Monday, February 28, 2011
RR08
Chapter nine, entitled contexts, talks basically about design in general. Chapter ten, entitled futures, discusses design and the changes it will endure in the future. These two chapters led me to reflect on the past to realize how vast the future of design can and will be. Things get updated almost daily. The newest electronic becomes an everyday belonging in a matter of months (take the overpriced iphone for example). Everything is changing and evolving quicker than we have the capability to understand. It's cool that I was around when things were still fairly simplified. Computers with only one style of text and color. Before the internet became popular. Cassette tapes. CD players. It's crazy to think how far we've come. These sorts of observations make me excited about the future and the fact that as a design student, I have infinitely many opportunities.
J08
My group:
Be
Ben
Ian
Chris
Julia
Cindy
If I would have wrote this yesterday, I would've said that it feels like we're stuck. However, after meeting today, I feel like we are finally headed in the right direction. After three full class days of brainstorming, we have found our target user, that user's general problems and concerns, and developed multiple product ideas for that user. Today we narrowed all of those things down, which has led us to ultimately two different product designs. We all are going to then formulate our own research and sketches to compile in class on wednesday. Hopefully this will point us in the correct direction for the final product. The group has been working as well as any randomly selected, seven member group can. We all have so many opinions that it can be hard to consider them all, although today I think we did a really good job of doing so.
I have fulfilled multiple roles. I have carefully listened to and considered the ideas of others and I have also presented some of my own ideas and opinions. I try to weigh out the pros and cons of each idea and present them when necessary. I also did some sketching on my own outside of class. At this point, I have done all that I can to facilitate the process. In these next vital steps, I hope to be able to contribute greatly and make the process a smooth one.
Here is some of our work thusfar (copied from Julia's blog...she put them in a drop box)
definitions, categories and problems
problem list continued
Users and strategies
Mind map
Day 2 brainstorming
After today, I finally feel like we are on the right track (I am so thankful that we present on the second day!).
Be
Ben
Ian
Chris
Julia
Cindy
If I would have wrote this yesterday, I would've said that it feels like we're stuck. However, after meeting today, I feel like we are finally headed in the right direction. After three full class days of brainstorming, we have found our target user, that user's general problems and concerns, and developed multiple product ideas for that user. Today we narrowed all of those things down, which has led us to ultimately two different product designs. We all are going to then formulate our own research and sketches to compile in class on wednesday. Hopefully this will point us in the correct direction for the final product. The group has been working as well as any randomly selected, seven member group can. We all have so many opinions that it can be hard to consider them all, although today I think we did a really good job of doing so.
I have fulfilled multiple roles. I have carefully listened to and considered the ideas of others and I have also presented some of my own ideas and opinions. I try to weigh out the pros and cons of each idea and present them when necessary. I also did some sketching on my own outside of class. At this point, I have done all that I can to facilitate the process. In these next vital steps, I hope to be able to contribute greatly and make the process a smooth one.
Here is some of our work thusfar (copied from Julia's blog...she put them in a drop box)
definitions, categories and problems
problem list continued
Users and strategies
Mind map
Day 2 brainstorming
After today, I finally feel like we are on the right track (I am so thankful that we present on the second day!).
Monday, February 21, 2011
CR07
I was not present for the guest speakers on monday, but found the slides very interesting and useful, as I am a newly accepted design student. I was disappointed I had to miss it, but was in Texas visiting my boyfriend so there was really no way for me to get there! As for the movies we watched on Wednesday, I found them interesting, but honestly not super beneficial. It would have been interesting to see some of their works besides their films.
Online Scavenger Hunt
Links to the websites of 5 manufacturers or retailers who specialize in outdoor camping and recreation products.
- http://www.coleman.com/coleman/home.asp
- http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/index.html
- http://www.fieldandstream.com/
- http://www.columbia.com/
- http://www.eurekatent.com/
3 images of trade show / exhibition booths from the outdoor recreation and sporting industry.
Links to the websites of 5 manufacturers or retailers who specialize in indoor home goods products.
