Video Reflection C- Big Ideas that Changed the World: Consumerism

Big Ideas that Changed the World: Consumerism

With Consumerism being at the heart of most 1^st world economies, it is important to be resilient to the seductive marketing and advertising messages that encourage societies to consume more for a better quality of life.

I feel that this is a crucial thing to consider as an Industrial designer. Working closely with marketers and production companies all the time, we have to find ways to encourage clients to utilise efficient technologies and renewable resources when producing new products, systems or environments.

There is no longer a debate as to “if” consumerism is affecting the environment, but rather how long we have left till the plant’s resources are depleted.

An interesting observation in the film was the comparison between a heavily religious world, with little desire for material possessions and more emphasis on life-after-death c.f. a modern world with a psychological trait of chasing wealth and material possessions being a symbol of status. Religious people were happy because of their faith and how well they practiced it c.f. consumer societies that receive happiness from how products make them feel and their emotive connections to “stuff”.  This philosophy is a dangerous one as it comes with the acceptance of trashing the environment as a reasonable price to pay for happiness.

If were in charge of managing the situation, I would take the following measures to try and improve the current situation:

•           Invest in renewable energy
•          Introduce choice editing to develop a minimum efficiency standard
•           Support Corporations that encourage shared responsibility though carbon off-set schemes and take bake services
•           Invest in environmentally friendly  housing, transport and leisure activities (i.e. utilising: solar energy, wind power, rain water, car share, public transport, bicycle route)
•           Support local business, local farmers and local suppliers
•           Have less emphasis on growth and more on well-being

As an individual, the film has opened my eyes to avenues I can take to live a more sustainable lifestyle. For example, I am now more aware of the importance of buying local produce from farmers markets, as well as encouraged to live a low-consumption life-style i.e. escaping the rat race, settling for a lower income in exchange for and increased quality of life.

This is another important take home message from the film; happiness is not a measure of relative wealth, but rather a measure of how the individual feels they belong and fit into a community, without any consideration of status or mass consumerism.

Project 2-Green Gifting: Research and Concepts

Brief

https://lms-blackboard.telt.unsw.edu.au/bbcswebdav/courses/5134_00373/IDES2161-2013-project2-new%281%29.pdf

The following are what I Consider to be the brief parameters:

Product                                                                (home and garden; family; leisure; sport)

-Gift

-Ecologically Sustainable

-Role/Place in EVERYDAY life

-Minimal negative impacts to the environment throughout its lifecycle

-Mass manufacture, not handicrafts or one-off fabrication

-Invites interaction

-Not involving electronic displays or touchscreens

-Not bigger than 300 x 300 x 300 mm

-Uses at least 5 of the 47 Okala ecodesign strategies

-Appearance model must look like a real product.

-Ecological impact poster should show

how this “green gift” minimizes harm to the environment throughout its lifecycle             AND

detail the ecodesign strategies used.

Concepts

-          identify the OKALA ecodesign strategies used

-          accompanied by an image collection of several “competitor” and related products, to demonstrate innovation.

May 1:

-show developments of the selected concept, including sketches of details, material studies, manufacturing, form studies etc.

May 8:

-present final work to an assessment panel; keep presentations to 3 minutes or less.

Research

Okala Ecodesign Strategy Wheel

INTENT: reduce ecological impact of PSE

INNOVATION

1.       How benefit is provided (e.g. ambient heat)

2.       Modular practices (e.g. exchanging CPU chips)

3.       Service Products (e.g. rentingà^ life)

4.       Compact multi-fuctional products (e.g. Swiss Army Knife)

5.       Share amongst many users (e.g. go get) [linked to 3.]

6.       Mimic nature to ^ efficiency (e.g. whale fin wind turbine)

7.       Use living organisms in product (e.g. plants that provide service in product life)

8.       Use local supply (e.g. local paper mill, local steel works)

REDUCE MATERIAL IMPACTS

1.       Avoid harmful product (e.g. lead products)

2.       Avoid materials that use ^ natural resources (e.g. nylon vs. Linen)

3.       Minimize material quantity (e.g. Dyson fans)

4.       Use Recycled/Reclaimed Material (e.g. timber from demolished buildings)

5.       Use renewable material (e.g. bamboo)

6.       Use material from reliable suppliers (e.g. consider deforestation/ecosystems etc.)

7.       Use waste by products (e.g. off cuts of fabric used as wall insulation)

MANUFACTURING INNOVATION

1.       Minimize manufacturing waste (e.g. Sheet material cut to reduce waste)

2.       Design for production quality control (e.g. engineering testing for ^ quality)

3.       v energy use in production (e.g. many parts created from 1 mould)

