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Week Ten Winter Term 2020:

This week is what I like to call one trial, many errors. I somewhat challenged myself in attempting to create a ‘creative’ poster, but my ability to create what I had imagined is and will be my ultimate downfall. But that is okay, I received many great feedback as to how I can improve my poster. And I feel like that is the moral of the story for this class and Design Thinking as a whole. Attempt at something, get feedback, and revise. Rinse and repeat. We are all in this together, in and outside of the classroom. That is what makes design and designers so great. We get to work with all types of people from different fields and professions and we are quite spoiled in being able to receive such insight from professions other than our own.

Thank you for a great term!

Week Nine Winter Term 2020:

Sometimes as a designer (me in general) I decide to do things the long and tedious way. Why? Because about half way through do I realize that I could be doing it better and it is too late to turn back. But boy do I learn the ins and outs of whatever it is I am doing. For example, when it comes to sewing I have jammed the sewing machine literally hundreds of times. I am now an expert at unjamming the sewing machine, I know the ins and out of that machine like it is the back of my hand. It really comes down to the journey and being mindful of your surrounding during that journey. You get to learn and experience a tremendous amount and even more when it comes to things you are not good at. Designers ultimately create for others, we design to fulfill the needs of others, and we design to create an experience. It is our gift to the world (but they don’t appreciate it :'( ).

Week Eight Winter Term 2020:

Color plays a powerful role in the finished product. It is kind of weird to think, but as humans we have tied colors to certain taste and to certain feelings. Choosing the correct color to a particular product is a critical decision in the design process. When designing with the body, it forces you to use different sense which brings a new perspective to the design process. 3D printing has allowed companies to prototype rapidly and a less expensive cost. We are not only able to create products faster, but also safer for the environment through 3D printing. Adidas has done a great job being the leader in 3D printing innovation through their use for 3D printing the midsoles for their shoes. A huge part of the design process is testing and collecting feedback. Putting your prototype in an environment where it is seen being used in that context is a great way to gather data. Always reflect on your design, think of ways it can be improved, and move forward.

Week Seven Winter Term 2020:

When it comes to prototyping, collecting feedback and gather such data is of utmost importance. The more data points you have, meaning the more opinions you have about your prototype, the better off you are on creating a better product. When watching how users interact with your prototype, look at their facial expression, write down every thought they are saying, and ask questions. Chances are your first prototype will go through multiple iterations of changes, and you have to be open to those changes. Designs should be delightful and full of surprises. The user should want to use your product. The product should be there when the user needs it, but not be in the way when they do not need it. Moral of the story, be open to changes and think with a bigger picture.

Week Six Winter Term 2020:

When coming up with solutions, it is highly recommended to illustrate those ideas. Not only does it force you to use a different part of your brain, but it helps to visually see what your idea looks like. It’s also a lot easier to interpret a drawing than a text describing it. There is a definitive difference between inventing and innovating. Originality (inventing) is something you rarely see nowadays. I remember reading or hearing about the notion that there is no such thing as an original idea. Someone, somewhere at one point in time has thought of the idea that you are currently thinking of right now. I believe much of today’s creation is ripping off someone else’s ideas (innovating). Creativity can be drawn from numerous sources. I guess sleeping is a great way to draw out creativity. As long as you can remember and control your own dreams.

Week Five Winter Term 2020:

Design is an ever changing thing and as a designer you must adapt to those changes and go with the flow. Coming up with the most ridiculous and bizarre ideas may bring forth an idea you might not other think of. Constantly brainstorm and keep moving.

Week Four of Winter Term 2020:

When really thinking about it, design is omnipresent. It’s everywhere! From looking at a building to looking at the very keyboard I’m typing on, it all started with a design. The design most likely all started with a brief. Someone somewhere simply had an idea, pitched the idea and voila, it became a reality. Designers and creative thinkers put an emphasis on understanding the context of who or what you are designing for. To truly understand the context you have to research and more research. You have to imagine all kinds of consumer types to design for all possible needs. Luckily technology always has a way of making our lives easier; prototyping has never been easier! Ultimately, design with a purpose. Design with a reason and that reason better be good or else it will fail and burn before your eyes…. *sad face*

Week Three of Winter Term 2020:

Design thinking really puts in emphasis on empathy. To understand what you are creating and why you are creating it. In order to truly understand why you are creating something, you have to ask Why. Why am I creating a comfier pair of rain boots? To help answer this question, we as the designers have to get together, tell our stories, ask questions and give honest feedback. As designers, we have to design something that will be successful in the future. All ideas at one point was just that, an idea, a fictional concept, but then it became a reality. So exploring the world of fictitious concepts will ultimately become reality one day or another. Back to empathy…understand the context of your project, understand who the product/service is for and understand why you are designing the thing that you are.

Week Two of Winter Term 2020:

As we dive deeper into the realm of Design Thinking, the idea of ’empathy’ is empathize (pun intended). To truly understand the need of the person or society as a whole makes the design process not only more meaningful, but also more purposeful. Along with empathy is the idea of love, and putting love into the creation process. The receiving end of the product/service will greatly appreciate the love and effort. I’ve also learned/realized that we as human for the most part if not the whole part design for a need. Whether this need is for a selfish reason, or for the purpose to better society, it is for ourselves.

Week One of Winter Term 2020:

This week I was introduced to the term, “Design Thinking”. What is Design Thinking? To me it is a process of brainstorming, collaborating, trial and error, and simply doing to come up with an idea and bringing it to fruition. During class (DSGN 341), we went through in an class exercise of trying to develop an ideal wallet for our partner. Through this exercise I found that by asking many detailed oriented questions and listening to feedback, I was able to come up with what my partner wanted for their ideal wallet. Within the exercise you had to be flexible and adaptive to your partner’s need. I believe in the design world, one must be open-minded and flexible in order to create the best product/service. Design plays a critical role in all aspect of life. Design isn’t just arts and craft, it is a way of life.