Story of stuff- Annie Leonard

Annie Leonard has spent 10years traveling the world tracking where our stuff comes from and
where it goes, to uncover a system that is in crisis. The production of stuff moves in stages from extraction to production to distribution to consumption to disposal. All together, it’s called the materials economy. The problem with the manufacturing and disposal system is that it is linear system, and on a planet that has limited resources, the system is unsustainable.

Since co orporations are bigger economies than government, the government will help and support the bigger co orporations. This has allowed big co orporation to get away with explotation of our natural resources and polluting our atmosphere. Within "In the past three decades alone, one-third of the planet’s natural resources base have been consumed". Overuse and fast pace in which we deplete our natural resources.

• 75% fisheries over fished 
• 80% original forest are gone

With many of today's product containing toxic chemicals, the environment, workers and us are effected by synthetic chemicals. When toxics in= toxics out The most dangerous chemical 'dioxin' created by rubbish being incinerated releasing the toxic chemical into the atmosphere beckoning the question why do we still practice these methods.

Distribution means keeping the prices low so consumers will buy more and more, this process is done by externalising costs which means huge reductions in the prices of resources, cheap labour and not considering envirnmental costs such as oil spills. Many of the products buy at low cost have failed to include the externalities.

Many products are made to disposed after a few months with approximately 99% of consumer goods is trashed after 6months. Either by planned obsolescence "designed for the dump" or perserved obsolescence, forceful advertisement that creates a desire and need for newer and better even though the old products still works well. 

Thus manfactureres and designers should consider the end and bi products of life of a product. Making it recycable, reusable and reduce the amount of harmful toxins used.

Design Exhibition sketchs

My design Career

Since I was young I always had an interest in drawing, put in art classes when I was 7 and from then my passion has grew. However being asian meet my parents never really supported a career in design wanting me to get a job in finance or medicine. I did work experience as an admin and also pharmacy, although the tasks were managable and easy, they failed to challenge to me and I could not see myself behind a computer all day or handing prescriptions to people from behind a desk. I wanted a career that would be stimulating, exciting, took me places and flexible.When choosing uni courses in Yr12, 'Industrial design' sounded like a cool name for a uni course, researching into it more. I found it suited me quite well, problem solving + a lil engineering+ design and flexibilty in design avenues. Tossing between UTS and UNSW, i choose UNSW for its credibilty over UTS.

When I create, I find myself emorsed in my own world, I can work on artwork from the afternoon to 3 o'clock at night, just experimenting with dyed water in a spray bottle and stencilling. When I was first introduced to Design and Technology in yr8 it was cool, we made plastic keyrings, metal badges and wooden money boxes. I remember how much fun it was designing your own object then make them and people would wear the badges and keyrings to school or give them to their friends and family. As well yr8 Design and Technology, I also did yr9 Information technology, one of the projects was to invent your own product and promote it. My group created the "I-shoe", a functional shoe that would have speakers and play music. It sounded awesome at the time because ipods and converse shoes were the big fads of high school. IT also introduced me to photoshop and movie maker, giving me skills to be able to experiment and develop animations, photoshopped photos and create short films. I think the best part of design was the reactions.

As like many I'm still apprehensive and little scared of whats ahead of me. I love watching documentaries especially ones nature or science.  Perhaps I will combine design and medical science and help design medical machines and utensils.Or go a little crazy and make products with the "fun-theory" in mind.

Mat & Tech- Honeypot Cardboard chair

As you can probably tell by the design, we had alot of fun while making this chair. Probably one of the most enjoyable assignments ive ever had.

Design Confusion

Design Excellence -Scanpan IQ

 

Reflection

From my studiment of the SCANPAN IQ, I have learnt more about how form and function go together to create a human centred design. The IQ aestheticly appeasing form and sleek features have both a function as well as beauty. Such as the IQ lid which is differs from other lids as it is flat, streamlined with scilicone (removing noisy 'clanging') and and has hidden steam directs steam away from your face for a more enjoyable cooking.  This was an enjoyable and eye-opening task to further look beyond just the function and look at the design elements that makes the design excellent.

David Kelley-Human centered design

 

In this video filmed in 2002 David Kelley (founder of IDEO) talks about how their is a move from product centered design to human-centered design. In human-centered design there is a large focus on human experience and designing personalities and behaviours into everyday objects. While in the past designers would present 3d computer renderings to their clients, IDEO has used video production to depict the man and machine relationship. Kelley shows some interesting videos his company has been working on including:

• Prada Shop – "customised technology" usage including devices for staff members, a liquid crystal screen and magic mirror that has a 3second delay
• London Science Museum – Interactive wall which tells you what people are thinking about and interactive games about exhibitions
• CBS – Designing the perfect cubicle for Dilbert which included a flower that wilts when your not there and orange windows which follows the Sun's movement
• Greenwich Watercycle Pavillion – A peaceful display celebrating water recycling
• Spyfish – Underwater cameras to stimulate scuba diving experience without getting wet
• ApproTec – making nonprofit products in Kenya

These examples give an idea of the sort of outcomes that design thinking can lead to. All of the outcomes are innovative in some way. They go about solving existing issues in new ways while also having a playful approach to problem solving. I think David Kelleys human centred approach is an exciting and beneficial approach to design. By creating human behaviours and personalities into things you can create more interest, enhance the user experience and educate at the same time.