Sunday 18 August 2013

6 Videos Reflection

Autodesk: Whole Systems & Lifecycle

Sustainable solution addressed the whole lifecycle of the product and beyond. It is crucial to have an understanding of the processes from material extraction, manufacturing, transport and distribution, consumption and its end life.     

Designers, through the years, have become aware of sustainable design and how it would impact the people and mother nature. Smart materials choice is essential in contributing a better sustainable design. The material choice can prolong the life cycle of the product as it age through time and some can be disposable but can be recycle and reuse afterwards. The innovation in materials and machinery in modern days affects the lifecycle of the product and its effect towards the world. This short video gave me a better understanding beyond the product itself.

Autodesk: Improving product lifetime

A design that age beautifully through time, design that allows to be repair or upgrade and design that can be recycled is a good design. The inevitability of material extraction is visible not just for designers but extends towards the company/business owners. However, through communication and participation of each of everyone sustainability can be achieved by smarter and more responsible choice of actions.

Designing a product that can recycled or reuse as a same or as another product would be great. Through this way we designer and as a consumer can help to preserve the world.

Autodesk: Green Materials Selection

Variety of materials are widely produced but there's only limited choice in terms of greener materials are limited in terms of choices. Hard wood like oak is widely used for furniture production. It might be a green material but we cannot avoid the fact that it consumes energy from extraction and production. It also affects the forestry all throughout the world for the need of harvesting wood.     

Autodesk: Light weighting

Light weighting is performed by many designers and manufacturers nowadays. In doing this, we conserve and sustain materials and our ecosystem.

In light weighting it involves the reduction of materials which is using what is needed and eliminating what is not. In saying that, this affects the overall design of the product. The form and aesthetics might look minimalistic in furniture design and might be beneficial for less abled people. In terms of manufacturing, this possibly favors designers and business owners financially.
Light weighting is not reducing or stripping materials but using the required without compromising the overall design and function of a product.

Autodesk: Energy Efficient Design

Sustainable design should require less energy in production. For example, S'ukin range products uses polyethylene as their main material in production of their shampoo/conditioner bottles. PET is 100% recyclable material, will be in demand in the next 7 years and uses 30% less energy in production. In that example, it shows considerations towards the design and the impact it make while and after the production.

In modern appliances, energy saving is put into consideration. Designers work with people with other disciplines like the engineers to achieve such energy saving design. Companies like dyson, LG, Samsung and reece bathroom are few of those companies that participate in this energy saving design. 

I think designing that involves energy saving production and coming up with an energy saving product is a great thing to do now and in the future. Of course, without compromising design ethics and the environment.   

Autodesk: Greenfly

The design manufacturing process consumes high amount of energy which depends on the overall specification of a product. Transporting it also consumes high amount of energy depending on the weight, quantity, palletizing of the product and the distance of destinations. Recyclable products is a way of saving energy that it will allow to reuse the old and avoid harvesting raw materials. Furthermore, it reduces the wastes that will be dump into landfills in other parts of the world. I think designing products involves not just the form, manufacturing and use but also the further effects on it in the environment and us.           



Saturday 17 August 2013

Week 3 Reflection & Peer Feedback

Tutor Mariano: More research and form study as my current as its not good enough. Find other ways of interconnecting mechanism without compromising the manufacturing process. Investigate the dimensions for ease of transport.

Peers:
Ole: suggested to put a handle for carrying
Andrea: keep the original shape but increase the size for increase of quantity.

Further research led me into deeper discoveries about arthritis and its relation towards accessible packaging. I will conduct further form and mechanism experimentation to see what suits best. Also, will investigate what's needed and what's not to start finalising the overall design solution.  

Thursday 15 August 2013

Week 2 Reflection & Peer Feedback

The Tutor approved and my chosen concept is the Pro-biotic drink packaging. My Tutor (Mar) thought that it is a good concept proposal based on the problem addressed and presented solutions such as the using the same material for the lid and the bottle instead of having two different materials and having an easy to open outer overall packaging.

In terms of peer feedback:
Jan Gerardino said that it is an interesting product packaging to redesign as there's not much changes in it over the years. However, he thought that my concept is a bit too simple.
Christine Chau suggested that if I could make the bottle larger for more quantity.

Based on the feedback of my tutor and peers, I would look at those suggestions and do further research and considerations on how to improve the packaging. I would do more mock ups to see possible forms or better design.

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Packaging Concepts for Arthritis Sufferers

 
Concept1: Shampoo Bottle
The idea is to have a smooth quarter twist in the lid; clockwise to open and counter clockwise to close it. It is also upside down  to minimize the effort in dispensing the shampoo. However, my Tutor said that although there's a minimal twisting motion it will remain uneasy for arthritis sufferers to open it.
 

 
Concept2: Pro-biotic drink bottle (e.g. yakult, vaalia, danone)
The idea in this concept is to have an easy open/easy drink experience by redesigning the lid and making it the same material as the bottle which is PP. In current packaging, the foil lid is reported one of the hardest packaging drink to open (yakult). Also the plastic wrapper that holds the drink together requires a tool to open it. 


 
Concept3: Coffee Jar
The idea is to have a fliptop lid that is easier to open in comparison to the pressure lock or twist cap. The lid has a silicon rubber that will prevent the coffee from oxidizing. My Tutor said that it is a fine concept but irresponsible to design a packaging of a product that is unhealthy for the arthritis sufferers.