What I've Learned Fall QRT INDS 102

I have learned, as a result of this design process, to appreciate the journey necessary to achieve a finished product. I see that great work is the result of a genuine understanding of design applied to a strong concept. By developing a personal design philosophy I see meaning to my work; I’ve discovered that design favors experience. We must become immersed in our surroundings, take a conscious notice of our context, and practice our studies instead of dismissing their relevance. This idea was strengthened through our user journeys, where circulation was appropriately prolonged to allow for clarity in our observations. The models in Phase 3 taught me to think in volume, to not neglect the form and space of an area, and to utilize what can’t be seen. Ultimately, I've learned to entertain change. The course project for INDS 102 taught me that the removal of unimportant elements is beneficial- the process it took to reach a final parti required reductions, additions, and constant tweaking to present a stronger idea. This project has taught me to utilize, in form and space, the elements and principles of design that have proved themselves successful, and it is by their harmonious success that I strive to follow in similar footsteps.

ChildLike intuition::

I love this idea- that inspiration can come from anywhere. A few seconds of visual bliss could be the inspiration for an entire collection. Innocence can be inspiration.
In youth imagination is inspiration. Imagination is inevitable because, for most kids, they have no inhibition. They're uncaged, flying free because they've yet to really experience getting up from a fall. The possibilities of conjuring ludicrous ideas are believable for them, they haven't matured into thinking different. Why can't we fly on brooms and live in castles entirely pink? For me, my draw towards children is their ability to believe. They believe effortlessly. These photos are derived from children's inspiration on paper. Somehow kids produce something adults cannot. As haphazard and unique as each drawing is, the Korean artist set out and collected a thousand drawings from children between five and seven years old.
He attempted to capture the essence and subject of the drawing into an environment.

Assignment Idea: Blind draw individually and create a space from 2d line drawing- or - with partners, one describes a picture and can see their partner drawing but the person drawing cannot see themselves. That drawing becomes the inspiration for the space.  

MOBILE LIVING

With more and more Americans having to sleep in their cars, it is too bad that Toyota never put this into production. 1973 Toyota Station Wagon turns into RV.

 Here are some great ideas of other people living mobile. From army inspired to RV pop-tents, Treehugger.com has a lot of resources for people living simply.

Living is.be combines the best of an RV (easily mobile) with the efficiency of a popup camper (folds down for less wind resistance) and the comfort of a multistorey townhouse. It even has a hot-tub sized bath on the upper level.

When one designs a boat, trailer, mobile home or RV, it can be fabulous test-beds for designers to show how one can live with less space, how to squeeze every cubic inch out. They also have to deal with many restrictions in weight, shape and dimension. They can also challenge our assumption that we have to live in a fixed location, when one might have a smaller footprint if we lived in smaller spaces and were not so tied down.

 All of the images & text was taken from Tree Hugger.com from article Mobile Living: The Unicat by Lyod Alter, Toronto 01.16.08

project sleepless

I came across these incredible bedsheets today and HAD to share. A group of fourteen students collaborated together and worked under Professor Ron Arad, from Royal College of Art's design product department and The Great Eastern Hotel, to make these. It sheds light on a different way of sleeping, where reading in bed is taken to a more unique level. The project is called SLEEPLESS and the design is by Tiago da Fonseca. After much searching I found the designer's official website where they're now selling these! For a pretty penny you can own one too, but for now we can just admire good design : )

From what I read, each sheet serves as a page and you're able to add or remove like you would pages in a book. Being a book lover, this was so grrreat :)