Monday, September 20, 2010
Project 1 - Slimline Spoons - Rationale
Looking at the existing measuring spoons it was found that most were made of plastic making them very cheap looking and to bright for the modern home. There were also spoons made of only stainless steel making them very industrial looking, to common and commercial for a high class professional women. There was no real beauty in this kitchen utensil. There was no elegant or sophistication to match these women.
These measuring spoons are targeted at professional, high class women who live in much organised, big contemporary homes. These women want something simple, slimming, practical, compactable and contemporary to match the overall appearance of their home decor. Their homes may consist of objects made of stainless steel, plastic or ceramic with simplistic organic and plain shapes with sleek appearances. So through the form proposed being very elongated and streamlining has enable to uncapture the language of these people being simple and fluid. The shape provokes a classy and contemporary vibe that flows. The addition of the rubber black band offers a new contemporary and easy method to collate the spoons together rather the common chain and nesting method.
Problems like the handle not being long enough to hold to scoop in deeper packages or containers and sitting flat on the bench while not in use were also resolved. By applying a flat base to the spoon, it will not rock and topple the contents out and making the handle longer than existing one will allow reaching in deeper places. By doing so not only added to the form but was able to construct one that articulates this target market. This makes the measuring spoon functionally better by scooping easy, being decorative as well as practical.
It being this shape also complies with the standard function of being a measuring spoon as the proportional shape is able to hold the capacity of all four sizes – 1 tablespoon, ½ teaspoon, ¼ teaspoon and 1 teaspoon within a unified shape. The unified shape also articulates a contemporary simplistic idea that conformity brings out beauty in an object. These women also buy objects for their beauty which through this shape provides a sense of beauty that can add to the decor of the house. Also the way you put them together adds to the visual appeal. They can be collated together 3 ways and tied with the band.
The width, length and depth of the handles are able to ergonomically fit that of a women’s thumb comfortably. The long square handles add pleasure for the user as they are thin and wide enough to place the thumb and the finger on. The thinner end invites the user to hold it from this end. The slim feel has even movability which reflects easy usability.
These spoons are made of high gloss white ceramics as it suits the style of these women being simple and generic but adds value and class to a kitchen utensil. The choice of using ceramics for the measuring spoons was as they can be easily washed like plates, they retain their shape are lightweight and aren’t bulky shaped. Using the ceramics enhances a high quality standard these people want. It being high gloss provides that level of visual quality and beauty in appearance and sophistication that these women want in their homes.
The colour white conveys the idea of cleanliness which is what a kitchen tool should provide as these women are concerned about their health and the food they consume. The single colour use on these measuring spoons reflects the simple and delicate personalities of these women. They have easy going lifestyles which they don’t want complicated. So the measuring spoons being formed in such a way to fit within each other, stackable, enhances their want and need to be easy accessible and simple.
These measuring spoons are targeted at professional, high class women who live in much organised, big contemporary homes. These women want something simple, slimming, practical, compactable and contemporary to match the overall appearance of their home decor. Their homes may consist of objects made of stainless steel, plastic or ceramic with simplistic organic and plain shapes with sleek appearances. So through the form proposed being very elongated and streamlining has enable to uncapture the language of these people being simple and fluid. The shape provokes a classy and contemporary vibe that flows. The addition of the rubber black band offers a new contemporary and easy method to collate the spoons together rather the common chain and nesting method.
Problems like the handle not being long enough to hold to scoop in deeper packages or containers and sitting flat on the bench while not in use were also resolved. By applying a flat base to the spoon, it will not rock and topple the contents out and making the handle longer than existing one will allow reaching in deeper places. By doing so not only added to the form but was able to construct one that articulates this target market. This makes the measuring spoon functionally better by scooping easy, being decorative as well as practical.
It being this shape also complies with the standard function of being a measuring spoon as the proportional shape is able to hold the capacity of all four sizes – 1 tablespoon, ½ teaspoon, ¼ teaspoon and 1 teaspoon within a unified shape. The unified shape also articulates a contemporary simplistic idea that conformity brings out beauty in an object. These women also buy objects for their beauty which through this shape provides a sense of beauty that can add to the decor of the house. Also the way you put them together adds to the visual appeal. They can be collated together 3 ways and tied with the band.
The width, length and depth of the handles are able to ergonomically fit that of a women’s thumb comfortably. The long square handles add pleasure for the user as they are thin and wide enough to place the thumb and the finger on. The thinner end invites the user to hold it from this end. The slim feel has even movability which reflects easy usability.
These spoons are made of high gloss white ceramics as it suits the style of these women being simple and generic but adds value and class to a kitchen utensil. The choice of using ceramics for the measuring spoons was as they can be easily washed like plates, they retain their shape are lightweight and aren’t bulky shaped. Using the ceramics enhances a high quality standard these people want. It being high gloss provides that level of visual quality and beauty in appearance and sophistication that these women want in their homes.
