My Blog

SCAMPI — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:19:14 +0000

Currently studying consumer electronics at the Royal College of Art on Platform 17 its a lot of fun!

Foldable

SCAMPI — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:37:54 +0000

Looking at things that are foldable can be interesting however non of them seem to incorporate good design and so end up looking ugly.

Havana Wall Project

SCAMPI — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:21:02 +0000

Three Broad Terms

SCAMPI — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:05:52 +0000

Extreme Functionality

What is the optimum way for a product to work? What is the most responsible way to

design it? How can new technologies be best applied to design, and how can

longevity be built into products?

The Social Manifesto

Taking advantage of new possibilities and social changes, how can designed objects,

systems and spaces improve the quality of life, and what are their impacts? These

are worldwide issues and lead us to look at design as an inclusive activity going

beyond our western world.

The Fantastic

How can design make positive statements, inspire, and convey meaning? How can

design emotionally express our values? What is the designer’s role as originator,

artist, manufacturer, and communicator?

Meaning, narration product design and Interior design.

SCAMPI — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:24:08 +0000

I am interested in product design that has a relationship to its surroundings. Objects that have a story or meaning or help communicate a bigger idea. When designing a product it is sup-post to serve a purpose and solve a problem. I am interested in semi- permanent objects like pop up shops and window displays, that tell a story and invite people to interact with them. I feel Katrin Greiling pushes the boundaries with her work and there is a strong relationship between the objects and where they are placed.

Click to view slideshow.

What is your purpose/goal?

SCAMPI — Tue, 17 May 2011 18:01:17 +0000

Having been accepted onto the design products course at the rca, I am preparing myself for the obvious questions like what are you doing here? what do you want to achieve? I decided to look back at my personal statement I wrote in January for the application. I had to squeeze in everything under 500 words. During my BA at the LCC in moving image and interaction design I found most of my inspiration for the direction of my work came from reading, and observing people. Knowing that I have to write a dissertation next year I am already looking at possible topics that would suit the direction of my practical work.

Theory and observation have always played a big part in my approach when designing, finding inspiration from psychology, science and more recently technology and mechanisms. I would like the opportunity to study Design Products as I have not studied such a functional type of design before. Challenging conventions by applying research to the relationships between people and objects, people and their environments, and people and ideologies, interests me. Applying observational research to these conventions, whilst also taking into account contextual references relating to the sustainable and social impact fascinates me. My desire to do this stems from my belief that designers can directly help and improve people’s well-being.

Both experimentation and finalising a project are important processes in enabling innovation. Biosensors inspired me to illustrate how the human body is affected by its environment. Gaining experience working with a local engineer, improved my understanding of mechanisms and how to apply these ideas to design and I recognised the importance of prototyping when working with artist Dan Roosegaarde in his studio in Holland and being mentored by designer Timon Botez opened my eyes to the beauty of detail, and precision. The RCA will enable me to apply this multidisciplinary knowledge to a specific area of design with the guidance of professional tutors.

I often ask myself what the function of an object is, and what happens when we remove or alter these products in a domestic or social environment. Additionally, I’m fascinated by the emotional relationships we build with objects and products. It would be challenging to design more engaging and sustainable products with which the user will not tire, easing the environmental impact of consumer products. By getting into the mind of the user and exploring their relationship with the object, we can create more thoughtful designs.

My dissertation – ‘Applying Marshall McLuhan’s Predictions for the Future’ allowed me to find evidence supporting the argument that our physical surroundings alter how we think and also the spectrum of those thoughts. For example, the effect of a television in a domestic space. Objects and rooms should communicate with us how to use them without forcing us into particular, unnatural patterns of interaction.

For me, product design requires the most logical and inspired application of research and what particularly excites me is its focused ability to see a problem and then be able to improve it. This is not to say product design is without narrative, but some of the best pieces of design come from the most obvious ideas.

I am well aware of how good design requires an environment of collaboration and discussion with a wide range of resources and opportunities for material and theoretical exploration. Having collaborated with a fashion designer, sound designer and ceramicist, I believe lines of communication and understanding help give design credibility. The Design Products course could offer me these attributes and the best opportunity to further carry out my research and application of design principles.

