The Story of Cap and Trade

Task: “In your opinion, how should the industrial design community react to the climate change solution discussed in this movie?”

The Story of Cap and Trade depicts a fundamental flaw in society – the pursuit of wealth over the environment. Abusing the environment to gain wealth seems to be a common trend today in a society where we are governed by how much we’re worth. The emissions trading scheme or the carbon stock market occurring in the U.S. is predicted to burst like the subprime mortgages market, yet no one has stepped in to stop this. There needs to be a governing body willing to stand up and address this issue and utilise the nation’s resources to develop a better system.

“The future of our planet is at stake.” It’s something that we’ve all heard of, even in the movies, and I feel that I was uninterested and unmotivated by this movie in particular. However, my view of the industrial design community and its role with climate change is that there should be a greater focus on addressing this issue, especially with stronger government support. There is a clear lack of government intervention and it’s a fundamental reason as to why nothing is being done to avert the damage to the environment. Design is leading us to a new era where there is hope of recovering from the damage done by polluting corporations. More efficient and innovative ways of manufacturing products are emerging and should continue until further changes are met.

As I felt that there wasn’t a clear motive for the film, there isn’t exactly a solution that the industrial design community have to work towards. The message I received after watching The Story of Cap and Trade was that society should work together to find a better solution to solving the climate change problem and that no one had done that yet. Perhaps, the responsibility of the design community is to concentrate on developing a system that envelopes society as a whole in order to create awareness, understanding and force change upon them to stop climate change. Therefore, the industrial design community should react with careful hostility towards climate change and have a prudent outlook on possible solutions at hand to tackle the issue.

There really weren’t any quotes I found worth discussing or enlightening. After viewing The 11th Hour and Waste = Food, nothing surprises me with society and its lack of respect towards the environment. Although, the blatant cheating by large corporations to gain offset permits should be stopped and further cheating should be monitored by changing the lax restrictions currently in place.

As for the film itself, I honestly found it to be a cheap attempt at making a relatively boring social issue into something fun and educational. But it fails to achieve what it sets out to do. It is basically a classroom lesson with facts and figures accompanied by poorly drawn animations that I suppose attempt to look cute and hold the viewer’s attention for the duration of those dismal 9 minutes.

Designing for Disasters Presentation

INTRODUCTION

The effects of natural disasters can be devastating to any nation, but none more so than third world countries that do not possess the necessary strategies and resources to assist in the four phases of emergency management. The prevention, preparedness, response and reconstruction phases involve a great deal of thought as well as insight into the trauma of people who experience the effects of disasters. Generally, after an emergency situation, basic assumptions about life, including safety and fundamental necessities, can be shattered.

DESIGN RATIONALE

In Bangladesh, natural disasters such as cyclones occur relatively often, with an average of 16 times a decade[1]. Cyclones result in widespread damage, particularly in the urban slum areas of Dhaka, Narangayanj and Chittagong. These areas are also generally surrounded by a contaminated water source which often leads to flooding during the aftermath of a cyclone. Some urban slum houses are also prone to waterlogging[2], resulting in residents to place their possessions onto elevated surfaces.

Most urban slum houses have the bare minimum in furniture and supplies and those that live inside sleep on blankets or fabrics panned out on the ground[3]. As a result of their lack of resources, the effects of a cyclone can be severely destructive to their homes. Immediate aid including medical services, food, drinking water, clothing and hygiene items are generally distributed to those most affected[4]. However, eventually the Bangladeshi people must find ways to return to their daily duties in the slum areas and often it involves collecting water, firewood or finding and sorting material for sale[5].

For the purpose of this project, I chose to focus on the reconstruction efforts within the urban slum areas to help restore the lives of those that have lost almost everything. When a cyclone hits, the resulting destruction often includes loss of basic shelter, food, water and morale. To deal with this sudden impact of bereavement and to somehow improve the living situation, I have proposed a bag designed to carry supplies, including firewood, recycled fabrics from landfill or water jugs. When the bag is not being used, it is unfolded and used indoors as a bed by attaching the existing flaps to a bed frame that interlocks with two quick release latches. Currently, the Bangladeshi people tend to carry supplies upon their heads or holding them in their arms[6] which leaves little mobility in their hands and arms.

