Showing posts with label Critical Debates in Design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Critical Debates in Design. Show all posts
Monday
TASK 8 - Sustainable design
Sustainable design is usually used as a synonym of green and eco-friendly
design or design for environment. It`s importance and overall public conscience are growing as people are becoming more and more aware about their impact on the environment.
Also for designers it has becomed an important consideration and it`s treated as “design discipline” on their approach for reducing packages, moving from print to digital communication methods, redesigning products or services.
As a “discipline” it may include everything from designing small objects
for everyday use to design for buildings, cities etc.
Sustainability in design came as a reaction to the overuse of natural resources, rapid growth of population, massive consumerism and environmental degradation.
It makes us look at everyday objects and try to redesign them in a better and more efficiently. It also makes us think more about the products “ life cycle” and how it can be produced and used efficiently and recycled in the end for new raw materials.
I think that sustainable design is one of the answers to the most of
our environmental problems. Using environmentally friendly materials for their products,
is something all designers should aspire to.
The Kenno
children’s chair
These cardboard series, designed by Heikki Ruoh for Showroom Finland, are light, eco-friendly and very beautiful indeed. The Kenno children’s chair is the result of experimentation with a new kind of recycled cardboard. The sturdy yet lightweight material can be re-recycled as paper; water-based adhesives are used to create its sandwich construction.
other example
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DESIGN THINKING.
A particular style of creative thinking
Design thinking can be a particular approach to understand and solve problems.
There is not a method or a process which can define the design thinking.
There are as many different design processes as there are designers multiplied by design problems. (wikipedia.org/wiki/design_thinking)
It is a term being used these days to define a way of thinking that
produces transformative innovation.
For instance, the creation of alphabets,
thousands of years ago is an example of design thinking.
……………………………………….
- The term design thinking has becomed popular, becose it makes it easier for those outside the design industry to focus the idea of design as a way of thinking about solving problems, a way of creating strategies by experimenting them rather than thinking about design as an artifact (chair, car, building) or a fashion style (dress, pair of shoes). (Redhat, Burney, 2006)
Design thinking / Impact on business operation
-Today, it`s increasingly difficult for companies/businesses to find ways
to compete in the tough markets.
They are finding that their methods for generating innovation and values aren`t giving them advantages on competition as they used to.
-The success of companies who have build “Design thinking” cultures has began to be noticed. Inovation and technology is they are talking about. Companies are creating new strategies and restructuring their selves by making huge investments to take advantage of design thinking. (Apple, Starbucks, Nike, Toyota, VW).
The Fourth Order of design
-According to Professor Richard Buchanan,
The first order of design is communication with symbols and images.
The second order of design is is design of artifacts
(engineering, architecture and mass production)
The third order of design is design of activities and processes
and it is all about interactions and their experiences
The fourth order of design is design of the environment and the systems
within which all the other orders of design exist
Understanding how these system work, what are the core ideas that hold them together…
that’s the fourth order of design problem.
Designers that lead and take higher positions, determining strategies and directions of thinking, dealing with complex questions of our social life are the fourth order designers.
For instance, -Apple- is a sample to illustrate the fourth order …the entire chain what they have made, including the store and business case.
References
design or design for environment. It`s importance and overall public conscience are growing as people are becoming more and more aware about their impact on the environment.
Also for designers it has becomed an important consideration and it`s treated as “design discipline” on their approach for reducing packages, moving from print to digital communication methods, redesigning products or services.
As a “discipline” it may include everything from designing small objects
for everyday use to design for buildings, cities etc.
Sustainability in design came as a reaction to the overuse of natural resources, rapid growth of population, massive consumerism and environmental degradation.
It makes us look at everyday objects and try to redesign them in a better and more efficiently. It also makes us think more about the products “ life cycle” and how it can be produced and used efficiently and recycled in the end for new raw materials.
 |
| Products "Life cycle" diagram. Source |
I think that sustainable design is one of the answers to the most of
our environmental problems. Using environmentally friendly materials for their products,
is something all designers should aspire to.
The Kenno
children’s chair
These cardboard series, designed by Heikki Ruoh for Showroom Finland, are light, eco-friendly and very beautiful indeed. The Kenno children’s chair is the result of experimentation with a new kind of recycled cardboard. The sturdy yet lightweight material can be re-recycled as paper; water-based adhesives are used to create its sandwich construction.
other example
....................................................................................................................................................
