Our earth is a planet of finite resources. Such a shame that many people think otherwise. Although not everyone has this mindset, it does not change the fact that our earth resources are declining. We need to create a more solid stance to save our home, something that is missing though the economy powered by ignorant companies.
People have taken this planet for granted. We are blindsided by the availability of technology. Did you know that the so called technology you are depending on is made of non-renewable resources? Yet people rely on these technology to find a solution to our limited resource issue.
Nature is something that is irreplaceable. Technology may help but it cannot stop our recourses from declining in numbers. In fact, technology is fast consuming our resources, accelerating the degradation of our planet. Once this environment has been exhausted through the damaging footprints humans leave behind, how will we continue to live. These damages has causes major global warming across the planet and have become a major issue which scientists have been battling with. Our earth is going barren and unsuitable for living.
This video is a good wake up call to all of us who has loss that sense of caring to this planet, something we loss along the way through the life this world has offered. We as a designer has that knowledge to create products which can make a significant impact. We must realise this knowledge and be aware of the current state of our planet and try as much as we can to convey this message in our design to bring about change.
While as a consumer, we need to start thinking about our purchase decisions. We have the knowledge to change how we think and live. Live smarter and greener in every step of our life. It does not have to be a big decision, even a small simple habit can make a difference to this world. We live in this earth, therefore we are responsible for rehabilitating this scarred planet. Act responsibly for a future we all long for.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Video Reflection - The Light Bulb Conspiracy
It is such a shame and waste that today, products are made only to be used for a certain life span which would then be replaced over and over again. What makes it worse is the fact that this cycle exists because of the greediness of some people for money. They do not think of this world as a limited resource, abusing what is provided through mother earth. In doing this, they are preventing our next generation to enjoy what is provided.
We are born in a world where we are constantly being offered of the things that we could buy, even though we probably do not need them. Through the clever marketing being fed to us as consumers, we buy more unneeded products which would most probably just become waste at the end of use. Did you ever considered where did the waste go? Was it illegally dumped? Was it recycled? Did it create pollution? This was not the product I wanted to design when I decided to be a designer.
The light bulb is a symbol of ideas used as an example to how obsolescence started. The light bulb was agreed to have a shortened lifespan from 2500 hours to 1000 hours in order to increase sales and repurchase, therefore generating more profit for the companies. It may seems like a good idea to boost the economy on a first glimpse, however once you keep watching the documentary, you start realising that this conspiracy was not thinking of the greater good for the economy, but instead towards the greater profit of companies.
This documentary is very honest and straight forward that would definitely change someone's perspective of mass produce. It definitely opened my eyes as a designer. It shows that this whole planned obsolescence is very wasteful to our resources which we of course know is very limited. We can definitely design something that last longer and give it a higher price for the quality. In that case it would both benefit the consumers, companies and most importantly the future of our resources. Start to hink about how we can play a part in designing a greener products.
We are born in a world where we are constantly being offered of the things that we could buy, even though we probably do not need them. Through the clever marketing being fed to us as consumers, we buy more unneeded products which would most probably just become waste at the end of use. Did you ever considered where did the waste go? Was it illegally dumped? Was it recycled? Did it create pollution? This was not the product I wanted to design when I decided to be a designer.
The light bulb is a symbol of ideas used as an example to how obsolescence started. The light bulb was agreed to have a shortened lifespan from 2500 hours to 1000 hours in order to increase sales and repurchase, therefore generating more profit for the companies. It may seems like a good idea to boost the economy on a first glimpse, however once you keep watching the documentary, you start realising that this conspiracy was not thinking of the greater good for the economy, but instead towards the greater profit of companies.
This documentary is very honest and straight forward that would definitely change someone's perspective of mass produce. It definitely opened my eyes as a designer. It shows that this whole planned obsolescence is very wasteful to our resources which we of course know is very limited. We can definitely design something that last longer and give it a higher price for the quality. In that case it would both benefit the consumers, companies and most importantly the future of our resources. Start to hink about how we can play a part in designing a greener products.
