Mixed Medias

In ID I feel that many people get bogged down by trying to sketch perfectly. Don't get me wrong, sketching is a fantastic necessary skill to have, however I don't think it's AS important as learning how to visualize. I think people are often afraid to switch medias because they weren't taught something. If you feel the best way to get your design out is through clay, do it. Just because you aren't a sculptor doesn't mean you can't create a 'sketch' in clay for yourself. I wouldn't go showing the world your clay lump and call it your final direction, but it often times helps you visualize for yourself how something should look. I really enjoy molding rough models in clay, and seeing what comes from them, I feel that it's a great way for myself to visualize it and I strongly urge others to find something that helps them!

Callie

Callie is the name of my chair. I believe in personalizing my products by giving them names. This way I connect more with the product and put more heart and soul into it. Currently my biggest trouble is using Solid works surfaces, however I have faith that if I keep at it, it will come. One thing that's really helping me with my design, is every time I feel like I'm going off track, I look back at my inspiration. Industrial design also known as product design, is about much more than just the look of the product, it's about the experience. (yes back to experiential design). This being said, I believe if you are inspired from a flower, GO BUY THE FLOWER. Calla Lily's are rather expensive I've discovered, however it's worth it. This allows your products to have more then just the look of being inspired, but also the feel. That untangle aspect to every product can turn an alright product into a great product because it feels like it has a soul. So remember, name your designs, it's a great way to truly connect with your creative side. :)

Infographic!

http://dailyinfographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PizzaIGVersion.jpg


Infographics convey information in a visual way. The best part of this infographic is the statistic that says… 


"Men wearing muscle shirts to answer the door order pepperoni 3 times more then any kind of pizza." 


What do infographics do? They relate seminally un- relatable information together visually. If this statistic was written in an excel document it would kill it's cleverness, however the fact that it's in a pizza infographic makes it 20 times more exciting!

Water For Elephants

There's something so fascinating about circus'. They have been the background of many stories and films. The mystical qualities involved and the illusions leave a lot to the imagination. Water For Elephants comes out this Friday and I'm totally stoked. Despite having Twilight boy Robert Patterson (even though he actually can act decently in movies such as Remember Me his presence in the glitter-filled pre-teen drama ruins a lot) this movie looks absolutely spectacular. There's something so magical about the ability to control so many large unusual animals that draws you in. Products should do the same, they should seem magical every time you use them despite their size- (ie a car to a cup for coffee). Products should create experiences, just like a circus. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz455--bNEI

Inspiration

This quarter for the chair project I was really trying to focus on coffee and how coffee can be related to a chair. Coffee itself is a fantastic culture where creativity seems to brew. At the start of the quarter… and maybe even before, I tried creating a chair that was perfect for the coffee culture. What I didn't realize was everything I was creating from this inspiration was either considered 'dated' or not great. I changed my inspiration un- yet again, to flowers (another love of mine). This seems to spark more creative and modern ideas that I'm starting to fall in love with. I don't know where I'm going wrong with my starting inspiration, but I'm discovering HOW important it is. Besides, if you aren't inspired to create the next Aeron chair… then what do you have? Landfill shit. 

Chamberlain Round 2

Working at Chamberlain again made me really excited for the company in the near future. I am really excited to see what is produced once the design team moves to the more creative environment, I think it'll help generate fantastic ideas. I never really thought about how much a design space really mattered to a design team, but after working in cubicles, I learned it was incredibly important. Designers need space, air, and light. These 3 things are crucial to the fluid design process… besides who can create the next revolutionary product in a place where "mushrooms can grow?!"

Portfolio Update

Over the last 11 weeks I have avidly worked on revamping my portfolio. Last quarter a comment was made that the icons of the portfolio were stronger then the products themselves. This was taken into consideration and I often had to ask myself, "what am I selling, graphics or products?" After carefully redefining my portfolio to have the products be the center. It's easy to forget what your main goal is for your portfolio- so asking yourself what is the point is a great way to make sure you don't get too far from your target.

Another major change in my portfolio are the titles. Before I was just labeling what the page had on it… research, process, final product etc. However the reader isn't stupid… they will get that. Roller had a great comment about making the titles what you want the reader to REALLY get out of it… what's really the most important thing on the page so if they were just going off of titles what do you get? I think this added a lot more flavor to my portfolio and I really encourage anyone to try this (especially when you find it difficult to add personality to your portfolio).

