Brittoclock

Starving College Student / Communication Design Major

[brittoclock]

Essay #2: “The Panic Option” by Rob Walker, 03-08-13 / By Brittany Zuehlke

      In the 2013 article by Rob Walker, “The Panic Option”, a rather unusual focus is brought forward by the author; the panic button on car keys. The button itself is one that has become quite usual, and is included in almost every set of car keys around the world. Existing in modern cars, the button itself provides a sense of safety for car owners in an emergency. Although it remains unused by most, it is a wonderful feature to have as a basic necessity. 

Within the article, Walker discuss the button, but also the overall changes that have occurred to the keys that are used to access our vehicles every day. Over the years, many car companies have switched over to keys that can not only turn a vehicle on with a simple button, but also ones that use a block at the end instead of the usual silver key ending. It is a faster way to start the vehicle, and less liable to break, but also is unique to the car models they are made for alone.

The discussion of the set up of the keys themselves implements a type of design thinking not only in the outer set up with the placement of the buttons, but also how it connects with the vehicle itself. The placement could be influenced by the way it is suppose to be held in one’s hand/pocket, while also wanting to prevent the buttons being accidentally pressed. This could potentially have an effect of how well the keys do themselves currently and in the future. The connection to the vehicle is also a priority as it would allow the owner to start it, along with have control. 

I find this to be interesting because the panic button, along with car keys themselves are not a usual item that one would think twice about. It is such an every day object that it has become normal to have it on our person daily.  But I also fine the design elements and the thinking that went into the layout of the key to be much more complex than it is initially thought to be. 

Citation:

Walker, Rob. “Thanks to a Rental Car, I Had a Panic Button in My Pocket. It Made Me Tense.” Design Observer, Observer Omnimedia LLC, 8 Mar. 2013, designobserver.com/feature/the-panic-option/37741.

[brittoclock]

Essay #1: “ Love, Optimized” by Victoria Solan, 04-28-16 / By Brittany Zuehlke

    In the 2016 article by Victoria Solan, “Love, Optimized”, the topic of finding a partner in intimacy with marital potential is brought to the light quite literally. In a series created by Shelly Ronen, the artist explores options with future technology that could improve the process for how humans chose their partners. One of these pieces depicts a “tiny device” that “...floats above the user’s ring finger, adapting the quality of light to signal whether the wearer is “flaunt mode, threat mode, or single mode”.” This type of invention could bring forth a positive beginning in a relationship, as it would require both parties to be expressive in their wants and wishes. The device, based on the original composition by Ronen, is a quite a simple design that is subtle enough that it does not bring all of the attention away from the interaction. Another technological invention that  is a piece within the series is “...a device which allows singles to sleep through first dates while a computer does the dreary work of assessing sexual and personal compatibility”. In much simpler words, the machine does all the talking. It could be argued that the design of this does not allow for a pure ‘human’ type of interaction. But, within this, there is a deeper understanding that can be developed by the device between the two individuals that originally could not be obtained with modern technology. It ultimately boils down to our chemical make up within the human body that defines our interactions with others, including a possible romantic partner. This is the entire point that Ronen is trying to make, expressing the basic humanity in our need for a relationship that fulfills our deep instincts that are apparent from birth. Just with a few enhancements. 

I find this article to be fascinating because it brings forward the concept of love and intimacy, but while also implementing a new technological design that emphasis where the world is going in this field. There is no interest that cannot be advanced in the modern age. Walls are being broken down that previously were kept off limits by prior generations by this. Traditional elements in the design field as well are being changed by the series itself using the display of the subject matter in a mixed media type of form. Although the design are simple, causing the subject matter to be easily understood, it opens the door for a more developed and complicated way of approaching human interactions. 

Humans themselves are a design that, though structure has remained the same, has changed over multiple, multiple generations. We have adapted physically to best fit the needs of our ever changing environment round us. But within this, our emotional and chemical make up has changed vastly, creating a greater variation that we have come to realize through both science and technology. Thus, Ronen uses these facts to present in the series how far we’ve come as human beings, as well as how far we still have to go. 