The materials used for the bag/bed cover is hessian, which can be readily found in Bangladesh either from purchasing gunny sacks or from landfill. The fabric is then sewn together from the recycled material and shaped to the bag template. The framing for the bed comes in two parts constructed from aluminium tubing that is bent and welded to form the curvature of the corners and legs. When the frame is not in use, it can be placed aside to a wall within the home, while the bag is used outdoors. The lightweight fabric is also very strong and is ideal in carrying stacked firewood or supplies by folding the bag in half and tying the straps together. The side flaps where the tubing is inserted can also be folded into the bag to form a stronger edging.

To receive the bag, they must exchange taka (Bangladeshi currency) for it, though as an incentive, the frame and fabric can be purchased at a discounted rate by providing recycled hessian material in the production of the design. Also, by paying for the product, they are more likely to use it, rather than sell it to make money.

This design is a possible solution that can assist in their long term reconstruction of their lives by providing a slightly eased way of conducting activities which would generally be done by other means. It is not intended to force upon a change to their traditional ways of carrying out their daily duties but to give them an alternative method while also offering an added function when being used in the home.

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[1]“Background Note: Bangladesh”, 2009, <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3452.htm> (accessed April 30, 2010)

[2] “Environment/Pollution”, 2009, <http://www.sos-arsenic.net/english/environment/> (accessed April 30, 2010)

[3] Huzue, I. “Urban Slum Mapping in Bangladesh”, 2006, CEGIS, pg.21-36

[4] “Final report – Bangladesh: Cyclone Sidr”, 2010, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, pg.6

[5] “Recycling”, 2009, <http://urbanpovertyinbangladesh.blogspot.com/2009/05/recycling.html> (accessed April 30, 2010)

[6] “’Ei Je’ (“Hello”) From Bangladesh”, 2008, <http://www.msf.org.au/from-the-field/field-blogs/ei-je-hello-from-bangladesh.html> (accessed April 30, 2010)

Design For Life

Task: “Reflect on the design ethics that Starck wanted the young product designers to demonstrate.”

In the beginning of the series, Philippe Starck was introduced as an innovative designer that produced eye-catching and at times controversial products that gained mixed reviews. Despite his way of thinking and his often outlandish personality, he has developed his own system of design ethics which he expects his student designers to respect and assume within their time as contestants. Starck believes in sustainable design and that it’s a force which has the power to change society. There is a movement towards sustainable design today and the future will undoubtedly see a progression towards green living, which is why the designers of today should be working towards building a greener tomorrow.

Initially, the contestants showed much enthusiasm to be working with Starck, but their flaws began to show after the first challenge. Their way of thinking was still very limited and Starck acknowledged this with disappointment, as did I because I really enjoyed this series and expected more talent from these individuals. However, Starck attempted to bestow some of his unique wisdom (though very unhelpful to them) through his criticism of their design decisions. Starck believes design is, “...to help your tribe, society to have a better life,” and is true since the beginning of design.

Starck has an interesting demeanour and is very particular with what he wants, yet he doesn’t give constructive criticism. What he expected from his contestants constantly changed and differed with each designer. Though, what he strongly believed was that there are, “...too many products that don’t deserve to be produced...” in the market today. The challenges developed and revealed more of Starck’s fundamental ideologies of finding ways of creating environmentally sustainable methods of production as well as using ecologically friendly materials. This focus on sustainability proved difficult for the designers as they attempted to understand the significance of designing with the environment in mind.

Furthermore, Starck wanted the designers to, “...find the story behind the product. Why is it sustainable?” By addressing this question, the designers are confronted with the challenge that the earth is currently experiencing – how to offset the degradation of the earth due to unsustainable design. As well as facing global environmental issues, Starck expected not only design, but creativity and ambition, which he regards highly in a designers arsenal. With that said, the products he sees now are becoming smaller and, “Tomorrow will be more and more minimalistic,” which depicts his view that most products are heading towards the pocket sized, hand held kind. It’s not clear whether he approves of this or not, but he acknowledges this event and suggests it may be a direction the designers can take in their challenges.

