The new web of Parc de Belloch has been launched, with a whole set of great video interviews about design, Barcelona, urban landscaping and the city. Each interview comes with a downloadable pdf transcript in both the original Spanish and a translated English version.

I’ve posted a link to my own contribution above, and you can access further words of wisdom by the likes of Miguel Mila, Antoni Arola, Beth Gali, Nina Maso or Javier Nieto on Belloch’s site.

Foldable pair of cardbard speakers. I wouldn’t mind a pair of these…

These huge planes are designed especially for shipping massive parts of the new Dreamliner fleet being produced by Boeing.

Modified 747’s the inside of the hold is more than 7 stories high, that’s quite big!

「Design Real（デザイン・リアル）」は、サーペンタイン・ギャラリー初のデザインをテーマにした展覧会。ドイツ人プロダクト・デザイナーKonstantin Grcic（コンスタンチン・グルチッチ）に展覧会のオーガナイズを依頼、この10年間に大量生産された、日常生活の中で使用されている、「リアル」で実用性のある、優れたデザインの製品43点が集められた。家具や家庭用品から技術的製品・産業機器までを網羅した展示品43点のうち、深澤直人の加湿器、安積伸のメガフォン、京セラのナイフ、Daiwaのルアー、タタメット、ヤマハのEZ-TP、三宅一生のA-POCの7点が日本の製品だ。

これらのアイテムの配置・展示方法も、グルチッチが担当。デザイナーらしい、ユニークな展示も特徴だ。通常の展覧会と異なり、展示品には、椅子、ベッド、ほうき等のカテゴリー以外、商品名を含めていっさい説明はない。展示品について知りたければ、無料展示ガイド（下の写真の「Design Real」と書いてある紙の裏）の作品リストの他、ベンチ代わりとなる砂袋が円形に積まれたギャラリー中央の部屋に設置されたアマゾン・キンドル（電子ブックリーダー）から、展覧会専用のウェブサイトwww.design-real.comにアクセスすれば、詳細を知ることができる。

普段見過ごしがちな、日常生活の中のデザインを取り上げるというコンセプトは、アート専門のギャラリーとしては画期的なのだろうが、デザイン・ミュージアムあたりが企画しそうな展覧会で、デザイン界では目新しいものではない。また43点と言う展示品数も、見終わった後にこれだけ？という感が否めず、大規模デザイン・ショップの方がより充実してるんじゃないかと思う。色々な種類の製品を一個一個展示するより、一つのカテゴリーに絞って、例えば、世界から良いデザインの椅子を一堂に集める、という企画の方が面白いんじゃないだろうか。ちょっと批判的になってしまったが、展覧会のウェブサイトは、よくできていると思う。白と黒のシンプルなデザインもスタイリッシュだし、知りたい製品をクリックすると、製品説明、会社説明、デザイン、歴史等、情報が盛りだくさんで、ゆっくり時間をかけて見てみたくなるウェブサイトに仕上がっている。

Design Real is the Serpentine Gallery’s first exhibition dedicated to design. The gallery invited German product designer Konstantin Grcic to curate this exhibition of contemporary product design. The exhibition presents a total of 43 ‘real’ items produced in the last decade: a wide range of mass-produced products that have a practical function in everyday life, from furniture and household products to technical and industrial innovations.

Grcic was also in charge of the gallery space and his unique exhibition style is worth to mention. There is no information about the product whatsoever except its category, such as chair, broom, and bed, – no product name, no explanation, nothing. If you want to know more than that, a piece of free exhibition information (printed “Design Real” in the photo below) can give you very basic information such as product name, designer, manufacturer, or you can access its dedicated internet site www.design-real.com via Amazon Kindles, sitting on the sandbags piling up in circle in the dark room in the center of the gallery.

The concept of exhibition, to focus on the design of everyday life objects maybe groundbreaking for an art gallery, but it is common project that place like Design Museum would plan or have planned already, and nothing new to the design world. Though Serpentine is a small gallery but still only 43 items barely fill up the space and we were like “that’s it??” after we saw everything –a large design shop may do a better job than this exhibition. Maybe they should have focused on one category instead of presenting so many categories of products: for example, to show 43 well-designed chairs from all over the world would be more impressing. However, I have to admit that their website is well-done – black and white simple but sophisticated interface design, and its abundant information about the items, manufacturers, designs, histories are well worth to take time to explore.

