Reflection – “Word By Word We Build Overselves” by Hanson Ho

Parameters, System, Efficiency

I agree with Hanson’s view on building a system that consists of parameters to bring about efficiency to a large extent. “Efficiency is achieved through good project management that identifies as many project parameters.” In order to identify the constraints of a project, one has to fully understand and do in-depth research before embarking on the project itself. This helps the designer to set clear outlines and distinctive goals. Sometimes, designers (myself included) just jump right into ideation and try to experiment with crazy and out of the world ideas. However, often, due to practical reasons, there are always constraints that exist like limited budget, lack of technological expertise, and manpower shortage. If these constraints were identified and clearly communicated at the start of the project, we will not have to go around in circles and restart from the ideation stage when we realize we are not able to proceed with our design.

Constraints are rules and regulations that must be maintained throughout the project which will help us to grow ultimately. Hanson mentioned that “True creativity is not about heaving mere artistic free down, but about producing good work in spite of limitations and challenges.” When we face constraints and limitations in our work, we are forced out of our comfort zone and think out of the box. We will face mental blocks, and we will face unreasonable clients, but at the end of the day, when we overcome these challenges, we know we have grown as a designer.

If we are looking from a user’s point of view, constraints may create a more positive user experience too. When users are “constrained”, their options become limited and they are compelled to do things in a certain manner. When users are restricted, they may be able to make a decision and reach their end goal more efficiently. E.g. – If I want to buy sweets from a shop and assuming that I do not have any existing knowledge of the variety of brands available, I will end up comparing the prices and other factors to decide which is the most value for money option. As opposed to a shop that only offers 2 brands, I will be able to make my decision more effectively and efficiently. However, some may argue that we need to cater to a wide range of consumers by offering many options to bring in sales. Ultimately, it’s about finding the right balance between constraints and freedom. As Dieter Rams would say, “Less but better”.

POV Statement – Group 2

Group Members: Alicia, Fatin, Jun Hao, Gladys

Independent adults that are born without their sense of sight need a way to obtain exact measurements of volume as it helps them with their daily house chores and prevents them from scalding their hands when measuring hot liquids.

Reflection – “The Infra-ordinary” by Georges Perec

In this article, Georges Perec brought up three types of “ordinary” The extra-ordinary, the ordinary, and the infra-ordinary.

For some reason, humans beings are captivated by the extra-ordinary, the fascinating events in life. The clickbait headlines capture our attention easily. We are curious about scandals of celebrities that we do know personally, we are curious about the tragic accident that happened across the world, and most of the time, these events don’t even concern us. I must say that Perec’s take on the newspaper is one of a kind, as he finds the newspaper to be useless. Whereas most people find it important to read the news as it makes us well informed and aware of what is happening around us.

On the other hand, we tend to neglect the ordinary things around us and take it for granted. “We live, true, we breathe, true; we walk, we open doors, we go down staircases, we sit at a table in order to eat, we lie down on a bed in order to sleep. How? Why? Where? When? Why?” Perec wants us to dig deeper and give meaning to the infra-ordinary things in life. This is like peeling the layers of the onions and each time you peel off a new layer, you unravel something new. When we are curious about the infra-ordinary things, we ask people about their opinions and their perspectives. Curiosity helps us uncover new possibilities and help us develop empathy but I must admit that it is not easy. It takes time and conscious effort to be able “to question the habitual”.

I agree that being observant and asking questions is important in our design process, but it is not just about asking questions but asking the right question. During user research, we want to ask the users the right questions to be able to identify the underlying cause of the problem. For example – Describe what you like about this product VS Describe what you dislike about this product can elicit very different responses. The latter question may provide you with better insights.