Throughout the episodes, we unravel Starck’s underlying annoyances with society and what should be done to change the way people think about their products. An understanding that, “Designers need to embrace the future by putting sustainability into the heart of their work.” There are so many products in the market today that shouldn’t be there because of the waste they produce in their disposal and manufacturing. Modern product designers should develop their own design ethics that encompass the ideals of sustainable design and environmental awareness.

Charette 2

For our charette no.2 we were asked to disassemble an everyday product and identify all of the materials used to produce it in order to gain insight into environmental and manufacturing costs. We used Greenfly resources for this task

We began by disassembling the kettle down to every single screw and weighed and identified the materials used to produce the parts. These descriptions were then put into the Greenfly site to produce figures that relate to the environmental impact and manufacturing costs involved in producing this product.

Our new design took away the boil button and removed unnecessary materials around the handle and base. The overall form was shorter and wider so as to allow the same capacity it could contain before. We also gave the kettle an added function of being able to be placed onto the stove. The added function allows the kettle to boil water from use of the base as well as a stove. So it would be possible to boil eggs and things in it too.

The new design produced a better outcome in terms of material usage and wastage.

Waste=Food

Task: “Reflect on the cradle-to-cradle protocol discussed in the video. How should industrial designers react to this principle?

The cradle-to-cradle protocol is essentially a closed loop cycle powered by renewable energy throughout each element of the manufacturing process. This protocol is a response to the changing efforts to increasing environmental issues seen from large organisations in society. The original cradle-to-grave system was a linear practice that did not take into account the energy and natural resources that is used to produce, distribute and dispose of a product.

This circular economy adopted by China in recent years sees materials and energy in closed cycles to build a better and healthier nation. As industrial designers, a similar approach should be taken towards each endeavour as a way to limit the increasing amount of waste during the manufacturing process. Before beginning any design, thought should be taken into each stage of development and a focus on sustainability is needed to address the issue of waste. Every part of the design process from conceptualisation to the product’s end of life involves some type of waste. The role of the industrial designer is to identify ways optimise every stage to extend the life of a product and improve the end of life system of these products.

“...everything in biology should go back to soil safely... so the waste of a system would go back to soil...so waste equals food.” – William McDonough

The thought of everything natural and manmade in the world having a cycle is evident with all that we see around us. The same could be said with what we consume for sustenance and nourishment. In a way, designers should be designing so that the end product will eventually find a sustainable way back into the natural environment.

“Everything is a nutrient...when you throw it away, it regenerates life. Only we take things and don’t give anything back” – Michael Braungart

Humans are lazy and tend not to care what they throw away into the environment or what they take from it. So it’s up to the designers to improve the way they produce goods in order to educate people in the effects of a product when it’s time to dispose of it.

“To try to minismise being bad is not enough. Less bad is no good. So try to be good instead of less bad because for less bad, we have too many people on this planet.” – Michael Braungart

This quote by the German toxicologist is a confusing and strange account of what humanity has become. Society is evil towards the environment. Taking everything that it’s produced and barely returning anything back to replenish what was taken. Ideally, everything that has been used would be replaced by something planted back into the earth, however, we take at such an astounding rate that with what we put back, it has no real effect to the positive goodness of the earth.

where LG got its logo from

essential products that we need

If i can design a product that will end up on late night shopping tv, i know i've made it as a designer!

Searching for Inspiration

Foldable trolley that converts into a stretcher. Might be a bit uncomfortable to lie down on due to the material used.

A warning sign that also converts to a stretcher during emergencies. Telescopic legs that allows extension.

Collapsible water barrel. Saves space after use.

The woodfire bag/education tool i propose to design will no longer have the ability to unfold into a bed. There just isn't any rational reason for it to do so due to the space it would take up in the small hut/houses that the people of Bangladesh reside in. Instead i think it should serve its purpose as a bag that will retain firewood when the children are not at school and helping their families, but when they go to school, the bag will simply turn into either a seat for them to sit on in class or as the table that they will use to put their books on while they write/read. This will hopefully be accomplished with the same materials proposed by the first concept - hessian fabric wrapped around bamboo skeleton to form stability. The issue of the strength of the 'table' will need to be adressed though, perhaps the wood that they collect can line the bag and create the stable base that they need to write up against. A day in the life of a child after a cyclone...wake up, eat, collect firewood, carry it in the bag and keep it when they go straight to school, go home, use wood for whatever purposes, could use the bag as a seat inside the home as it's not as large. Maybe the family could have several bags that they use around their home for seats, small desks or tables.

