Tuesday, 27 September 2011

bill moggridge.

What is design?

In the latest video I watched, Bill Moggridge explores the definition of design. He defines design as anything altered by man, and thus alludes to how broad design really is. There is no one category of design, but rather, it design itself branches out to reach the fashion industry, interior shapes and even engineering. From architecture, to industrial design, to interior design, Moggridge really covers many interesting aspects, focusing on design principals in this 55 minute video.

First Moggridge introduces us to both good and bad design. There is a segment where he discusses kitchen tools, and how they are categorised as “smart design”. This is because the kitchen utensil is easy to use, even for older people, people with arthritic hands. He draws attention to how a good design to the disabled is also good design to others. The example shown of bad design was the mention of the i-mode service. This service is used for purchasing soft drinks with mobile phones, and whilst some may marvel at the ingenuity of it, the designers didn’t cater for their target market, and thus, didn’t adhere to their needs. There were several issues with it, some of which included the long processing time and the confusing nature of it. Judging from a designers perspective, there was insufficient prototyping done before this was released, and there may have been miscommunications during the design process too.

This leads Moggridge to discuss the design process and its concepts. There are two main concerns. The first being understanding the consumer, and the second being prototyping. To understand people, there are three categories: people (desirability), business (viability) and technology (feasibility). To fully understand a consumer, all three of these branches must be put forward for thought. Moddridge concludes his explanation of the design process with an overview of the four things we must do and that is; to assess the flow of analysis, observe, ask and to experiment. The other half of the design refers to prototyping. There are three stages to prototyping; inspire, evolve and to validate. The constantly evolving technology in today’s world allows for easy simulations of designs, showcased on computer in its 3D form before even needing to construct a physical model. However, it is important that a physical model is made at some stage to examine all areas and to make adjustments.

Bill Moggridge also covers three expanding contexts relating to design. This would be the Personal, Social and Environmental aspects, each a crucial part of any designers mentality. Design is expanding towards the well being of people and their health, hence this heavily concentration on living more sustainably. Personal design concentrates on the consumer themselves. Social refers to the design for impact, to change something for improvement. Environmental looks at how the materials the object is made up of affects our world.

This video was very entertaining to watch and I loved hearing the design process being broken down into categories. It really helped me to understand the whole notion of design, as opposed to what a designer does. 

Monday, 12 September 2011

project 1 - spatula

My redesign of a spatula allows the user to comfortably explore their love for food, whether it is pancakes, eggs, rice or vegetables. The handle of the instrument is made of recycled plastics, adhering with the latest theme of living in a more sustainable lifestyle. It is ergonomically fitted to a variation of hand sizes, and is curved and rounded gently on all sides, thus creating a very minimalistic, yet comfortable and stylish grip. The head of the handle is curved to a set radius, to then connect with the flip of the spatula, in a well blended seam to reinforce the style of the tool. The flipping part of the spatula is made of stainless steel, for a smooth, non-stick cooking experience. The choice of stainless steel is due to its material qualities, it is one of the best materials to use due to its durable but light nature and the immaculate finish it gives. The recycled plastic handle is both user friendly, but also serves to reinforce being more environmentally friendly, even in situations such as our own kitchen.

The spatula is designed to be used in many environments, from the home kitchen to industrial, restaurant kitchens, to street side stalls. Its slightly curved handle mimics the actions of flipping an egg or pancake, thus encouraging the user to do so comfortably. The symmetrical nature of the spatula is designed to adequately encourage both left and right handed usage. My design has combined the points of a visually appealing instrument, with those of an ergonomic feel. The design also leaves options for the mass manufacture of this spatula. Through the successful choice of material and design, this spatula enriches the experience of cooking, making it a pleasurable hand tool to use.


Autocad Technical Drawing.
Concept poster/Hero shot.
Product Usage Storyboard.
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I have also peer assessed five students, all links and names below.