3 images of trade show / exhibition booths from the indoor home goods market.
A working definition of what an "indoor home good" is?
An item that makes life inside a home more functional, comfortable, and/or interesting usually purchased based on personal needs and preferences.
3 images of different types of possible home goods.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Assignments for Monday, 14 February 2011
RR06:
It was somewhat appalling to start out by reading about the effects of the industrial revolution. It was interesting reading about how around 90% of products are designed to be cradle to grave. Manufacturers are designing products that last only a certain amount of time so that consumers will have to keep buying. From a business perspective, it is brilliant, but from an eco-friendly perspective it is absolutely terrible. It's also terrible that now a days, we hardly take products to a shop to get them fixed. We tend to just buy a new product because it often costs just as much to repair the product. It's awful, but I forget that sometimes because that's just the world we live in. I also enjoyed reading more about the productivity and eco-friendly systems of the ants. It's sad to say that we, as humans, have a lot to learn from nearly microscopic ants. Reading about books and how bad they are for the environment also made me think about how good the new e-readers such as the nook may be for the environment. I personally hate them because I like holding an actual book, but Cradle to Cradle definitely has a point. We buy books and read them one time and that's the end of the product use. While they are made of recyclable products, they also have deadly chemicals that are fatal if burned or decomposed. I guess I should rethink my stance on books.
CR06:
This week we discussed the legal and business side of design. Not super exciting, but definitely super important. It's hard for me to wrap my head around all of the current issues surrounding legalities, patents, copyrights, etc. because it's really hard for me to "pick a side." I recognize the positives and negatives surrounding both sides of the issue. For example, in the movie we watched in class, I find it nearly impossible to pick a side. I think Girl Talk is awesome, but at the same time I can see how other recording artists would be pissed off. But who is at fault? I'm glad that's not up to me to decide. Overall, I did enjoy the film. Although it was slightly biased, it still educated me as to how both sides of the spectrum were at fault.
It was somewhat appalling to start out by reading about the effects of the industrial revolution. It was interesting reading about how around 90% of products are designed to be cradle to grave. Manufacturers are designing products that last only a certain amount of time so that consumers will have to keep buying. From a business perspective, it is brilliant, but from an eco-friendly perspective it is absolutely terrible. It's also terrible that now a days, we hardly take products to a shop to get them fixed. We tend to just buy a new product because it often costs just as much to repair the product. It's awful, but I forget that sometimes because that's just the world we live in. I also enjoyed reading more about the productivity and eco-friendly systems of the ants. It's sad to say that we, as humans, have a lot to learn from nearly microscopic ants. Reading about books and how bad they are for the environment also made me think about how good the new e-readers such as the nook may be for the environment. I personally hate them because I like holding an actual book, but Cradle to Cradle definitely has a point. We buy books and read them one time and that's the end of the product use. While they are made of recyclable products, they also have deadly chemicals that are fatal if burned or decomposed. I guess I should rethink my stance on books.
CR06:
This week we discussed the legal and business side of design. Not super exciting, but definitely super important. It's hard for me to wrap my head around all of the current issues surrounding legalities, patents, copyrights, etc. because it's really hard for me to "pick a side." I recognize the positives and negatives surrounding both sides of the issue. For example, in the movie we watched in class, I find it nearly impossible to pick a side. I think Girl Talk is awesome, but at the same time I can see how other recording artists would be pissed off. But who is at fault? I'm glad that's not up to me to decide. Overall, I did enjoy the film. Although it was slightly biased, it still educated me as to how both sides of the spectrum were at fault.
Media Reviews
Design & Color
This was definitely the lecture I was most interested in making this an easy pick for this assignment. Color is something I know that has been proven to affect all types of human decision making and feeling, but I haven't actually gone in and read those articles or researched it. I also think it really relates to my major of interior design. For example, if I were designing a restaurant, there are scientific ways of choosing a color scheme that are different than they would be if I were designing a fashion store. It ended up being an easy topic to research that yielded all sorts of interesting results. It was hard to narrow it down to 5 sources, but I tried to pick the most interesting and unthought of. Links to each source are embedded in each source title that I introduce...