I guess whats good about the device is that the materials are readily available in Bangladesh and it can be quickly manufactured. Using what they have to return to their lives after a disaster will help to re-familiarise them with the land, etc. Instead of introducing them to high tech gadgets that will assist them in everyday tasks, the use of a simple device such as the woodbag/seat/desk product is a less daunting object. gee i need to think of a name for this product.

model making

most people dont see the soul of inanimate objects, however, there are a few who do...in an intimate way.

Inspiration music

this is what i listen to when i need inspiration for designing..

designing for disasters concepts

got owned by mar today for concepts. seems there needs lots more refinement.
also saw that i had the 2nd highest ecological footprint in the class.

education in bangladesh:

facilities are evidently not at a standard where children would be comfortable to learn in that environment.

clear lack of seats, tables.

The Concepts:
Hessian and bamboo firewood bag (drawn on a very muscular child). Converts into a bed when not being used as a bag. Designed for the aftermath of a cyclone when the people of Bangladesh are trying to rebuild their lives from what little possessions they have. Will be taking this concept further, but to also implicate education into the design and use of the product. How can the product encourage children to use it and go to school too? There's a big gap between helping the family gather firewood to stay warm, cook food, stay alive, etc and getting an education. If the product could help in both those aspects of the kids lives, it would be more beneficial to them than just a plain old fire wood bag that they can sleep on. Also the houses they live in arent that big at all, so the bed might even be a waste of space with such a large footprint when its unfolded.

Cyclone head gear. For before, during and after a cyclone. Strong winds can pick dangerous debris up and cause damage to buildings, infrastructure and people if they aren't prepared. The helmet will protect their heads during the cyclone and can aid in rescue efforts for aid workers. It utilises a visor, air filter mask and includes a radio with headphones powered by a small crank that folds away when not being used.

The water purifier/light bottle device. This concept was probably the weakest one. I wanted to combine the use of a shake up light with the effects of water purifying tablets. Basically you chuck a couple of tablets into a bottle of water with the tablet dispenser. Then attach the dispenser to the light, insert it into the bottle and screw the cap on which is attached to the device. Start shaking the bottle - the shaking powers the light while helps to dissolve the tablets in the water. U can remove the light and drink the water afterwards or maybe leave the light in there and create a lantern type thing. Thats where it fell apart. If the water was dirty, the light wouldnt be strong at all in the bottle. And why the hell would u wana do that anyway. It's basically a light in a bottle of water. I thought of answering that question before presenting and i couldnt even think of a reason. Inspiration for the design came from some of Batmans gadgets because theyre generally small and really useful.

The 11th Hour

Task: “Reflect on the catastrophic effects of environmental neglect and abuse. How should industrial designers reshape their activities in order to avoid large-scale ecological problems in the future and to restore the natural balance?”

There’s a shocking truth to all of the facts and figures that The 11^th Hour exposes that no one would like to confront. It’s disgusting to think that we overlook these problems. I agree with the documentary when it suggests that the earth is infected and that we humans are the infection. Natural disasters like hurricanes and floods, “...are not the problem, the problem is the way we are thinking. The problem is fundamentally a cultural problem.” It could be said that were responsible for causing the destruction we see done by these catastrophic disasters through the way we live our lives and overlook the effects done to the environment.

Global warming, climate change and greenhouse effect are terms we are continually confronted with. We face the greatest challenge ahead as we not only have to deal with events to come, but we also have to attempt to repair the damage done by our predecessors. The role of designers today is to restore some balance and look to the future to see what can be done to fix society’s lack of understanding.

