Design Practice I
Masters
Week 1 - Raiding The Pantry
Documentation of Artefacts and Experimentation of Methods and Processes
Throughout this first week we were tasked with creating 51 artefacts with constraints of time, and dimension to begin our design thinking by designing through making, a practice I have experienced with through my undergraduate programme in Industrial Design. Throughout this experimentation they encouraged us to think about new and different processes that we might not have used before to expand our palette of design methods in the available workshops and facilities we have here at AUT.
We were also given a list of words to dissect to focus on throughout our experimentation. I chose the words Raw, Readymade and Processed. Focusing on these words allowed me to see these artefacts as a growing form of the design process, starting from a raw undefined idea and the beginning stages of a design process to then growing and forming this idea to something that has already been processed that has been tested but not finalised to look at a clearer idea formed and how that can be seen in context to my research idea. And readymade looks at what the current interactions are and how can I break them down and understand them to look at them from a new and different lens to place them within a new context.
Raw
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Genuine
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An idea
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Unrefined
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Concepts of prototyping, cardboard etc.
Readymade
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Conventional methods
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Refined to a new context
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Innovative thinking
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Building from an idea
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Integration
Processed
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Refinements
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Tested interaction
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Defined as clarity and development
Methods and Processes
Sketching
When this project was presented to us I approached it as a chance to develop skills and techniques that I haven’t had the chance to develop before during my undergraduate degree. Sketching was a practice I wanted to get better at to improve generating my ideas and putting them to paper as a means of visualisation. Learning to sketch cars gave me confidence in understanding shape and context of my design field and with cars there are proportions and angles that are both unnatural and rigid often combining the two allowed me to see how different design elements readymade in the cars design can draw an understanding from me about the context of cars.
3D Modeling Functions
I wanted to use 3D printing as a way for me to understand functions within the car and throughout automotive transport to gain a deeper understanding of the tactile and interactive elements that are used within transportation that give the driver feedback depending on the function eg. Indicators, temperature knobs, hazard lights.
Understanding the tactile nature of these objects will give me more context of why the interactions may be “satisfying” and how this gives users the impression of security and control over their actions. As well as having an example of tactile analogue functions that are better understood having a model of oppose to the idea of them.
Visual Graphic Language
Visual Graphic Language was something I wanted to explore through the use of laser cutting, as the interface within the car is filled with graphic symbols and visualisations of danger, car maintenance or general information can be hard if the language is never taught to people.
I wanted to explore how this language can be viewed and explored for the context of drivers and if this was a viable form of design language that is universal for drivers and if so, why? And how can this be better understood? Do people know what these symbols mean in the context of a car? How can there be a balance of information and visual representation without overwhelming the driver with distractions while driving.
Observational Analysis
I use Observation as a means to gain perspective on the current contexts of where I desire to work within, understanding current interfaces and information given to the driver and even how it relates to the passenger.
Comparing what is seen as a ‘standard’ car interior vs a ‘racing’ interior we see how much of the car is deemed ”essential” compared to the things needed for luxury, comfort and day to day life between these two cars I began to see and recognise the difference between what is essential for driving the car (racing) compared to what is needed to live in your car (commercial). Even choice of materials, simple functions and need for passenger entertainment are all challenged when the environment of the car changes context.
Prototyping
When understanding different functions in the car in which the driver has full control over the main function seen between the driver and their vehicle is in the steering wheel. When exploring this there was 2 versions that had lots of interaction and function between, the modern classic steering wheel and the more advanced racing wheel. Within context these two wheels give the driver function without removing their hands off of the steering wheel to minimise distractions while driving.
An insight I saw when creating the modern steering wheel prototype was the nature of the horn, as one of the few means to communicate with another driver on the road it presents itself as an aggressive tool, being used in an aggressive way to responses of other drivers driving. As an action it mimics aggressive behaviour as supported also by the aggressive noise that follows to support this action. As understanding driver behaviours through drivers I argue the design of this function in the modern car.
Feedback and Reflection
Feedback given were a mixed response in suggestions into where to explore next as well as well as explorations into different mediums. With suggestions to look into metal, plaster and clay and thinking of other contexts such as safety features, understanding navigation easier and understanding symbolism within the environment of car and automotive design. There was also a suggestion by Kanav to look into significance of cars, the philosophy behind how they are thought of in society today and what that entails for their definition to the wider society looking into perception and thinking of how cars are thought and perceived.
Reflection
Though I know the area I want to design for as shown in my research question and initial proposal I am open and broadly considering my options within where I would like to design and for what purpose also. Expanding on my insights through my artefacts I look to deepen my research question and focus on a more specific problem. I have an interest in understanding interface and the growing nature of technology integration within modern cars and what that means for drivers and the experience of driving, allowing the driving experience to go hand in hand with the direction of automotive innovation. Though there are still many avenues I want to explore, such as soft materials and driver seating and materials as another means to move towards which I would like to explore through making. I have noticed the difficulty in having a range of options to design towards without a clear vision or focus to lead my design journey, although the pressure is mounting in where I want to explore I want to focus on current design practices and the industry techniques used to get a deeper understanding of how cars are designed and made which may be a focus for the next iterative stage of this paper. Though there are lots of thoughts I believe there is steady progress in my journey and I look forward to going deeper in deciding what I want my project to develop into.
Week 2 - Cooking with Gas
Refined Intentional Practice Through Making
As we move from week 1 to two there was a call to refine our work further through the methods we have learned in week 1 and go deeper with our research and exploration throughout this week. Through broad exploration and contextual analysis of design opportunities within the car interior I look to see where design is being produced within modern cars today. With manufacturing techniques ranging from 3d manufacturing to returning to the basics in shaping and moulding the car I put my practice through this focus this week.
