoors in. It was a really cute idea and I could see someone using it to decorate their kid’s room if they wanted an outdoor theme.
Team 6 designed a table/hammock that can be used in small spaces. I think this is a really good idea because it is difficult to find tables that can fit into small spaces. I alto thought the hammock idea was cool because it is a interesting way to incorporate seating into an existing item in your house.
Team 7 designed a bowl that is able to collapse to save space. I think this is a good idea and something that I would use in my dorm room or kitchen.
Team 8 came up the idea of creating the EcoStat plug adapter and app. I think this is a really cool, revolutionary idea that a lot of people would use. As long as it is user friendly and simple to use, I think this idea could become really popular.
Team 9 designed the Elements white board lamp. I really like this idea and I would definitely buy this if I saw it. I think adding a plug to power the lamp inside and also batteries for outdoor use would make this product more versatile.
Team 10 proposed the nature hiking treadmill. I think this is an interesting idea for a new video game and it was cool that they thought of partnering with Wii.
Team Jacks had the idea of the versatile utensils. I think this is a good way to save space in the kitchen with utensils that are not used very often, such as a whisk, spatula and strainer. I also liked how the packaging was also part of the product.
Team Queen came up with the idea of the green lantern. I think it was a cool idea to have a lantern that looks like a home décor product.
Team King designed the space saving cook top and table. I really liked this idea and I think they did an awesome job with their graphics. I thought they did a lot of research behind the induction cook top and it seems like a really cool technology.
Team Ace designed the deluminator, which is a device used to remove light bulbs form ceilings, along with attachments to paint ceilings and dust ceilings. I think this is an interesting way to combine a lot of different products.
Overall, I think everyone proposed really interesting products and I enjoyed listening to people’s presentations.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Journal 08
For this journal assignment, I decided to explore the idea of “design like you give a damn.” This is the concept of designing for the improvement of the world, especially for those parts of the world that are living in poverty and in substandard conditions. I think that this is an important part of design that is just starting to become popular in the design world. It is one thing to make all of these new designs and products, but they must be able to be used by people. When we design for people who don’t really have anything, this product becomes so much more valuable and useful.
The first source I found is from INDEX:, a non-profit organization that works to promote and apply the idea of “designing to improve life.” I found an article on their website that discusses their design process that they use in order to create products that will truly improve the lives of people. It is a really interesting article because it describes how form, impact and context combine to design to improve life.
INDEX: Design Process
INDEX: holds a design competition and give the Design to Improve Life Award to designers who come up with ideas that exemplify the ideas of INDEX:.These awards are presented in the areas of body, home, work, play and community. I found an online book that describes the winners in each of these areas and their design. This book is really interesting because contains some interesting elements and products that I originally didn’t consider in the field of design, such as a book and an exhibit.
INDEX: Awards
After seeing some examples of designs that improve life, I found a few videos of interesting takes on the design of everyday products.
First, I found a video describing a new type of drywall that is better for the environment. 40% of carbon emissions are due to building operations. The video explains the process and future of a drywall that is clean and recyclable. This video also contains interesting facts about the process of building a home and how detrimental it is to the environment.
Drywall Video
The next video I found is about the process of growing your own clothes. This is a very interesting new process that has huge potential in the future. Organisms harvest into a material, which is like leather, which can then be sewn and formed into clothing. There is one major drawback to this design, but it has huge potential for the clothing market, or even the entire manufacturing processes.
Grow Your Own Clothes
The last video I found takes design to a whole new level. It describes the organization Project H, which works to improve the public education system. This organization is now stationed in Bertie County, NC, which is an impoverished area with a low emphasis education. The designers at Project H are looking into ways to redesign the education system to improve the lives of the children.
Designing Education
Overall, I have found some very interesting articles and videos about “designing like you give a damn.” I think it is important for students to learn some of the benefits and factors of designing for everybody in the world, not just the select few who have money to purchase high end, technological products.
