Primary Information for Dissertation

I’m currently in the process of organising an interview with an industrial product designer, ideally, someone who has worked at two or more different companies, to find out the influence the “business people” and management have on the design process and look into the effects they have. I’d like to find out about their experiences within different company structures.

 

I’ve also been able to get an interview from someone I know. They are an architect and a project manager within the architectural firm. I thought they would have good input into the business side of design and the creative, as I’m guessing he would be dealing with a bit of both. I am still to get a date organised, but this is a definite for now if that sounds alright?

 

I was also thinking a case study would be good, studying two or more design firms typical processes and development, looking into the way management influences this and look into the contrasts and similarities within their business/design relations. Eventually concluding what each of the firms outcomes are with consideration to the positive and negative effects the “business people” and management have?

The Changing Relationship Between Industrial Designers Within a Business Structure

My third post consists of what I’m hoping to finally be my title! It has changed recently, with Chris pointing out that the topic for dissertation was quite broad, and it was brought to my attention I needed to focus in on a more specific topic. I found an article within the “design issues” journal that interested me. The article goes into great detail about the process of design and where middle and higher management come into place and what effect this has. I’d like to now focus in on this relationship, identifying key issues and problems whilst understanding the input of management and its relevance. What I’m trying to get at, and the argument is, does the input from any form of management that designers work along side have a good or negative effect on the design process and final design?

The Digital Age and Beyond

Does this product put the users life at risk when used inside a vehicle?

 

I found an interesting article named “Analog vs. Digital”. This stood out to me as this hits the nail on the head when it comes to the issues designers face when dealing with new technology.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4213770.html

This article made me think about the new iPhone. As everything seems to be changing to touch sensitivity and touch control I thought to myself, are designers trying too hard to change the way the consumer interacts with a product? While discussing the iPhone features with a user, he pointed out that one of the hindrances is that you can’t feel the buttons, as the buttons are touch sensitive on the screen. He tells me that he is constantly having to look at the screen, where as the phone he owned before he didn’t have to pay as much attention to pressing the buttons as he could feel them. This is a good example of how technology has given designers another option, attempting to make the consumer product relationship even simpler. It seems, with great changes in product functionality, the end user has to adapt, complicating the process of simply entering a phone number or sending a text. So why change something when it already works? I believe this reason is just because designers can. Innovation is what makes one product stand out from another and this is what the iPhone has done, create a different and innovative relationship between the user and the mobile phone. Such a big leap from having standard buttons on your mobile is a gamble, the iPhone is an example of such major change working out, but when does the gamble not pay off?

The article uses examples of such touch sensitive technology being used in cars. Technology is now heading more in the direction of everything becoming less physical. Digital dials and displays are taking away the physical nature that buttons and knobs used to give the user. The users ability to feel how far a knob has been turned and if a button is pushed in or not meant that less attention was needed; attention that should be more for the road with regards to products within a vehicle. In an attempt to make a product look better and become more simple, has the designer just gone and done the opposite when is comes to functioning? Just because designers can use this technology, should they? And can this approach to product interaction be dangerous in certain circumstances?

Its Complicated: Consumer Needs vs. Consumer Wants In a Lustful Society

A clock. A simple product, with a simple function. So why are some consumers willing to pay more for a particular clock? The clock began as a simple product that offered the consumer with one simple outcome, the time of day. Now the consumer is offered with an abundance of obsolete functionality along with rich and desirable aesthetics. Digital displays, world time even temperature is included within the functions of some modern day clocks. On the other hand Alessi clocks offer enticing aesthetics but functions quite simple, with the use of a small and big hand, used to tell the time. Alessi clocks, although simple, can cost an arm and a leg! Why are the Alessi products desireable to some and not to others?

Technological advances in electronics, materials and methods of manufacture have also given present day designers the opportunity to manipulate the market and provide the consumer with more choice than ever. Complicated and multi-functional products are flooding the market in attempt to make our lives more pleasurable and easier. But do they? Why offer complex functionality and aesthetics to the consumer when it can just be such a simple product? What are the advantages and disadvantages of over complicating product design and is this way of designing needed and is it ethical?

Throughout my study I will attempt to understand the control the consumer has over the designer nowadays whilst disecting the market into segments in order to highlight what the designers and their products are offering. With regards to current design processes, this study will outline how this has evolved and adapted with consideration to the changes within society and technology. In present day society all design is prominently consumer driven with regards to the end users needs. Once fulfilled, then their wants. In such competitive markets it is more and more difficult for designers to know exactly how to create a successful product. Has it always been difficult? Does the designer have any real control? What does the future hold now that we know where we have went wrong in design? More mistakes may be made as designers now have such a difficult job. A job of always having to keep up with trends, that are changing faster than ever. As consumers become more greedy are they putting too pressure on designers? Is this the reason for complicating and over designing such a simple product?