Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Video Reflection: The Story of Stuff
The text book saids that the production system have 4 major steps, products move from extraction to production, then to distribution then to consumption and finally to be disposed. But in fact, there is a lot missing from this explanation. Annie Leonard’s video is showing a reality of process in production and to inform people that we should find a new way of production to save our environment.
People play a very important role in the whole production system. People from government and corporations have a lot of effect on the system, government has the right to control the whole system, this is usually done in the in the interest of public good, but as corporation grown, it’s become bigger than government, so it become more effect on the whole market and this in turn affect the opinion of the government.
Through this video, I realize that, the production process, not only brings benefits to the consumers, but also can also do negative things to the environment and our health. Extraction is the first step, factory taking the nature resource form forest, rivers. This brings us to our first problem, we are using too much resources, and we are running out of resources. In fact 1/3 of natural resources have been consumed. In US, only less than 4%of original forest left, so people decide to take resource from third world countries, but after a while the third world will also become trashed, however to the corporations the people who lived there have less ability to buying stuff, they don’t have much value.
The synthetic chemicals used during the operations another problem of concern. As all we knew “toxic in, toxic out”. Those chemicals are added into products and directly exposed to people’s body, it could also effects people’s next generation. The chemical waste is a tragedy to our live. It makes 40% of the worlds water way to become undrinkable. Government should protect people from been contact with those chemicals, but they encourages people to buy, market keep the prices down, keep people buying and keep inventory moving. An important process to the distribution, people are paying for the stuff they buy, this is called externalized costs.
Consumption is the golden arrow, it makes the production system work. In the fact, only 1% of product can be still in use after a longtime, 99% of products are designed for through away, this means that we are continue to buying stuff and repeat it over and over again. Another way to increase the consumption is to change the looks of the product.
Disposing those wastes is also a way to produce toxic chemicals. People disposing Trash by burning them in incinerators and dumped them into landfill. During this process, powerful toxic chemicals are released into the air, which is harmful to environment and people.
I thought it is the time to find a way to protect our environment. This video has deeply influenced me to be cautious about the stuff I buy.
People play a very important role in the whole production system. People from government and corporations have a lot of effect on the system, government has the right to control the whole system, this is usually done in the in the interest of public good, but as corporation grown, it’s become bigger than government, so it become more effect on the whole market and this in turn affect the opinion of the government.
Through this video, I realize that, the production process, not only brings benefits to the consumers, but also can also do negative things to the environment and our health. Extraction is the first step, factory taking the nature resource form forest, rivers. This brings us to our first problem, we are using too much resources, and we are running out of resources. In fact 1/3 of natural resources have been consumed. In US, only less than 4%of original forest left, so people decide to take resource from third world countries, but after a while the third world will also become trashed, however to the corporations the people who lived there have less ability to buying stuff, they don’t have much value.
The synthetic chemicals used during the operations another problem of concern. As all we knew “toxic in, toxic out”. Those chemicals are added into products and directly exposed to people’s body, it could also effects people’s next generation. The chemical waste is a tragedy to our live. It makes 40% of the worlds water way to become undrinkable. Government should protect people from been contact with those chemicals, but they encourages people to buy, market keep the prices down, keep people buying and keep inventory moving. An important process to the distribution, people are paying for the stuff they buy, this is called externalized costs.
Consumption is the golden arrow, it makes the production system work. In the fact, only 1% of product can be still in use after a longtime, 99% of products are designed for through away, this means that we are continue to buying stuff and repeat it over and over again. Another way to increase the consumption is to change the looks of the product.
Disposing those wastes is also a way to produce toxic chemicals. People disposing Trash by burning them in incinerators and dumped them into landfill. During this process, powerful toxic chemicals are released into the air, which is harmful to environment and people.
I thought it is the time to find a way to protect our environment. This video has deeply influenced me to be cautious about the stuff I buy.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
reflection on emotional design
In this video, Donald Norman discusses the emotional response that product design have on the consumer. He point out that in his new life is consumed of trying to figure out what beauty is about, pretty and emotions. He talking about emotional design and divided it into three levels, visceral, behavioral and reflective, with different level, he also give examples to explain how these levels works in emotional design.
Norman argues that the emotional response of the consumer is influenced by how we view the product. A good design works on different emotive values.
The first level is the visceral level, this is how we see the product. This include the shape and colour of the item. For this he give us the example of the colour and the font of the stylized word visceral and how the red and curve of the word brings the word to our attention.
The second level in which a product affect us is the behavioral level and this are govened by our sub-conscious. Norman states that a product should engage our emotions.
The last level that the product should engage us is the reflective level. For the design to engage us in the reflective level then then the product need to affect our egos and ultimately how we think of ourselves. Examples of effective products that engage us on the emotive level change how we perceive others view us. This include the HUMMER and expensive watches which is more of a status symbol then functional.
Don Norman argues that ultimately a product's ability to engage us emotionally are more important than it's function. He give us an example of a juicer he have in his home, a special edition of the famous design by Phillipe Starck, he tells us that people do not buy the juicer for it's function but purchase it for its beauty. This made me realize that sometimes if the product is fun, it is enough reason for people to buy it. However, the ideal product combines beauty with functionality, the knife made in Japan which both have a perfect shape and is beautiful balanced, is an example of a better product , Don Norman said it’s a both a beautiful and functional product, a true delight to use.