The first source I found is from INDEX:, a non-profit organization that works to promote and apply the idea of “designing to improve life.” I found an article on their website that discusses their design process that they use in order to create products that will truly improve the lives of people. It is a really interesting article because it describes how form, impact and context combine to design to improve life.
INDEX: Design Process
INDEX: holds a design competition and give the Design to Improve Life Award to designers who come up with ideas that exemplify the ideas of INDEX:.These awards are presented in the areas of body, home, work, play and community. I found an online book that describes the winners in each of these areas and their design. This book is really interesting because contains some interesting elements and products that I originally didn’t consider in the field of design, such as a book and an exhibit.
INDEX: Awards
After seeing some examples of designs that improve life, I found a few videos of interesting takes on the design of everyday products.
First, I found a video describing a new type of drywall that is better for the environment. 40% of carbon emissions are due to building operations. The video explains the process and future of a drywall that is clean and recyclable. This video also contains interesting facts about the process of building a home and how detrimental it is to the environment.
Drywall Video
The next video I found is about the process of growing your own clothes. This is a very interesting new process that has huge potential in the future. Organisms harvest into a material, which is like leather, which can then be sewn and formed into clothing. There is one major drawback to this design, but it has huge potential for the clothing market, or even the entire manufacturing processes.
Grow Your Own Clothes
The last video I found takes design to a whole new level. It describes the organization Project H, which works to improve the public education system. This organization is now stationed in Bertie County, NC, which is an impoverished area with a low emphasis education. The designers at Project H are looking into ways to redesign the education system to improve the lives of the children.
Designing Education
Overall, I have found some very interesting articles and videos about “designing like you give a damn.” I think it is important for students to learn some of the benefits and factors of designing for everybody in the world, not just the select few who have money to purchase high end, technological products.
Course Reflection 04
The last four classes have been work sessions for our Coleman for the Home Project. I think this project was the perfect way to wrap up the quarter because we are working on a project that encompasses the three areas of design: product, interior and visual and communication.
I have really enjoyed having time to work on the project in class. I think it was beneficial to have the long brainstorming sessions that my group did and it was very convenient to be able to do these in class. The first two days, we were brainstorming ideas and trying to figure out the specifics of our product. During the third class, we discussed ideas for the packaging and the kiosk for the product. In the last class, we shared our work we did on the computer to model our ideas.
I will talk more about the process of the project in my Journal 9, but the work my team completed in class has been extremely productive and beneficial to the process of our project.
I have really enjoyed having time to work on the project in class. I think it was beneficial to have the long brainstorming sessions that my group did and it was very convenient to be able to do these in class. The first two days, we were brainstorming ideas and trying to figure out the specifics of our product. During the third class, we discussed ideas for the packaging and the kiosk for the product. In the last class, we shared our work we did on the computer to model our ideas.
I will talk more about the process of the project in my Journal 9, but the work my team completed in class has been extremely productive and beneficial to the process of our project.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Reading Reflection 03
I found the book Cradle to Cradle very thought-provoking. These days, the major phrase is “reduce, reuse and recycle.” I thought it was interesting how the authors disagreed with this statement. William McDonough and Michael Braugnart believe that the best way for a product to be designed is that at the end of its life, it can be reused to make something of equal or better quality.
This is the concept of “upcycling,” which is a term that I have never heard before. I thought this was an interesting concept because with recycling, eventually a product will be thrown away after one or two lives, but this is not the case with upcycling. An average television is composed of 4,360 chemicals. Some of these chemicals are able to be reused and are valuable, while others are toxic. Isolating the valuable elements from the toxic ones would allow them to be upcycled and create a system of quality materials (110).
I also thought it was very interesting how they viewed the Industrial Revolution. So far in my classes, the Industrial Revolution has been portrayed as a mostly positive event. In my industrial engineering classes, the Industrial Revolution was the key event to all of the processes I am studying. In this book though, the Industrial Revolution is viewed as a system that “put billions of pounds of toxic material into the air, water, and soil ever (18) ” along with creating regulations to prevent people from being poisoned. When you think about it this way, the Industrial Revolution sounds like an extremely negative event in the development of the modern world.