The Effect of Color on Purchases (Article)
This article discusses how colors affect a consumer's desire to purchase something. It discusses what colors appeal to different types of shoppers, what colors should be used based on venue type, and also what colors are best for signage and branding. I really enjoyed this article because of it's easy-to-follow layout. It's simple and true to the point and the graphics are very clear and understandable.
The Effect of Color on Plant Growth (Article)
This article discusses what types of plants and gardening processes are enhanced by certain colors of lights. This is something I never really thought about, which is why I included this article. This doesn't relate directly to design in many cases, but if in designing a plant shop or green house, this could be a very important element. This is another easy-to-follow article.
The Effect of Color on Cars (YouTube Video)
This video discusses how colors are picked in regards to cars and car interiors. I thought this video was interesting because they go through the same process as designers do. They explain how colors are picked depending on the country or region they are in. It is explained that colors are picked by anticipating future trends. This is a video from GM Europe, so don't mind the thick accents. But overall, a very unique video.
Colorblindness and Design (YouTube Video)
This video was my favorite find because it also ties in the idea of universal design/designing for accessibility. A pair of glasses were developed to imitate what colors appear as to those who are colorblind. It shows how these glasses could be used to adjust the designs of products, such as textbooks, to be easily viewed by people with normal vision as well as people who are colorblind. Since so many people, especially males, are somewhat colorblind, I think this is a key development in relationship to design and color, and designing for accessibility.
The Effect of Color in the Classroom (Article)
This article discusses how colors affect a learning environment. As a former elementary education major, and with two teachers as parents, this is an article I find important. I've been in so many classrooms with washed out white walls. This article explains how other colors may enhance student performance more than just the usual bland, white classroom.
This was definitely the lecture I was most interested in making this an easy pick for this assignment. Color is something I know that has been proven to affect all types of human decision making and feeling, but I haven't actually gone in and read those articles or researched it. I also think it really relates to my major of interior design. For example, if I were designing a restaurant, there are scientific ways of choosing a color scheme that are different than they would be if I were designing a fashion store. It ended up being an easy topic to research that yielded all sorts of interesting results. It was hard to narrow it down to 5 sources, but I tried to pick the most interesting and unthought of. Links to each source are embedded in each source title that I introduce...
The Effect of Color on Purchases (Article)
This article discusses how colors affect a consumer's desire to purchase something. It discusses what colors appeal to different types of shoppers, what colors should be used based on venue type, and also what colors are best for signage and branding. I really enjoyed this article because of it's easy-to-follow layout. It's simple and true to the point and the graphics are very clear and understandable.
The Effect of Color on Plant Growth (Article)
This article discusses what types of plants and gardening processes are enhanced by certain colors of lights. This is something I never really thought about, which is why I included this article. This doesn't relate directly to design in many cases, but if in designing a plant shop or green house, this could be a very important element. This is another easy-to-follow article.
The Effect of Color on Cars (YouTube Video)
This video discusses how colors are picked in regards to cars and car interiors. I thought this video was interesting because they go through the same process as designers do. They explain how colors are picked depending on the country or region they are in. It is explained that colors are picked by anticipating future trends. This is a video from GM Europe, so don't mind the thick accents. But overall, a very unique video.
Colorblindness and Design (YouTube Video)
This video was my favorite find because it also ties in the idea of universal design/designing for accessibility. A pair of glasses were developed to imitate what colors appear as to those who are colorblind. It shows how these glasses could be used to adjust the designs of products, such as textbooks, to be easily viewed by people with normal vision as well as people who are colorblind. Since so many people, especially males, are somewhat colorblind, I think this is a key development in relationship to design and color, and designing for accessibility.
The Effect of Color in the Classroom (Article)
This article discusses how colors affect a learning environment. As a former elementary education major, and with two teachers as parents, this is an article I find important. I've been in so many classrooms with washed out white walls. This article explains how other colors may enhance student performance more than just the usual bland, white classroom.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Assignments for Monday, 7 February 2011
RR05:
First of all, it's badass that this book is made up of recyclable materials and is waterproof. It's surprisingly heavy...