I think the functional properties are not the only thing that let people to make choose between products but also aesthetical properties. To give an emotion response to the target user is becomes very important, but there is no way that a product only gives an aesthetically pleasing but without functionally. To design a product with not only looks perfect and neat but also gives fun and sense of security to user is what a designer will do in the future.
Norman argues that the emotional response of the consumer is influenced by how we view the product. A good design works on different emotive values.
The first level is the visceral level, this is how we see the product. This include the shape and colour of the item. For this he give us the example of the colour and the font of the stylized word visceral and how the red and curve of the word brings the word to our attention.
The second level in which a product affect us is the behavioral level and this are govened by our sub-conscious. Norman states that a product should engage our emotions.
The last level that the product should engage us is the reflective level. For the design to engage us in the reflective level then then the product need to affect our egos and ultimately how we think of ourselves. Examples of effective products that engage us on the emotive level change how we perceive others view us. This include the HUMMER and expensive watches which is more of a status symbol then functional.
Don Norman argues that ultimately a product's ability to engage us emotionally are more important than it's function. He give us an example of a juicer he have in his home, a special edition of the famous design by Phillipe Starck, he tells us that people do not buy the juicer for it's function but purchase it for its beauty. This made me realize that sometimes if the product is fun, it is enough reason for people to buy it. However, the ideal product combines beauty with functionality, the knife made in Japan which both have a perfect shape and is beautiful balanced, is an example of a better product , Don Norman said it’s a both a beautiful and functional product, a true delight to use.
I think the functional properties are not the only thing that let people to make choose between products but also aesthetical properties. To give an emotion response to the target user is becomes very important, but there is no way that a product only gives an aesthetically pleasing but without functionally. To design a product with not only looks perfect and neat but also gives fun and sense of security to user is what a designer will do in the future.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Task 4: Design Excellence
The product i had is the GROHE rainshower collection. it's a series of shower system which is working on the principle of water saving. design a shower system to let people enjoy water and save water at the same time is the aim of GROHE's products. i have realised that the functional properties is more important than what it is looks like. To achieve both functional and aesthetic aespects,a designer have to put a lot of effort. Designers play a role to Upgrading a bathroom to a functional, design-focused space and makes it to become a simple and affordable option for everyone.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
David Kelly on Human centred design
In the TED presentation video, David Kelly discussed the recent trend in the design industry. In general David commented on recent innovative consumer products being 'Human orientated', that is having human interaction and behaviour as the core design philosophy. I believe that this is a positive development in the design industry and a direction which is very similar to that of my own ideas about design.
First of all I was amazed by the technologies that they are using in the Prada store in New York. The thing that most impressed me was the ‘magic mirror’. This device allowed the customer to view them self from behind in the fitting room. I think it is so much more convenient for customers. The designers take the adventure of the technology to integrate the function of mirrors and the express the idea of the human centre design. Also the crystal display screen in the fitting room is another feature that I really like. It perfectly shows that what development on technology can bring to us. Those products make the Prada store more attractive.
The pavilion recycled water display is another effective use of design. The use of glass and the water flow represent the purpose of is pavilion very successful, it’s also create a sense of quiet and make is looks attractive.
The ‘Spyfish’ is another representative of the idea of human centre design. It is mainly focus on the people who cannot scuba diving by themselves. It made with a controllable bathysphere with camera to makes more people can experience the feeling of scuba diving. In the past, this kind of technology only use for discover hypo benthos. But now it is becomes more commercial and let more people have a change to have this experience.
After watching the video I am very pleased on the direction that design are taking. The products become less about profit margins and more about the end consumer and functionality. The products explained in the video is designed with the benefit of the consumer in mind and trives to make every day life simpler and more enjoyable.
I hope that the products that I design in the future will be able to make the life of someone a little easier.
First of all I was amazed by the technologies that they are using in the Prada store in New York. The thing that most impressed me was the ‘magic mirror’. This device allowed the customer to view them self from behind in the fitting room. I think it is so much more convenient for customers. The designers take the adventure of the technology to integrate the function of mirrors and the express the idea of the human centre design. Also the crystal display screen in the fitting room is another feature that I really like. It perfectly shows that what development on technology can bring to us. Those products make the Prada store more attractive.
The pavilion recycled water display is another effective use of design. The use of glass and the water flow represent the purpose of is pavilion very successful, it’s also create a sense of quiet and make is looks attractive.
The ‘Spyfish’ is another representative of the idea of human centre design. It is mainly focus on the people who cannot scuba diving by themselves. It made with a controllable bathysphere with camera to makes more people can experience the feeling of scuba diving. In the past, this kind of technology only use for discover hypo benthos. But now it is becomes more commercial and let more people have a change to have this experience.
After watching the video I am very pleased on the direction that design are taking. The products become less about profit margins and more about the end consumer and functionality. The products explained in the video is designed with the benefit of the consumer in mind and trives to make every day life simpler and more enjoyable.
I hope that the products that I design in the future will be able to make the life of someone a little easier.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
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