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

Reevaluate Goals

Goals: 
1. Common design language
2. Car like design
3. Drawing skills


So far in the quarter, I think I've worked on all 3 goals. I would like to see faster progress in the car like designs, and drawing skills. I feel like I have successfully established a common design language so far for every project however. I think in the coming housewares project, a design that is finely tuned like a car, and has some amazing renders are my goals. I think it's achievable. Remember, "Those who risk, win." Elizabethtown.

Mace

not as sketchy.

 sketchy.

Strengths

One of my strengths as a designer is that I can see a project from start to finish. Finishing things on time has always been a positive of mine. I have never missed a due date (knock on wood). I believe that finishing things on time is extremely important because if you don't not only will you let someone else down, but you will have let yourself down.


Another strength of mine is to be extremely thorough. This has helped me completely projects from start to finish, but has also helped my researching. I like to know the facts all around before I start going into something. I like to be able to answer any question, intelligently and correctly and find that the only way to do this adequately is to research well.


I've been told a couple times that I have a good graphic eye. This is helpful because Industrial Design is about being good at everything. You need to know a bit of graphic design, digital, fashion, and architecture. Being able to dabble in other areas of design is extremely important to be a decent designer all around.

Good Design

Creating quality products that continually help generations through intuitive features despite age, experience, or culture.

Good design can be seen in the Kitchen-Aid Mixer, Mini Cooper, Ferrari, Apple Computer, Aeron Chair, legos and the Eames Lounge chair. These are all good designs that express both a positive, memorable, personality without compromising the function. 

Mixed Media

Photoshop and Marker Render

Photoshop and Marker Render 2

Both use Photoshop and Marker to create a nice render.

USB Redesign

"Things Change. They Always Do."

If you know what movie that line came from you're a nerd. But an exited nerd. The Last Starfighter made it's debut in 1984 and was the first movie to do all special effects on a Cray X-MP (aka a really really old computer). For those who have never even heard of this film, here's a quick synopsis. Alex, wants to be a normal kid, but has too many responsibilities. All he wants to do in life is get married to his girlfriend and settle down outside of the trailer park he was raised in. As you could have guessed, there isn't a lot to do in a trailer park located in the middle of the desert, so he spends much of his time playing a video game. Well low and behold the video game was actually a test from a group from a galaxy under-attack by alien invasion. They take Alex on a ride of his life showing that the game is actually real and try to recruit him to help defeat the alien invasion. Alex soon learns that he can't return to his trailer park life, and becomes "The Last Starfighter." As amazingly cheesy as this movie sounds, it's actually pretty good. It has good acting and amazing graphics. It's like an generic Star Wars. But movies like these are essential for designers to see. They spark the imagination beyond just different shapes or radius'. Instead they suggest simple games could actually be portals into other areas. Everything in this movie is well designed and thought out. True inspiration instigates new concepts and thoughts. The Last Starfighter is just a fantastic version of this.


I almost forgot- What made me choose this movie, is that they are making a sequel for it expected to debut this year (2010). It has the entire cast, (who's still alive) and I can't wait to see if it passes the intense sequel test. Will it match up to the original or flop?! Only time will tell...


The Last Starfighter Trailer

Inspirational Designers

Joshua Smith also known as hydro 74 is a very inspirational designer. Although he is located in Florida, he created designs for snowboarding companies among several others. He is so inspirational, not because of the products he creates, but more because of the range he is able to do. Not only can he create rough, graffiti like graphics, but also clean and flowing graphics as well. He has worked on brands like Hasbro, and Burton to Nike and Statefarm Insurance.  His range and graphic ability is where I hope to be one day.


http://www.hydro74.com/

Infographics

What makes this infograph so awesome, is first off the color palette but also the 

ease in understanding what is going on. Infographs should corrolate a large amount of information

quickly and easily as possible. They should allow a person to understand what's going on

without having to do too much searching.

I really like this infograph because it shows the 4 different areas the iPad is competing in. Again, it's easy to read, understand and is clear. It takes a large amount of information and made it clear and concise.