Monday, October 15, 2012
PSS: Go Compost
Making your own garden compost is a lot easier than most people realise. With simple steps, you can recycle most of the organic household and garden waste and use it to enrich the garden’s soil at the same time. However, composting at home is not a popular practice and although people have tried to do it, it is hard to make it a continuous habit and sometimes, the compost bin just sits in the house without being used.
Compost is also sometimes identified with being complex and time consuming. This system proposes a compost system in an apartment complex. Using the bokashi powder instead of worms, it creates a cleaner compost without odour. It also does not have all the extra work needed for vermicomposting. The mixture does not need to be rotated and the rules to making bokashi mix is not as complicated as vermicompost.
The bins would be put inside each garbage room which residents go to on a daily basis. By putting it in a room where residents go daily, it initiates the possibility of creating a new habit. Rather than having an extra area for the compost system, which would make it as an extra task as residents would need to go to a certain area to do compost or having an extra bin in their houses where it might not be used. As the compost is managed by the apartment complex, residents need not worry about what to do with their compost when it is ready.
Video Review
Giving packaging a new life
Being born in a country that lacks awareness of recycling, it's very interesting to see different recycling cycles in the world.
Who knew that different materials could be recycled over and over again? Paper is a very good example of this. Did you know that new paper itself contains recycled paper? Toilet paper/tissues is about 60% recycled. Cardboard boxes are also made of recycled paper. And at the end of use, it can be recycled again.
I've always thought that tetrapacks are thick cardboards, but discovered that it's not as simple as that. Tetrapacks contains aluminium and polypropylene mixed with premium recycled papers. What's surprising is the capability of it to be recycled with the contained materials.
Plastic has always been advertised as a bad material for the environment. But further developments in technology allows degradable plastics to be created and in turn, more and more plastic are being recycled each day. The video shows how polystyrene is melted to create new bottles, but it may lose some of its physical properties.
Glass bottles uses less energy than producing metals and plastics and it can be recycled endlessly. It's interesting to see that molten glass is made from combining natural ingredients. However, recycling glass seems to be a tedious process.
This video gives a good insight of how designers should think about their material choice. The significance of recycling might affect the way a designer think. It could be more cost efficiency or the material may improve the design with its properties. It is also important for designers to think about the environment impact of their materials. Understanding the importance of sustainability could maximizes the product life cycle, thus reducing garbage in the landfill.
Being born in a country that lacks awareness of recycling, it's very interesting to see different recycling cycles in the world.
Who knew that different materials could be recycled over and over again? Paper is a very good example of this. Did you know that new paper itself contains recycled paper? Toilet paper/tissues is about 60% recycled. Cardboard boxes are also made of recycled paper. And at the end of use, it can be recycled again.
I've always thought that tetrapacks are thick cardboards, but discovered that it's not as simple as that. Tetrapacks contains aluminium and polypropylene mixed with premium recycled papers. What's surprising is the capability of it to be recycled with the contained materials.
Plastic has always been advertised as a bad material for the environment. But further developments in technology allows degradable plastics to be created and in turn, more and more plastic are being recycled each day. The video shows how polystyrene is melted to create new bottles, but it may lose some of its physical properties.
Glass bottles uses less energy than producing metals and plastics and it can be recycled endlessly. It's interesting to see that molten glass is made from combining natural ingredients. However, recycling glass seems to be a tedious process.
This video gives a good insight of how designers should think about their material choice. The significance of recycling might affect the way a designer think. It could be more cost efficiency or the material may improve the design with its properties. It is also important for designers to think about the environment impact of their materials. Understanding the importance of sustainability could maximizes the product life cycle, thus reducing garbage in the landfill.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Project 3: Universal Bathroom
The basin is made to support people with different height, for example the difference between an adult and a child. A child might need extra support to help them reach the average basin, while an adult might need to bend down too much. To try and solve this problem, this basin provides a rotational function. One side is made for the average height of an adult, while the other side is made for the average height of a child.