Great for your next tea party. See more here.

Research proposal
Introduction (Why?)
For my undergraduate bachelor I generated a dissertation and a major project on the subject, theme of sustainability. In the media we hear a lot of concerns regarding how today’s products are designed, constructed for landfill design. Therefore in the last decade the importance for sustainable design as been a key issue to redirect our design conception from designing for obsolescence to designing for a close loop future. My interest for the concept of sustainability inspired me to try to understand why most resources on the subject is based on what people have achieved, and less on the procedure, resources they utilized to achieve a successful sustainable design. Therefore I which to expand my understanding , knowledge which learned from my bachelor degree to attempt to aspire a solution which designers could utilize to produce designs which are assured to be more sustainable, innovative designs. In conclusion, the title of my research proposal is the following sentence:
“How can the universal design and development process be challenged to specifically target the issues of designing more viable innovative and sustainable product design?”
Through various resources we have been warned that our planet is suffering from global warming, and a decreased in sustainable resources. “I want to testify today about what I believe is a planetary emergency – a crisis that threatens the survival of our civilization and the habitability of the Earth. Al Gore; Testifying on impact of global warming before US congress.” “All across the world, in every kind of environment and region known to man, increasingly dangerous weather patterns and devastating storms are abruptly putting an end to the long-running debate over whether or not climate change is real. Not only is it real, it’s here, and its effects are giving rise to a frighteningly new global phenomenon: the man-made natural disaster. Barack Obama”(unknown, unknown). The various environment changes, and global warming are all issues of great concerns, which we have started to perceived the effects for numerous years . These effects have a direct influence on what, how, and where we can produce, find our resources, and much more direct consequence on the design process, and the actual design. An example of how the sustainability of our planet should be a critical concerns of all designers, in less then fifteen years if we continue to utilize certain metals with the speed and abundance at which we do these metals will become impossible to acquire, which results in finding alternatives. This situation as been primarily caused, provoked by the industrial revolution and the integration of planned obsolescence philosophy to the design process. Therefore it is with great interest that I will try to challenge the various design process, methodology which are known and available, so we may become a more sustainable industry for the future of our children’s, and also feel that we contribute for good of mankind and not for demise.
This paper will aims to clarify how an industry, design which is based on product obsolescence may persist to exist while producing sustainable designs. Since the industrial revolution design as stopped being based on craft (successful and reliable) now on products need to translate into profitable solution, which can be massed produced, and need to be exchanged for tomorrow’s all new version . It is therefore important to discover how this state of mind could be changed/revolutionize to produce products which will last, sustain while keeping a place for designers to have jobs, a purpose, a service to offer.
In the field of design there numerous design methodology used to produce a variety designs. There are numerous possible alternatives to produce sustainable designs, we could produce less, produce to re-use, and more. The question is which concept of sustainability is the most beneficial for the designer, company/brief, and the environment (the earth, and its occupants)? This question is the basis of this paper, it is often not profitable enough for a company, business to produce sustainable designs, it is not worth for them to change. From this understanding I challenge myself to make this approach more profitable and appealing to a company and a designer. This research will specify on the various design methodology, which enable to conclude with a sustainable to outcome, design. This investigation intends to produce a document to facilitate and make more appealing to produce sustainable products for the future. As this investigation will be performed on an internet blog, it will hopefully translate in having a considerable impact on the actual international design community.