Amalgamate
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To combine, unite or merge two or more things into one
Layer
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a thickness, coating, or level of material that covers a surface
The ingredients I have chosen were Amalgamate and Layer, looking at how I want to explore the manufacturing techniques within the automotive industry and their practice in relation to my own. Looking at these ingredients as means to combine techniques, understand interactive properties and the processes of automotive design. Amalgamate looks to understand methods in relation to one another, how they elevate the making process through the strengths of one another, through this I look to combine forms, techniques and refinement of ideas to multiple stages. Layering looks to explore materials and interactions within the car, materials that covers a surface that drivers will interact with throughout the driving experience.
Methods and Processes
Amalgamation of Prototyping and Clay Modelling
Prototyping and clay modeling
Initial cardboard prototyping framed the base of my exploration into form giving and manufacturing techniques looking to amalgamate this practice with clay modelling a technique used my automotive designers as a means of form giving, testing and faster iterations and developments to design changes. Techniques used in this capacity interest me as it explores different mediums in the context of car design that step away from digital mediums and look to human imperfections and craftsmanship to develop a concept/idea.
Throughout the manufacturing of my medium there was much time taken to explore shaping, form giving and understanding structure in creating a prototype to move forward with and the difficulties continued to add when introducing clay into the mix as the different techniques used to create form and depth began to interfere with one another, such as removing of material would expose the structure underneath or the combining of paneling proved to be difficult in creating a smooth finish to the prototype which lead to a final artefact that exposed two different stages of the iterative process which for an artefact shows processes used and development overtime but for a technique is difficult when mixing and combining different mediums with vastly different making techniques.
Soft Material Exploration
Soft Material Exploration
Exploration into soft materials looked to understand and improve how materials used in the car were created and what mediums were able to be extracted and explored from it. Through a previous project involving New Zealand strong wool I wanted to bring that practice into automotive design to explore the mediums being used in car upholstery and seating.
Through making and discussion with technicians and exploring soft materials as a medium there were different suggestions into the manipulation of fabric to fit within this context. As an explorative thinking of sustainability I asked about the replacement of synthetic foams and the nature of waste and toxic materials used in car design. The difficulty presented by technicians Finn and Dan was the ability to extrude and give structure to soft materials especially strong wool as its inherit nature is to settle and rest rather than stay rigid and hold form, techniques discussed were wet felting to give structure through weaving of fibres and fabric manipulation through heat setting, though I wasn’t able to explore due to constraints on equipment and time I look to explore these medius in the coming weeks
Contextual Sketching
Bringing techniques used through sketching in weeks 1 and applying them to the context of interior design gave context to my design environment and the ability to put to paper ideas and concepts for when I move into iterative and explorative design with a more deeper research question in mind.
3D Texture Modelling
Understanding touch through textures is a medium unexplored just yet and when looking into fabricating texture within the medium of 3D modelling it is something I have not been able to learn or explore yet. Understanding textures as an inherit connection for tactile understanding through touch is important when designing for interactions between people and vehicle and learning to fabricate them will be useful moving forward.
There were complications when attempting to model textures in Rhino (3D modelling software) which were the commands and understanding how to use new controls that I had never attempted before. When introducing myself to these techniques there was a steep learning curve with techniques not even being explored such as grasshopper as it was too difficult in the time restraints. My artefacts are a combination of understanding methods and techniques while also creating a foundation into making textures through 3D modelling.
Role Playing and User Observation
One thing not photographically documented was the ability to role-play and put into context possible users and user groups in car maintenance when doing so with my car over the weekend. As the opportunity presented itself I was able to put into context the tools, techniques and functions it takes to maintain a car by rotating wheels, oil changes and maintaining air pressure.
Throughout this process I was putting myself into context of someone who didn’t know how to maintain their car and the things needed to look after a car but also through the difficulty in which it had to be done, by doing so throughout the maintenance of the car I gained a context for someone who might not have the knowledge or the tools, even the capabilities it takes to maintain a car. This began an empathy journey, to understand the needs of others as well as give me knowledge on what it takes to be in someone else’s shoes who is not able to maintain a car due to these constraints.
Feedback and Reflection
Throughout feedback of artefacts there was general positive responses to the artefacts presented and the ideas that were talked about. However one thing was prevalent which was the focus, the target audience and the way the practice tied back to the research question. There were many clues they picked up throughout my presentation on the what and how I was designing for but it was missing the why and who. I hadn’t identified a key demographic, as well as a specific problem I was trying to address and it was clear from the artefacts I was presenting. There were questions on developing a key idea, key audience and practice that supported this. As I looked at explorative I believe I was lost in where this exploration was meant to be going and where it was to be focused upon. As I move froward with this project and into the research and practice of week 3 I need to identify and clarify these questions and begin to design and create around those because otherwise it begins to get lost and I myself understand how their perception of my work was confusing despite the strong presentation. Simplifying it, and directing my work to a more suitable outcome. With key audience, question and context in mind.
Reflection
Through feedback from my peers there was a quality highlighted of ‘craftsmanship’ which was interesting when looking into the production and manufacturing of automobiles. As I look to integrate this idea into my work I see how connection through making is craftsmanship and how this can be applied is through more making with intention as said in the feedback before.
Throughout the week I notices 2 things, 1 the difficulty in creating for the field I want to design for and 2. The lack of focus in relation to a research question. When practice and intention don’t go hand in hand it creates a difficulty in knowing what and how to ideate becomes more lost and stagnant.