DESIGN THINKING.
A particular style of creative thinking
Design thinking can be a particular approach to understand and solve problems.
There is not a method or a process which can define the design thinking.
There are as many different design processes as there are designers multiplied by design problems. (wikipedia.org/wiki/design_thinking)
It is a term being used these days to define a way of thinking that
produces transformative innovation.
For instance, the creation of alphabets,
thousands of years ago is an example of design thinking.
……………………………………….
- The term design thinking has becomed popular, becose it makes it easier for those outside the design industry to focus the idea of design as a way of thinking about solving problems, a way of creating strategies by experimenting them rather than thinking about design as an artifact (chair, car, building) or a fashion style (dress, pair of shoes). (Redhat, Burney, 2006)
Design thinking / Impact on business operation
-Today, it`s increasingly difficult for companies/businesses to find ways
to compete in the tough markets.
They are finding that their methods for generating innovation and values aren`t giving them advantages on competition as they used to.
-The success of companies who have build “Design thinking” cultures has began to be noticed. Inovation and technology is they are talking about. Companies are creating new strategies and restructuring their selves by making huge investments to take advantage of design thinking. (Apple, Starbucks, Nike, Toyota, VW).
The Fourth Order of design
-According to Professor Richard Buchanan,
The first order of design is communication with symbols and images.
The second order of design is is design of artifacts
(engineering, architecture and mass production)
The third order of design is design of activities and processes
and it is all about interactions and their experiences
The fourth order of design is design of the environment and the systems
within which all the other orders of design exist
Understanding how these system work, what are the core ideas that hold them together…
that’s the fourth order of design problem.
Designers that lead and take higher positions, determining strategies and directions of thinking, dealing with complex questions of our social life are the fourth order designers.
……………………………………………………………………..
Design at this level concerns the environments how people archive their goals, systems and organisations in which they act or with which they interact.For instance, -Apple- is a sample to illustrate the fourth order …the entire chain what they have made, including the store and business case.
TASK 7- Advertising
Advertising
Advertising is an introduction to consumer and general public of “services and goods”.
The real role or it`s aim is to make people aware of goods, products or services available under a brand.
We can call it a communication between companies and their costumers.
In other words, for a successful business, advertising does not mean selling of products or services but helping in increasing the sales, through creating awareness in people.
However, advertising as a highly visible business activity may “fall” (and it often does) in ethical standards which often can be risky for the companies.
Large companies have set their ethics standards as formalized rules or
policies to describe their code of ethics.
Some of common examples of ethical issues in the field of advertising are:
-Vulgarity used to gain consumers attention
-Use of stereotypes
-The use of racism, sexism, violence and shock tactics in ad. campaigns
-Adverting harmful products (unhealthy food, tobacco, alcohol, gambling etc)
-Misleading information: false claims and lies
In the UK market, I think that advertising tend to be more ethical on its approach because of the higher level of the public conscience and organizations ( ASA-Advertising standards authority) that control ad. industry, which ensure that ads that we see are legal and honest by enforcing their advertising codes of ethics.
Good advertising
Advertising, in fact, is proper promotion of the products not selling of them. Using its forms organizations can give proper information about their brands to the costumers and consumers. Good advertising facilitates people to buy their proper products. It helps to increase and assist companies in selling services and goods.
Advertising
Everything and everywhere
Ambient media and guerilla marketing are another forms of advertising determined by some as non-traditional or alternative media. The key to a successful ambient media campaign is to choose the best media format available and combined with effective message.
The following are some reasons for the popularity growth of ambient media : A decline in the power of traditional media, a greater demand for point-of-sale communications, its ability to offer precise audience targeting and a higher demand for advertising spaces and methods.
What I like about these forms of experimental communication is their ability to produce mass attention in centralized locations, or directly interact with consumers during normal every day activities.
Advertising vs. ethics
UNHATE - UNITED COLORS OF BENETTON.
...couldn`t avoid these samples.