AIM
The aim of this research paper is to investigate the various design methodology used in the industry such has; design for landfill, design for a close loop future, design for sigma, and others. From the inquiries, to various companies, and the selected resources on this topic, I aim to simplify and generate an appeal for sustainable designs. I plan to seek an understanding which will enable me to understand how a system such as sustainability can become appealing to every sector of the production industry. This I aim to do, not by terrifying them, but by providing them a structure and process which provides them with a guarantee of sustainable, innovative, and profitable solutions. I hope from this research I will be able to understand how a specific methodology can make the life easier and improve the life every people which are affected by the design process, and the final outcome.
Objectives
The objectives of this investigation, research is to expand my knowledge on the subject of sustainability. A greater understanding should benefit me in the long run to produce to incorporate a more sustainable approach to the my future designs. Learning from the various companies and resources available on the importance of an educated design methodology will enable me to produce better designs, and also to let other people which are part of my design process follow my methodology. This understanding will be beneficial to me when I incorporate the design field to grasp a better working ethics with a multi disciplinary team, and also produce more viable solution which incorporate a good team work and a sustainable outcome. This paper will aim to revolutionize the “how” I design, but also aims on grander scale to have an impact on the choices of the international design industry. Producing resources which make it simpler for anyone to follow the design process and be assured of a sustainable, innovative outcome.
From the research done on the availability of sustainable resources, I inspire to produce a resource data base for the interested sustainable designer. I aim to achieve a data base which would help the designers reduce time of research on the sustainable resources. This resources will aim to provide a variety of resources from materials to technologies. I believe if designers had an easier access to these information, it might help them to achieve more sustainable design, as the required research time would be decreased, and the availability of options would be stated in one area. This database will have a great impact on my future design choices, as when I will arrive to the point of selecting the various options my design would incorporate I will have access to a database which will give me the various options. I believe this database will produce more innovative designs, as I will try to keep this database as up-to date as possible, to help understand the availability of resources, what can be done, and how it can be achieved.

Methodology
Due to the importance of time constraint inbuilt within this research (finishing by a rigid deadlines), it is of essential to plan the allocated time constructively in order to attain and utilize all the information required and available (to utilize the library, internet sites which are based on the subject, journals, questionnaires to the industry, and other source which might be utilized) to reach a satisfactory outcome. To ensure the time constraints are followed to the accurately, making a project schedule with highlights and targets and the dates of completion will be essential. The targets to be met will be such as producing a decisive problem to solve, with various requirements. Each section of the research process must be planned and respected with a strict working ethics. The methodology will concise of a series of steps to follow, and achieve as to produce the most viable outcome . The steps which will be taken to achieve a positive conclusion to this study will be the following:
1. Define and identify the main themes of this research “sustainable design” and “planned obsolescence”, “product life cycle”, and other relevant themes.
2. Define and identify the expected result of a sustainable design.
a. Analyze the various benefits of producing sustainable products over producing for landfill design (planned obsolescence).
b. Define why it would become a benefit to companies to actually design their products for a close loop future.
c. Investigate on all the benefits and disadvantage of producing for a sustainable outcome.
3. Define and identify the various design methodology.
a. Define; design for landfill, design for a close loop future, design for sigma, and others.
b. Compare their benefits and disadvantages.
c. Identify the reoccurring principles, steps from all methodology and analyze the importance to the design outcome.
4. To investigate on how the methodologies are used in the professional and education environments.
5. Researching on the use of “outsourcing” to the progress on the design industry, and how using this system can impact the industry of industrial/product design. How enabling more ease, free access to resource on sustainable design could impact the design outcomes.
6. Produce a questionnaire to analyze the methodology and how this process impact on the design outcomes (ranging from sustainable and other type of companies in the industry of industrial design).
7. Produce a blog which will enable designers, and other interested individual to have a direct impact on my research. The blog will try to make my research and conclusions available on the internet for advices, comments, and also to be influenced (highly beneficial for a broader documentation).
8. Analyze what different sectors, companies in the sustainable industry have to offer, and also how I could publish, advertise their companies goods in my database (without affecting their property rights).
9. Analyze all the exposed data collected throughout the research (one of the conclusion of this research will be to sort and transfer onto my personal website, where it will be presented as a library, resource data base for sustainable resources)
10. Clarify, and analyze my data, knowledge to produce a final concise report, which can then be published on my personal website for free access to all interested individuals.
A capital section of my research will be conducted by identifying and analyzing published materials on the subject. The materials which will be studied will vary from journals (The Journal of Sustainable Product Design, The International Journal of Sustainable Design, and others), lectures (attended, internet video, and podcast, from a few of the important figures on this subject in the field of design, such as; William McDonough, Nathan Shedroff, Saul Griffith, and more), books, and various internet resources (such as, inhabitat, coroflot, hok, espdesign, and more). These resources will enable me to produce a blog on how to design in a sustainable manner. This blog will aim to assure that my resources are up to date, and also that I have not disregarded some crucial information. The blog will aim to interest people on my research progress, the discovered knowledge .
The blog as for aim to become one of my most substantial, critical section of my research. People will have a free access, to my knowledge; finds, opinions; and resources (e.g. materials and technology discovered) .The granted access will enable interested individuals to have a direct impact on my research by adding their comments, resources, and other opinions they wish to transmit. The comments will be beneficial in helping my research to discover neglected data an resources. The different opinions regarding the discovered knowledge will results in grasping a more in depth understanding of the resources, and opinions. This blog aims to affect the industry of industrial design by expressing the importance of sustainable design and the options it offers to innovation. The blog will hopefully enable me to achieve a research which is more international, as people all over the world. These individuals may have access to documents, resources, knowledge which I neglected, or unaware. The blog will help to base my final document/paper on what is really required from the industry, instead of being simply based on my personal opinions, and knowledge.
I plan to reach various sources of information, such has; companies and designers by sending-out questionnaires. The questionnaires will enable to have access to more personal information, such as what and how they use the various design process. The questionnaires will grant me the ability to question companies and designers if it is possible for me to publish my findings regarding their company. Finally the questionnaires will be used to advertise, and to reach individuals which might not be normally be interested these type of blogs. A sector of great interest to approach would be individuals which believe that producing sustainable design is not of profitable enough for them to seek interest, and to design with this philosophy. This questionnaire will permit me to achieve a better understanding of how planned obsolescence is actually integrated in the professional field of industrial design. In conclusion this questionnaire will enable me to grasp a better understanding of the actual implication of the design process to various companies in the field of industrial design.

