The final 5

Productive Weekend

Productive Design weekend was productive! Got some good drawing and model making done!

Displace

So I chose the word displace for the start of the third project, and the first thing I did after choosing my word, was go to tumblr to type in the word and just see what sorts of things would come up. There were a lot of interesting pictures, some I didn't really relate to the word displace, but still cool. 
Then this simple definition came up:

Displace (v.)

To compel (a person or persons) to leave home, country, etc.

To move out or put out of the usual or proper place.

To take the place of; replace; supplant.

To remove from a position, office, or dignity.

I then went to Merriam- webster and got this:

dis·place

 transitive verb \(ˌ)dis-ˈplās, di-ˈsplās\

: to take the job or position of (someone or something)

: to force (people or animals) to leave the area where they live

: to remove (someone) from a job or position

Full Definition of DISPLACE

1

a :  to remove from the usual or proper place; specifically :  to expel or force to flee from home or homeland <displacedpersons>

b :  to remove from an office, status, or job

c obsolete :  to drive out :  banish

2

a :  to move physically out of position <a floating objectdisplaces water>

b :  to take the place of (as in a chemical reaction) : supplant

— dis·place·able  adjective

Examples of DISPLACE

1. The war has displaced thousands of people.
2. The hurricane displaced most of the town's residents.
3. The closing of the factory has displaced many workers.
4. farming practices that displace large amounts of soil

Origin of DISPLACE

probably from Middle French desplacer, from des- dis- +place place

First Known Use: 1549

(Similar definitions, the tumblr edit just a bit more simplified.)

Really definitions just like what I was expecting, but one thing I found very interesting in looking at the pictures on tumblr and keeping the definitions in mind, is how different the interpretations feelings, and emotions of the word can be from person to person. Everyone interprets it differently, and while the definition was more of a static literal reading of the word, the images I saw under the tag displace showed the range of possibilities that can come out of one simple word.

User Interviews

“I think the old lint roller is really easy yo use, but I feel like I waste a lot of paper with it, since I’m constantly having to tear off sheets to get it sticky again” 

-Sarah McClinton, University of Kansas Student Athlete

“I really like the case on this new design, it fits in my hand really well. It’s easy to use, but I’m worried after a while the roll wouldn’t reach outside of the case.”

-Sarah McClinton, University of Kansas Student Athlete

“I like to use my regular lint roller on my rug, because sometimes using the vaccuum it’ll get clogged. But they do get used up fast, which is a pain.”

-Jaime Mathieu, University of Kansas Student

“I like the case on it, because I feel like it would save a lot of the paper since it wouldn’t pick up any lint if it accidentally fell or something.”

-Jaime Mathieu, University of Kansas Student

“I always keep a lint roller in my glove compartment, because I have a dog and his hair is always getting on my work clothes. In the glove compartment though, it picks up a lot of dirt, and it sometimes doesn’t fit well with all the other stuff in there.”

-Jeniffer Mathieu, Employee at Essence Healthcare

“This new lint roller is a lot more compact, and I couldn’t see it getting in the way if I kept it in my glove compartment or purse even.”

-Jeniffer Mathieu, Employee at Essence Healthcare

User interview pictures

Prototyping

Writer's Toolbox Reflection

In the Writer’s Toolbox, the author takes a look at several different ways to begin generating ideas in the beginning stages of a project, as well as using techniques to spur new ideas as the project progresses. I think all the techniques discussed in this reading are very important to remember and consider using when dealing with any kind of creative project. It is easy to forget all of the techniques available, that can generate ideas and really get a person or a group thinking about the task at hand and what they want to create. I think a lot of the time when trying to come up with a new idea, many people use only one of the methods discussed in this reading, or something similar, and while this is useful and will generate ideas, by only utilizing one technique a person misses out on the other possibilities that may have come out of using a variety of techniques.

When I am trying to come up with ideas I almost always use the technique of word listing, or some form of word listing, discussed in the reading. I find it extremely helpful to simply list out words that connect to what I want to get out of a project, and then move on to listing what needs to be done and what I want the project to accomplish. 

On this particular project, as well as the last project I also used mind mapping which I had never used before.

I think this reading is very accurate in its description of mind mapping and how it can help with coming up with new ideas. I found when I used mind mapping I was coming up with ideas that were outside of my comfort zone, and different from the kinds of ideas I typically come up with. Mind mapping really pushed me to think outside the box and consider every possibility.

I really liked the section on brainwriting, as I agree with what they said about how typical brainstorming can somettimes leave out the more quiet people of the group. With brainwriting the group can come up with initial ideas, feed off of eachothers ideas, and explore a number of possibilites while keeping everyone involved and having all your thoughts written down for future refrence.