The top basin is made in a curved shape to accommodate the rotational function. Also, the curved “feet” of the top basin is made so that should extra water flows down while the basin is set on the adult side, it would lead the water to the drainage (bottom basin).
The tap should be placed on the wall (preferable the side), with the handle on the side of the basin, making it accessible to everyone. The tap should be place directly above the hole of the basin. Therefore, even though the water would flow directly to the drainage, which would cause splash (the higher the height, the more water splashes), the splash would actually happen inside the drainage, which has sufficient space for the splash to happen without reaching the user.
A ratchet device is used to support the rotational movement. This was used due to it’s characteristic of being able to stop at a certain point. And the ratchet device isn’t hard to operate, which would mean that children with less power or people with disabilities wouldn’t have trouble operating the basin.
Corian is used as the material for the basin. Corian has a finished product similar to ceramic, a commonly used material for a bathroom. However, Corian is much lighter, making it more suitable as an adjustable basin. Corian is also easy to clean and last long with normal care.
Project 2: Packaging
“C Box” is a chocolate packaging that is environmentally friendly and fully recyclable. The main purpose of this design is to increase the awareness of recycling in the community, whilst still maintaining to provide a trend. Chocolate is a widely known popular product which makes it a perfect medium to convey the message. Current chocolate boxes available in Australia are not known for their sustainability. Through this design, it is hoped to encourage consumers to be more eco friendly through simple product available.
CURRENT TREND
There has been a growing trend for confectionary products with added value in the market. Examples of existing brands are Godiva, Lindt, Haigh’s and so on. Even brand such as Bvlgari has issued a special collection of handmade chocolate at their flagship stores. This packaging design tries to reach out to this trend by providing a packaging for a premium chocolate.
TARGET MARKET
This packaging is aimed for women in their 20s. The design is kept simple with a hint of feminism. The design has a hint of surprise when the lid is opened, as the bottom part transforms into a bowl with a movement similar to a blossoming flower. The lid is kept simple with angular shapes to create a more sleek appearance within the simplicity of the design.
The bowl is also meant as a display and serving purpose. A consumer does not need to serve the chocolate in an extra container. This would avoid unnecessary dish washing, which would mean less water and soap. This delightful packaging can be kept in the busiest room of the house or office during the holiday and beyond.
MATERIAL
The lid is made from printed recycled cardboard, which is fully recyclable after use. Recycled cardboard is widely available in Australia, and has gained popularity over the years. This can be seen from a growing use of recycled cardboard, especially in the stationery section, such as Smiggle and Typo. Companies like Amcor and OfficeWorks provide a range of recycled cardboard.
The bottom part is made from Plantic®. Plantic® is a biodegradable plastic made from corn starch. As a plastic, Plantic® is flexible, which would allow the blossoming movement, yet maintain the stiffness for it to stand by its own.
Plantic® is a relatively new breakthrough product in the market. It is not widely known at the moment, which is a pity as it is an amazing material and highly suitable for food packaging. British retailer Marks & Spencer is perhaps the best well-known brand to use Plantic® as their chocolate packaging. In Australia, altough now publicly known, Haigh’s chocolate is the only brand known to use Plantic®. Plantic® will degrade within 24 hours when exposed to moisture.
The chocolate wrappings are made from printed recycled paper. It protects the quality of the chocolate, as the box is not a tight sealed box.
TECHNOLOGY
The technology most suitable is injection molding, to create creases in the folded area, to allow the material to be folded and maintain the flexibility. Plantic® is available in different colours as well, providing more possible colour range.
COLOUR
The colours of the boxes are adjusted to the type of chocolate inside the box. The font is made to represent the colour of the chocolate inside (i.e white for white chocolate, dark brown for dark chocolate). This is done to distinguish the type of chocolate without having to thoroughly check the writings on the box.
