August 2017 – LAURA YOUNG

August 31, 2017

The anthropology of Mobile phones – Chipchase 2007

In his TED talk, Chipchase found that the three main items people carry with them are phone, wallet and keys. Not much has changed although, with the rapid innovation of smart phones, the wallet has combined with the phone with apps such as Apple pay, Samsung pay and internet banking. The purpose of carrying the phone is not just survival anymore but also as a form of entertainment. As the phone’s hold valuable information such as our social profile and important information, almost everyone’s identity is now mobile and vulnerable. With the recreation of phones with even more functions since 2007, Chipchase predicted the rapid adoption to be correct. Although unlike 2007, when phones are broken, they are no longer fixed but disposed of and a new phone is bought. His research on the point of reflection and centre of gravity is still seen today.

August 29, 2017October 10, 2017

5 Days, 5 Walks

Metal:

Earth:

Water:

Space:

August 27, 2017September 12, 2017

Task 2: TRANSLATING AND EXPLORING DESIGN

Black and White Exploration

Exercises started in class to help generate ideas and more iterations:

* Birds – cranes represent compassion and longevity, Hummingbirds represent healing and health

**Lotus is most commonly associated with health, healing and spirituality

Below are iterations of the Lotus concept.

I have expanded on more of my first idea with the hand and the palette below

Peer assessment:

In summary, many of my peers said that the lotus is hard to connect back with arts on the move and that they preferred the palette and the hand idea.

Further iterations:

I tried to continue and work on the Lotus idea, however, I found it too difficult to relate it back to arts on the move. So I tried to combine the palette and the lotus but It was too busy so I scrapped the Lotus idea and went with the palette idea.

August 25, 2017

Calibrating your Cultural Compass

Jan Chipchase draws attention to how important it is for designers to understand not only the local mindset but how it is from a global perspective, she calls it the ‘rapid cultural calibration’. As an exchange student in Singapore, I agree that it is important to be part of the action to understand the city and its people. I have observed many of the ideas discussed in the chapter Calibrating your Cultural Compass. By watching the city start the day from the side or joining them you can find the many differences each neighbourhood, city or country has. I have seen other exchange students who are unaware of the social norms and etiquettes of Singapore breaching behaviours that are deemed acceptable from their home town. Everyday life there are new cultures and experiences that help define the country, such as the unique laws that can only be found in a certain culture e.g. No durian on public transport. I have also found that visiting Maccas gives a different aspect of the countries traditional/daily meals. It is important as a designer to have a clear understanding of the local culture to prevent offence through your work and to understand what the community’s needs are.

Example of behaviours deemed acceptable in other cities but not in Singapore

Three of these laws are universal. One law can only be found in South East Asia.

August 23, 2017October 10, 2017

Off the Grid

4 hours off the grid, 2 hours inside, 2 hours outside and an image every hour.

The first hour (inside):

I felt confined and bored stuck in my small dorm room. I decided to pass the time by doing some work, I was unable to use any electricity and internet so I had to hit the books and use the less efficient way of researching. I always prefered to handwrite then to use my laptop so it wasn’t too different for me, although, I found it difficult to efficiently research. It was strange to reflect and think back when I was in junior school, I had primarily used books to research and I always spent my time flicking through the books at the school library.

The second hour (inside):

I continued to do some work, reading and cleaning of my room for the time I was inside. I found it difficult to entertain myself for the two hours I was stuck inside. It was crazy to think I spend hours inside every day when I had access to electricity and internet. I also suffered from the heat with no fan. In the final minutes of my inside time, I left to go outdoors for the next two hours. I had to walk down the fire escape from the top floor (13th floor).

The third hour (outside):

I walked around and observed nature and how beautiful and green the NTU campus is. I walked to ADM after 30 mins and sat down on the grass roof and wrote in my journal and read my book. It was very peaceful and I much prefer being outside with no technology and electricity. It helped me pay attention to my environment and I also people and bird watched while I was outside.

The fourth hour (outside):

As I was strolling around a bit after sitting on the ADM roof, it started to sprinkle then pour down. I ran to the closest bus stop and enjoyed the sound, smell of the rain and how it made the air cooler and less humid. It was perfect to sit and reflect on this exercise.

August 21, 2017

The Design of Everyday Things

To create a successful design, it must be designed from the viewpoint of the user and considering human-centred design. Factors in HCD such as the affordance determining if the user can understand how the object can be used, even more vital is the signifier communicating what the user should do. The layout of the mapping should be easily understandable and memorable. To show the object is working feedback is needed, but too much feedback can be distracting. The system image is the user’s past experiences allowing them to figure out how to use an object or understanding what the conceptual model does.

August 21, 2017September 26, 2017

TASK 1: INFORMATION GATHERING AND IDEA GENERATING

Design aim:
The client, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital requires a new logo design to be used on the button badge for their Arts on the move volunteer program.
A design that reflects the programs values, passion and purpose.

Keywords:
Expressive
Evoke
Love
Create
Harness creativity
Create
Hands on
Support
Community
Voice
Connect
Heal
Positive Distraction
Companion

Rationale:

Concept 1:
The hand can be seen as both patient and volunteer, the patient’s hand is connecting with the paint palette representing art and how they express through art. If it is seen as the volunteer’s hand, it is a hand of support and reassurance like a hand on the shoulder. The square handle of the pallet is part of the hospital’s official logo and so it can be seen that Arts on the Move is affiliated with the hospital.

Concept 2:
This logo represents how this program harnesses creativity and allows the patients to express and be free through craft. Depicted is a patient freely throwing paint to their heart’s desire without being restricted by their state of health. The human and the paint is shaped into a heart symbolizing how both are connected and also reflect the caring value of the program.

Concept 3:
The logo is a play on the official hospital logo to follow on style and to show they are affiliated. The silhouette of a patient is seen next to the cracked pattern. This pattern represents how the patients may be broken when being admitted but shows that they can be put back together through art. The web like pattern also represents the community and the connections made with others. The square is located near the vocal cord representing that this program can help patient speak their mind through art.

Mood Board:

Revisiting Task 1:

Misinterpreted the task and had already started drawing logos so I am revisiting concept ideas from Week 1 for a clearer understanding of what my aim is. My three-word concepts will be: