Assignment DG108 – Ideas and Concepts: Starting from Scratch
Link to OWinfo:
G108 – Ideas and Concepts: Starting from Scratch
Feedback form:
Deliverable
Competencies developed:
1, 6, B
Reflection:
One of my goals was to attend for this assignment due to a lack of competency development in area 1 and in order to extend my creativity techniques.
During the assignment we performed different phases of a design process using creative techniques. We started from scratch using random objects, actions and activities to come up with an unconventional concept. After clustering, abstracting, brainstorming we come up with a new idea. Subsequently we used the ‘action relabeling’ technique, which is simply brainstorming about possible actions on an unusable physical design. In our case managing a personal agenda using a mechanical toy, as shown right. We applied this ‘action relabeling’ method on our abstracted concept using a T-shirt and a few laces. In the end we came up with an unrealistic, but yet thinking out of the box concept: a T-shirt which morphs itself so it reminds the user of an upcoming activity. More information about what I did can be read in the report.
Overall seen, this assignment provided me tools to extend the use of my creativity for redesigning products and to think outside the box. This assignment showed me that it is possible to come up with concepts from scratch based on random words, activities or actions. Therefore it is important to think in an abstract way and don’t restricting myself in any way. That’s why it’s called ‘thinking outside the box’. Furthermore I learned that ‘action relabeling’ and ‘acting-out’-methods are powerful tools to come up with design-solutions. When designing through interaction it is essential to perform actual handling of the object and trying out actions, rather than just think them though. I became aware that by using a simple object, such as a stapler, forces me to think in equally simple actions for the product to be designed. While choosing a complex object like a Swiss army knife, allows me to think of a more gadget-like product. This technique is comparable with the cardboard modeling assignment. I became aware these physical interactions will be more pleasant and intuitive for the user that using digital interaction. Moreover I became aware that aesthetics and interaction are tightly interwoven. In my opinion abstract thinking is very important while designing; it enables me to come up with real innovative futuristic concepts rather than improving minorities on existing designs. I share the assignor’s opinion that the educational vision lacks on abstract thinking, therefore I’m willing to attend for a follow up assignments soon.
I also learned that it can be useful to write a scenario to illustrate the concept better. A well-known approach is to write a scenario for typical characters from a target group (for example; Piet is a business man who likes….therefore). This assignment made me aware to increase my creativity to use for example three extreme characters (like the pope, drugs dealer, teenager etc.) for brainstorming purposes (research specific user). After evaluating the concepts I can combine the most interesting features into one realistic concept.
In the end I became aware that a stop-motion movie including a scenario is very powerful tool to illustrate the concept without spending a lot of time on movie-editing. You can see our movie down here:
Overall seen this assignment increased my idea generation skills by showing different creative methods. The assignment provided me different research ideas, techniques and processes in order to come up with more successful concepts for newly found opportunities and also showed me ways of how to record and present the results. Furthermore it showed me how to approach different stages of the design process to bring abstract thinking into a physical context. I will take these tools in mind for the upcoming creative sessions.
Assignment DG108 Ideas and Concepts: Starting from Scratch
Link to OWinfo:
DG108 – Ideas and Concepts: Starting from Scratch
Feedback form:
Not published yet
Deliverable
Link to report
Competencies developed:
1, 6, B
Reflection:
One of my goals was to attend for this assignment due to a lack of competency development in area 1 and in order to extend my creativity techniques.
During the assignment we performed different phases of a design process using creative techniques. We started from scratch using random objects, actions and activities to come up with an unconventional concept. After clustering, abstracting, brainstorming we come up with a new idea. Subsequently we used the ‘action relabeling’ technique, which is simply brainstorming about possible actions on an unusable physical design. In our case managing a personal agenda using a mechanical toy, as shown below.
<PICTURE OF ACTION RELABELING, SEE REPORT>
We applied this ‘action relabeling’ method on our abstracted concept using a T-shirt and a few laces. In the end we came up with an unrealistic, but yet thinking out of the box concept: a T-shirt which morphs itself so it reminds the user of an upcoming activity. More information about what I did can be read in the report.
Overall seen, this assignment provided me tools to extend the use of my creativity for redesigning products and to think outside the box. This assignment showed me that it is possible to come up with concepts from scratch based on random words, activities or actions. The outcome can be a little weird and not realizable now, but maybe it might be in the near future. Therefore it is important to think in an abstract way and don’t restricting myself in any way. That’s why it’s called ‘thinking outside the box’. Furthermore I learned that ‘action relabeling’ and ‘acting-out’-methods are powerful tools to come up with design-solutions. When designing through interaction it is essential to perform actual handling of the object and trying out actions, rather than just think them though. I became aware that by using a simple object, such as a stapler, forces me to think in equally simple actions for the product to be designed. While choosing a complex object like a Swiss army knife, allows me to think of a more gadget-like product. This technique is comparable with the cardboard modeling assignment. I became aware these physical interactions will be more pleasant and intuitive for the user that using digital interaction. Moreover I became aware that aesthetics and interaction are tightly interwoven. In my opinion abstract thinking is very important while designing; it enables me to come up with real innovative futuristic concepts rather than improving minorities on existing designs. I share the assignor’s opinion that the educational vision lacks on abstract thinking, therefore I’m willing to attend for a follow up assignments soon.
I also learned that it can be useful to write a scenario to illustrate the concept better. A well-known approach is to write a scenario for typical characters from a target group (for example; Piet is a business man who likes….therefore). This assignment made me aware to increase my creativity to use for example three extreme characters (like the pope, drugs dealer, teenager etc.) for brainstorming purposes (research specific user). After evaluating the concepts I can combine the most interesting features into one realistic concept.
In the end I became aware that a stop-motion movie including a scenario is very powerful tool to illustrate the concept without spending a lot of time on movie-editing. You can see our movie down here:
<YOUTUBE LINK>
Overall seen this assignment increased my idea generation skills by showing different creative methods. The assignment provided me different research ideas, techniques and processes in order to come up with more successful concepts for newly found opportunities and also showed me ways of how to record and present the results. Furthermore it showed me how to approach different stages of the design process to bring abstract thinking into a physical context. I will take these tools in mind for the upcoming creative sessions.