FONT
A simple clean cut font is used to maintain the sleek value of the packaging. It also makes it easy to read. The brand is embossed, to distinguish it as the brand. And the flavour writing is foil stamped, for easier read.
OTHERS
Like any other chocolate boxes, the “C Box” contains ingredient lists and nutritional facts. It also has the flavour writing on each box.
Project 1: Sheet Material
For this project, I've decided to make a penholder. The target market is men in their 20s who enjoys fashion and style, however would still like to look professional. Therefore, I've decided to use aluminium sheet as the material, as I believe that a silver finish encourages the professional value of an item.
The main feature of this penholder is easy access to the pen. The holes for the stationery were made to point directly to the eyes of the user. While the general penholder is usually up-straight, and the user would need to search through the penholder to find what they're looking for. By having the holes point directly, the user can see what they're looking for without the need to tilt or move the penholder.
With the design, there is a chance that a smaller/shorter piece of stationer might fall inside the penholder. Which is why the penholder has a "lid" on it, which can be easily opened/closed like a music box. To allow this movement, a hinge was use to connect the lid to the body. The hinge itself is in silver colour which easily blends with the whole design.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Blog Comment 2
Kang, Hae Lin
http://liah90.blogspot.com/
Bailey, Mitchell
http://mbailey3255374.blogspot.com/
Chiang, Wesley
http://thatssoeames.blogspot.com/
De Graaf, Simon
http://www.z3337777.blogspot.com/
Gu, Yuliang
http://guyuliang1990.blogspot.com/
http://liah90.blogspot.com/
Bailey, Mitchell
http://mbailey3255374.blogspot.com/
Chiang, Wesley
http://thatssoeames.blogspot.com/
De Graaf, Simon
http://www.z3337777.blogspot.com/
Gu, Yuliang
http://guyuliang1990.blogspot.com/
UPCYCLING
For this project, I used magazine as my material. Magazines are easy to obtain, and once you have finished reading the magazines, they usually become rubbish. This is why I think magazine is a very suitable material for this project. Almost all household have magazines inside their houses, and once in a while, they would just pile them up together and throw them in a recycle bin. I think that this is such a waste, as magazine can be quite useful even after being read.
In order to manipulate the material, I've decided to cut them, fold them and roll them up. The original methods is to roll them with pencil. But I decided to measure them correctly and cut them, to get the consistency in thickness. I also roll them into a solid form, with no gaps in each roll, so that it's more sturdy, although it does make it heavier. Then I compile them together using PVA glue into the shape that I desired.
I decided to make them in different diameters, so that it gives pattern to the product. It also helps giving forms so that it's not symmetrical, and the small pieces helps fill in the gaps to make it stronger. The different colour on every roll, I believe is the beauty of the material, and it enriches the aesthetic value of the design.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Design For Life
In this series of evocative videos, Phillipe Starck exposes his philosophies on his designs. Stark talks about usefulness and sustainability in designs, and how design should help to have a better life. Disguised as a reality show, participants engaged in such a manner to expose Stark's ideals. During the video, Starck keeps implying to the contestant how design should be sustainable. However, at the same time, design has also got to be beneficial to the society.
I find it very interesting how Stark kicked out designers, because they were just trying to please Stark, even though their designs are good. I think this is a very important lesson for us, uni student, to think about why we chose to design. We do not design to please our tutors.
Blunt with lots of criticism, Starck's evaluation of useless products were illustrated by ipod cases and their irrelevance to real world issues stirred the contestants. Harsh as it might sound. But it's a harsh truth of the industrial designer and mass production in this world.
But what I think is the important thing in this video was to realise the story behind the product. Finding out about why it was made and the story behind it. Another part of it was also to find out the ending of the story. By understanding these things in designing products, thus we can design for life, knowing where the product will go in the end.
Last but not least, I have to say that this video reminds me of my own studio life here in UNSW.
