sketches

im wondering if we will be using these sketches as the final image for the project (scanned in) or if we are going to remake them on illustrator. i was a tad confused on the 20 functioning for these 4 parameters, and am starting to wish the sketches were less about quantity, i find myself making some quicker sloppy sketches sometimes. but i am curious and excited to work with illustrator for this project. i feel like this particular project is more about graphic design which is my major so im kind of intrigued

good ol toothbrush

so, by now i have selected the toothbrush as my handtool because i feel it has varying textures to represent and also symbolizes sanitation, cleanliness, which i could possibly use in my drawings, not to mention i'm very OCD about my teeth.  i have enjoyed using our class time to get these drawings done, i feel like im much more efficient than if i were to be working on my own plus while surrounded by classmates doing the same thing, i can pick up more ideas/ inspiration.  i tend to procrastinate to the extreme while working on these assignments over the weekend so obviously the class time has been a tremendous help with keeping me on task.  after spending two classes drawing toothbrushes, i have started to hit a brick wall, and to a certain extent, i feel like all the representations look the same. im about to finish the weekend homework that i previously started, so hopefully some new ideas will come to the table.  BUT i will say, even though ive hit my brick wall, i like the idea of this project and the whole technique of just drawing over and over with particular parameters...it's a cool idea.

make up blog

due to my lack of a blog last week regarding the "make it better," i am making this tardy entry. I really liked working with my group, we all got along really well and everyone was more than on top of their responsibilities. once the group got together, the ideas on the project exploded, and it was definitely nice having others to bounce ideas off and get different viewpoints from. one thing i learned from this second project is to keep all my steps of the assignment together in a neat spot, and to not start the process book the night before.

procrastination

while carrying my weekend homework over into my free monday mornings, i realized that i not only need a job but should probably start brainstorming these things sooner. after reading the blackboard task of re thinking handtools, i slowly but surely started producing more and more possibilities (which is no aid to my indecisiveness).  i tried thinking of not only the physical tools themselves, but also all the meaning that is linked to them along with what is aesthetically pleasing. looking to my list, not many of the objects are necessarily tools that one would generally think of (construction type tools, hammer, screwdriver, etc.) but more so things that one would use regularly that they wouldn't generally categorzie as a tool (i'm pretty sure this works for the assignment). here is my cumulative list thus far....

toothbrush

magnifine glass
car key
hairbrush

lighter or box of matches

salt and pepper shakers
sink dish scrubber brush thing
wisk
computer mouse
water bottle
hand watch

i'm going to try to stop my list there although throughout the day i'm sure more will come to mind.  the ones i have highlighted in pink are my preferences at the moment, mainly due to the meaning/ themes behind them, and i think they would be interesting to draw.

class technique sampling

i must say i enjoyed the group activities today in class. i think once the we all got together and started bouncing ideas off one another whole new designs were brought to attention. personally, i found the concept maps to be the best guidance today.  just the notion of throwing random or radical ideas onto paper and then comparing them helped tremendously and gave our thumb tack a whole new motive. i liked the attribute listing divided by the tables because it was a more organized, clean way of brainstorming, however i enjoyed the concept map and benefited more greatly from it. here are some pictures of our process....

the concept map= preference

OCD

not sure what went down with the highlighting in that second paragraph but i cannot seem to fix it. i apologize for the visual inconvenience.

IDEO inspiration/ writer's toolbox

aside from setting the new standard for a happy work environment, the IDEO clip definitley gave me some insight to the process and teamwork that is necessary for a project of this nature.  they pointed out the effects of a cheery setting's influence on the generation of ideas as well as attitudes, the importance of having different people, each with their own opinion and expertise to filter through different possible ideas that could work, making a design is a process and the group has to take many steps to finalize ideas. some of the mottos i picked up from this video include: hire people that don't listen to you, have some wild ideas to build off of, invent focused chaos, need time restraints, fail often and exceed sooner. this work habitat was certainly more appealing than the typical sterile cubicles that everyone fears they'll end up.

as far as the writer's toolbox packet, many techniques were brought to my attention, all which aim at stimulating ideas, performing visual brainstorming, break down the problem, making connections/ associations between concepts, while at the same time getting it all down on paper for a hard copy. these maps to a solution are typically quick which allows for a spontaneous flow of thoughts, which in turn spark new routes in the design.

bad design wah wah

so for my bad design project i have chosen to re-invent the elastic headbands that always seem to slip off your head. after interviewing a handful of girls (typically a girl accessory) there were some recurring motifs and responses:

-majority wear during physical activity or washing face
-main purpose is to keep the hair out of one's face
-typically slips off head and have to re adjust at many points throughout the use
-generally younger audience uses (approx. ages 7-30)
-hair is likely in a ponytail when wearing
-CAN be worn as a fashion statement, or with hair down
-would be interested in headbands with designs as well as solid colors
-need bobby pins to secure headband
-loses elasticity over time

interviewee modeling