CONTROVERSIAL CONCEPTS
Extreme advertisements -shock tactics
Ambient media & guerrilla marketing
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REFERENCES
http://hassam.hubpages.com/hub/Importance-Of-Advertising
http://zestyjill.tumblr.com/
http://mgm0508.wordpress.com/2010/04/30/dolce-gabbana-unethical-advertising/
http://weburbanist.com/2007/06/06/15-coolest-craziest-and-most-innovative-guerilla-marketing-campaigns/?ref=search
http://www.designishistory.com/images/publications/manifesto.jpg
Advertising is an introduction to consumer and general public of “services and goods”.
The real role or it`s aim is to make people aware of goods, products or services available under a brand.
We can call it a communication between companies and their costumers.
In other words, for a successful business, advertising does not mean selling of products or services but helping in increasing the sales, through creating awareness in people.
However, advertising as a highly visible business activity may “fall” (and it often does) in ethical standards which often can be risky for the companies.
Large companies have set their ethics standards as formalized rules or
policies to describe their code of ethics.
Some of common examples of ethical issues in the field of advertising are:
-Vulgarity used to gain consumers attention
-Use of stereotypes
-The use of racism, sexism, violence and shock tactics in ad. campaigns
-Adverting harmful products (unhealthy food, tobacco, alcohol, gambling etc)
-Misleading information: false claims and lies
In the UK market, I think that advertising tend to be more ethical on its approach because of the higher level of the public conscience and organizations ( ASA-Advertising standards authority) that control ad. industry, which ensure that ads that we see are legal and honest by enforcing their advertising codes of ethics.
Good advertising
Advertising, in fact, is proper promotion of the products not selling of them. Using its forms organizations can give proper information about their brands to the costumers and consumers. Good advertising facilitates people to buy their proper products. It helps to increase and assist companies in selling services and goods.
Advertising
Everything and everywhere
Ambient media and guerilla marketing are another forms of advertising determined by some as non-traditional or alternative media. The key to a successful ambient media campaign is to choose the best media format available and combined with effective message.
The following are some reasons for the popularity growth of ambient media : A decline in the power of traditional media, a greater demand for point-of-sale communications, its ability to offer precise audience targeting and a higher demand for advertising spaces and methods.
What I like about these forms of experimental communication is their ability to produce mass attention in centralized locations, or directly interact with consumers during normal every day activities.
Creative advertising
UNHATE - UNITED COLORS OF BENETTON.
...couldn`t avoid these samples.
CONTROVERSIAL CONCEPTS
Extreme advertisements -shock tactics
Ambient media & guerrilla marketing
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REFERENCES
http://hassam.hubpages.com/hub/Importance-Of-Advertising
http://zestyjill.tumblr.com/
http://mgm0508.wordpress.com/2010/04/30/dolce-gabbana-unethical-advertising/
http://weburbanist.com/2007/06/06/15-coolest-craziest-and-most-innovative-guerilla-marketing-campaigns/?ref=search
http://www.designishistory.com/images/publications/manifesto.jpg
TASK 6 - Product packaging
The role of packaging is to protect, promote and facilitate the use of the product. It protects products from transport, physical and barrier protection for instance from germs and other issues; sells the product promoting it and communicating with potential buyers while attracting their attention and being different from competition and also provides important information about the e.g. ingredients, instruction of use etc. facilitating the use of it.
According to various reports packaging has less than three seconds to grab the consumer’s attention and considering that more than 70% of “purchasing decisions” are made at the shelf, that pack has got to work hard. The problem with packaging nowadays is the pollution that it makes and the huge amount of rubbish it generates. The focus for years has been on using sustainable and eco-friendly materials which can be recyclable.
Good packaging designers have two key tools to grab the consumers’ attention, graphics and structure. Designers have to make sure they convey information, about the cost of their product, the ingredients it contains, and whether or not it can be recycled. Packaging graphics must do more than simply look pretty.
About graphics they must think about:
They must also think about how to make the product easier to use and create standout, for instance some products are recognizable simply from the silhouette of their pack. Before 30 years trends were to improve aesthetics and sales of the product, using different materials and most advanced print techniques to make a standout for their product. However, now the trends are to minimize the over use of different non eco-friendly materials towards more simpler and more functional product packaging. Sustainable packaging also considers issues such as carbon footprint, the total amount of greenhouse gases produced directly and indirectly during production process, transport, sale and consumption usually expressed like (CO2). Some brands and retailers on their packaging carbon labels include information on how to reduce a product's carbon footprint when you use it and in some cases it will tell you how it compares to similar products.