I find it very interesting how Stark kicked out designers, because they were just trying to please Stark, even though their designs are good. I think this is a very important lesson for us, uni student, to think about why we chose to design. We do not design to please our tutors.
Blunt with lots of criticism, Starck's evaluation of useless products were illustrated by ipod cases and their irrelevance to real world issues stirred the contestants. Harsh as it might sound. But it's a harsh truth of the industrial designer and mass production in this world.
But what I think is the important thing in this video was to realise the story behind the product. Finding out about why it was made and the story behind it. Another part of it was also to find out the ending of the story. By understanding these things in designing products, thus we can design for life, knowing where the product will go in the end.
Last but not least, I have to say that this video reminds me of my own studio life here in UNSW.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Peer Comments
Leo Chan:
http://leoriginalchan.blogspot.com
Xenon Zoltaszek
http://zen-industrialdesign.blogspot.com/
Chloe Uy
http://chloeanddesign.blogspot.com/
Adara Taista
http://adarataista.blogspot.com/
Jock Sinclair
http://idesweblog.blogspot.com/
http://leoriginalchan.blogspot.com
Xenon Zoltaszek
http://zen-industrialdesign.blogspot.com/
Chloe Uy
http://chloeanddesign.blogspot.com/
Adara Taista
http://adarataista.blogspot.com/
Jock Sinclair
http://idesweblog.blogspot.com/
Monday, September 20, 2010
Gary Hustwit: Objectified
After watching this video, I was very surprised by the complicated process of a design. Design is so much more than what I used to thought. I never realized how much thoughts are put into a product by a designer. The philosophy behind it, the connection of a product to its market, and so on. It's not only about the function and aesthetic.
When we design, we have to think about what the market wants. How they're going to interact with it, and the message has to be clear, what and how to use the product. This video shows that when a product clear and easier to understand, people react to it more positively. And when a design is confusing, we have proven in class how annoying it can be.
Sometimes we are oblivious of products around us. We never realized how complicated the process of a design. We never put in thought the consideration designers put into a product. Design isn't just about solving problems. Designs reacts to the user and creates connection with the users.
This video has open my eyes as how exactly the process of a good design is. It is so much more complicated than just a sketch and research.
When we design, we have to think about what the market wants. How they're going to interact with it, and the message has to be clear, what and how to use the product. This video shows that when a product clear and easier to understand, people react to it more positively. And when a design is confusing, we have proven in class how annoying it can be.
Sometimes we are oblivious of products around us. We never realized how complicated the process of a design. We never put in thought the consideration designers put into a product. Design isn't just about solving problems. Designs reacts to the user and creates connection with the users.
This video has open my eyes as how exactly the process of a good design is. It is so much more complicated than just a sketch and research.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Story of Stuff
In this video, we as the viewers are forced to see the reality behind the process of stuff. It might be quite cynical in perhaps an extreme level, but what Leonard was trying to say is the ironic truth of it.
Leonard mentioned first, that the system consists of extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal, which are known as the material economy. I've known and understand these processes, however, what came next was what surprised me. The cycle doesn't end just there. There are many other explanations in between, and they are not really pleasant.
In the extraction phase, Leonard nicknamed it as "natural resource exploitation", and it's basically "trashing the planet". I agree with Leonard that the world has been damaging the planet too much, by chopping down the trees, extracting metals, bottled water and wiping the animals. And I believe that the problem Leonard mentioned about the US isn't happening only in the US, but everywhere in the world. And the abuse of the third world countries resources is unreasonable. It is the resource which belongs to other countries and the US isn't entitled to it.
In the production phase, Leonard emphasized how chemical substance are used, resulting in a toxic in and toxic out. I do know that chemical substance are used in production system, but I don't think that they are all as bad as Leonard said it. Some materials can't be processed without chemical substance, and that is why corporate tested those chemical substance for their side effect and safeties. They are not necessarily bad. But we do need to do something about the pollution caused by production process.
