PROJECT 3: Treasuring Time

HOURGLASS URN

The time i wanted to treasure was the entirety of someones life in memories. I chose to make an urn as a medium thought which to remember someone who was loved who is now lost.

The main concept of the urn is that it has a funnel type lid which when the ashes are poured through act like an hourglass which the family may sit around and watch and bring back all the memories surrounding the persons life. It can be used as a moment to sit silently and reminisce on the good times.

The urn also incorporates a base for it to sit on while on the mantle piece or shelf which has a light underneath to act as a nightlight and to remind the user that the person lost is still with them.

It is made from frosted glass so that the askes can be seen still through the urn which helps to remind the user that their loved one is still there inside.

Seymour Powell: Designing Dream Machines

Throughout the design process there are many factors that will influence the outcome of the design, each and every one must be treated equaly and adressed to the best of our ability to produce a quality and sucessful product that not only satisfies the needs of the consumer but also achieves the brief from the client, your main objective.

The video was very interesting as it raised many issues with the design process that all designers must endure for their project to be a sucess in the market place.

It explains about the conceptual stage and how it is that research and a broad spectrum of thinking that allows small ideas to develop into big outcomes. It was interesting looking at how all the steps taken in designing and modeling and marketing all make a huge difference in the end, and that it is attention to detail in the small areas that can have the biggest effect on the final outcome.

Task Four - BAD DESIGN

WINDOW SWITCHES

I noticed in my car that it is quite confusing which window switch to use for which window and also the direction to pull or push the switch to get the window to go up or down.

This picture shows the existing design. As you can see the design requires text for the driver to understand which button for which window. However it is ironic that in designing what i would have thought to be a safe car, you must draw your eyes from the road towards the switches to see which window to put down which means that you are no longer looking at where you are going.

The other problem with the design is that the buttons are push and pull back and forward. This is in no way indicative of which way raises and lowers the window making it even more difficult for the driver to easily put his or her window down.

I believe that a good design for a window switch would be one that is very easily understood by the user and also very easily found by the user without having to take his or her eyes off the road.

I have thus come up with this idea of rearranging the buttons to help the user to more clearly understand which button is for which window and which way to push the button without having to read any instructions or take their eyes off the road.

This greatly improves the users ability to understand which button is for which window as they are placed beside eachother and when mounted in the car are on the left and right side. also as the panel is mounted verticaly not horizontaly it is common sense that to put the window up you push the switch up and to put the window down you push it down.

This design requires no text at all to instruct the driver what to do and which switch to use. I've also added the window lock button underneath for easy acess and in a conveinient place.

Sketch of it in the car. Notice the enlarged buttons and also that its angled towards the driver so that it is easily acessible.

notes read:

larger for easier find

directional so no need for words to explain

beside eachother to suggest which side is for which window

angled towards the driver

The design also features a window lock button and a door lock button conviniently placed underneath and a door pocket at the bottom for phone, money etc.