Thinking and Making

Dan Holdsworth: photographer

2010-11-11T08:16:00.001-08:00

http://www.danholdsworth.com/projects/

2010-11-06T17:25:00.001-07:00

visit the site

2010-11-05T08:22:00.001-07:00

WORDS from Everynone on Vimeo.

testing color

2010-10-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

You will find the color exercise pdf on BlackBoard under HOMEWORK for Thursday Oct 28.

Again the color part of this project is to LEARN how to use color, it may help your composition/meaning of the word, it may not (and that is fine!). Just do the color and try to make it work. here are some examples I tried with Joe's "disrupt" I added a box in some to try and give the illusion or more depth you may try that also. I used tints to try the illusion of transparency. THESE are NOT in any order, THEY are not ALL five of what you are to do. They are just examples to get you started THINKING and TRYING.

2010-10-22T10:09:00.001-07:00

Desk - Music and Sound Design from Aaron Trinder Film:Motion:Music on Vimeo.

counters

2010-10-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

blackboard

2010-10-20T16:32:00.001-07:00

please check blackboard for everything you need on Thursday, please come prepared.

2010-10-20T16:17:00.001-07:00

2010-10-18T16:10:00.001-07:00

http://www.artofthetitle.com/

2010-10-18T16:08:00.001-07:00

The Art of Hermann Zapf from Johnny Dib on Vimeo.

2010-10-18T16:07:00.003-07:00

Animated Alphabet from Amy Thornley on Vimeo.

2010-10-18T16:07:00.001-07:00

Final Crit

2010-10-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

Inclass today:
Add color to a drawing
Print your poster smaller onto 11 x 17.
Crit

You will need to work over Fall Break if you would like me to comment on your poster you may email me a PDF (save as pdf), must be a pdf.

Next week Tuesday Oct 19 will be the Final Crit, the last time we can look at your representations. So to make the best use of class you should have...

Adding color: take advantage of color. Use color in at least 3 of your representations (not counting photos). Try the background in color, try tints. Use just one color per square but you can use tints of the color and black and white. TRY this in class today BEFORE you leave so you have experience before you have to do this "alone".

1) your poster printed out (you can tile it full size, how to tile), trim and tape it together. PLUS have any other drawings you think could replace the ones on your poster. It is important that we see your poster so we can see everything in context, and how you use the box.

2) if you don't want to tile you poster your other option is to print it to fit on 11 x 17 AND then bring all your drawings 1 per page on 8.5 x 11. PLUS have any other drawings you think could replace the ones on your poster. It is important that we see your poster so we can see everything in context, and how you use the box.

2010-10-04T16:09:00.000-07:00

Those of you that talked to me about what was what after the lecture and didn't have your assignment in front of you please read... number 13 and number 16 are not necessarily the same thing...

Bring All your representations to every class.
Mark your top 5 for each parameter (number)

Please make a word list or mind map(s) of your handtool: Function, Adjectives, Words that describe your object (heavy), what your object does (cuts or connects or pounds or ...) and Index.

Tomorrow we will be picking your best representation (all these are representations of your objects) for each peramter. If you have a lot of outlined drawings or stenciled drawings you are going to be in a pickle. EACH of the 20 need to be a different representation, a different way, a different exploration of how to represent.

thinking to AFTER tomorrow...

01 photos of object

this should be done if you need to reshoot it, then we can talk about that. at least have one printed out

02 must be gestural

hopefully you will have a very nice gesture that you will be able to scan in and clean up in photoshop and this one will be done

03 must be painterly - system of thick and thin strokes, calligraphic

you will hopefully be able to scan one of your drawings in and recreate it in illustrator

04 must be graphic: use only right angles, straight lines and (once on computer use only two stroke widths) you will hopefully be able to look at one of your drawings and recreate it OR be inspired to make something better

05 must use only circles, triangles or squares

you will hopefully be able to look at one of your drawings and recreate it OR be inspired to make something better

06 you must use the photocopier + cut/paste paper by hand

hopefully you have something interesting (and not all with a stencil) and you will be able to scan it in and clean it up in photoshop

07 use alternate marking tool, nothing traditional (no pencil/pen, brush, marker)

hopefully you have something interesting (and not all with a stencil) and you will be able to scan it in and clean it up in photoshop

08 must convey a specific meaning (use only one line)

one line does not mean just an outline so hopefully you have something interesting and can scan it in and clean it up

09 must convey a specific meaning (a functional characteristic)

really think about this and how it is made

10 must express the texture of your thing

really think about this and how it is made

11 must a hybrid: select best expression make "nirvana"; form that feels right.

this is your opportunity to take 2 (or more) different drawings that part of the drawing worked are were interesting in put them together.