There is a lack of respect for the environment and the reality is that most people won’t walk away from watching this documentary and do a complete 360 and begin living their lives eco-friendly. We overlook these things because our priorities don’t always involve the environment. It’s up to the designers to change the way consumers think and use products in an effort to educate them the importance of being more environmentally conscious. “Our planet is seamless,” and perhaps by fitting good design seamlessly into the consumer’s day to day activities and using sustainable manufacturing processes, the waste produced by these products could be minimised and consumer’s would be none the wiser. Or finding ways to prolong the life of products could be beneficial in the future.

I believe that there is much hope in society that the natural balance of things can be restored, however, the truth of the matter is that earth has reached a point where restoring what was sustainable can no longer be achieved. There is great truth that, “We’ve lost the beauty of the world and we make up for it with attempting to conquer the world or own the world, possess the world.” Today, the damage done to earth is irreversible and to an extent in which all the efforts in reducing further damage is only a start to something much larger and can be seen as an unreachable goal. Modern design has changed to adapt towards sustainable design in an effort to reduce waste. But is this all this effort a little too late? Nevertheless there is hope in society; I just think that hope may be futile. We can do what we can now to achieve better results than in the past and hopefully educate people to stop destroying the earth.

charette reflections

· How will the proposed solution improve the emotional attachment of the user to the chair?

· What are the proposed materials?

· How do you expect the consumer to use it?

· What stimulus will encourage the user to modify the chair or buy the aftermarket attachments for the chair (eg, change in life circumstances, etc)?

1. By giving the chair an added function/feature such as the stable table, there is an extra benefit that would attract the user. It's no longer a generic chair with one function, it's become a multi-function chair that has added value. For those who are space conscious, the stable provides a space saving solution and a way of making their lives simpler. They could simply use the stable for when watching tv and having dinner, it becomes their dinner table, or coffee table for magazines, drinks, etc. With all these great functions, the use of the chair and stable will be multiplied enormously and that'll get the user to form a tight bond to it.

2. The chosen materials were treated plywood and a dowel joint.

3. The consumer is expected to purchase the chair first and the stable is an optional attachment that requires minimal assembly. The stable is accessed by swinging it from underneath the seat. When not in use or when one chair is placed next to the other, just rotate it back into its concealed resting area.

4. Single people living in small apartments would benefit from the stable since it saves space. Also, since its concealed when it's not being used, there isn't a large footprint and so storage is quite minimal. Change in jobs, downsizing, getting a divorce or having no income might persuade users to buy the attachment instead of buying a dining table. They could be living in a tiny apartment with absolutely no space and so the stable would be the next best thing to an actual table.

___________________________________________________________

· How has this task challenged your design thinking about promoting long-term satisfaction, product attachment and product endurance?

· How do you feel about designing beyond the original product?

· How did you feel about the collaborative problem-solving activity?

· If you were to design a piece of furniture from scratch, how would you do it differently? (Sketches not required, I just wanted to know if you have a design philosophy that you’d like to follow).

1. By giving a product something that makes it personalised, individualistic or unique, the user has the chance to make it their own and reflect themselves through the product. That personal attachment to the product results in longer satisfaction and therefore a longer life within the household. But it was hard to think of what could personalise such a generic object. Vinyls, visual cues were the main things i could think of.

2. The original product was kinda shoddy in the beginning. It was uncomfortable to sit on and looked really average. It was good to design beyond it, but difficult because a chair basically has one function and some of the ideas that came up to give it some other function were wacky. A couple of fish tank chairs and bumper sticker chairs popped up.

3. The collaboration activity was challenging, mainly because there were too many changes in ideas happening and since i was in charge of the rendering, i had a few people telling me to draw different things. In the end the group pulled through as a team and we did really well i think.

4. I would definitely design something thats sculptural. I know that its not exactly design and maybe more towards the arty side of things but thats what i like. Something different like having instead of a backrest, using that as the legs and the legs as the backrest so its like some type of upside down chair or if it was on its side, etc. Something zany.

charette 1 p2

our final design: stable.

A convenient storage saving alternative to a side table. It is a table that is fixed to one chair leg that allows you to swing it from underneath the seat via a dowel joint in the corner. When not in use, its concealed under the seat rest. You can place your dinner, cups, magazines or any other objects that can fit on that area.

There's about 3 components to the stable - the moveable table, the dowel joint and the attachment block that is connected to the chair leg and the table.

