Week 2: Design Process - 28/8/14

During the tutorial we discussed the non linear element of designing, as well as create a bridge out of paper.

After some quick brainstorming and planning we began to build the bridge. Once we started building we were in a constant loop of thinking of ways to make our design stronger than reflecting on previous weaknesses we had experienced with our bridge. All while keeping the purpose and time constraint in mind while building. In the end however our idea we originally had in mind had completely changed. It is very hard to come up with a clear cut design since there is too many factors that cannot be certain unless extensive testing is done to find out what's weak or strong. This is the non-linear element of our planning that I learnt through creating the bridge, since we may discover new and more efficient ideas while testing. Which is both equally fun and frustrating. 

In the context of creating signs for a hospital for the homework. You would first consider the clients and the purpose. Then move onto brainstorming what would make a suitable sign, then coming up with a rough The next process is testing multiple designs in order to test their functionality. The process of testing can branch off into many different options and it is hard to predict that it will end up to the end product as planned. Then you constantly reflect on past designs to improve your current design, then when the current design does not work, you loop back to reflecting. Eventually you end up with a improved version of your planned project which might be similar or completely different the to plan.

Basically the design process is endless and keeps going in a circle until you come to a conclusion that you are satisfied with. How you come up with this conclusion can be done in many different ways. Although a design process will mostly start with some research and planning out a rough outcome. 

Bibliography: Sapdesignguild.org,. (2014). Retrieved 28 August 2014, from http://www.sapdesignguild.org/resources/images/UCD_new.gif

Week 1: Design Activity - 21/8/14

During this tutorial the main element of discussion was what makes something a design activity, as well as what are examples of unexpected activities would be considered a design activity.

My idea of a unexpected design activity would be painting. In painting you need to decide what you are planning to paint and ultimately how you are going to get there. This is done through deciding how to layer colours, what brush techniques, contrasting colours, how to mix colours, textures and so on. Relating this back to design, the planning of the painting could be seen as deciding who the client is and what the limitations are. Since painting is limited to the amount of paint you have, the type of canvas you are painting on and the types of brushes you have. Another design activity in painting is the brush techniques, as they are reflective on what program or printer is most efficient to create the product. Choosing the correct paints and deciding how to layer the paint is similar to understanding the program you are using to create the product.

Before the tutorial I was not able to justify painting as a design activity with this amount of detail, as I was struggling to define what is a design activity. Through thinking of something in turns of a graphic design process I was able to learn how to justify something as a design activity through listening to other students ideas. For example I was grouped with a student who said that creating Dirt Ramps was a design activity. At first I was not able to understand how as it seems completely unrelated. She quickly explained that the creation process of a dirt ramp is much more complicated than people think, since you need to take into account; type of dirt, drainage, aesthetics, functionality, speed and strength. Each one of these elements can be reflected as things that a graphic designer has to go through, for example the type of dirt is similar to being limited by the tastes of the client.

Another topic of discussion was of what makes something a craft or a design. At first I was unable to find something that could differentiate both activities, as they are very similar. A student in the tutorial mentioned that design usually has an objective whereas craft is mainly for recreational purposes. Craft and design both share similar qualities but within the tutorial we came to the conclusion that one distinct element separated them. Craft is considered to be only for recreational purposes and design always has an objective.

This gif helped me to understand the process of creating a painting more thoroughly:

Bibliography: 

Fox, D. (2014). 33.media.tumblr.com. Retrieved 23 August 2014, from http://33.media.tumblr.com/88e4d3ad7bc45c8502ac20fe8bc4f323/tumblr_mtainpO7si1qc81uio1_500.gif