Richard Seymour and Dick Powell: Designing dream machines

This video which features Dick Powell and Richard Seymour demonstrated to the viewers the processes and methods which will be critical to us as industrial designers in the future. The focus of the video is to highlight the numerous different opportunities in the design and manufacturing process where the designer plays a crucial role.

For example the video explores the ways in which a designer has the obligation to satisfy the target market. However, simultaneously they have to fulfill the requirements of the people they work with in particular the engineers. It is for this reason that I believe that this video is very important for budding industrial designers as it shows the importance of being able to work with others as a team as it is not possible for and individual to design the future let alone a single product.

Peer Comments

• Rob Cervetto
• Cori Eom
• Valerie El Khouri
• Maria EunJi Park
• Glenaldy Janto

Upclycling Unwanteds - Snooker Balls

The task of upcycling is where waste materials are transformed into new products that are both functional and appealing. This has great importance in today's society because of the excess waste in our society. For my project I have chosen to use billiards balls. My rationale behind this is as follows, there are hundreds if not thousands of bars and pubs which have billiard tables, and a common occurrence is for balls to go missing (commonly stolen by lowlife scum). From my research it is not possible to replace a selected ball. Instead an entire set needs to be purchased. Thus, the remainder of the balls become redundant. Similarly balls get chipped and scratched requiring replacement. Furthermore there would be manufacturing defects unsuitable for use.

Billiard balls are made of Phenolic resin (Bakelite) which is essentially a very hard and strong resin. In the past there have been no options for recycling this material other than incineration. Thus these 'waste' balls would be nothing more than an environmental burden.

In coming up with my final design of a bowl I explored other ideas. The first being jewelry, in particular rings. There were two reasons that I did not do this. Firstly, I felt that perhaps I could find a more economical use for the balls, as there was a great amount of wastage. Secondly, after further research I discovered that someone had already made something similar. It was at this point that I decided a bowl could be quite charming.

I made the bowl by slicing the balls into discs using a bandsaw. I then sanded and polished them. I experimented with several construction methods, the first being strategically chamfering the edges of the balls so that they could be glued together to form a bowl shape. I then experimented with using wire jump rings and rivets. Neither of which worked. The final result was to join the discs with aluminium straps and small bolts with dome nuts. Whilst I am happy with the way that the final product turned out, more time for refinement and tweaking would have improved it. Be that said, this is just the first prototype and which should be considered.

Annie Leonard - The story of stuff

Yves Behar - Creating designs that tell stories

The key messages from the video it that designers need to make a connection between their products and the working world. This is that a product should be designed so that it communicates its purpose, use and intentions from every angle and that it should be able to communicate its use just by looking at its form. Similarly the video bring to life the issue that designers bring values to the community which can come in the form of environemntal concerns, products with low power consuption, sustainability or function and beauty. Thus the values of designers are critical to producting a product which meats all these needs.

The video explores the fact that design is not only about making a product look pretty but future design is about creating a beautiful product from the inside out. The video shows that there is no point having something that looks good if it doesn't have the internal function to match. The video also highlights the fact that design is not just for the wealthy and that it can also bring technology to parts of the world that previously had no access. Similarly, the video conveys that idea that all aspects of a products deign must communicate to the user the products function.

The video discusses the responsibilities that designers have. This can be whether or not they will advance society, better life or promote health and healthy living and this is accomplished by designing from the inside out to create a product with a soul rather than merely a function.

Postal Presents - Peer Comments

• Fil Pulido
• Jen Jun Zhu
• Maria EunJi Park
• Sarah Chen
• Stephen Mesa

Postal Presents - Flat Pack Watch

The flat pack "I ♥ Flat Pak" watch, has been designed as an unusual, fun, inexpensive gift which can be sent through the mail in a standard C4 envelope.

The recipient receives the gift in a plain envelope with no idea what it contains. After opening the envelope the recipient still has no idea what it contains until the lid on the flat pack is lifted of. Once opened, there is a strong visual stimulus which aims to create a sense of excitement and expectation.

Assembly is fun and simple, resulting in a funky, fully functional watch which aims to be a conversation piece. It is nevertheless practical and durable for on-going everyday use. No tools, other than the screw driver which is included, are required to assemble the gift.

The "I ♥ Flat Pak" watch has been designed to be laser cut out of simple sheet material, - metal or even plastic. However, the prototype as presented was constructed by hand from nickel silver sheet due to time and cost constraints.

The mass production method of stamping out the various layers is simple, quick and inexpensive. Therefore a highly profitable sub $30 gift is envisaged. The watch mechanisms are a standard item and may be acquired in bulk for less than $1 per piece.