Chairs as Clothing

SCAMPI — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:46:18 +0000

A chair is for sitting in and relaxing it should be comfortable and practical for your use. You should want to sit in the chair, you should be drawn to it; it becomes a part of what you are wearing. Many designers embark on chair design; however when I look at most of them they don’t look comfortable, I would only want to sit in them to have my photograph taken, and nothing else. I’m interested in the idea when you sit in the chair it becomes part of your clothing. I also like the idea of a blanket chair, that covers you slightly when you are sitting in it. When researching this I found some chairs by one of my favourite designers issey miyake and Ron Arad A-POC chair/clothing featuring “upholstery” that can switch from covering a Moroso Ripple chair to clothing. Although the A-POC is more of a fashion piece I think it is unique and engaging, and it also looks comfortable.

Click to view slideshow.

BRIT INSURANCE DESIGNERS OF YEAR 2011

SCAMPI — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 15:59:09 +0000

Click to view slideshow.

My favorite top three brit insurance designers.

1. THE CELLSCOPE

Designed by Daniel Fletcher/The Cellscope Team
” The Cellscope combines a mobile (cell)phone and a microscope lens. Invented by scientist Daniel Fletcher and developed in collaboration with designers and creative professionals, it can be used to diagnose diseases such as malaria, in remote locations with limited access to hospitals.

I think this one is pretty obvious, and its nice to see iphones/smart phones used for something else than trendy apps.

aardman.com
cellscope.berkley.edu

2. PLUMEN 001

Concept and design direction by hulger Designed by Samuel Wilkinson.

“Plumen is the antithesis of low energy light bulbs as we know them. Rather than hide the unappealing traditional compact fluorescent light behind boring utility, Plumen 001 is a bulb you’ll want on show. The Plumen bulb uses 80% less energy and lasts 8 times longer than incandescent bulbs, giving you the opportunity to purchase an ecological product with style. It works just like any low energy bulb but it has a lot more presence.”

The reason I like the Plumen design is that is completely revolutionises the idea of the lightbulb, it has steered away from not only being practical but also beautiful. As I sat in the Design Museum cafe I could see the reflection of these new lightbulbs bouncing back through the windows, and knew that they have completely changed the way we think of a light bulb.

3. VANMOOF No 5

The reason I like the Vanmoof isn’t because it is stylish, lightweight and rust free. It is because they have intergrated high quality ABUS lock embedded within the bicycle, accessed by turning a key in the frame and pulling the chain out from inside. Many of my friends who are keen cyclists and enjoy having a good quality bikes will be pleased to know bike locks are becoming more inventive. With 1,632 bicycle theft offences in Islington in 2010, but only 35 of these recovered, prevention of theft is a worthy area of design.

Can information, and visual warnings encourage well being?

SCAMPI — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 15:58:28 +0000

If we are more informed and or visually aware of what we are doing to ourselves and others would we be more responsible? I’m not sure; it would have to be engaging infromation/visuals. Information isn’t always effective however if you have a visual warning, it could prove to be more memorable and could provoke further debate for these issues. A problem I would like to address in britain is the prevention of alcoholism. I’m not sure how design could play a role in this idea, but I am thinking about it. Ultimately making people more aware of preserving their health.

An area that does improve with more information is sports, and altheletics etc. Whilst reading an article in the New Scientist I came across an idea of a training shoe that could tell you when you are running wrong, and could lead to injury.

Cheap sports shoes can be as good as expensive ones, says Benno Nigg, the sports scientist who helped design David Beckham’s Predator boot

In your new book, Biomechanics of Sports Shoes, you say that expensive running shoes are no better at preventing injury than cheap ones. Isn’t that heresy?

That is a little bit exaggerated. But the relative frequency of running injuries doesn’t seem to have changed much in the past 30 years, despite all the developments in sports shoe design. The literature shows that shoes are a minor player in injury development. If you take a bunch of people and want to injure them, send them out every day for a 20-kilometre run. A lot of them will be injured in three weeks. The major factors are the distance run, the intensity and recovery time.

So what should people look out for when buying a new pair of sports …

Also by chance when coming home late on friday, I caught the end of a programme on radio 4 about

Cylcing Architecture

SCAMPI — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 15:40:53 +0000

It is very difficult to cycle in London in comparison to many other cities for example Amsterdam. It seems we do not have the physical structure to support safe cycling. I think you have to be brave to tackle the major roundabouts in London. Although the city has improved since the barclays cycle lanes and bicycles, we are still behind. Not only is this a problem but being close to vehicles and inhaling fumes is not healthy for cyclists.

Whilst in the dentist waiting room, I read an article in Wallpaper magazine about Parklets created by Andres Power in San Francisco. The idea is where a car parking space is turned into an urban garden and also a place to park bicycles.