In the distribution phase, Leonard talked about the hidden cost within a product. She mentioned how she bought a radio for $4.99 and how ridiculously cheap it was. She claimed that the she didn't pay for the radio. It was the third world countries who paid for it by their natural resources, and their underaged employees. I don't fully agree with her arguments, though it is very ironic how children has to work for such small amount of money, and how cheap things are in other third world countries. However, by mass producing a product, the cost of it will be reduced. Especially when the production uses machines, which saves time and labour cost.
Leonard called consumption as the heart of the system, and how desperate both the government and the corporations thrive to protect it. Leonard was perhaps most cynical in explaining this phase. She mentioned that consumerity in the world were designed after WWII, to help boost the economy. Computers are changing so fast, people throw away computers in the same speed. However, she overlooked the fact that more advanced technology are designed to be more sustainable. It uses less energy, parts that can be recycled and so on. And you can't really say that consumerity is bad. Imagine if people stop buying products, what would happen to the employees? Maybe the resources can be preserved more, but what about those people in the third world countries who struggle to earn money.
And that brings us to the last phase, disposal. As mentioned before, corporation have been researching for years about sustainability. By using material which can be recycled, we can reduce the waste.
I think Leonard explained things very well in this video. It was very simple and easy to understand with the help of graphics, a bit cynical though. But don't be fooled by the cuteness of the graphics. Hear the ironic truth about the underside of production and consumption patterns.
Leonard mentioned first, that the system consists of extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal, which are known as the material economy. I've known and understand these processes, however, what came next was what surprised me. The cycle doesn't end just there. There are many other explanations in between, and they are not really pleasant.
In the extraction phase, Leonard nicknamed it as "natural resource exploitation", and it's basically "trashing the planet". I agree with Leonard that the world has been damaging the planet too much, by chopping down the trees, extracting metals, bottled water and wiping the animals. And I believe that the problem Leonard mentioned about the US isn't happening only in the US, but everywhere in the world. And the abuse of the third world countries resources is unreasonable. It is the resource which belongs to other countries and the US isn't entitled to it.
In the production phase, Leonard emphasized how chemical substance are used, resulting in a toxic in and toxic out. I do know that chemical substance are used in production system, but I don't think that they are all as bad as Leonard said it. Some materials can't be processed without chemical substance, and that is why corporate tested those chemical substance for their side effect and safeties. They are not necessarily bad. But we do need to do something about the pollution caused by production process.
In the distribution phase, Leonard talked about the hidden cost within a product. She mentioned how she bought a radio for $4.99 and how ridiculously cheap it was. She claimed that the she didn't pay for the radio. It was the third world countries who paid for it by their natural resources, and their underaged employees. I don't fully agree with her arguments, though it is very ironic how children has to work for such small amount of money, and how cheap things are in other third world countries. However, by mass producing a product, the cost of it will be reduced. Especially when the production uses machines, which saves time and labour cost.
Leonard called consumption as the heart of the system, and how desperate both the government and the corporations thrive to protect it. Leonard was perhaps most cynical in explaining this phase. She mentioned that consumerity in the world were designed after WWII, to help boost the economy. Computers are changing so fast, people throw away computers in the same speed. However, she overlooked the fact that more advanced technology are designed to be more sustainable. It uses less energy, parts that can be recycled and so on. And you can't really say that consumerity is bad. Imagine if people stop buying products, what would happen to the employees? Maybe the resources can be preserved more, but what about those people in the third world countries who struggle to earn money.
And that brings us to the last phase, disposal. As mentioned before, corporation have been researching for years about sustainability. By using material which can be recycled, we can reduce the waste.
I think Leonard explained things very well in this video. It was very simple and easy to understand with the help of graphics, a bit cynical though. But don't be fooled by the cuteness of the graphics. Hear the ironic truth about the underside of production and consumption patterns.
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