According to various reports packaging has less than three seconds to grab the consumer’s attention and considering that more than 70% of “purchasing decisions” are made at the shelf, that pack has got to work hard. The problem with packaging nowadays is the pollution that it makes and the huge amount of rubbish it generates. The focus for years has been on using sustainable and eco-friendly materials which can be recyclable.
Good packaging designers have two key tools to grab the consumers’ attention, graphics and structure. Designers have to make sure they convey information, about the cost of their product, the ingredients it contains, and whether or not it can be recycled. Packaging graphics must do more than simply look pretty.
About graphics they must think about:
- Color - The first thing you remember about a brand may well be its color.
- Story - Building a story into the packaging of a product. A way to convey brand essence. Doing so allows consumers to connect with the product on an emotional level.
- Illustration - When designing pictures onto a piece of packaging, practical considerations like the printing process and substrate onto which the image is going to be printed must be made to ensure they express the exact mood needed.
They must also think about how to make the product easier to use and create standout, for instance some products are recognizable simply from the silhouette of their pack. Before 30 years trends were to improve aesthetics and sales of the product, using different materials and most advanced print techniques to make a standout for their product. However, now the trends are to minimize the over use of different non eco-friendly materials towards more simpler and more functional product packaging. Sustainable packaging also considers issues such as carbon footprint, the total amount of greenhouse gases produced directly and indirectly during production process, transport, sale and consumption usually expressed like (CO2). Some brands and retailers on their packaging carbon labels include information on how to reduce a product's carbon footprint when you use it and in some cases it will tell you how it compares to similar products.
Green packaging is a demonstration of commitment to the environment. It is also the growing awareness to the impact that packaging production has to the protection of it, creating packaging products that can be recycled, reduced (materials) and reused. Traffic light labeling is a system for showing the consumers information about their food product and it`s levels of fat, sugars and salt in their product using different color coding to indicate the level of nutrients.
Mood garden tea
”Being in the right mood at the right time can make a world of difference. Getting in that right mood can sometimes be as simple as a cup of tea. Mood Garden is a tea company that focuses on providing Fair Trade loose leaf tea in the convenience of tea bags. Each tea blend corresponds with a unique color and flower to help visualize these moods. When the tea drinker removes the tea bag from the stick, a prompt followed by a small flower is revealed. Since many tea drinkers read while brewing, the vertical orientation of the stick makes it a very convenient book mark. Designed by Alexander Chin.
Nooka Glueless Packaging
“Nooka is continuing its tradition of green packaging with the introduction of the Nooka Glue-less custom box. This paper packaging is truly eco-friendly, requiring minimal material, minimal labor and is biodegradable. ” Via Lovely Package
HANGERPAK
This project won First Prize in the D&AD; Student Awards 2007 category 'What else do you do?'. Steve Haslip's HangerPak comes from a slightly different point of view; his packaging design turns in to something you can use with what comes inside. Even if a cardboard hanger has a limited lifetime, it still gets an extra life cycle instead of going straight from package to recycling bin (or, worse, the landfill).
http://www.treehugger.com/slideshows/sustainable-product-design/packaging-design-at-its-best/page/4/
References:
TASK 5 - Ethics and social responsibility
- A group that caught my attention is Zerofee , an ethical design agency which creates visual identity and design for print and digital media, but not for irresponsible brands or companies. Alongside their commercial work, they constantly donate design to financially–challenged charities and good causes.
Their approach to design and clear profile definition of…not using their skills to support brands and companies that they feel that have a negative impact on the society… makes them very special. They do not accept to work for clients that put profit before people or disregard the environment. They are determined not to help those who they believe do harm and they would rather benefit from them either.
Their website offers information about their very clear vision and approach to design. Pictures down show one of their projects.
http://www.zerofee.org/ 
TRAID education pack. Materials designed for secondary school students to introduce them to the environmental and ethical issues presented by the fashion industry. Subject to careful environmental consideration throughout, right down to the choice of lamination materials, the pack is produced using a mixture of recycled and sustainably sourced components.
Design donation is the term they use for their policies of offering pro–bono design to financially–challenged charities, non–profits or causes they believe to be worthwhile, but disadvantaged. They are committed to providing access to professional design for those who couldn’t otherwise afford it, but would benefit immensely from its application.