4.       Use renewable energy sources (e.g. solar heating in manufacture)

5.       Minimize production steps (e.g. less processesàless energy: bar soap vs. Body wash)

6.       Minimize components and materials (e.g. luggage with less zippers, straps etc.)

7.       Eliminate toxic emissions (e.g. reduce coal and mecuary emissions where possible)

REDUCE DISTRIBUTION IMPACTS

1.       Reduce product and packaging weight

2.       Reduce product and packaging volume (e.g. flat pack)

3.       Develop reusable packaging systems (e.g. reusable pallets, plastic containers etc.)

4.       Use low impact transport systems (e.g. shipping uses less energy than overland transport)

5.       Use local production if possible (e.g. local concrete to reduce transport)

REDUCE BEHAVIOUR AND USE IMPACTS

1.       Encourage low consumption user behaviour (e.g. bicycle conscious clothing)

2.       Reduce energy consumption during use (e.g. phones will indicate when battery no longer needs charging)

3.       Reduce material consumption during use (e.g. reusable coffee filters)

4.       Reduce water consumption during use (e.g. sinks that divert grey water into garden etc.)

5.       Seek to eliminate toxic gases when in use (roll on vs. Spray deodorants)

6.       Design for renewable energy (e.g. solar, kinetic, hydro-electric powered products)

SYSTEM LONGJEVITY

1.       Design for durability (e.g. long lasting cookware)

2.       Deign for maintenance and easy repair (e.g. Bicycles)

3.       Design for re-use and exchange practices (e.g. clothing swaps etc.)

4.       Create a timeless aesthetic (e.g. Braun products)

5.       Foster an emotional connection (e.g. chair that grows with you)

TRANSITIONAL SYSTEMS

1.       Design upgradable products (e.g. ipods)

2.       Design for second life with different function (e.g. jam jars used as drinking glass)

3.       Design for re-use components (e.g. car parts)

OPTIMIZE END OF LIFE

1.       Take back services (e.g. Dell Computers)

2.       Design for easy/efficient disassembly or demolition)

3.       Design a recycling business model (e.g. shoes used for running track)

4.       Use recyclable non-toxic materials

5.       Provide ability to biodegrade

6.       Design for safe disposal processes (e.g. consider light bulb recycling)

 Concept Posters

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Peer FeedBack

Name	Peter Calaitzopoulos (z331400)
Date	24/04/13
Feedback from Peer 1 Vivian Ngyuan	Stay away from products hung on walls Evaluate the strength of the gift
Feedback from Peer 2 Rowan Furlong	Minimize material, try to use only one material Consider harvested vs. Waste products
Feedback from Tutor Mar Ramirez	Consider Manufacturing Processes Change the Form, express material, don’t be restricted to current forms Combine Concept aesthetics
Lesson learnt from listening to other Tutors	Explore unusual and different materials Tell the story of giving the gift Consider industries that have waste by products

5 Peer Comments: Socially Responsible Packaging Design Solutions

The following are comments that I have published on 5 peer's blogs regarding their design solutions for the Socially responsible Packaging Brief in IDES 2161:

Rowan Furlong

http://rowanfurlong3419689.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/final-rationale.html?showComment=1366540875234

Rowan, your design solution today was one of my favourite from the group. a simple concept but an effective design to counter a serious social issue

the model you presented was an interesting form and the presentation helped to communicate how your design functions as a fastener for connecting cardboard

your rationale booklet was also interesting, I enjoyed the unusual colour scheme that was used and the concise number of pages you used to tell the story. Your concept sketches had an attractive graphical style.

The challenge for your design, would be encouraging users to donate the lid fasteners as well as encouraging the homeless to collect them. Perhaps targeting only the 1/16 of the Australian homeless population that sleep in the street on any given night.

Zikang Cheng (Cedric)

http://z3351797.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/boating-safety-kit-booklet.html

Cedric, what a fantastic rationale booklet! the colours and layout look really professional and the information is clear. The white drawings on a black background are really effective in communicating your concepts.

Although an unusual social issue, boat safety is extremely valid. I enjoyed reading how you propose to tack the issue and your out come is a really clever design; you considered all aspects.

The 3D rendered exploded view was very impressive to see and I am envious that you already have those skills and I do not.

Your model was also good, but had room from improvement in the finish.

Alexander Chittenden

http://alexanderchittenden.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/the-driveway-blend-rationale.html

Alex, your design was one of my top 5 in studio today; the combination of the most impressive model in the room along with a clean, well designed landscape rationale definitely made it a winner in my eyes.

The model was excellent, and hopefully to the high standard that you set for yourself. I really respect your courage to experiment with a new material and am extremely impressed with the from you created. I also think your label design is very suited to the current coffee and food trends.