I often think about the damage that humans have done to the world in the past 60 years and it is shocking. Personally, I find it scary because if changes are not made to the way that we design products and systems, the world will be drastically different in 60 more years.
I also like how the concept of biomimicry was also discussed in this book. In the example of the cherry tree (72), the fallen blossoms can be considered waste, but instead people see them as beautiful. These blossoms are then decomposed and provide nourishment to many organisms. The authors mention the idea of designing our systems and products this way, where the “waste” is beautiful and in touch with nature.
While reading the book, I was shocked by the multiple references to the danger in the products that we use everyday. One example is the natural indigo dye, commonly used to die jeans, contains mutagens that deplete genetic diversity (42). Other examples of dangerous materials are plastic water bottles and polyester shirts (38). These dangers just make me wonder if humans are becoming too scientific and if we are really just screwing ourselves over by constantly developing new materials and methods to improve existing products.
One section of this book that I found interesting was Chapter 5: Respect Diversity. I feel that when trying to create the optimal design for a product or system, the “bad models” would be eliminated, while eliminating diversity. I thought it was interesting how there are over 8 thousand species of ants in the world. Even though an ant appears like a simple system, 8 thousand different types are needed in order for it to survive in different places and by doing different tasks (120).
Overall, I thought this book made me think about some of the products that I use everyday and how they could be designed better to have a positive impact on the environment and user. I did feel like the book was pretty repetitive though and I got bored at some parts. Even though I thought the plastic pages were cool, I found the book heavy and hard to hold open.
This is the concept of “upcycling,” which is a term that I have never heard before. I thought this was an interesting concept because with recycling, eventually a product will be thrown away after one or two lives, but this is not the case with upcycling. An average television is composed of 4,360 chemicals. Some of these chemicals are able to be reused and are valuable, while others are toxic. Isolating the valuable elements from the toxic ones would allow them to be upcycled and create a system of quality materials (110).
I also thought it was very interesting how they viewed the Industrial Revolution. So far in my classes, the Industrial Revolution has been portrayed as a mostly positive event. In my industrial engineering classes, the Industrial Revolution was the key event to all of the processes I am studying. In this book though, the Industrial Revolution is viewed as a system that “put billions of pounds of toxic material into the air, water, and soil ever (18) ” along with creating regulations to prevent people from being poisoned. When you think about it this way, the Industrial Revolution sounds like an extremely negative event in the development of the modern world.
I often think about the damage that humans have done to the world in the past 60 years and it is shocking. Personally, I find it scary because if changes are not made to the way that we design products and systems, the world will be drastically different in 60 more years.
I also like how the concept of biomimicry was also discussed in this book. In the example of the cherry tree (72), the fallen blossoms can be considered waste, but instead people see them as beautiful. These blossoms are then decomposed and provide nourishment to many organisms. The authors mention the idea of designing our systems and products this way, where the “waste” is beautiful and in touch with nature.
While reading the book, I was shocked by the multiple references to the danger in the products that we use everyday. One example is the natural indigo dye, commonly used to die jeans, contains mutagens that deplete genetic diversity (42). Other examples of dangerous materials are plastic water bottles and polyester shirts (38). These dangers just make me wonder if humans are becoming too scientific and if we are really just screwing ourselves over by constantly developing new materials and methods to improve existing products.
One section of this book that I found interesting was Chapter 5: Respect Diversity. I feel that when trying to create the optimal design for a product or system, the “bad models” would be eliminated, while eliminating diversity. I thought it was interesting how there are over 8 thousand species of ants in the world. Even though an ant appears like a simple system, 8 thousand different types are needed in order for it to survive in different places and by doing different tasks (120).
Overall, I thought this book made me think about some of the products that I use everyday and how they could be designed better to have a positive impact on the environment and user. I did feel like the book was pretty repetitive though and I got bored at some parts. Even though I thought the plastic pages were cool, I found the book heavy and hard to hold open.
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