Thursday, October 23, 2008

Project Three: Treasuring Time


The treasuring time project was given to create an object that would celebrate, record or remind its user about a treasuring time but the object should go beyond traditional memory preserves. In response to the project aim, I made wire tree for reminding 'Christmas card exchange' moment. I have done many experiments with different sizes of wire to find proper size for my product. Through all the experiments I choose 1.25mm wire size as it is strong enough to hold a Christmas card and still flexibly easy to bend by hand.


Basically the wire tree suppose to place on a dinner table on Christmas Eve (could be any memorable day as well). And each family member writes down a Christmas card for other family members and hangs it all together on the wire tree before starting dinner. During dinner time, every family member exchanges their Christmas card and enjoys the memorable day together. The idea behind Christmas card exchange should be reminding each other’s treasuring moment and enjoying the Christmas spirit in an interactive way through the wire tree.


Monday, October 6, 2008

Task 6: Video Reflections (Designing Dream Machines)

Basically this video shows how the real design industry process and operate through many different steps within in-depth consideration and response to client’s request. I was very surprised that designer can not design a product as their wish but should follow the client’s request, even though their client does not have practical design knowledge. Probably some designers will be stressed when they have to design a product against their wish. However the video remains that designer always has to respect their client’s decision whether or not they like it, because it is essential rule between client and server.

This video was very informative for industrial design student. It was good opportunity to see real working environment and gain indirect experience of industrial designer’s life. After watching this video, my perspective of industrial designer has changed a bit. But It is still helpful to think beyond and see the real design world in a right way.

Task 4: Bad Design



Here is the control panel in the elevator of Old Main Building in UNSW. I often feel inconvenience when I use this elevator. Imagine that you are standing elevator and you push the button for the 2nd floor to go up to your classroom. Nothing happens. The button doesn’t show any response to user request.




I saw someone get on the elevator and push the button. The elevator doesn’t show any response. He tries pushing some of the other floor buttons. Still nothing happen. He begin to wonder whether the elevator is working or not, but a few seconds later he realised that it works and the elevator will stop every floor..... What a bad control panel!


Another problem is it’s hard to find the current floor number because the very tiny small size number shows the current floor level. Basically the display is not clear and distinguishable to communicate with users.


Design suggestion
The elevator does not communicate well with users and it makes confusion when people get on the elevator and push the button. To avoid this confusion, the control button should show some response to user request as illuminate a button or emit a soft ticking sound.