I attended Design Jam Brighton on 11th November (let it slip for a while!). We were split into groups of about 6, given a UX (user experience) based challenge, then 45 mins brainstorming and a 1 min elevator pitch, followed by an afternoon of idea development, and a 4 minute presentation at the end of the day. It was very interesting, and learnt a lot about UX as its own individual field, rather than just a thing I accidentally taborrow parts of during the design process.
The brief assumed free transfer of infomation and should use an 'internet of things' theme, where all devices and most objects can generate, transmit and receive information, communicating to each other to create a network.. or 'internet of things'.
We came up with a formalised and optimised version of the fairly standart Brighton practise of dumping things outside your house, and waiting for someone to collect it. We examined the process, motivation, goals and problems from all points of view, and plotted the 'story' of each throughout. The donor (disposing of something), some form of 'agent' (collector) and the object itself. The donors story should be as short as possible. From indoors to doorstep, and then not worry, knowing it will be going to someone who wants it. The agents come in many forms - collectors, charities, entrepreneurs (using it for profit), and those keeping it for themselves, each with their own motivation, and associated problems, though it was thought as long as the object moves on, it will always be moving the correct way down the chain of events. i.e. away from the donor, and towards re-use. And finally thinking of a way to tag each object, so the donor can add their story to it, so one is not only getting a free object, but value is added in the form of stories, background, and a sense of inhereting a narrative, or an object with character as well as function, what Rory Sutherland in his Ted talk (http://www.ted.com/talks/rory_sutherland_life_lessons_from_an_ad_man.html - v. good) calls intangable value.
Anyway, considering it was FREE, it was well worth while. I learnt a great deal, met lots of interesting and lovely people, and its great to go from nothing to a partially fleshed out concept in a single day. You never really have time to pause, and the time constraint forces you to go with an idea early and just keep following it to see where it goes, so you don't have time to regret a choice. Its also a part of what I love about design, and creativity - coming to a problem with nothing, and leaving having come up with a unique idea - perhaps similar to others, but still unique in its way. Its great that your ideas can have consiquence. Whether its a sketch, a presentation, a fully realised product, or just a thought or that you can feel pleased with.
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Adreas Preis
Some more interesting than others, but a lot of great drawings - always love a good bit of hatching. More of his work at the bottom of the page.
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