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Overview of B3.1

Overview

Based on my past, I had a lack of competency development in areas 4 and D. In this semester, I tried to decrease this setback. During my FBP I became more aware of myself as a designer and saw that I have to be more critical. I was able to apply my identity as designer in this project by designing something that contributes to a better enjoyable life including intelligent technologies. The assignment Design for the Environment and the Extra curricular provided me tools, guidelines and mythologies how to improve the environmental impact of a design. Big Images showed me how to watch, how to describe and how to imagine, using an academical framework. A visual representation is shown in the graphs and table below. For more detailed information about learning achievements this semester I invite you to view the summaries below or to take a look at the corresponding sub-pages. More information concerning the past can be viewed in the Overview of the past.

Visual representation concerning my competency growth, click the pictures to zoom in

Competencies developed:

Task/Competency 1 2 3 4 5 6 A B C D
Minor/FBP X X X X X X X X X
Assignment DG409 / X /
Big Images X X
Extra curricular X X /


Project “Retrieving Anthony’s Transponder”

My FBP made me more aware of my contribution as designer towards to society and shaped me as designer. However, I learned that I have to be more critical towards myself and design decisions. I became more competent in designing and manufacturing interactive prototypes, learned how electronic devices are designed and manufactured at mass-production and where I should be aware of as designer. Moreover, I learned how to get qualitative data for demented elderly using a questionnaire and how to do this better next time. At Wingz and surrounding companies, I got more insight of how products are developed towards the market and how to deal with business partners. In addition, I increased my visualization and rapid prototyping skills using Flamingo, SolidWorks and Illustrator. Furthermore, I became more competent in processing different point of views and concerns and improved my professional attitude and presentation skills. I also learned that I have to be more objective and abstract while designing next time and focusing less on a single activity. Finally yet important, I became more competent in setting up methods for gathering and analyzing scientific data for design decisions using scientific data. More information can be found on the project-page.


Assignment DG409 Design for the Environment

One of my goals was to grow in the competency area four and spectacular to sustainable design, because this is important as designer and underrated sometimes. I learned that sustainability is focusing on three main aspects: People Profit Planet. I became aware there are several motivations and strategies concerning sustainability and eco-design and it’s better to focus on small improvements, since everything is relative and the ultimate sustainable design is impossible. I learned a few tools to analyze the sustainability of a product or solution. Early integration, Life Cycle Thinking, Functionality Thinking and Multi criteria including the right priorities are the four main principles of sustainable design. By using the right tools, guidelines and mythologies I can improve the environmental impact of a design. This assignment was very helpful to my and brought foundations for my vision. More detailed information concerning this assignment, visit Assignment DG409 Design for the Environment.


Big Images

Compulsory Stadium Generale college Big Images showed me how to watch, how to describe and how to imagine, using an academical framework of eight layers. I learned to use academical founding to interpret pictures and visualizations and how to come up with inter-subjective describing images. For more information concerning Big Images, click here.


Extra curricular

In my free time, I read two books and watched a documentary that gave me inspiration as designer. These three activities were all involved in sustainable design. ‘Sustainable everyday’ learned me that material reduction, alternative energy or intelligent technologies are not the only ways to reduce the environmental impact of designs. This book made me aware of the social aspects concerning sustainability. The book “Materials and the Environment” provided me methods and tools for designing with materials within the context of their role in products and the environmental consequences. The documentary “Objectified” showed me that sustainable is undeniable for designers and that focusing on replacing the used parts only contributes to less environmental impact. To get more information concerning extra curricular, click here.