surprise the designer

Yesterday morning we had a critique in our studio class. It was a little different to have a crit on a Friday in the grand staircase (which, at least for us, is usually reserved for final critiques.) It was good overall, though, and everyone had something to show.

Here is part one of our USB -drive project. There are two sets of three USB drives, 4, 6, and 6 gigs respectively. The idea is that the 4GB drive is the basic version and the 8GB is luxury. I learned a lot about design visualization and Illustrator while I was working on this project. For one thing, this is the first time I have done orthographic drawings that are really compelling. Usually orthographic drawings are line drawings that look very mathematical (like engineering work...) Using Illustrator to 'render out' orthographics makes them more interesting and is almost enough to pitch a concept. I also learned more about indicating different materials- through trial and error I made part lines, reflective surfaces, and transparent surfaces. Gradients and Gaussian blur are fan-ta- stic ! I will continue to post updates for this project through next week...

Broken Dish Originally uploaded by BACKYard Woods Explorer The long story: Yesterday while I was making toast, I placed bowl of butter on top of the toaster so it would warm up a little and be easier to spread. As I was making my coffee, the toast popped up and knocked the bowl over. Usually this would be no big deal, but our toaster sits precariously on the windowsill. The ceramic bowl (and butter) slammed to the ground and smashed into pieces. The interesting thing, though, is that it was really cool. The sound it made- the action of shattering.. it was mostly cool, and just a little bit of a bummer. Today on a grand adventure out in the icy snow, Tracy picked up a huge sheet of ice and slammed it into the ground. It, too, shattered into a bunch of pieces and made a rather satisfying sound. She was so elated that she did a little dance :) The moral of this story: It's fun to break things (as long as they do not have sentimental value.) I mean, it is really fun to break things. P...

What constitutes good design? For me, there are two parameters that stick out: 1. Do you know what building is pictured above? Even if you don't know exactly which building it is, can you guess what people do in it? It's a library- the Seattle public library. I got to visit this library during the fall and was completely enamored with the design. It is edgy and sunny and totally different than any other library I have ever been in (and trust me, I have been in my fair share.) This is good design because it is surprising but still relevant. You do not expect a library to look or feel like this one does, but once you get inside you realize that it works really well. Think of this as novelty with purpose . 2. Alright, do you know what this thing is? (This should be a little easier...) It's a car- a playsam toy car. Really, though, it's just a block of shiny, painted wood that rolls. This is super-successful design because it is soooo simple. Really exc...

Here are a few sketches from the first part of our flash-drive project. I like the first two concepts- they are simple and leave lots of room to experiment with color and materials. The last idea posted here is just fun...the bottom part of the drive has a big pair of sunglasses and the top (lid) is hair. You can swap the lids to make different personalities...

Here is the presentation on design process that I put together for my leadership class. It took a lot longer than the normal homework assignment would have taken, but I think it looks pretty sharp.

This quarter I am taking one class outside of DAAP : Creative problem solving and leadership (or something along those lines...you get the point.) Originally I thought it would be an interesting class, then it started a little slow, and now I am actually really enjoying reading the text book. There are a few excerpts that are especially pertinent to design and the design process: 1. "The main thinking skill... is Ideational Thinking (what!?!?!! ideation is a word!! hoorah !), which is the ability to produce original mental images and thoughts that respond to important challenges." 2. " Creativity , or the production of change, is a result of both thinking and emotion ; it is a matter of both the head and the heart. To create positive change, you must marry clear thinking with such emotional states as courage, risk taking, and tolerance for ambiguity." 3. "Without the interest that curiosity stimulates, it is unlikely that you will be motivated to put ...

ikea Originally uploaded by ralf dahlhaus I often wonder about how much of my day-to-day routine is impacted by the fact that I am a design student. For instance, this morning when I went to pull a spoon out of the drawer, I searched for my favorite. We have lots of spoons and forks and knives because each of the roommates brought their own to the house. There are a few pieces of cutlery from IKEA, and they are by far the best- they look the best and feel the best. Do 'normal' people think about that kind of stuff? Maybe it is more of a subconscious decision for most...

Our first 'real' des com (design communications) assignment of the quarter is the design a family of USB memory sticks for a chosen brand. I haven't quite decided which way to go yet, but there are three brands in the running: 1. Airstream- Mike mentioned this company in class today, and it sort of stuck in my brain. They are a very strong brand (very, very iconic), and the whole idea of a USB drive makes sense for them. The airstream product is all about traveling and seeing the world, and USB drives are all about being mobile. 2. Ray Ban- They have a strong brand that is a little more open for interpretation. I really love them, though, because of their range of materials. The different materials- and little details- could make it a lot of fun to design a ray ban USB drive. 3. Skull Candy- It's off the recommended list, and I love their bright colors. I think a lot of their designs are a little clunky and overworked, though...and that is not something t...

(above is the first page of my teaser...) Here you go folks... please be critical! teaser portfolio

During my research on Africa for the desktop computer studio, I have found that low-technology is as important- if not more important- as high-technology. What I mean is that people are better at doing more with less. They re-use objects we might consider to be inanimate (like the milk jug in the photo above being used as a pull toy.) This will play into my project considerably. How can I incorporate things that are readily available in Africa into my computer system, and how can I make the 'waste' from my new concept useful in some way? Here is a link to a good article about re-use in Africa. That article, and the photo above, both came from Afrigadget.com, which is a great resource on people being resourceful.

The above chart is from ozolife.com; click on it to be redirected to the source. It shows the energy efficiency of a number of laptops...I think its still relevant, though Also, how desktop computers work (whats on the inside, etc.) from howstuffworks.com is helpful in understanding the basics on computer technology.

