Product Sketching

Paul Bennett: Design is in the details

Paul Bennett's main message can be summed up in that final quote, "pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win". Bennett shows that designers dont have to do grand and groundbreaking designs to be successful at being a designer, you just need to design something well.

His view that we should look at things from the way that people will interact with the product, instead of what the client wants is a strong take home message. The Hospital was a good example of that, where he showed his clients a video of what it is like for a patient to lie in bed.

Also not designing things to look good, but to do their job in the most efficient matter according the situation is another thing I firmly believe in, and Bennett shows that is something that can sometimes go missing in the design industry. The water pump showed us how a good design does not have to be flashy, and can have a massive impact on the world around us. This seems to be something that I have taken out of all the videos I have seen, and its very inspirational stuff.

Yves Behar: Creating objects that tell stories

Yves Behar clearly has a passion for design, and his message that designers can change the world, is one that I believe, and is one reflected by other designers as shown in the other videos we watched over the past few weeks. the XO laptop is one good example of that.

Also the way he designs a product to have more than just one function, the water bottle, for instance and the folding stool and table. Also the way designers design more than just the outside of the product, but rather "design from the inside-out".

Ross Lovegrove: Organic Design

What Ross Lovegrove pretty much says, is that form is important, and that just by looking at nature you can find the perfect designs. He is pretty much saying we are doing natures work in a much smaller time frame.

He argues that design should be functional and the product should be designed to the bare minimum so that there is more efficiency. I agree with all this, I think its great to have a product that is extremely functional and efficient. Lovegrove is also a great fan of organic material and also new materials which still haven't been used widely, for example magnesium and bio polymers. These ideas are great, and some people would argue that he is ahead of his time, however a lot of people would also say his head is in the clouds, like when he was rejected by the people at Sony, when he said how they could surpass Apple.

Lovegrove shows that designers can lead the way in the technological and materials science parts of the world, and not just specialists in those fields. He finds practical ways to use new and better materials, but also shows how designers can be inspired by nature as well.

David Kelley: human centred design

If ever you start to feel like design is not for you, watch this video. After watching it it reminded me why I wanted to design. The futuristic products, the way we can enhance life, and do it stylishly.

The Prada store was a fantastic way of how shops could be like in the future. The innovation of the scanners which allow you to see how a product looks on the cat walk for instance, really allows humans to interact and develop some connection with the product they are purchasing. Also the very cool change rooms, and the way that clothes taken inside are recorded to help reduce theft (although it wasn't mentioned, you would think that was one of the main reasons for doing it), and for helping you decide what was right. The LCD screens which act like the primitive curtains or doors we have now, and of course the delayed mirror which allows you to look at your back is genius.

Another inspirational thin was the designer in Kenya. How one man, and a designer at that could have such a massive impact, but also provide such an improvement to society as well, not by just increasing their bank balances, but by increasing their quality of living, allowing them to grow crops all year round.

David also talks positively about how designers are being taken far more seriously in the business world, showing that design really is an exciting and important field to enter.

Task 2: Good design

NYC Condom Dispenser

Designer: Fuseproject

Finalist in Reasearch category, IDEA 2008






The New York City condom dispenser is exactly that, a condom dispenser found around New York City. There was an alarming rate of unprotected unwanted pregnancies and HIV infections in the city, so the NYC department of health and mental hygiene set out a way to combat this. Having these dispensers provide free NYC condoms to anybody, yes they are free. Designed by Fuseproject, the dispenser is supposed to be approachable and friendly, and was described as:

"Reminiscent of a condom shape warped into the surface of one's leather wallet, the NYC Condom Dispenser's approachable shape and friendly brand helps create an air of openness and acceptance, thus removing the stigma of the condom as something to be ashamed off."

While dispensing condom's for free is by no means a new thing in NYC, the way that they have been dispensed will hopefully change with this new and improved dispenser. Previously you either had to go to a clinic to get the condoms of a fellow person, which could be embarrassing for some, and old dispensers are very uninviting.

Design:

Line: Smooth flowing lines, creating a feeling of warmth and a friendly feeling
Form: Bulbous, round with a dimple in the middle. This makes it look cute, and therefore harmless and friendly.
Form: The logo in the centre is fun and bold. The colours of the words 'condom' highlight the effect.
Contrast: The fun bold logo, compared to the friendly and warm shape of the dispenser.
Contrast: The bright, bold and fun colours of the logo, compared to the very neutral colours of the dispenser.
Contrast: The neutral boring colours, compared to the actual function of the dispenser.
Texture: The dispenser looks very shiny and smooth, it could be either metallic or plastic, yet it manages to still keep that warm feeling, not found in those materials.
Colour: The colour of the actual dispenser is very neutral, either a glossy black or a shiny silver. Both are not really colours but shades, and you would think it would not go well with the function of the dispenser. Warm, fun or bold colours would probably seem more effective, however I believe that if they had used such colours, it may have brought more attention to the dispenser, as someone uses it. This all of a sudden creates a feeling the user is being watched and would feel uncomfortable, regardless of the situation. I believe the netral colours to blend in with the background was genius.



References:
http://www.idsa.org/IDEA Awards/gallery/2008/award details.asp?ID=35918331
http://gizmodo.com/356700/new-nyc-condom-dispensers-are-flying-pucks-of-prophylactics
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/pr2007/pr008-07.shtml

Task 1: Shape of a scent