Fiz esse sketch no domingo. Me bateu uma idéia para os gráficos da traseira e me pareceram meio Citroen. Mas sei la… ainda rola umas dúvidas… : /

A few snaps of the great man

Last week I got the opportunity to meet the legend which is Trevor Baylis. For those of you who dont know who he is. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!? Trevor was the man behind the wind up radio. He saw a television programme about the spread of AIDS in Africa and how they have no way of contaminating from village to village so he decided a radio would be the best option, he then set about developing the Wind Up Radio! amazing I think you’ll agree.   Now dont tell me your not impressed by this guy. Not only has he helped thousands of people but he also has an amazing tash! …hmmm tickle y…Now that there ladies and gentleman is a real man. Also found out he lives on his own island in the Thames. Own island? ok he is actually a king!

Anyway back onto more important matters. I suggest anyone who hasn’t heard of him before to look him up as he’s a massive inspiration and a quality guy. That is all children..dismissed!

These handprinted tea-towels from Peckham, show all the lovely wildlife on the doorstep! ACE!

To wash up with these grimy London inhabitants, buy one from the shop of garudio studiage , only £8 too>> Bargain! ….. 

HX

Introduction

This International Standard is one of three International Standards dealing with quality system requirements that can be used for external quality assurance purposes. The quality assurance models, set out in the three International Standards listed below; represent three distinct forms of quality system requirements suitable for the purpose of a supplier demonstrating its capability, and for the assessment of the capability of a supplier by external parties.

a)      IS0 9001, Quality systems- Model for quality assurance in design, development, production, installation and servicing for use when conformance to specified requirements is to be assured by the supplier during design, development, production, installation and servicing.

b)      IS0 9002, Quality systems -Model for quality assurance in production, installation and servicing for use when conformance to specified requirements is to be assured by the supplier during production, installation and servicing.

c)      IS0 9003, Quality systems -Model for quality assurance in final inspection and test for use when conformance to specified requirements is to be assured by the supplier solely at final inspection and test. It is emphasized that the quality system requirements specified in this International Standard, IS0 9002 and IS0 9003 are complementary (not alternative) to the technical (product) specified requirements. They specify requirements which determine what elements quality systems have to encompass, but it is not the purpose of these International Standards to enforce uniformity of quality systems. They are generic and independent of any specific industry or economic sector. The design and implementation of a quality system will be influenced by the varying needs of an organization, its particular objectives, the products and services supplied, and the processes and specific practices employed. It is intended that these International Standards will be adopted in their present form, but on occasions they may need to be tailored by adding or deleting certain quality system requirements for specific contractual situations. IS0 9000-l provides guidance on such tailoring as well as on selection of the appropriate quality assurance model, viz. IS0 9001, IS0 9002 or IS0 9003.