Anyways, this introduction served to be interesting. The thing that interested me the most is the listing of harmful and fatal chemicals and byproducts found in almost anything in our households. It was scary to think that these harmful chemicals can even be found in children's toys that often end up in the kids' mouths. I still don't understand how these products can end up on the market if they are so harmful. I guess that's just the world we live in today. I really enjoyed the comparison of humans to ants. I never really considered ants as "amazing" but it is fascinating at how their products and lives go full circle and benefit other plants.
CR05:
I missed class on Wednesday, but was there on Monday. Color is one of my favorite aspects of design, so I'm glad I didn't miss this lecture, although most of it was review to me. I don't have much to say about the lecture (anything I can think of would just be a summary--the lecture was pretty self explanatory). It was definitely interesting and exciting to hear about the color course. Considering it's required of my major, I think I'm taking it next quarter. From what was described, I really think I will enjoy it and learn a lot.
First of all, it's badass that this book is made up of recyclable materials and is waterproof. It's surprisingly heavy...
Anyways, this introduction served to be interesting. The thing that interested me the most is the listing of harmful and fatal chemicals and byproducts found in almost anything in our households. It was scary to think that these harmful chemicals can even be found in children's toys that often end up in the kids' mouths. I still don't understand how these products can end up on the market if they are so harmful. I guess that's just the world we live in today. I really enjoyed the comparison of humans to ants. I never really considered ants as "amazing" but it is fascinating at how their products and lives go full circle and benefit other plants.
CR05:
I missed class on Wednesday, but was there on Monday. Color is one of my favorite aspects of design, so I'm glad I didn't miss this lecture, although most of it was review to me. I don't have much to say about the lecture (anything I can think of would just be a summary--the lecture was pretty self explanatory). It was definitely interesting and exciting to hear about the color course. Considering it's required of my major, I think I'm taking it next quarter. From what was described, I really think I will enjoy it and learn a lot.
50 Random Kroger Observations/Thoughts
1. I hate that the cart returns in the parking lot are always set in a way that makes them seem like parking spots.
2. Automatic doors are fantastic.
3. I don't think that I was alive when automatic doors were not at grocery stores.
4. Pushing a cart through a door that you have to manually open seems complicated.
5. I love a good stacked pop 12-pack display.
6. That was always the coolest thing to me as a kid.
7. I enjoy the valentine's decorations and ads, but St. Patrick's Day and Easter? Really?!
8. The main place to grab carts is kind of out of the way and unorganized.
9. I like the clorox wipe dispensers for the carts.
10. I never actually use them though. Guess I'm not a germaphobe.
11. I like seeing the flower displays when I walk in.
12. I hate that the coffeeshop in the store is no longer a Starbucks.
13. I really like the layout of this store.
14. Everything seems very spacious and open--not much congestion.
15. I don't understand the addition of the home goods section.
16. I've never even walked through that section of the store--why start today?
17. I come to the grocery store for groceries, not decorations.
18. I wonder if anyone purchases that stuff.
19. Probably not.
20. I hate people that leave their cart in the middle of the aisle.
21. The organic produce is mixed in with the regular produce. It's kinda confusing.
22. I always wonder why most grocery store walls lack color, but I guess that the products provide color.
23. If I designed a grocery store, I would make it strategically colorful.
24. It seems as if grocery stores haven't done much evolving over the years...someone should get on that.
25. The necessities are purposely placed in the back of the store.
26. This makes it almost impossible to walk out with just one thing.
27. Alcoholic whipped cream is awesome...
28. ...but they should probably put it in the alcohol section instead of putting it on display by the bread.