Things Change... They Always Do...

In the past the Design Communication course has been nothing but focused on drawing. In fact I often called it my drawing class. This quarter changed that stereotype for the better. One way to communicate through design is through drawing, however there are several other methods (ie. 3d modeling, presenting, photoshopping). This course aimed at addressing more then just the drawing aspect of design- without neglecting the drawing aspect. I believe I got more out of this course this quarter, then I have in the past 3 years of DAAP. However nothing is perfect, expect George Clooney, and so it always has room for improvement. One thing that could be improved would be the drawing aspect. I think if the drawing aspect was intensified more I would have liked that a bit better. However, reflecting on the last 9 weeks, I really don't think I'd change much more. Plotting for the last project was a bit annoying because it cost me $20 for something we talked about for 5 minutes, and a project that I have to reformat for the competition, but other then those 2 complaints that's about it.


Thanks for a great quarter!

Blogging's the new...

I think discussing design through a blog is very helpful. It allows me to express an opinion with either a clip attached, or a photo attached allowing everyone to see exactly what I'm talking about. It helps level the playing field and allow a common ground for everyone. Also- a blog is very easy to keep up because it's almost like a diary of design. It allows me to express exactly what I want it to, when I want to update it. I think blogging about design is a very successful way to discuss the future of the design world.

You've come so far...

This quarter I really wanted to focus on making products that were inspired off of cars. I think I succeed in other classes, however not so much in this class. I think instead what I worked on in this class was layout. For my final project- the housewares project where I redesigned the cheese grater, I think my layout dramatically improved from where I started. I also think my quality of work this quarter has dramatically improved in style... which although it may not be directly related to cars, is what I really wanted to focus on. I wish my drawing skills would improve as much as my styling did, but I can't do everything at once. This next CO-OP quarter I hope to continue to dramatically improve my skills. You can always get better. :)

"You're a wizard Harry!"

Changing staircases, flying brooms, platform 9 3/4, wizard chess, dungeons, Hagrid's pets, wormwood and trolls all live in the magical world of Harry Potter. Today at midnight, Harry Potter and the Deathly Howls: Part 1 appears in theaters across the nation. Many will dress up in ridiculous outfits screaming nonsensical words, pretending someone turned into a frog, or fish. Others will be eating jelly beans that taste like 'earwax' for 'fun.' Harry Potter went from a last minute resort for JK Rowling, to a worldwide sensation.

Although we can learn one thing from her- when desperate times come, go to Starbucks and write an amazing tale of a boy who discovers he's a world famous wizard... but we can also learn something else. We can learn to use our imagination more, and push the limits. As designers we are required to push the limits with our imagination, however sometimes we can get stuck in the boring daily routine we have grown accustom to, and forget about the land of imagination. What if you really could take the old broom in the closet and fly? How would it work, how would it look? What if you could play chess where you were the pieces? What if brick walls weren't really solid? These are only a few questions films like Harry Potter can help encourage us to create. What if there really was a parallel universe with wizards?

Professional Advice

"The closer you get to being a pro, the closer you can get to the client." The Professional.


Recently I emailed a previous professional industrial designer co-worker of mine, Om Suthar, about advice in the industry. Specifically I inquired:


1. Where does your inspiration come from?
2. What's your favorite part of the design process and why?
3. When you get burnt out on a project what do you do to revitalize your energy again?


He responded:




1. My inspiration comes from all forms of observation. Mostly things I see in everyday life. Down to even people watching. I find things I see in everday life very interesting.

2. My favorite part of the design process is the most gruesome part as well. Its refining a design and working with marketing and engineers to create the most formidable solution. There is alot of expectation management between people in the projects as well as the product itself. This makes for a really interesting fusion that makes or breaks your project.

3. I think its very easy to become myopic in the depths of a design process. I like to step back and take a look at things from the 30,000 view just to make sure whatever I am working on fits the macro view. I usually just walk away, and just mingle with other departments, or research some new tech/materials/ products. Something to just refresh my mind.


His responses really help me know I'm going in the right direction. I think that by watching people all around us is a great way to get inspiration, and see what TRULY needs fixed. Also, I really like the idea of looking into new materials, technology, and products when you become burnt out on a project. I think always looking to the future for inspiration is great because it will never run out.


"UNLESS. Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it's not." Dr. Seuss