Citation:

Solan, Victoria. “Love, Optimized.” Design Observer, Observer Omnimedia LLC, 28 Apr. 2016, designobserver.com/feature/love-optimized/39283.

[brittoclock]

With the focus on Center St. in Kyle, the composition presented incorporates the traditional, old town feel, as well as the simplicity of the town itself. By using  the different signs that have been icons for years in the city of Kyle and aligning them around the iconic water tower right in the center of downtown, it brings in the focus simplistic things, much of which have been kept for generations. 

[brittoclock]

Within the topic of opposing forces, the image depicted represents the combining of organic and mechanical material. For the organic, the repetition of veins throughout gives a clear comparison to the mechanical element, a car engine. But through enhancement of the colors and specific placement of the veins, the two variables come together to form one unit. The thinking behind this joining is the idea of the car to be a body itself, an organic form similar to the human body. Thus, the engine would be seen as the heart of the car, where veins pump blood and keep the unit alive. This combination gives the viewer a clear illusion of the possibility of mechanical parts or units coming alive, and what they would look like. 

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Using the letters ‘B’ and ‘Z’ as a basic format, they became overlapped by images created within illustrator. For the ‘B’, the use of individual gears of different sizes allowed for a type of symmetry to form through the use of shapes. The ‘Z’ on the other hand was formed through a more organic form as a llama was used to depict the basic outline, while still displaying the letterform behind it.

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FINAL STATEMENT OF INTENT Within this piece, the four animals portayed redeveloped into a simplistic print, relating all of them to one another. The reason for this is not only because they can be found in the same environment, but because they all co-habitate with each other equally. Although there are times of conflict between them, there are also times of peace and understanding between the different species. This allows for a mutual understanding between these animals so they may survive.

[brittoclock]

1302 Statement of intent

I have created these four icons of different animals to illustrate the similarities and differences between them. When it comes to the bear, wolf, fox, and weasel, all of these animals can live within the same climate, whether hot or cold, and can live in harmony within their environment. I wish to convey the relationship between them can be both peaceful, a well as competitive.

[rachaelkatecrawfordeaston-blog]

Where good ideas come from!!

[beesandbombs]

night stars

[cyberlabe]

Design Thinking vs. Visual Thinking

[tora-is-haunted]

Human Centered Design

Human centered design is perhaps the most important aspect of being a designer. Solving a problem, and executing the solution have no meaning if it’s not in favor of the person(s) it’s intended to help. What’s the point in exerting a lot of effort to design something that looks amazing if it’s not actually functional? The short answer is: there’s no point. From IDEO (ideo.org), they specifically state that they design for the impoverished. They go through great lengths to make sure they understand who they’re designing for before taking any further steps. They state that “human centered design sits at the intersection of empathy and creativity”. They’re improving people’s lives. Without doing their human research, they would just be designing things that either make no difference, or make the problem worse.

According to DC Design’s article “What is Human-Centered Design?” on medium.com, human centered design solves the core of a problem. Meaning, a bandaid isn’t just slapped on top of a wound, it’s actually stitched up. They have five steps in their process of solving a problem: 1- Empathize 2- Define 3- Ideate 4-Prototype, and 5- Test and Iterate. Technically that’s six steps, but I’ll give them a pass.

The design process is very dynamic, rather than linear. It takes dynamic thinking to solve these problems. Linear solutions can’t solve dynamic problems. Human centered design and design thinking are extremely similar so they might as well be intertwined.

Human centered design isn’t exclusive to communication design, it’s used across multiple professions. It’s even being applied to cancer cure. According to “Thinking beyond the cure: A case for human-centered design in cancer care” written by Tara Mullaney, Helena Pettersson, Tufve Nyholm and Erik Stolterman, healthcare desperately needs human centered design thinking when it comes to treatment. They’ve found that implementing this way of thinking allows them to find anxiety triggers in cancer patients, typically related to radiation therapy, which they are then able to treat and it allows for an easier process for everyone involved.

Human centered design is extremely important for all of us to implement day to day, no matter which profession we fall under.

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