The rationale is definitely one of the better ones from today, the simple layout with lots of white negative space made it easy for the reader to understand the messages you were conveying.

The only negative I can summon from your design today, is how effectively it met the brief and brief requirements. I understand that accessibility and ease of use are important packaging issues, however they may be considered as less significant social issues.

Otherwise both concept and execution are flawless, great job.

Jack Graham

http://www.jackmgraham.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/jack-graham-rationale.html

Jack, your design was one my top five presented in studio. The social issue is very serious and the concept is strong and deeply explored. It is a wonder why the system of standard volumes of standard drinks doesn't already exist.

Your models looked great both in studio and in your rational, and I respect the difficulty level of creating bottle like forms.

I don't really understand the technical drawings above; they communicate the size and outline of your design, but are not in 3rd angle projection and don't communicate that the design is a bottle that's hollowed. perhaps hatching the wall thickness could have better explained this.

Overall a great design and one of my personal favourites from the group.

Paris Cockinos

http://idesduck.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/rationale.html

Paris, fantastic design and effective rationale, definitely one of my favourites in today's studio.

The way your rationale is 'set-up' is very effective in communicating the problem, and your solution, really nice graphic design mate.

Your model looked really clean and crisp today, which shows the effort you put into making the mould and other difficult process you encountered.

Your design is very strong in concept and adequately solves the social issue, well done Paris.

Play Milk Packaging - Peter Calaitzopoulos

Play Milk Packaging Rationale

Competitors/Existing kid's milk packaging

Here are 6 examples of designers trying to encourage the drinking of milk through packaging design.

All of the packaging designs appeal to children as the consumers of the product as well as consider the things parents (customers) deem important e.g. nutritional information.

It is important to note that some of these packages are encouraging the drinking of milk and promoting good nutrition through attractive graphic design only.

None of the following packages encourage increased physical activity after consumption of the product; something that my design intends to achieve.

 Kido Milk by Esra Oguz. 

The unusual form and playful graphics entice children to drink the product and allow their imagination to create characters from the carton packaging

 Milko by Alfonso Sotelo Nava

Another unusual form, Milko may seem attractive to young children because of the udder-like legs at the bottom of the can packaging. This could also encourage children to keep the packaging and collect the whole set of colours.

 Milk Set by Anton Repponen

Again, the characters on the packaging are exciting for young children and may enable them to develop a personal affinity with packaging, keeping it as a collectible.

 Milk Packaging Design by Lucy Hawkins

This Carton Design is traditional in form however  the quantity of 1 pint is perhaps too much for the age-group of children the graphic design is directed at. An interesting concept with this packaging design is how it encourages users to create their own 'milk mustache . I imagine that this playful concept could be quite appealing to young children.

                  Chocomilk by Milena Wlodarczyk
                         
                              The purpose of this packaging is to use 
                              bright, animated graphics to encourage 
                              children to drink milk

Mini Milk by Elizabeth Ritchie

The use of stickers as a graphic tool to entice children to drink milk is quite interesting. Children are able to decorate and animate their milk carton packaging with the available stickers, thus making it a more attractive product than plain milk packaging. 

Exploring Form

The perceived school milk size is a half pint.
Pint= 568, Half=284ml

Many Australian products I observed in supermarkets were in the range of 200-300mL for children.

The cartons usually took the form of a 70x70mm square base, with ranging heights of 76.5mm up to 100mm, depending on the construction and pitch of the gable top cartons.

The height of the carton from the base to the gable top ranged between 65-75mm

From this research I concluded that the volume and dimensions of the carton had some freedom, and this allowed me to explore forms that most suited the purpose of my design i.e. easily re-used as a physical activity product after consumption

Box/Carton Construction without Gable-Top

Standard 300mL Pura Milk Carton 70x70x100mm 

(65mm to gable start)

 

Possible form, 300mL,  NB the Perforation 

used to access the  contents inside the box.

55x40x175mm

(145mm to gable start)

The Milk carton may take a no. of possible forms however the main objective is to construct a milk carton that involves at least 8 trapeziums, like this:

To create a throwing toy like this^^^

This frisbee/boomerang is made from 

8 posted-notes folded in half, 

and corner folded in(see left)

The Frisbee flies really well, despite being paper-thin,

it seldom falls apart, and is very simply joined together.

Using a thicker material like card, with a tighter crease

leads to even greater performance and durability:

The above throwing toy uses the material from 

the previous Pura Milk carton (see above)

Exploration into position of Trapeziums:

Front-to-front, back-to-back, perpendicular                              Corner-not-folded, front-to-back

                           



More research into perforation methods is needed before a final form can be decided.

This is a video showing the method of laser-cutting perforation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=280g8vFqCDI