Read the full article here

‘Mr. light’ – by Spanish designer Tomas Alonso – is a series of 3 lights designed around the new LED T8 tube light bulbs. They are more energy efficient and allow for more flexibility with the design by reducing the number of components needed to power them as well as by not needing a reflector shade. I really like the playful design.

from Pan-Dan

Although the waterfall model is a useful tool for introducing design controls, its usefulness in practice is limited. The model does apply to the development of some simpler devices. However, for more complex structures or devices, a concurrent engineering model is more representative of the design processes in use in the industry and is key to success in any industry, where design and manufacturing come together “and stay together” from concept to finished parts, systems, and vehicles, reporting from both the manufacturing and engineering perspectives.

In a traditional waterfall development scenario, the engineering department completes the product design and formally transfers the design to production. Subsequently, other departments or organizations develop processes to manufacture and service the product. Historically, there has frequently been a divergence between the intent of the designer and the reality of the factory floor, resulting in such undesirable outcomes as low manufacturing yields, rework or redesign of the product, or unexpectedly high cost to service the product.

One benefit of concurrent engineering is the involvement of production and service personnel throughout the design process, assuring the mutual optimization of the characteristics of a device and its related processes. While the primary motivations of concurrent engineering are shorter development time and reduced production cost, the practical result is often improved product quality.

 Read the full article here

This seem to be one of the hardest parts of a managing a medium to larger sized design consultancy. One my fellow graduates from Industrial Design at Loughborough has just taken over the position in a large branding agency and was told before he started that several people have tried and failed to manage the problem effectively.

In my current position as Head of Design I just just implemented several changes to make our system similar to most major consultancies. Previously we had run a system where by the designereither handled the client or the project researcher. However several difficulties have arisen and now recent growth has meant we have had to change to more tried and tested methods.

However no-one can seem to tell me how the communication between account managers and designers is supposed to work. Currently a project a commissioned and handed over to a designers and the account manaer then briefs the designer. Communication with the client after that generally goes straight from designer to client with notes being kept on the file. The project is then handed over by both account manager and designer with any modifications being dealt with by the designer in some case or the account manager in others.

In short there is no overall policy and it seems that it is impossible to communicate between all parties without some overlap and therefore time wasted and cost incurred. One option would be for the account manager to manage all communication with the client but if the issue is complex then mistakes can be made particular as our account managers are not generlly trained designers. Also in the extra level of communication to the designer things can get altered like chinese whispers.

The other option is for the designer to manage all communication but designers are best at designing not client management and some client object to dealing with one person up to a certain point and then someone different. This also replies on the account manager fully briefing the designer effectively at the end of the research and briefing stage.

Any thoughts anyone? Will update you as I discover solutions!

Article contents:
Sheet metal drawings and fabrication
Characteristics of sheet metal bends
VERY VERY VERY…EXTENSIVE.

http://solidmasters.com/Sheet%20Metal.htm

My 5th semester in design was very rewarding in terms of the knowledge I gained or the diverse new experiences that I went through. We had two courses under Avinash Shende – Form Studies and Product Modelling & Simulation. The first aimed at making us more intimate with forms, develop a sensitivity towards them and learn to appreciate the emtions that forms convey.

I chose to work around the form of corals and used filled balloons with plaster of paris to generate organic forms which could then be finished by hand.

The finished forms before painting looked like this

Now to give it the really sleek and finished look, I used high gloss paint on it and this how the baby looked after the paint  job.

So over with form studies. Well not really because I carried my experience of corals further into the other course dealing with product modelling and simulation. Here I chose to model and simulate a webcam. Initially I went for just a simple webcam and its detailed modelling because that is what the purpose of the course was.

Initial Attempt

But then Shende Sir pushed me to go for a completely different approach. He asked me to make the webcam not just a deadspace product but more pro-active, more like a character. Thats when I started explorations and taking inspiration from the coral form. The aim was to make the product a point of conversation- much like Starck’s  juicy salif

I finalized my concept called “Budi”. I even attempted to make a physical prototype with silicone but due to limitations in availability of materials and moulding facilities the attempt did not succeed.