What if shopping were like this? You see something you like, while walking and search for it, finding out the cost, make and overall opinion of it. Although this concept may be very futuristic, it's clear and sparks imagination.

Elizabethtown

"I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings; coming down is the hardest thing." I always wondered if Tom Petty really knew how brilliant of a song he was writing when he wrote this. If there was a movie that fit this song it would be Elizabethtown. Elizabethtown is about how there is so much more to life then you think it is. The trailer emphasizes how small we are in the grand scheme of things. After seeing the movie, this trailer is the abstract to the film. It's brilliant.

Elizabethtown - Original trailer (good quality)

Life Experiences

"The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino." You've Got Mail.

Starbucks is a company familiar to everyone. Not only do they create quality coffee, but also they have evolved into an experience. With their italian names, forcing people to conform to their naming qualities, they have created another world. The coffee world. Now when ordering a cup of coffee people can feel elite, as if they are in this club. Although Starbucks is a coffee company, designers can learn a lot from them. They have created an experience without a physical product like a chair. Just by naming your cup of coffee as something outrageous as a tall low-fat decaf carmel machiatto. Using products should be like ordering a cup of coffee from Starbucks, a memorable experience.

Starbucks philanthropy is also very admirable. I think everyone should focus on helping the community. And I mean more then just your family and neighbors, I mean helping people you don't know, who live millions of miles away.

Portfolio

Everyone has read a magazine- whether it be Martha Stewart, Vogue, or Turbo. A successful magazine informs and tries to sell the reader of something whether it be recipes, cars, or fashion. A portfolio is much like a magazine. You need to sell your ideas to the reader. Portfolios are a bit tricky because you want to pull the reader in long enough that they care enough about what your product is. One of the biggest things I found helpful was showing my portfolio to other people- usually in an interview, and talking through my ideas. This allowed me to see the holes in my product so that next time I could fix it and continue to improve it. Hopefully you do this before the interview, but interviews are very helpful to get over many fears. I also strongly encourage people to have the money shots large and clear. Also keep it simple. If you pollute your portfolio with too many extraneous graphics. Clarity is success.

Awesome Portfolio links:

http://www.coroflot.com/public/help_portfolio_tips.asp

http://designm.ag/inspiration/portfolio-sites/

http://freelanceswitch.com/designer/9-insane-portfolio-designs-to-make-you-drool/

The Dream Begins

Name: Jenni Fearing

Age: 21

Occupation: Industrial Design Student

Life Goal: To live a fun filled life

The last 4 years of my life have been the beginning of my design focused life. Growing up the daughter of an architect, and sister- in- law to a Graphic Designer, I have been around art and design since I was born. My family often took trips to Frank Lloyd Wright's houses, and would hear the history behind every detail of the house. I learned to appreciate the design of everyday things at an early age. I always admired Wright's ability to design every piece of furniture in the house to continue the design language from the exterior of the house (despite how uncomfortable, or functional it ended up being). Another place I get inspiration is from Hollywood. I try to go to the movies once a week during the matinee and watch something new. I love movies that push the limits of ideas, or just make me laugh. Movies also allow me to see parts of the world that I never would have imagined. My love for the movies is less of a hobby, and more like a relationship. I get disappointed when I see a terrible movie that had potential, and feel like I’ve been cheated. When I retire I want to own a movie theater so I can attend for free.

My inspirations have helped guide me in the type of person, let alone designer, that I want to be. I strive to always push my own limits no matter the consequences. One of the continuous goals I have for myself is to make sure every detail of the product speaks the same design language like Wright. I also want to try to broaden my design style by focusing less on geometric shapes, and more on style seen most often in cars like a Ferrari. This want for more, came about when I visited Pininfarina in Turin, Italy. Every car, every drawing, every piece of furniture, is designed not only for function but also for style. I hope to incorporate this into my designs. Another goal I have for the quarter is to continue improving my drawing skills. They are not where I want them to be, however they are much closer then where I started.

I believe that industrial design is the design of the people, and for the people, by the people. I think that the only way to truly design is by experiencing as much life as possible- living each second to it’s fullest. I can’t wait to see what this quarter brings! :) Good luck!

Ideations

Ideations