Ashley Villagrana

[purplesunglow-blog]

What’s New in the Meditation Market?

Meditation what is it? Hmmm really gets you thinking relaxation? Maybe a time to recollect your thoughts. There has been a new app called “Sway” in the meditation market that is approaching meditation through a new perspective with using hand motions and music to clear the users head. 

Stress levels in the U.S. are seemingly on the rise in recent statistics  2014, from 4.9 to 5.1 on a 10-point stress scale. Time to take a breather and relax for stimulation has been pretty difficult for me as of late. I know that from my study of Stress for my Senior Thesis last year has left me boggled at how much it can effect you. It affects your heart, your weight, and your emotional stability. It is never a good thing to let that stress settle in your self.

Curious to what is out there I have discovered a pretty sweet app in my Twitter feed it does have very nice soothing gradient color transitions. I know in psychology, color is a huge way to get through to the emotions. They trigger different emotions such as the color of your plates study where different colors can increase or decrease your hunger appetite. 

This app takes sound and simple arm exercises plus the nice visuals of waves of relaxing colors to have your mind focus on one activity on the go. As this this is taken on your phone if your too busy to do body poses and classes this is one way to go. 

I have tried meditation before...okay maybe for one summer. I did feel cleansed. fresh, energetic, and stronger, but that was kinda hard to maintain for me to keep that routine. I even tried doing yoga games on the Wii. Pardon my weird nerdy self, I do like playing games, and trying new things. I have even tried to do a yoga app on my phone but...yea I really need my Apple TV to fully engage in a body workout for me. This app looks visually appealing, I wouldn’t mind trying it out to see if it changes my life directly. When your mind juggles tasks, it creates stress? That is always my problem in my daily life that it is hard to focus. Gotta stop pulling my hair out.

[purplesunglow-blog]

“Retail World”

Last Thursday we were graciously introduced to Kip Kotzen of neo-utility in our EPD class. What I learned from this guy is he is a real go-getter. Kip goes to exhibitions around the world because he deals with retail. He deals with selling consumer goods and getting the information about products out there. He was considering Amazon to look at products but there were problems with counterfeit products.

So important to form relationships and keep seeing out there as the most engaging people can be found in these exhibition shows. It is important to see what type of effort the designers put into a product. Design blogs enhances the product even more. Kip mentioned even going to 14 trade shows in a year and that such an amazing feat I wonder how does it all. 

Kip’s retail brings designers and their products from all over the world to one place for people out there to see and learn while giving access for people to enjoy as well.

Kip also noted that Kickstarter gives you an alternate route into the retail world. I feel that the retail world keeps your mind open to what’s out there on a daily basis but also it takes a lot of effort to form these types of special relationships as they become very essential later.

 Thank you for the awesome visit Kip, 

Ashley

Feel free to check out his spectacular cool site neo-utility here: http://neo-utility.com

[purplesunglow-blog]

Talking with Bryce Roberts

Thoughts on Venture Capital

Our teacher allowed the class to see some informational clips about venture capital and how it can effect our projects if we see value within it. Venture capital is how our teacher Craighton described to us like purchasing a home. Where investors are the individuals who supply the money to potential businesses using certain guidelines and get a percentage out of the company when it succeeds allowing the entrepreneur and the investor to rise.

 The Talk

Bryce co-founded O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures with Mark Jacobsen and Tim O'Reilly. He was able to talk through Skype with us last Thursday to our class. He told us about how they look into seeding companies to profitability. They look at entrepreneurs who have a great interest into what their doing as going above and beyond to support their project’s potential to rise. Without that enthusiasm it would slowly die and affects all aspects of the company and investment. Traditional companies mindset on how to invest in is different. They look at individuals who already knows what they are doing while Bryce said, “if you have interest we take it into consideration” passion is what is noticed.

It is all about the voices that can be brought out of the dark to shine among the world. Venture capital is a way for entrepreneurs to make way for ideas to shine. 

Thank you Bryce for taking the time out of your schedule to chat with us as it was very informational.