The rendering drawings and the storyboard:

We got a fair few stickers for the design

Charette 1

Todays studio class involved us forming groups and putting together a chair which we then had to design accessories for. All of our ideas, drawings culminated into designing one useful accessory that will personalise and prolong the attachment/use of the chair.

These were the initial concepts i came up with to give the chair an individual feel to it.

headrest: physio-attachment. functions as a headrest

storage under the seat: could be physio or psycho/socio-attachment. By using it as a purely functional or the objects placed underneath could be significant to the user and act as some type of emotional attachment.

painted layers: psycho/socio-attachment. having layered paints randomly painted onto the chair and with the normal wear and tear over time, the scratches will reveal a different story every time one is made. this gives it that added personalisation.

interchangeable components: physio-attachment. the user can choose different backrests, seat covers, etc

leather seat cover: physio/psycho/socio-attachment. the leather will give added value over time. ages with dignity

different seat covers: physio-attachment. same as above just cushioned or pin cushioned. could be marketed towards the younger or yoga market that like sitting on nails, etc.

users choice: psycho/socio-attachment. something a bit abstract. the user can get the option before even purchasing their seats by choosing what tree will be cut down to make them. added value to what their buying. it'll be more worth keeping since they had more of choice in the materials.

rubber leg socks: physio-attachment. gives the chair added stability. more appealing to look at perhaps. makes it look fun

objectified p2

There is an underlying notion that the objects we surround ourselves are a reflection of our personalities. However, at times people are unaware of the relationship they have with the object and its significance. In today’s society, designers are not just designing products but are designing scenarios that coincide with consumer’s lives and lifestyles.

A common theme between designers and consumers is that both share a connection with objects. Though, the difference is that designers create these connections through these manufactured objects to appeal to consumers. Often users are unaware of what draws them to a particular product, yet there is a subconscious attraction to certain products in which designers are responsible for.

“...a silent connection is established.” – Naoto Fukasawa

Design has, with intent or not, assimilated itself seamlessly into our lives and created a world where interacting with our surroundings has been somehow influenced by design in a distinct way. Constant advances in technology have resulted in a desire for the new by consumers that will undeniably continue as time goes by.

“...we tend to want new things...and make whatever that used to be now to look like then so people will buy the new now.” – Rob Walker

Designers have the ability to foresee what consumer’s desire and are constantly faced with the challenge to deliver new products. Looking to the past for inspiration has become the way to redefine what was old and what is now considered new. These objects are becoming a combination of technology with things that get better over time which shows that though we yearn for new products, we subconsciously want what has always been readily available to us.

“Every object speaks to you.” - Jonathan Ive

Products are designed with a hidden language intact that speaks to each distinct user uniquely. People have different preconceptions of objects and surround themselves with products that they feel are some type of statement of their individuality. These objects have become a meaningful story of our lives through the way design has implicated this language in the form of products. This personal insight is not only a statement to the world of who you are, but more importantly, it’s a reassurance of oneself of their identity.

There is a constant process of designing with designers always questioning the new and what can be done to change, remove or improve manufactured objects. While consumers are the fuel to the designer’s creative fire by continually craving the new.

yike bike

http://www.yikebike.com/site/

Weight: 10kg (22 lbs)
Frame: Carbon composite
Price: £2,995 Pounds -- €3,440 Euros -- approx. $4,450 USD
Drive: Electric chainless
Brakes: Electric anti-skid, regenSpeed: 25 km/hr
Power: 1 kW, 30min re-charge
Battery: LiFePO4 - fast charge
Range: 10 km
Fold size: Super compact 43 litresSeat: Leather super comfort
Height limit: 163 cm - 193 cm limit
Wheel: 20” hubless
Weight limit: 100 kg
Lights: Built in LEDs

pimp my ride

Inspiration

i wish i thought of designing these

objectified

Task: “Reflect on society’s complex relationship with manufactured objects and the people who design them. What can we learn about who we are, and who we want to be, from the objects with which we surround ourselves?”

initial thoughts: its a simplistic approach into the world of design and the people behind the products. design really has found a way to integrate itself seamlessly into our lives.