Video Reflection- WHAT is design

Bill Moggridge in this video addresses the question of ‘what is design?'. He conveys some examples of good and bad design as well as the process that involve around design. I personally like when he quotes that design is not simply to make a product looks appealing or beautiful but every products are the result of design. Having said that, it means that everyone who produce an products (not only products in our mind, but also the people like IT manager who makes the comoputer system, they are also a designer.

Another points that i agree on him is when he said that the people couldn't recognize good design until he take a look at the bad one as well. He conveys it through the example of bad designed remote controls in which the designer put complicated details which bring confussion for the users.

Human-centered design is again highlighted but this time it is not only interpreted as a design that focuses on the user experience but it is also about the sustainability of it. These days people has become more and more care about environment and thus, we as designers are reminded to think carefully what is the effect of our design on earth.

This video is very important to designers, especially industrial designers, as it shows how advanced technology has become and how design is following the trend by incorporating technology into design. Also, it reminds industrial designers that they need to design products that are useful and accessible (reasonably priced) to the society, which makes lives easier.

Peer Comments- Project 1

Oskar Carabez
http://ocarabezides1031.blogspot.com/

Christine Liang
http://mad-attic.blogspot.com/

Rainbow Tam
http://rainbow-tam.blogspot.com/

Oun Vimolpatranon
http://vimooun.blogspot.com/

Kosuke Fujisawa
http://kosukedesign2011.blogspot.com/

Project 1- Experience Enrichment

RATIONALE:

The aim of this project is to design an everyday hand tool into a more pleasurable one which enriches the user’s experience when using it. There are so many hand tools in the society nowadays and whisk is one of the kitchen utensils that are frequently used in the kitchen.  Balloon whisk is the most common whisk used in the kitchen and my aim is to enrich the experience of whisking using this kind of whisk.

My solution was to come up with a simple design of a balloon whisk with raised base feature which enables the whisk to be placed on the table with its head staying off countertop for surface contaminated whisking. This feature may also allow the whisk to be stored on the kitchen table when it’s not used. Another advantage of this higher base is that it can be used as a hook towards the bowl when it’s rested after whisking. Its sleek design will be aesthetically appealing and therefore the user can use this whisk as the kitchen ornament. I decided to keep the shape of the balloon loop as it does provide the best whisking results as it produces best aeration while whisking. Its curve shape is best suited for mixing in bowls as their curved edges conform to a bowl's concave sides. The stainless steel are used for this whisk because it reacts well with most of the ingredients (eggs, cream, gravies) and therefore produces stable foam, its material is also not easily corroded and resistant to temperature changes. 

The main challenge to this design is to design the handle that will ergonomically suit every hand shape. Finally I made a decision to make a smaller round shape near the whisk and a bigger round shape at the tip of the handle because these features will help transferring the weight and pressure into the user’s palm of their hand and therefore it reduces stress while whisking. I am impressed with this handle design because I have tested it with few people and they agree that this feature makes the experience of whisking more pleasurable. The materials used for the handle is plastic because of its lightness and its soft texture and comfortable grip will also enrich the whisking experience.

  I always wanted to design a product that is simple and yet aesthetically appealing while at the same time allowing it to perform its best essential function. I am confident that my whisk design has achieved this and its features have added a more pleasurable experience as it fulfills physiological, psychological, social, and ideological properties. 

poster of Hero shot