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Bombs Vs. Books
- Other designer that I found interesting for my topic of
research is Ian Bonner. His projects show his approach and social responsibility to his design concept work.
These two
images by Ian Bonner were part of his integrated campaign ...to wake people up to
the defense budget in this country vs the education budget.The
brochure that accompanied these posters, states that the U.S. military ranks #1
in the world with a budget of $595 billion in 2010.In
education however, the U.S. ranks 14th in the world. Its budget in 2010 has
been crippled by an onslaught of budget cuts in at least 35 of the 50 states...
Ian says:
Ian says:
Recession+ Military Budget = Education Budget Cuts
Do the Math.
Do the Math.
...................................................................................................................................................
Recycle
These two pieces are part of a campaign by Ian Bonner to try
to shame people into recycling. The printed plastic wraps would be applied to
trash containers of people who were determined to be particularly wasteful and
unwilling to recycle.
If incentives don't work, maybe shame would. I had access to his projects while researching about social & environmental issues through Conciousbydesign.
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Another example of clever use of recycling (or reusing) is FREITAG bag.
Graphic designer brothers Markus and Daniel Freitag were on the lookout for a messenger bag. The FREITAG brothers wanted a heavy-duty, functional and water-repellent bag to carry their designs. Their personal need turned into a business which now employs more than 120 people. Since their original messenger bag, the FREITAG brothers have developed and marketed several bags for women and men. FREITAG products now sell around the globe, in over 350 shops. They are made in Switzerland.
The Process
From truck till bag
Depending on weather conditions, truck tarpaulins are replaced every 5 to 8 years. They are a valuable raw material for FREITAG.
Freitag bag
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References:
http://www.freitag.ch/
Thursday
TASK 3 - Motion graphics
Motion graphics or digital media design as a design discipline incorporates
into itself moving image, sound and typography.
One of the earliest motion graphic artists that had a traditional background in graphic design was Saul Bass (1920-1996). He designed the opening title sequences for many popular films such as The Man With The Golden Arm (1955), Vertigo (1958), Anatomy of a Murder (1959), North by Northwest (1959), and Psycho (1960).
Many other designers have contributed to the evolution of motion graphics, but Bass was an exceptionally talented designer, and is commonly cited as being a pioneer in the field.
Some of his designs may seem relatively simple compared with today’s standards, but his designs were effective at communicating the mood or theme of the movies his graphics were introducing. At the time when Bass was starting out, all graphics were
created by hand or with film cameras, without the aid of computers.
Even relatively simple designs would require a lot of time and expense to produce.
Of all the current motion graphic designers, Kyle Cooper is a likely candidate for the most popular and influential. He studied graphic design under Paul Rand at Yale University. He co-founded Imaginary Forces (1996) and after that decided that it was time for him to focus more on his creative work. He left Imaginary Forces after 7 years(2003) and founded the creative agency Prologue. His work in the field of film title design is often compared to Saul Bass.
Some major movies he has designed opening tiles for include: Seven, The Island of Doctor Moreau, Mission Impossible, Donnie Brasco, The Joy Luck Club, True Lies, Gattica, The Mummy, and The Horse Whisperer.
His work is considered by many professionals to be an example of the most successful motion graphic design. After seeing him talking about the Imaginery forces last week at the video presentation at studio, his quotes …”make a type do what it says” and…”entertain rather than inform” caught my attention. Cooper clearly puts emphasis on creativity rather than production.
In contrast to the time when Saul Bass was designing title sequences for movies, Kyle Cooper and his partners at the Imaginary Forces studio have access to technology which allows them to work faster and with much less creative limitations.
Today, we can see stunning examples of computer animation in the most unexpected places. Computer animation has had a huge impact advertising. New computerized billboards and other advertising spaces have appeared along highways that feature creative animation and design.
These new advertising spaces eliminate the need for the physical replacement of signs. Cellular phones and mobile devices are putting the technology
right in the palm of our hands.
What does the future holds? 3D TV technology and 3D animation experiences are being rapidly moving forward to the new developments.
The field of computer animation only promises to expand into the future.
Some 3D projection mapping graphics videos.
The sample above was a joint project of my BA with one of my colleagues.
REFERENCES:
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