Observations of Restroom Surfaces

R & O on Personal Objects In the Restroom

I covered three IDEO method cards to focus my research and observation for this project.

Interview with Molly Rogers a handicap user.

A few other students I interviewed yesterday....

Project 2

Group two met over the weekend at Full City cafe we have decided to focus our design objective to an object for carry ones items, whether it be for a cup, jacket, glove, pencil or bag all of the things we carry into the restroom with us lack a home or resting place inside or outside of the stall.

OBJECTIVE=A resting place for personal possessions inside the bathroom stall.

Focus=simple, congruent form with environment, functional, easy to clean, appears sanitary, inviting and use is obvious to user, THE FORM LENDS TO THE FUNCTION always.

Sink/Mirror

Here's a visual update of my progress on my midterm sink assignment. The idea is that it is a sink that is the mirror. One should feel drawn to the sink with the absence of any hanging mirrors in the bathroom. Once I have drawn you to the sink are you just going to stand there and stare? Most likely you'll wash your hands and enjoy the beautiful visual of light and water dancing across the face of this convex dome and your reflection.

I watched Helvetica

"the meaning is in the content itself, not in the type face"

I think after todays model review we can all take this quote from the film Helvetica to heart.

I hope designers can steer away from these blatent analogies or literal connections and let the forms of their objects speak for themselves without directly spelling out the idea.

+Objectified+

I had the pleasure of watching Objectified yesterday in class. If you have any interest in design or consumerism as it stands today watch this film.

This flick reaffirmed my passion for the designed world and my hope to one day be a crucial part of this intricate web of corporate america, designer and consumer.

"All objects tell a story, if you know hot to read it."

^ Design language attempts to be simple and easily understood by those that use the products we create. The ultimate goal is to tell a story of who you are and what you as a designer or company wish for the user.

WE WANT NEW THINGS there is no denying this fact but can we make new things that have a purpose before AND after use. Can we steer away from making objects that end up in landfills 11 months later?

Tell the story of man buys object, man loves object and when he is through or when it has failed the products body is reincarnated or disposed of in a responsible manor.

I love that story.

Today I make model magic. oh yes.

I'm whipping out five models for my design process class. All products for the bathroom that address the issue of washing ones hands. As you can see my room has become a model making disaster but I find comfort in this chaos.

I was in ace hardware and saw two magnificent objects that inspired me to make sinks. One was the bathtub plug...I wanted to make a sink that you looked into only to find yourself. In my research every single female looked in the mirror before during or after using the sink.

The other object was the veggie steamer...and oh my was it beautiful. How amazing would it be to open a giant contraption of this sort during your hand washing experience. yay.