To Learn More:

Here is Bryce Roberts company OATV: http://oatv.com/are.html

His website: http://bryce.vc

[purplesunglow-blog]

Petmegos on the LaserCutter

Doing to practice cuts on mdf, everything is going as expected, a few little things caught me by surprise was to make sure everything was in place, before the cuts as it did mess up on one character,(Thank the heavens this is practice) I nailed down rastoring for the keychains and ta da da daa! This thing is going to be laser cut on both sides woohoo! The method works and now people are going to get even better keychains. Going to do some real cuts Thursday afternoon but I have all my materials, wood pieces to get started. I am rearing to go.

Ashley

[purplesunglow-blog]

Let’s talk about Andrew Neyer

Andrew Neyer came to my class last Thursday, he didn’t just say he wanted to chat he “came over for a chat”. He owns his own production of his own products which it is called “Stuff”

The Meeting

Such an awesome guy to give us time out of his busy schedule to meet and talk with us about what he is and what he does. As an American artist and designer his urge to design was strong when he graduated in 2008 and went through that art phase where ideas such as for example moonlighting became of interest. His style with design is so minimal but it becomes a craft or an essence.

About his Products

His products play with products that are known but given a change of size or feeling lets the audience experience the interactions on a new level such as a big wristwatch for the wall. Funny story he mentioned that I thought was hilarious was that a person bought the watch expecting it to be a regular wristwatch; it was confusing because of how it was advertised. To me that would be the light of my day, it’s a better deal it is fit for a king.  

Andrew brought a box of his products that he sells. Like a magnetic hand that looks like it is picking up keys but is magnetic. There was also storybooks, and some interesting card or printed material that has lovely illustrations on them and many other fun concepts. I love his concepts, as they are fun in a sense they do really bring perception of the love of the craft on a new level.

Would love to thank Andrew Neyer for his awesome visit.

Thank you,

Ashley

[purplesunglow-blog]

Visit to Unison Home and Chat with Robert Segal:

Last Thursday our class had to meet up at the Unison shop around the Wicker Park area. Coming to the shop you can see a lot of nicely made and cohesive setup of products that gave it a homelike kind of feel. Looking at the tags or labels you can see that what highlights these products is that it shows the creator’s names next to them. We were told that these are collected from designers at housewares shows. Robert Segal was at the store to talk to us he mentioned that he looks to see if they can fit with the products he is displaying at the shop.

Why interested in handmade products?

Well the timeless quality of a manufactured product with rich materials makes it valuable verses a product that is cheaply made and can be thrown away. Robert and his wife Alicia Rosauer would like this store to appear in other places. They try to keep the store alive by making magazine catalogues throughout the year.

Product layout in store

The products are carefully showcased within the store. Each product highlights another, the packaging sits near the product so customers can take what interests them home right away. This store is a good place to test to products to see how well they sell.

To have the customers are interested and feel the quality of the products is what they go for. Robert doesn’t want his store to be like a museum place where nothing is touchable but they allow it.

 Takeaways and Thoughts

Everything within the store takes such consideration and thought. I really like how packaging really highlights how nice the product is. I wonder if it weren’t there would the presentation be just as nice. Love the showcasing of artists with their products as we got to see their style and if I were to get a nice place I would like to have products that have their own timeless quality. Would like to thank Robert for the invitation to come and here him talk. Learning about new places within the design world is really inspiring.

Ashley

[purplesunglow-blog]

My Visit to Steelcase

Last Wednesday was a very beautiful day in Chicago, and I was making my way to Steelcase.

Steelcase is known for making the best study/collaboration spaces for workers and individuals who want to get the work done in the most productive and healthy manner of workspaces.

The recommendation to visit came from of my previous industrial design visualization design teacher named Zach Pino, as the company relates to the reservation process that I am researching for my Senior Thesis. Reaching out I was able to talk to “Kathryn Proffitt”, who was more than nice enough to meet me and give me a look around.  Meeting Kathryn there I was also introduced to Damien O’Neal to help tell me more about the place.

Walking around the rooms at Steelcase looked nice had it’s own feeling to them the place itself gave off a very calming atmosphere. The rooms were separated with see through windows. There were little digital interfaces that are attached to each of the doors. This system is called RoomWizard, which is a web-based, meeting room-scheduling system that allows individuals to order rooms online and/or come in person and reserve a room personally.