The colour white conveys the idea of cleanliness which is what a kitchen tool should provide as these women are concerned about their health and the food they consume. The single colour use on these measuring spoons reflects the simple and delicate personalities of these women. They have easy going lifestyles which they don’t want complicated. So the measuring spoons being formed in such a way to fit within each other, stackable, enhances their want and need to be easy accessible and simple.
Project 1 - Slimline Spoons - Moodboard
These measuring spoons are targeted at professional, high class women who live in much organised, big contemporary homes. These women want something simple, slimming, practical, compactable and contemporary to match the overall appearance of their home decor. Their homes may consist of objects made of stainless steel, plastic or ceramic with simplistic organic and plain shapes with sleek appearances.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Task 6: Objectified
The main idea of the Objectifies documentary was how objects speak as to who put them there. It is indicated that when we see an object we make assumptions about it in seconds. We analysis it personally through function, weight and cost. We think about how that designer thought of it, developed it, manufactured it. Now taking it from the designers and manufactures point of view they think about how it connects to you, its feel, smell, touch and how you hold it – ERGONOMICS but also the materials, forms, colours and textures used and issues associated.
We are introduced to Alice Rawsthorn who talks about how the main goal of industrial design is mass production. She sees how products are produced to be consumed by millions of people, ranges of different target markets rather than one. It was seen from Chinas Emperor that each bow was made differently to fit the persons bow. This came to reason that they had to standardise sizes to fit all. She continues about how designs are taken for granted due to the familiarly of them. E.g. posted notes, people don’t realise that we are surrounded by objects that are designed one way or another for people.
“Every object tells a story if you know how to read it” by Henry Ford. Andrew Blauvelt articulates this through how each object has a story, a decision made about the object. His example of the Japanese toothpick – at the end of the toothpick it has groves so it could be broken to signify usage but also acts as a tiny rest for the tooth pick when not in use. This is a cultural context but it may not be used this way because the US doesn’t read it that way.
Dan Formosa indicated that every designer’s common interest is to understand people and what their needs are in any area. Designers design for the extremes, weakest, people with disease, athletes etc. not specifics of age or gender because they understand them. David Stowell tells a story on how a friend’s wife had trouble with the peeler due to arthritis. A product that people don’t really think about can be explored to fit these peoples need through comfort but also other people generally.
Agnete Enga indicated how to understand a person is to understand the product through experiences like trialling existing products and find the pressure points, frictional points. E.g. the hedge cutter with straight edges is squeezed harder if the tool is used downwards as it has to be held off the ground so creating a curved hand reduces that. Through prototyping they are able to control the ergonomics of design. So mainly looking how everyday objects can be redesigned to improve people’s interaction, use and daily life.
Dieter Rams wants a positive reaction, a clean understanding of things. He doesn’t like objects that aren’t necessary. He says that good design is innovative, makes a product useful, aesthetically pleasing, understandable, honest, unobstuctive, long living, consistent in every detail, environmentally friendly and possible. There are only a few companies that do so. One is Apple. Jonathan Ive, senior VP of Apples philosophy is that “a design is the way that you look at the world”, why things are designed the way they are. We are constantly designing. When a product is designed we can see the thought behind it. The ways we design are through attributes that may be through materials or forms. He communicates the beauty of an object by making 6 parts from just one. E.g. the Ibook Mac screen cut out used to make the key board frame. He makes it clear that manufacturing and testing is a key point in design. He also emphasises that if a part is not indicating something, it shouldn’t be there.
The documentary continues saying that we are going into a generation were the form doesn’t bear any of the function. E.g. the iphone, its form doesn’t indicate its application. Whereas in the antilog stages with no electronics the form follows function worked. E.g. a spoon indicates through shape it is used to feed with.
The micro chip has replaced this providing led tension and conflicts in designs. There are 3 stages 1. Formal relationship 2. Symbolism – the content of the object and language it portrays to its use 3. Contextual text – the technological, ergonomics of an object. We as designers are always looking for form through different processes to get them. Two French designers articulate that they understand what people need better than they do ergonomically and space. They want to create an appropriate product to make the consumer feel happy. They design simply so they can maximise the unity and melody in the object.
Marc Newson approaches design through the interest in materials. He looks at the materials to use and finds a way to use it instead of the other way around. He wants to design for the future, design for an external frame of reference. His philopshy is to be non disposable – objects that will not date badly. He also believes that a product “designed” should not mean it costs more. Designers use that to their advantage for marketing. Paola Antonellie says that having an expensive piece of design doesn’t mean you’re rich.
