♥ JASMINE DNT-ED on Saturday, December 1, 2007 ♥
Lets recap what had we learnt last year !!
What is design actually ?Design is actually about creating a product that does its job well ...
It is about creating a product that has a distinctive look or feel ...
It is about creating a product that are comfortable and safe to use ...
It is about being innovative ...
It is about Choosing suitable materials to make the product ...
It is about protecting and preserving the environment ...
What are functions ? Functions are actually the activities a product should perform ...
What are aesthetics ? Aesthetics is the overall look or appearance of a product ...
e.g.Different designers have different ideas so that the products they create that does not look the same at all ... One of the designs that will look different is Watches ...
How do we describe products ? Describing of the products are classified under Aesthetics ...
We may use words like :
-Modern
-Old-Fashioned
-Masculine
-Plain
-Streamlined
-Boxy
-Sophiscated
-Elegant
-Angular
-Curvy
-Bulky
-Slender
What are Ergonomics ?Ergonomics are actually the process of designing for comfort and safety usage ...
Some points we can take note for ergonomics ...
-Holding the product
-Carrying the product
-Working with the product
-Wearing the product
-Sitting on the product
Some guidelines to help you in designing for safe use ...
-Do not use toxic paints
-Avoid sharp points on your products
-Avoid having small or loose parts on your products for children as they may pose potential choking hazards ...
When you want your design to be ergonomic.Consider :
-Safety
-How the user would use the product
-proportion
-Size
-TExture
In Designing some products ... you may also like o consider the adjustable parts and layout of information ...
What are innovation ?
Innovation is about looking for clever ways to slove design problems ...
It may also use existing materials in a new way or improving on the function of an existing product ...
Advances in technology may result in products that are smaller and perform more functions that those already in use ... e.g. Computer files , Stroage devices and Mobile phones ...
When you look at product in the past , you will see how designs have changed over time in terms of the materials use and ways things are made to work ...
What are materials ?
The products around us are made from different materials ... it can be group as follow :
-Wood
-Metals
-Plastics
-Ceramic
-Glass
Minerals
Designers must also be aware of the properties of different materials so that they are able to choose suitable materials for their designs ...
Designers must also think about the materials in terms of their appearance when designing for different people ...
E.g. A watch with pictures on it may give an informal look on it ...While a watch with stainless steel strap may give a formal look ... brightly coloured plastics make a product look attractive :)
What is mean by the subject ENVIRONMENT ?
Environment means products that are well designed and it's friendly to the environment ...
Here are some guidelines for designers to adopt in order to design environment friendly products :
-Do not waste materials
-Use materials that have been or can be recycled
-Use renewable materials
-Use biodegradable materials
-Design product to be energy efficent
-design products to use renewable energy
-Use less harmful chemicals in the product itself or in the manufacturing process to make the product ...
Summary of what we had learnt
- Design is about creating a product that functions well...
- The functions of a product are the actions or activities it should perform...
- Design is about creating a product that has distinctive look or feel...
- The overall appearance of a product is called its aesthetics...
-In designing, it is important to consider function as well as aesthetics...
- Design is about creating products that are comfortable and safe to use...
- Designing for comfort and safety is known as ergonomics...
-A successful design is usally innovative - it is an idea that is new and completely different from other ideas already in use...
- Design is about choosing suitable materials...
- Designers must be aware of the properties and the appearance of different materails so that they can choose suitable materails for their designs...
- Design is about protecting and preserving the world...
- Well-designed products are environmentally-friendly...
JASMINE .