29. I hate when the stock workers block an entire section of food with huge carts...very frustrating.
30. The music playing is very faint.
31. I'm sure that is strategic.
32. The yellow, enlarged, sale price signs pop to the eye and are very hard to miss.
33. The volume on the self check-out machines is entirely too loud.
34. I like that they have recently added more self check-out machines.
35. I feel like in the near future, self-checkouts with be practically the only option.
36. It's really annoying when it tells you to bag something you've already bagged.
37. I don't know why they have movie displays on the way out.
38. Who goes back to buy something on their way out the door?
39. My assumption is that they put them there for security purposes.
40. But still. Doesn't make sense.
41. I always forget they have a card shop in here because it's almost buried in the alcohol section.
42. Most grocery stores used to have a child watching center...I'm curious as to why those have been done away with for the most part.
43. I'm glad they moved the Redbox machine outside--much more convenient to return!
44. I see an upstairs balcony...I wonder what is up there?
45. I started thinking about how cool a two story grocery store would be...
46. ...then I realized that's the worst idea I've ever had.
47. I've witnessed a lot of people in the checkout line grabbing a candy bar or gum...another good example of strategic product placement.
48. The magazines are also in a good spot. While waiting in line, the cover stories can often lure you in.
49. Reusable shopping bags were a smart invention, but I see no one using them.
50. It's really hard to come up with 50 grocery store observations while you are also trying to grocery shop.
2. Automatic doors are fantastic.
3. I don't think that I was alive when automatic doors were not at grocery stores.
4. Pushing a cart through a door that you have to manually open seems complicated.
5. I love a good stacked pop 12-pack display.
6. That was always the coolest thing to me as a kid.
7. I enjoy the valentine's decorations and ads, but St. Patrick's Day and Easter? Really?!
8. The main place to grab carts is kind of out of the way and unorganized.
9. I like the clorox wipe dispensers for the carts.
10. I never actually use them though. Guess I'm not a germaphobe.
11. I like seeing the flower displays when I walk in.
12. I hate that the coffeeshop in the store is no longer a Starbucks.
13. I really like the layout of this store.
14. Everything seems very spacious and open--not much congestion.
15. I don't understand the addition of the home goods section.
16. I've never even walked through that section of the store--why start today?
17. I come to the grocery store for groceries, not decorations.
18. I wonder if anyone purchases that stuff.
19. Probably not.
20. I hate people that leave their cart in the middle of the aisle.
21. The organic produce is mixed in with the regular produce. It's kinda confusing.
22. I always wonder why most grocery store walls lack color, but I guess that the products provide color.
23. If I designed a grocery store, I would make it strategically colorful.
24. It seems as if grocery stores haven't done much evolving over the years...someone should get on that.
25. The necessities are purposely placed in the back of the store.
26. This makes it almost impossible to walk out with just one thing.
27. Alcoholic whipped cream is awesome...
28. ...but they should probably put it in the alcohol section instead of putting it on display by the bread.
29. I hate when the stock workers block an entire section of food with huge carts...very frustrating.
30. The music playing is very faint.
31. I'm sure that is strategic.
32. The yellow, enlarged, sale price signs pop to the eye and are very hard to miss.
33. The volume on the self check-out machines is entirely too loud.
34. I like that they have recently added more self check-out machines.
35. I feel like in the near future, self-checkouts with be practically the only option.
36. It's really annoying when it tells you to bag something you've already bagged.
37. I don't know why they have movie displays on the way out.
38. Who goes back to buy something on their way out the door?
39. My assumption is that they put them there for security purposes.
40. But still. Doesn't make sense.
41. I always forget they have a card shop in here because it's almost buried in the alcohol section.
42. Most grocery stores used to have a child watching center...I'm curious as to why those have been done away with for the most part.
43. I'm glad they moved the Redbox machine outside--much more convenient to return!
44. I see an upstairs balcony...I wonder what is up there?
45. I started thinking about how cool a two story grocery store would be...
46. ...then I realized that's the worst idea I've ever had.
47. I've witnessed a lot of people in the checkout line grabbing a candy bar or gum...another good example of strategic product placement.
48. The magazines are also in a good spot. While waiting in line, the cover stories can often lure you in.
49. Reusable shopping bags were a smart invention, but I see no one using them.
50. It's really hard to come up with 50 grocery store observations while you are also trying to grocery shop.
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