Target developed the fundamental purpose of design being something you want, it distinguishes you. The documentary states that it’s no always a group of designers solving the top ten issues but developing things for a company. This can be developing things with a newer look but the problem is that everyone is also trying to do this. These are always changing. BMW says that designer’s think of the emotional energy given off their cars even though it is bending the plastic or metal as a way of changing a car every season. Design is a story told through an object that reflects you.
The documentary comes to an end articulating how designers are really making an affect and making a change. But most importantly design has to be sustainable. Why are we designing for 10% of the world when we should be design for the other 90% as well which don’t even have the basics. Sustainability is not only able recycling the product materials but more about redesigning a product that can be disposed of ethically and environmentally friendly. Things should be permanent if we want new things all the time. It’s not only about created but also disposing.
We are introduced to Alice Rawsthorn who talks about how the main goal of industrial design is mass production. She sees how products are produced to be consumed by millions of people, ranges of different target markets rather than one. It was seen from Chinas Emperor that each bow was made differently to fit the persons bow. This came to reason that they had to standardise sizes to fit all. She continues about how designs are taken for granted due to the familiarly of them. E.g. posted notes, people don’t realise that we are surrounded by objects that are designed one way or another for people.
“Every object tells a story if you know how to read it” by Henry Ford. Andrew Blauvelt articulates this through how each object has a story, a decision made about the object. His example of the Japanese toothpick – at the end of the toothpick it has groves so it could be broken to signify usage but also acts as a tiny rest for the tooth pick when not in use. This is a cultural context but it may not be used this way because the US doesn’t read it that way.
Dan Formosa indicated that every designer’s common interest is to understand people and what their needs are in any area. Designers design for the extremes, weakest, people with disease, athletes etc. not specifics of age or gender because they understand them. David Stowell tells a story on how a friend’s wife had trouble with the peeler due to arthritis. A product that people don’t really think about can be explored to fit these peoples need through comfort but also other people generally.
Agnete Enga indicated how to understand a person is to understand the product through experiences like trialling existing products and find the pressure points, frictional points. E.g. the hedge cutter with straight edges is squeezed harder if the tool is used downwards as it has to be held off the ground so creating a curved hand reduces that. Through prototyping they are able to control the ergonomics of design. So mainly looking how everyday objects can be redesigned to improve people’s interaction, use and daily life.
Dieter Rams wants a positive reaction, a clean understanding of things. He doesn’t like objects that aren’t necessary. He says that good design is innovative, makes a product useful, aesthetically pleasing, understandable, honest, unobstuctive, long living, consistent in every detail, environmentally friendly and possible. There are only a few companies that do so. One is Apple. Jonathan Ive, senior VP of Apples philosophy is that “a design is the way that you look at the world”, why things are designed the way they are. We are constantly designing. When a product is designed we can see the thought behind it. The ways we design are through attributes that may be through materials or forms. He communicates the beauty of an object by making 6 parts from just one. E.g. the Ibook Mac screen cut out used to make the key board frame. He makes it clear that manufacturing and testing is a key point in design. He also emphasises that if a part is not indicating something, it shouldn’t be there.
The documentary continues saying that we are going into a generation were the form doesn’t bear any of the function. E.g. the iphone, its form doesn’t indicate its application. Whereas in the antilog stages with no electronics the form follows function worked. E.g. a spoon indicates through shape it is used to feed with.
The micro chip has replaced this providing led tension and conflicts in designs. There are 3 stages 1. Formal relationship 2. Symbolism – the content of the object and language it portrays to its use 3. Contextual text – the technological, ergonomics of an object. We as designers are always looking for form through different processes to get them. Two French designers articulate that they understand what people need better than they do ergonomically and space. They want to create an appropriate product to make the consumer feel happy. They design simply so they can maximise the unity and melody in the object.
Marc Newson approaches design through the interest in materials. He looks at the materials to use and finds a way to use it instead of the other way around. He wants to design for the future, design for an external frame of reference. His philopshy is to be non disposable – objects that will not date badly. He also believes that a product “designed” should not mean it costs more. Designers use that to their advantage for marketing. Paola Antonellie says that having an expensive piece of design doesn’t mean you’re rich.
Target developed the fundamental purpose of design being something you want, it distinguishes you. The documentary states that it’s no always a group of designers solving the top ten issues but developing things for a company. This can be developing things with a newer look but the problem is that everyone is also trying to do this. These are always changing. BMW says that designer’s think of the emotional energy given off their cars even though it is bending the plastic or metal as a way of changing a car every season. Design is a story told through an object that reflects you.
The documentary comes to an end articulating how designers are really making an affect and making a change. But most importantly design has to be sustainable. Why are we designing for 10% of the world when we should be design for the other 90% as well which don’t even have the basics. Sustainability is not only able recycling the product materials but more about redesigning a product that can be disposed of ethically and environmentally friendly. Things should be permanent if we want new things all the time. It’s not only about created but also disposing.
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