12 must create an index of your object

what is sign, symbol, index: defined you can represent it by drawing or take a photo, ... no images from online (if you want to use photography you have to take your own image)

13 must convey a specific meaning (an adjective symbolically attached)

think about it

14 must be radical an extreme abstraction of another; bizarre

ABSTRACT: if you don't know what abstract is... google cubism, futurism, constructivism, matisse, picasso,... BIZARRE: strange, pushing scale, proportions, prospective, weird combinations

15 must explore making marks on "another surface";(no laser printer paper)

again not all as stencils or outlines any surface, rocks, wood, papers, glass.... you can photograph these drawings

16 must be entirely typographic (use a word that sums up your object, real or made-up)

the word can look like your object OR it can represent your object in it from. BASHED can look bashed in.

examples are on the sever and here are a few...

FOR FINAL

Make sure you always check blackboard, everything is spelled out there, including the objectives of this project and the requirements for the process book.

You will be making the art in Photoshop and Illustrator. You will be using Illustrator to layout your final poster. Poster: 16 6 x 6 inch squares flush to each other (makes 24 x 24 inch square) leave 2 inch margins all around. Put your name at the bottom, in the margin, set your name in 18 pt type.

examples are on the sever and here are a few...

When working on the computer practice keeping your files organized. You will need a project folder and keep All your illustrator files and ALL your photoshop files, you will need your photoshop files with your illustrator file to print correctly.

You will have several illustrator files (sketches that you are working on to refine for the final and you will have a final file) and several photoshop files name them so you can tell what they are without opening them.

For the next classes continue to bring your drawing tools traditional and non-traditional, papers, and your computer. We will be critiquing and working in class. You will need to dedicate at least 9 hours a week of outside of class time to complete this project to the standards we expect.

nice flash example

2010-09-30T13:15:00.001-07:00

A Conversation with Davis Guggenheim from TakePart on Vimeo.

drawings finalized

2010-09-30T13:09:00.001-07:00

for reference

A Design Thinkers Personality Profile

2010-09-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t need weird shoes or a black turtleneck to be a design thinker. Nor are design thinkers necessarily created only by design schools, even though most professionals have had some kind of design training. My experience is that many people outside professional design have a natural aptitude for design thinking, which the right development and experiences can unlock.

Here, as a starting point,are some of the characteristics to look for in design thinkers:

Empathy.
They can imagine the world from multiple perspectives—those of colleagues, clients, end users, and customers (current and prospective). By taking a “people first” approach, design thinkers can imagine solutions that are inherently desirable and meet explicit or latent needs. Great design thinkers observe the world in minute detail. They notice things that others do not and use their insights to inspire innovation.

Integrative thinking.
They not only rely on analytical processes (those that produce either/ or choices) but also exhibit the ability to see all of the salient—and sometimes contradictory— aspects of a confounding problem and create novel solutions that go beyond and dramatically improve on existing alternatives. (See Roger Martin’s The Opposable Mind: How Successful Leaders Win Through Integrative Thinking.)

Optimism.
They assume that no matter how challenging the constraints of a given problem, at least one potential solution is better than the existing alternatives.

Experimentalism.
Significant innovations don’t come from incremental tweaks. Design thinkers pose questions and explore constraints in creative ways that proceed in entirely new directions.

Collaboration.
The increasing complexity of products, services, and experiences has replaced the myth of the lone creative genius with the reality of the enthusiastic interdisciplinary collaborator. The best design thinkers don’t simply work alongside other disciplines; many of them have significant experience in more than one. At IDEO we employ people who are engineers and marketers, anthropologists and industrial designers, architects and psychologists.

–– excerpt from Harvard Business Review, Design Thinking, Tim Brown

Thursday

2010-09-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

If you have illustrator on your laptop bring your computers to class on Tuesday and Thursday. Also thinking a head...

start collecting different types of paper including a newpaper, newsprint, canson, fabric, sandpaper, tissue paper, toilet paper, paper towel, wood, ect - you get it anything you can draw on besides the white paper we have been using. Have a stack of stuff.

start thinking about the function of your object and bring materials that you would need to represent the function of your object. think about it, all the things your object could do, not just what it does.

always bring your object and traditional drawing tools, non traditional, ink, paint, stamp pad...

