Thursday, May 6, 2010

ahmerricah


::designing surfaces for the restroom::



Pretty awesome I think you get the point of it.

All of us in Group B would like to think.

::designing surfaces for the restroom::


Here is my prototype for a design solution for bottle placement in the restroom.

As well as the rest of Group B's initial prototype, by the way our first group proto is going to be a huge hit.

PEN(DENT) PROTOTYPING




Sunday, May 2, 2010

PD370: MOAI + PEN



OBJECT ANALYSIS:
play or preformance::function= human body decoration (jewelry), aesthetically pleasing to user.
Handmade pure silver>qualities of craftsmanship
Conversation piece.

Heart & Soul:: It was collected by my uncle in late seventies-spent most of its life in a n attic. until he gave it to me when I was eighteen.
I have lost it on several occasions seemingly for good and it always comes back to me. (knock on wood)
Expresses my character and infatuation for old things.

form::cultural-Easter Island MOAI tiki bust.
MOAI+monolithic human figures carved from rock on polynesian island of Easter Island, Chile
1250-1500
Minimalistic Style.
Moai CANNON=
Deep elliptical eye
Heavy Brow
Elongated broad noses (fish hook nostrils)
Lips protrude in thin pout
Oblong ears usually rectangular
Elongated jaw line (stands out against truncated neck)
Torsos are heavy, Collar bone subtly outlined
Arms are carved in bas (low) relief
Disproportionate head usually 3/5 the entire statue.

Historical Context::Expensive to craft and transport, oral histories say people used devine power to command the statues to walk because it was a mystery how they could move them, considered a remarkable intellectual, creative and physical feat.

OBJECT TO DESIGN::
Notes from I MISS MY PENCIL

To create emotion connection between user and object.
-create stuff that has value
-can there be an emotional reaction to a pen?
-recreate an emotion
-capture love for a physical object

HOW OR WHY DO I LOVE THIS OBJECT??

It's...a family heirloom
has historical references
handmade original
vintage-one of a kind

PEN=
-simple product
-ubiquitous
-we al know and use pens (a variety of them)
-retractable, capped, fountain, colors
-average pen=5.5-6 inches long, .375 inch wide

Design Brief::

End User Demographic (who is it for?)
18-30 Well read, historically inclined, higher price point, premium pen,
^anyone interested in easter island history and the importance of Moai, rarity of artifacts

Tell a Story
"vintage" collectors-attracts broad spectrum these days, its trendy to have vintage
Valuable art, antique collectables reflects society and culture
Idea of traveling back in time
Having a piece of history

Narrative Pen
Context and culture (when/where/how it is used?)

Pen for formal & informal
Functional yet Ornate
Used now-contemporary
Fragile (like the stone Moai of Easter Island)
Erodes at a slow pace (needs extra care)
Requires a protective case (creative an of era case similar materials to time)
Make Comparisons
Historical Precedent study CHECK

PREMIUM Pen Manufacturers::
Sheaffer (american)-innovative filling systems and nibs
Parker (american)
Montblanc
Waterman (american)
Wahl-Eversharp

60's
Parker began good quality ballpoints-very nice high end pens in the middle to high end price range for GIFT MARKET=pens became more of a gift item than ever day writing tool.

Early days.... like the Ford Model T you could have any kind of pen as long as its black

Now.... you have the same pen in four colors.

Internet has done more to introduce people to vintage pens and distribute them.

NEXT UP....PROTOTYPES