On the interface of the digital pad, the person just by glancing at it while walking by can tell instantly, if it is occupied or not which is pretty neat. It’ll say if it is available or not and how much time they are going to be preoccupied in the room.

Damien demonstrated the use of the interface, it wasn’t hard at all to figure out and the communication was very clear. The job was done in about three screen swipes with little to no information.

Why is Steelcase looking at workstations?

Damien also explained one of the scenarios or the dilemmas that the Steelcase has worked around is for example the office meeting, where an important meeting is happening and a random individual barges in by accident not knowing the room occupied, which I can see happening as it happens when trying to look for a nice place to get work done. The old system of reserving rooms Steelcase researched on for improving as the system of notes left on office doors for reservation was really outdated but currently is still in use today. The need to improve and make everything clear and simple to obtain was what Steelcase was looking for.

Workspaces with Personality

I was also told that each workspace is its own personality; they have specific names and provide different atmospheres. To ensure the most productive effect, different combinations and uses of material and arrangement enhance the mind in many ways. Kathryn and Damien also informed me that “Susan Cain” helped design some of the rooms in the place and also wrote a very good book about introverts called “Quiet” which I am still currently reading and it is really inspiring and gives us a good view on the perspective on introverts in America.  

What I take away:

There were so many elements assigned into a room that it made a cohesive fit and applied to its personality and atmosphere. The rooms look like it provides good seating position that would be favorable to study as in today’s workspaces there is lack of motivations and many distractions. These rooms heighten the positive workflow to the necessary needs of the incoming people that would necessarily need to use this system. Been learning more about Steelcase through the website and this company offers a lot and the research is phenomenal as they even went into good posture positions and its effects on today’s Americans.

Acknowledgement

Would like to thank Kathryn and Damien for the hospitable visit, and the nice souvenir I was able to take with me home from the visit. Everything I learned at that place was valuable and I was given a lot of good resources.

Thank you again for the visit.

Ashley

(The reason I write these blogs about my visits is to remember all the notes and emotions the places gives off as I view it as very informational and important)

[gadgets-cnl]

Egg Ninjas: Creative Silicone Egg Holders That Protects You From Your Boiled Eggs

The latest rubber contraption  to save your boiling egg from any morning disaster has been finally invented by industrial designer Shahar Nissim. This inventor realized how important it is to enhance small daily tasks as much as possible - to save time, become more resourceful and creative through that process and also be more efficient as a result of it. Nissim has  designed Egg Ninjas, silicone egg holders, make the handling of fragile eggs easy. 

Nissim follows a fundamental design philosophy in order to create his innovative consumer products - the product is a character which must be taken into account aesthetically, while incorporating functionality into the end product through shape and choice of material. Get them here!

[purplesunglow-blog]

Love the name, love the product :  ) 

it looks like it would do it right in a ninja fashion. 

[purplesunglow-blog]

Journey to the Harold Washington Library (Chicago)

Reason and Objective

My senior thesis this year is based on stress that have went into the topic of study groups on college campuses.  Decided to retain my observation would be to write about my travels, frustrations, and surprises and keep that feeling just incase I want to pull up this information again.

So last Saturday I decided to pay a nice trip to the Harold Washington Library has reservation for group study systems and individuals who come to request for a room. It was a beautiful day and I was anxious to get started. 

My Adventure there

Not that it has been awhile but it has been years since I came to a library to actually request for a book, but I needed the library card for the room reservation system. Funny part was when I requested for a new card they were like “ your not even in the system”, yeah its been years (looks away. so ashamed of myself). 

After I got my card I asked to look at their room reservation system that they had set up in their library, I was advised to go to the 4th, 6th, and 8th floors where they would have a paper fill in sheet there so getting myself prepared to check the rooms out I went up.

On the third floor I was shocked to see the innovation center they had there. I have been in the library before, but this was totally new to me. Excited to see that they had laser cutters, 3D printers and computers that the people there hold classes every week and it’s free! I grabbed some data pamphlets for information for later and went up again.

Reservation Room System

On the fourth floor was where I asked for information about how they reserve the rooms. Jason behind the counter was very nice to show me the rooms and explain how they work.

