Seymour Powell - Designing Dream machines

Designing dream machines was a very interesting look into how an industrial design company, and how it functions. It takes the viewer on a journey of the development of several 'dream machines'. From receiving the brief, and the brainstorming, we gain an extensive insight into the amount of research required for each product.

The main aim of this video, is that constant communication is required. Not only between fellow designers, but all ideas developed must constantly refer back to the clients given brief. This communication is a must to ensure the client’s needs are the constant focus.

The video displays the need for detailed visual communication, and whilst computer modelling may be used, Seymour and Powell greatly prefer drawing by hand, which allows for true exspression of the designers artistic vision and thoughts.

This video was a detail look into design practices, and very helpful in conveying messages about the design.:)

Annie Leonard - The Story of stuff

The video is definately an eyeopener. The product cycle? as Annie Leonard puts it, definately a production line. Annie is right, we are not aware how harmful it is until we know the whole story. Especially the example of the cheap radio. I guess everyone likes bargains and good qaulity stuff, but have we ever thought how things can things be so cheap?

After watching the video, as a consumer and a design student, it reminded me alot about things, as well as opened up my mind. As a consumer, we should buy what we really need rather than buying just to follow trends. Cause we buy, we throw out, and the sufferer will only be us or our further generations.

As for designers, rather than trying to design stuff to tempt people keep buying new ones, should think more about sustainability and how to make things environmental friendly. We do not need that much material to make us content, an to enjoy our lives. I mean we are impacting on our future environment, and on the environment of future generations.

Postal presents peer comments

Daniel Kotzen

Wawen Chen

Christopher Hui

Gabriel Ly

Maria Park

Postal Presents

Beginning with this project, i thought of various household objects to be used in this project. My ideas were from a stainless steel lamp with a organic form, to a plate rack, to my final idea of a Jewelry stand.

I decided to go with a natural form, and followed the path of a tree, and played around with different shapes, from a jagged geometric shape to a relaxed and free flowing form. The shape of the final tree, is very smooth and relaxing.

I decided to also use the remaining template as a photo frame. The use of transparent acrylic allowed for the use of the photos in the frame, and because of the strength and gloss of the acrylic material, I achieved the desired clean cut and look of the product I wanted . The matching pieces, when delivered in the post, would be a suprising present for a female consumer, and would not only be a present, but also be a continually useable product.

Here is the instruction sheet, and also the Poster, showing my products name, 'Stemma', which means family tree in latin, adding to the significance and emotional connection of the product.

Ross Lovegrove - Organic Design

In this video Ross Lovegrove has captured the essence of organic Design. The lines, texture and colour of nature being applied to his designs. His intriguing work such as the water bottle, the chair, staircase and the car are all connect to the form of Organic and naturla forms. The water bottle that he designed really gives me the impression and feeling of water flowing and this is conveyed through the texture and the curved lines on the water bottle.

The chair was made out of polymer plastics and it also once again emphasizes the organic nature of Lovegrove's designs, through a series of holes that gives the impression of natures growth patterns.

I was amazed that he gain inspiration and ideas through a museum that displays a lot bones of the historic dinosaurs and animals. He managed to analyze the lines, texture, colour and form of the dinosaurs and animals and applied to his products.

The car concept of how the car can also be a street light which is an artistic idea considering the fact that cars can be a nice objects that could give an aesthetic image of the streets and buildings. The spiral staircase at his studio was amazing considering the fact that he designed it for himself which neglects the fact of what other people thought about it and it was just his personal preference to have that staircase.

Peer Comments

Alfred Boyadgis

Greg Shar

Daniel Kotzen

Jen Jun Zhu

Jennifer Wid Jaja

Experience Enrichment

This exercise was very difficult. Most ideas have already been thought of throught design history, and the ability to enhance them was difficult. I went from ideas of hygiene products, to kitchen ware, to stationary. I decided on the latter, and did sketches of various scissor and stapler designs. Throughout high school I needed a hole punch and a stapler, and looked around for a combined product, but never could find one. I decided to combine the 2, so they could be used handily, by someone on the go, especially considering my target market was high school and uni students. I designed the 'Sole' this was, as it fit perfectly into the palm of the hand, and the rubber made it much more relaxing to hold.