Here is a new idea...its an umbrella stand that uses the collected water from wet umbrellas to water a little plant. It's charming and a nice concept, but I wonder how realistic it is... for one thing, who has umbrella stands? (perhaps I am just not at that point in my life yet...) for another, that poor plant wouldn't recieve any regular attention- unless, maybe, you lived in Seattle!? ( credit )

For the past few days I have been working on ideation sketches for our desktop computer project. This is one of my favorite stages of the process, but definitely one of the more time-consuming stages. Next up: A's!

A big part of industrial design- at least while we are still in school- is finding a valid problem to solve. During my research on Africa for our desktop computer project, I have been coming across a lot of resources (including this video) about e-waste. It is a big, serious problem with major health implications. Perhaps this is (the) problem I should go after?

From what I have learned, it is important as a designer to always keeps your eyes open for inspiration. That inspiration could come in the form of an egg sandwich (see last post) or other products (although I have heard people say not to look to other products for inspiration, but I think that is ridiculous.) Our class is quickly approaching the chair studio, and from watching the chair studio last summer, I think it is a really good idea to start thinking now. So, here are two chairs that really appeal to me... The first one is a bit industrial looking, but everyone is really loving felt right now. It's sustainable (or seems that way, at least) and practical. The second one is probably a little less realistic- and a little more high end- but it just looks really cool...and comfortable..

Egg Sandwich Originally uploaded by amanky I just have to say there is nothing quite as inspiring as an egg sandwich. It always gets the wheels turning...

One of the only movie teasers (or trailers) that has really stuck with me is the teaser for Pixar's 'The Incredibles .' It caught my attention because it sets up the story really well and adds an element of funny surprise. I also really appreciate the fact that, to the best of my knowledge, the teaser is not just a snippet from the actual film. It's its own entity, set up and scripted to get the viewer's attention and pull them into the movie- and get them to be willing to spend $10 on a movie ticket...

On any given weekend during school you can find me at the Echo. I'm not drinking coffee and sketching (usually)...I'm on the other side of the equation- waitressing . I've worked there for more than two years now, and I really enjoy it even though it's really hard work. In any case, before I left for my fall co-op I volunteered to re-do the menu. The current menu there is hard to read and ugly to look at. Of course, I didn't get to the menu until I got back to Cincinnati (too much sun in California...) So, now I have been working on the menu and some 'accessories' (like the nametag here) during school. It's not quite right- I should be devoting the time I am spending on the menu to school stuff- but I can't feel all bad about it because it is some design practice. I don't really know where to draw that line, though- when to back off and say, "I have to focus on school." I'll let you know if I ever figure that one out...

While I was on co-op in southern California I attended a conference on sustainable business at UCLA ( opportunity green ). One of the presenters there was from Patagonia. He told us the story of how the company got started- it all began as a couple guys building climbing hooks out of their garage. Slowly but surely they grew into the premier outdoor brand that they are today. The thing that stuck with me, though, is that they have stayed true to their origin. Being outside- whether it is for climbing, or some other adventure, is still their primary motivator. Because of that, Patagonia has become a pioneer in 'green' business practices. They are a very transparent company that is willing to share its victories and defeats with consumers in order to have a better end result. Check out their commitment to the environment here . Patagonia is a very strong brand because the name indicates quality as well as dedication to the environment. Right away, people understand the product ...

Today an unfortunate thing happened... after class, I went to the ladies' room (that's not the bad part.) After doing...well, what you do in such a place, I went to flush the toilet. It was one of those automatic contraptions with a little button in case the sensor isn't working. The problem today, though, was that neither the sensor nor the button were working. Eh gad. At that point, I didn't really have too many options. I had to just walk away, knowing that someone else would have to come behind me and remedy the situation. I walked away feeling like a bum, but what else was there to do? I certainly couldn't think of anything at the moment. So, then I started thinking- what sort of opportunities does this represent to me as a designer? Maybe it's a lesson that automated is not always better, or that the phone number of the custodian ought to be printed on the back of stall doors. I'm not really sure, but it got me thinking. (with thanks to Lawrence Whi...

By this point, I feel like I have seen a lot of industrial design portfolios. I've reviewed the portfolios of friends, offered feedback for underclassmen, and even swapped portfolios with co-ops from other schools (which is wildly interesting...from what I can tell, UC definitely has an edge with their work.) The most interesting thing I have seen, though, was at the Art Center graduation show a few weeks ago. Every single student had a business card. They ranged from simple and elegant to very creative, and by the end of the show my pocket was full. Many of the cards had contact information and a website where you could see the student's work. It seems like the perfect compromise between the print-out portfolios of the past and the digital portfolios today. Why not leave people with a creative, beautiful card that will point them toward the rest of your work? If it's good enough, they might even hold onto it- and show their friends. (The card pictured is not from the art ...

On the way back to Ohio from southern California, my mom and I visited the Dallas art museum. They had an exhibit by Olafur Eliasson full of experimental pieces of art that played with light, color, and a little science- all really cool stuff. You can find his website here.

To start things off, here is a little information about me, so you know where I stand... I believe in people. It's a really basic idea, but it's one of my primary motivations for design. I strongly believe that there is something of significance to gain from every interaction-whether large or small- with other people throughout any given day. That is why I have been a waitress for nearly five years now. The work is really hard and the customers are sometimes difficult, but at the end of the day the overall 'vibe' is usually a good one. I love my bicycles. I've had a bike for a long, long time, but just got my first road bike last year. Riding a road bike- fast- has the potential for being pure bliss. It also has the potential to be not a lot of fun, depending on how you are feeling or how hard you are pushing. That fascinates me. Perhaps most of all, though, I believe in fun. I think every product has the potential to help the consumer have fun and enjoy themselves....