Big Room Reservation

Big rooms that were on their floor and other floors can be put on reserve at home on the website. I was able to see the site for the room reservation process and when you get to the study room page, you see a calendar with a time schedule laid out for your choosing, easily understandable through the color choices or red for being filled in and green being available and clicking continue would confirm you have booked the room.  I heard to my surprise that these rooms fill up quickly for the weekends as people do actually utilize the rooms. Booking a meeting room is also the same type of procedure as well when going online.

Individual Study Reservation

Individual room checkout reserve is a first come first serve basis system where you have to go to the library and fill out a form.

The reason for this is because people would come in late, so if they come to the library they would have to see if there is an open room or wait till one becomes available which I can see a very validated reason.

For individual sign in they would have to come to the counter, fill in a quick sign in sheet and leave their card.

The rooms can be rented to 30 min to an hour.

Looking at the study rooms, they had floor outlets and a chair and table. Room had one side covered walls and the door having a glass window to see if it was vacant or not.

Musical Room

There was also mention of a place to play music on the 8th floor with rooms with soundproof walls. The only issue was that drums couldn’t be played in there because it was too loud the rooms could only do so much, but it was interesting to here that group plays can happen.

What I left with:

Talking to Jason he left me with a lot of references to check out as the library has been studying this kind of information of bringing people together. I feel more educated about the services this library had to offer and feel if I had utilized the services earlier I would be more knowledgeable around me. Seeing the rooms makes me compare the campus study area a lot. The rooms are not as noisy and compact as the college campus is if this was nearby everyone would be running to this library with all the nice resources it offers.

I enjoyed my visit to the library it was very informational and a lot of fun and I got my library card.

Thank you Jason! I had a wonderful visit.

Ashley

[minimalspacecraft]

THE ENDANGERED

follow us ! spacecraft / design + technology

[purplesunglow-blog]

I love the creatures. They are so cute : )

[purplesunglow-blog]

My Thoughts on Kickstarter so far

Good thing about our EPD class for Kickstarter, what we experience on Kickstarter we share together. We share the frustrations, the happiness, the successes, and the surprises. It is such an interesting medium to post yourself out to the world. 

Feelings?

I felt and still feel very exposed and vulnerable from this experience as I feel this product Petmego is a reflection of me personally. As if putting yourself out in the spotlight, and trying to work hard to make it look as good as you can make it campaign and product wise.

My class worked really hard on their Kickstarters so a lot of love and work went into this. Learning the behind the scenes for each project really makes me feel like a played a small part on the project which makes me happy. 

What I tried

Wanted to try changing the category and kept reaching out to see if I can grab some attention but it didn’t help that much, BUT I felt I learned a lot from this experience and it still isn’t over. I still want to expand my social media base and keep reaching out even after its over.

Getting funded!

I was happy that I made it through. I was too scared to look at the campaign hearing stories of people backing out and I was on the borderline of just being funded. Happy to learn that there is people that believe in me.

Now I have to put full throttle on the Petmego product of mine and pull through. I want to leave a good impression on Kickstarter so that I can be someone that can be trusted.

[purplesunglow-blog]

50 posts! Apparently I get a cool icon or badge for amount of posts (smiles menacingly) 

: D

[purplesunglow-blog]

Last Thursday Meet and Skype with Joey Roth

A bit about Joey Roth

A really awesome designer! He puts lots of love into his products, currently he is working on his “Steel Speakers”. Looking at his Ceramic speakers and teapot they are really has a minimalist design to them making them elegant.

Our Talk

A bit different from all the previous designers as his beginning after graduation was going off on his own right away rather than work and stay in a company.

He has a passion and drive as he believes puts his all into his products. Joey became an independent designer building up his knowledge of speakers which he had no prior knowledge to. Loved to hear that he used the ball in his speaker to disperse the sound. Reinventing how the system where it appears elegant in design and manufacturing really inspires me that design can keep changing.

What I took from this conversation with Joey Roth:

He has the “Motivation to Learn”. When you care about something you are able to learn new things.

I feel that if we all had and maintained our sense of curiosity by driving it through our interests we can go places.

Through Skype he led us around his place and we got to see his place looked really sweet.