2010-09-26T14:42:00.001-07:00

Illustrator CS5 Essential Training>5. Drawing and Editing Paths>Smoothing and erasing paths

Illustrator CS5 Essential Training>5. Drawing and Editing Paths>Drawing straight paths with the Pen tool

Illustrator CS5 Essential Training>5. Drawing and Editing Paths>Drawing straight paths with the Pen tool

2010-09-26T14:33:00.001-07:00

Understanding anchor points

Illustrator CS5 Essential Training | by Mordy Golding

View this entire Illustrator course and more in the lynda.com Online Training Library®.

nice examples

2010-09-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

Cardboard Safari

2010-09-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

cardboardsafari.com

Logo Rama

2010-09-10T07:10:00.001-07:00

not really related to what we are doing but fun...

Logorama from Marc Altshuler - Human Music on Vimeo.

This is a short film that was directed by the French animation collective H5, François Alaux, Hervé de Crécy + Ludovic Houplain. It was presented at the Cannes Film Festival 2009. It opened the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and won a 2010 academy award under the category of animated short.

PARSE

2010-09-08T20:00:00.001-07:00

Parse aims to make sense of issues and information relevant to design practitioners, regardless of the disciplines they work in. Parse makes big ideas useful, actionable and applicable. It distills jargon, reduces complexity, pares words, omits gobbledygook. It’s open-source, approachable and friendly. Check it out.

Work as a team and embrace the "crazy"

2010-09-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

1) Which Object?
In class break into groups (3-4 per group). Each member should present their $5 or less product. Why did you choose it? Present your sketches and what you learned from your interviews. Each member of the group should write down what they think of each of the items, what is good about it? bad? what are some initial ideas on how to make it better?

As a group decide/vote on 1 of the $5 or less objects to redesign. AS A GROUP you will be redesigning this object.
Capture make sure you "capture" the ideas from the group. The easiest way would be to photograph your wall of ideas. One member of the group needs to be responsible for capturing the thought process of the group, post the images to their blog and get the images to the group for the process book(s).

At all times follow the IDEO "rules"
-- think of your product in terms of verbs rather than nouns.
-- concentrate on one conversation at a time
-- stay focused
-- encourage wild ideas
-- go for quantity (no editing)
-- be visual (visual words or sketch)
-- defer judgment (no stopping to say that isn't going to work, isn't a good idea...)
-- build on the ideas of others

2) Pros/Cons of your object
As a group create a list of pros and cons about the object. What did people say about the object in the interviews?

3) Mind Map/Concept/Map
Starting with your matrix analysis but not limiting it to, place picture/image/symbol of your object in the middle of the wall. As a group make a word list, mind map, concept map (use paper, sticky notes). Then start adding notes, sketches, notations. Take a photo(s). *post all photos to your blog and share with your group for process books)

Encourage wild ideas, you have to have wild ideas to build upon, to get to some better ideas, if you stay with in "sane" ideas you will never have point to build upon.

So think way out there, build upon other people's ideas (while staying on track), no constraints, none, nothing. On the fringes is where you will find something exciting and new. Sketch it, write it, use sticky notes, symbols, notations.

Now start organizing the wall, make categories/group like ideas together. Identify which ideas are "good". Take a photo(s).

Then start again building out those ideas. No constraints, none, nothing. On the fringes is where you will find something exciting and new. Sketch it, write it, use sticky notes, symbols, notations.

Step back from your wall and see what you have. Take a photo(s).

Which idea is the best one? Build a prototype as a group. You may have to build it more than once to make it as good as it needs to be. (Take a photo(s) of your final prototype)

Why is it better? How is it better? What need is it full filling? How is it "more" than what it was before? Has the audience changed for the object? (post on your blog and include in your process book)

4) Matrix Analysis
As a group create a Matrix Analysis about the decided object. Large sheet of paper, work as a group, stickies, words, sketches. As a group select one entry from each column. Randomly or by selecting interesting combinations. You can do this as many times as you want. Evaluate ideas/rank ideas. Take a photo(s). *post all photos to your blog and share with your group for process books. Handout online.

*post your images and thought along the way on your blog.

HOMEWORK
Blog: post images of your inclass work session and reflection so far... Reflect: what part of today's activities was the most helpful to you individually, and what was most helpful for the group.

