FUTURE CITY MOBILITY

Found this whilst looking around on the net.....pretty amazing technology

"The brief was basicly to look at the traffic situation in London for the year 2030. Our concept was to create a car-free-zone in the central of London, called London Garden. Inside this zone we developed a system created around bicycles. Allowing a special designed bicycle/scooter to be well integrated with the infrastructure aswell as becoming a part of the interior of the busses and taxis. Inside London Garden, the users have more awerness of the individual energy consumption. In fact, the energy that you create while biking is used as a currency while docking the bicycle into the bus or taxi. "

(Pictures from http://martenwallgren.blogspot.com/2009/06/winner-seymourpowell-award-for.html )


More info at the website above!!!

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.

POSTAL PRESENTS

iPod Flat Case

After recieving in the mail each christmas and birthday from my uncle an iTunes gift card, i realised that there can be more to a $20 card of music credit included in the package to better sense that you care about what the reciever is interested in.

The idea behing my iPod flat case, is that along with sending your loved ones an itunes gift card, a personalised (by music genre) protective case comes with the card to give the reciever more of a feeling of being understood and known by their relatives, or friends as they have taken interest in what they like instead of just sending a generic card with $20 credit

As shown in the instructions the case and card both pop out of the same piece of A4 EVA foam to be manipulated and folded to create the case.

the case comes in many different styles, depending on different genres of music. some examples are bellow:

These two made from black and white leather are suited to the country music style whereas the designs i made in 3D form are for rave and punk rock genres.

The punk style case features metal stud clips and tartan upholstery to give teenage rock feel.

The rave edition features glow in the dark lining and a glow in the dark laser light pattern on the outside.

STORY OF STUFF - Annie Leonard

The video raised some very important and very interesting issues with the way we live today.

It was amazing to hear the extent of the damage we cause to the earth and its resources just to have our products which are designed to only last for a certain time, which in the long run makes for more money to the corporations and the government. its interesting to hear that quote in the 1950's about america being so inspired to buy and consume that it would become ritual. This is how i see the world today, as governments being a big corporation revolved around money and nothing else.

another interesting point raised was about advertising and how it makes you feel bad about what you have, as apposed to advertising a good, to make you feel like you NEED it in order to feel more accepted.

overall the video had some very important issues about the way of producing goods in the future and also recycling to improve on and help to fix all the damage we have caused so far in our world of greed.


8/10

EXPERIENCE ENRICHMENT

ERGO SLICE

For my project, i aimed it at mainly a female market, specifically a housewife, middle aged 27-40 who spends a lot of time in the kitchen preparing and cooking food for the family. Through research i found that there are many knives that claim to be ergonomic in design but seem to just be rounded.

My approach to the design brief was to create a very comfortable, ergonimic, easy to clean and easy to use knife that will provide the user with the confidence in blade shapness and durability.

EXPERIENCE ENRICHMENT

• Ergonomic handle - fits palm and expends to give more leverage



• Sleek woman shape with rounded edges and smooth lines



• 2 different grips - also left and right handed



• made from ceramic zirconium oxide - no pores = no bacteria buildup



• ceramic knives stay sharp longer and are much sharper than stainless steel



• No joins to breed bacteria in - one piece mould



• Easy to wash - dishwasher safe



• Sintered oxide bonds powder particles together by Closing pores, no pores-no bacteria



• Flex thin ceramic - shock absorb properties



• Metal insert to make compatible with megnetic rack

4 PLEASURES

PYSICAL

• comfortable



• shock absorbing



• easy wash

SOCIAL

• Stylish and round to match modern kitchen



• bonds with user by fitting hand

PHYSIOLOGICAL

• Safe



• Hygenic



• Comforting to use

IDEOLOGICAL

• Confidence in quality with ceramic



• new technologies in ceramic makes user feel superior