But anyways I gave an effort in coming up with CAD models and renderings which were realistic enough to provide the viewer a feel of how the finished product would look. This product was designed keeping in mind the dimensions of standard webcams, weight distribution and housing for internal components. The neck portion houses a flexiwire to make the neck flexible.

So that is the story of Budi. For a person who is shown the final few images he will never be able to guess that this product was born when its designer got too engrossed with corals .  Infact even I did not have the slightest hint that I would end up doing this. But every time I look back I feel, it was one awesome experience.

Some assignments are very difficult. I am confronted with a complicated GUI or device and have a really hard time explaining to the user how to operate it. I meet with the client again to get additional information and explanations but in the end I’m not happy with the result and the client usually isn’t either. I used to always blame myself for not knowing how to do my job properly, but lately I’ve realized it’s not me it’s the device.

I have written hundreds of manuals and don’t take on projects that I can’t grasp from a technical point of view. So we can assume that I am a competent technical writer This may sound kind of conceited, but I’ve come to the conclusion that if I have trouble writing user documentation for a product it is because it is poorly designed.

In copywritng this can also be a problem. Clients may be unsure about  why a customer should buy their product and not the competition’s. If they can’t provide a clear answer you might end up with something like this:

“During the first couple of months in the life of a baby, it is very important to check its weight at regular intervals. Nurses and parents have to check whether the baby drinks enough and gains in weight according to normal growth and development patterns. The form of today’s infant scales, however, hardly ever follows the trend towards unlimited portability; they are bulky and heavy, and not altogether easily placed into a car for quick transportation…. “  This may be a load of bullcrap in most cases but nonetheless it’s convenient to have deflatable scale so you can store it easily and compact.

via:: reddot

Our streets our littered with used chewing gum, but next time your bubble loses its pop, don’t drop it—recycle it! Anna Bullus’s Bubble gum bin is made from Gumnetic, a new biodegradable material she developed made from sterilized used chewing gum and bio resin. The bin keeps chewing gum litter from our sidewalks and shoes and when full, the entire container is recycled to make even more bins. How’s that for cradle-to-cradle?

via:: inhabitat

There’s nothing like the feeling of having a brand new car or bike and the accompanying fear that this screams out, “Steal me!” Dominic Wilcox has come up with a reasonably simple way of preventing theft by applying fake rust and scratch stickers to shiny vehicles. Wilcox does not claim that this method is a guarantee against heartbreak, but it has worked for him, as he spells out in his disclaimer. “13 days of not being stolen in London probably equates to 7 years of non-stealing in the friendly countryside.”

via:: dominic wilcox

Oxygena is a tile like no other. It is the only tile to contain titanium dioxide, an invaluable element which, through a totally natural process, reacts to and eliminates polluting gases thus rendering them harmless. When ultraviolet rays hit Oxygena’s surface, titanium dioxide, which has photocatalytic qualities, activates an oxidisation process that transforms polluting gases such as nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide (produced in the exhaust of motor vehicles and one of the prime causes of poor air quality) into nitrate ions which are harmless, eco-efficient salts. This totally eco-friendly process is similar to photosynthesis, whereby plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, thus purifying the atmosphere.

via:: edcmag

I came across these beautiful silverware settings designed by Konstantin Grcic and produced by Serafino Zani. He’s also curating an industrial design show at the Serpentine Gallery in London.

Designer: Damjan Stanković

I came across this game called “The Settlers of Catan” in Wired a while back, but now that I’m going to be in Germany this winter and will be staying with some board gamers it popped into mind again. I have not played it yet, but I loved one of the quotes from the article:

” Because of this enthusiasm, board game design has become high art—and big business—in Germany. Any game aficionado will tell you that the best-designed titles in the world come from this country. In fact, the phrase German-style game is now shorthand for a breed of tight, well-designed games that resemble Monopoly the way a Porsche 911 resembles a Chevy Cobalt.”

Photo: Baerbel Schmidt

Talk about genius. The product designer for this should win some sort of prize. See more here.

Telescoping Ladder