Sketch as a group generate at least 20-50 sketches of ideas on how to make your object better.
Concept Map: using "mind meister online tool. Share with group. (begin this and work on in next class)
Gather materials for construction of your prototype: cardboard, paper, scrap materials, adhesive. This is a rough prototype; you should not purchase ready-made materials for its construction.

Bring materials for sketching and prototype construction to class. (paper, cardboard, duct tape, wire, fabric, hot glue gun... as a group come up with materials you could POSSIBLY use and divide up list).

Source 4 Style

2010-09-02T16:56:00.000-07:00

For ID and Interiors this will be a great site. It is in BETA and you have to request and invite, so DO.

The other tool, Source4Style , is one aimed specifically towards fashion and interior designers, and independent designers in particular. This business-to-business interface lets designers source sustainable fabrics through aggregating and displaying information such as hi-resolution photos, fabric structure, fiber content, dyes and finishes, technical specifications, production location, production minimums, lead-time required, pricing, swatch requesting and manufacturers’ contact information.

IDEO questions

2010-09-02T06:54:00.000-07:00

Watch the video and answer these questions on your blog. (if I don't have your blog address you will not get credit -- so email me your blog address)

Where is IDEO?
Who is the founder?
Who is on the team, what are the roles?
What is the deep dive process?
What are the rules (montra) written on the walls around?
What is the motto?
How can this process work in your major? (it can work in every major).

IDEO: Deep Dive part one

2010-08-31T07:59:00.002-07:00

IDEO: deep dive part 2

2010-08-31T07:59:00.000-07:00

IDEO Deep Dive: part three

2010-08-31T07:58:00.001-07:00

IDEO "rules"
-- think of your product in terms of verbs rather than nouns.
-- concentrate on one conversation at a time
-- stay focused
-- encourage wild ideas
-- go for quantity (no editing)
-- be visual (visual words or sketch)
-- defer judgment (no stopping to say that isn't going to work, isn't a good idea...)
-- build on the ideas of others

The Writer's ToolBox

M I N D M A P
A mind map gives visual form to ideas. It is particularly helpful for initiating ideas in a project. For visual thinkers, the diagramming of words in a visual, intuitive manner takes advantage of the more nonlinear, associative way that our brains naturally generate ideas. Like many brainstorming methods, mind maps needn’t be questioned until they are completed. The goal is to develop the diagram quickly, then synthesize possible connections and directions. It may be useful to construct mind maps during particular phases in a project, when new connections and ideas are needed. Larger projects, which involve complex systems of information, also benefit from using these techniques.

In addition to words, another tactic for visual thinkers is the inclusion of color, images, and even dimension into these diagrammatic maps. These brainstorming techniques are varied and can help to better organize ideas and manage complex problems.

As with any new problem-solving or brainstorming technique, mind mapping takes practice. Look at it as one of many ways to explore an idea or understand a topic.

Visual Thesaurus is an example of a mind map.

http://www.mindmeister.com online application, free for 3 maps. check it out and see what you come up with. use it for your your object over the labor day weekend. You will also be working on one mind map as a group. Watch the movie again if you need more "help" on using all the features of mindmaster.

C O N C E P T M A P
In many ways, concept maps are similar to mind maps. They too make use of associative relationships, using a nodal diagram containing words. The main difference between them is that concept mapping allows for a more thorough investigation and analysis of conceptual relationships and meanings. With the addition of propositional links, indicating relationships between two concepts, concept maps focus more on systems thinking.

wiki definition and example

Design Thinking Can Be Learned?

2010-08-30T07:17:00.000-07:00

David Kelley on how to teach creativity
A founder of innovation firm IDEO, David Kelley also co-founded the d.school program at Stanford University. He discusses how design thinking can benefit business students and businesses. Watch it.

Culture is not always popular

2010-08-26T19:32:00.001-07:00

We believe the "Culture of Design" has become implicitly about branded culture: culture that we can see, that we can name, that we can buy and sell and package; culture that is synonymous with style; culture that resonates with novelty and which, by conjecture, dismisses history as mere nostalgia; culture that determines and drives our reactions to the constantly changing pulse of modern life. Read More.

Welcome

2010-08-24T12:58:00.001-07:00

to our 11:30 Wertzberger BDS 101: Thinking and Making blog. Each week you should have 1 - 2 posts: what you are doing in class, thoughts, notes, inspiration, sketches, results. You can post text, links, images, videos... Don't forget to check Blackboard for your assignments, homework, resources...