Thank you again for our awesome chat Joey Roth!

Check out Joey Roth’s Site here: http://joeyroth.com

[purplesunglow-blog]

Talking with Bradley Price

Last week we were talking to Bradley Price through Skype last week. We were able to look at his product and how he advertised it through video is pretty sweet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMDtcF18Z54

Who is Bradley Price?

This is the man behind the Autodromo Stradale watches.  These watches are inspired by the interior and creation of car design especially watch looks like the dial on the dashboard of a car. I believe the watches are made to inherit the spirit of motoring or in another words the love that goes behind miniature models.

Passion and love can bring you so far. Bradley was interested in cars in the beginning with his father. Bradley explains that miniatures “invite you further into look at the detail.”

He really loves his product that even when there was a small flaw as when everyone getting their watches they wouldn’t be able to open the watch as they are custom screws. So he made his own screwdrivers for “when” the watches die out of battery so the customers won’t be distressed and would be able to receive the screwdriver necessary to change the battery.

What I learned from such an amazing guy!

Well basically to go out there.

·      It is good to have experience with production within companies so you can have a more aware outlook to creation.

·      Knowing designers can lead you to good connections even if there not as good but it’s in the right path.

·      Build up a strong social base, while maintaining the flame of your product.

Would like to thank Bradley for coming through Skype to talk to my class.

Thank you!

Check out his Autodromo site here:

www.autodromo.com/watches

[purplesunglow-blog]

A while back we had a fun visit from Ted Burdett(Strand Design) , he was our substitute teacher while Craighton Berman(the man behind Manual Coffeemaker No1) our teacher was out.

A bit of our experience of Ted Burdett before this class,

He was our teacher for Materials and Methods. He gave us the roundabout how to go about getting orders out there and the processes to utilizing the workshop for our gain to the making of products by our hands and how to go about talking to manufacturers. Without this guy I still would be working on paper and not in shop. Sad that I am figuring this out now, I wish I was an active member online to this community but I was more of a hermit that kind of was secluded in their own world but learning what is “the background” to this online community really is. Opening my eyes a bit more.

Finding out how awesomely out there Ted Burdett is

Through our many visits to people on Kickstarter or guests that are of Industrial designers we may have heard the word “Ted” pop up here and there and “collaboration” and “amazing guy”. He has a more of an active community of designers he is in touch with, that I wasn’t aware of and it is amazing that we got to work with this individual. During his time substituting us he gave us a nice talk about the background to his product called “The Fourneau Bread Oven”

“The Fourneau Bread Oven”

He saw “problems as opportunities” and with making loaf bread this was an opportunity. No one really had a method to making a loaf of bread without a at home do it yourself kind of way. So Ted and Sharon Burdett had different trial runs with sketch ups to designing this bread oven. What really spoke to me about it was the way to utilize what is out there to cover your product so what sold for them was working with Floriole Bakery Chicago. Alex and Sandra from there was able to use the product and demonstrate how high quality and efficient the product was. It really depends on who you reach to that enables your product tor reach further to others that this design “works” and the story to make it work is what reels everyone in.

Thank you Ted for being an awesome substitute teacher!

Check out his project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stranddesign/the-fourneau-bread-oven/description

His Strand Design on this site here: http://www.stranddesign.org/pages/who-we-are

[minimalspacecraft]

P I X E L   V I S I O N    Handheld Emulator System

Follow us ! spacecraft / design + technology

[purplesunglow-blog]

Two of my favorite stuff smashed together the love of the craft and video games, I could almost cry. (happy)

[purplesunglow-blog]

My Petmego Kickstarter Campaign is Finally Updated Yay!

A new photoshoot with the finished Petmego characters. The campaign now has updated gifs and images to showcase. After hours of test cutting and playing with the rastor, and new thickness of wood I have got them to what I wanted them to be, with a even smoother finish with the orbital sander.

Frustrations with photoshoot

Well it went good, but I wasn’t equipped with a tripod like I was last time so making video was really hard, and making the gifs even harder trying to do and having to wonder  how I even put them together in the first place, yay learning everything over again. That is why it took so long to put on Kickstarter. Few days left, still hoping for the best.

Check out newly updated Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1879830140/petmego