I never really considered using freewriting as a way of coming up with new ideas, or exploring how to solve a problem before, but after reading the section on it I will definitely try it in the future. I freewrite all the time, but usually it is just to get down random ideas I have through out the day or else to just write down how I’m feeling, like a journal. It was really interesting to me how they discussed that freewriting could be just like writing in a journal, but that it doesn’t have to just be random thoughts, but can be used to come up with new ideas as it just gets you thinking. Usually when I write, when coming up with new ideas, I just write what I want to accomplish and don’t even think to open my mind and let new ideas come naturally. I think after reading this I will be able to use my freewriting much more effectively as I will be more open in the process.

Understanding Comics Reflection

As someone who has always loved cartoons, and in turn learned and chosen to draw in a much more stylized way, I really enjoyed this reading of Understanding Comics, as it put words and explanations to many things I have sort of subconciously recognize, but never been able to pinpoint.

In chapter two when they talk about the icon, this really grabbed my attention. I found it really interesting how they discussed that the reason that icons or cartoons are so universally accepted and liked is becuase the simplicity of it allows for a person vieweing such things to put themselves, or pieces of themselves into the character. In my own drawing, I have never had the desire to draw one hundred percent realistic, but instead love to stylize my work, putting my own spin on it, and I think my desire to do this has a lot to do with the things Understanding Comics talks about. I have never wanted to draw extremely realistic because in my own work I don’t see the point of recreating a real object just as it is, but instead want to express other things that you may not see from just looking at a photocopy of an object. I use drawing as a way to express something, and even if I am drawign a picture of something I am looking at, I want to express certain things and so I use stylization and a more “cartoony” approach to accomplish that.

In chapter 5 where they discuss how lines can portray emotions and capture that senses, I think this further put explanation and meaning to what chapter 2 talked about. While in chapter 2 it is more about the form of the icon, it is important to look at an talk about the way that icon is drawn. While the picture itself might be universal for representing something, the lines you use to draw the symbol and what’s aroung it can convey many things. This chapter really spoke to my perfectionist nature when it comes to drawing. I am a stickler for line work, and because of this I go over almost all my work in pen, getting the lines absolutely perfect. While I’ve always done this, and before I thought I just did this because it looked better to me, I think all along I was doing this because subconciously I understood how much power line work can hold, and how the way something is drawn can convey something very specific. In my work if I see a flaw, like a line that is jagged, ore the edges of the line aren’t smooth, I immediately have to fix it because when I look at it I see something conveyed that is different from what I want conveyed.

Looking at this reading showed me that there is a lot of importance in even small things we typically don’t think about. I think it is very important to consider things like this as it can help you to improve in all areas of work, not just in the specific area that is being discussed, like in this case cartoons. Drawings and pictures can be very powerful, and convey a number of thigns, but only if you understand what sorts of things convey what feeling and emotions through the senses.

IDEO

I really enjoyed watching the video about IDEO, because it really showed how well working in a group, and in an open and free environment can help foster creative ideas. I have always been the kind of person who like to work in a group when it comes to coming up with ideas. For me, I always feel like I have good ideas that I come up with on my own, but I'm never really sure of them. I second guess myself, and a lot of times actually convince myself that it is just me who thinks an idea is good, when I don't have a group or other people to talk my ideas out with. I'm definitely one for a good critique, and I don't like to do things, or try an idea without first getting feedback that it is good, and adding on ideas on how to make it better.

It wasn't just the group aspect of IDEO that worked though it was also the environment. In an environment where there is no judgement, and you are encouraged to come up with a range of ideas from sensible and possible to far out and innovative, it is no wonder that the company is able to create so many well designed things. Relating to myself again, and my ideas, a lot times I'll come up with an idea that is really different, or just outright strange and a lot of the time I will give up on those ideas before I even really consider them, because I immediately think others will look down on those ideas, when in reality they could result in something great.

I think the way that IDEO works is a great example of how allowing for outrageous creative can actually lead to some of the best ideas, although many may think just the opposite. I feel like most people in the world believe the best ideas come from the most structured formulas, when in reality it is a bit of structured chaos, so that every possibility is examined while still getting what you need done.

This counts right?

This counts as inspiration for our future redesigned lint roller right?

On to the Next Thing

Start of Project 2!

So while we hadn't officially started working on project 2 on the day we made the word map you can see above, we were assigned our groups and got to work together trying to figure out what would be the best way to redesign a tape measure, and the work we did on that was absolutely perfect, for getting a sense for what kind of people we'd be grouped with and how we'd be able to work together in the most effective and efficient way.

For our word map we took an approach of first just discussing what ever came into one's head when the word tape measure was brought up and then going from there. We came up with some really good ideas, and if we were to continue on making a redesigned tape measure I feel we could have made something really cool!