Design Research Methods: Critical Reflection On Design Project A

My journey through out developing the “What Do We Throw Away” campaign started with learning about RSA projects and reading the briefs carefully. Despite the fact that I find all the briefs quiet interesting and original, I decided to work on “Make Something Disappear”. It is because environmental issues and over consuming are significant problems concerning the entire world. Therefore, I started planning my project with collecting my reading list via RSA resources and module proforma’s. As much as I read about recycling and sustainability I find out that the current solutions certainly are not enough for covering the damage we cause on earth. In my case designing a new object would not be the answer, therefore I started to think about re-using existing objects and how to change people’s behaviour patterns about their wasting habits.

Originally, my idea was to make our useless objects multifunctional so people would not throw them away and use them for different purposes. After gathering enough information to reach outcomes, I feel the need to clear my ideas and at that point the mapping technique was a perfect solution for me. Therefore, I wrote down all my starting points (Past options, wasters/habits, future options) in the middle and developed my map around them. Thus, this process makes me release the importance of the motivation and communication among social campaigns and their audience. So I decided to expand my concept with a webpage (Which will function as a social network, so users may create their personal accounts and participate even more.) and a smart phone application to capture a wider amount of audience and build a strong communicational network. In the light of this evidence, my very fist map was my mentor during developing the campaign.

My second challenge was to develop the right design concept for my campaign. Therefore, using recyclable materials was necessary in order to serve the spirit of the project. After an accurate research, I have managed to find a sustainable printing centre, which also informed me about the process. Thereby, the employee at the printing centre advised me to use cardboard for the cover of my booklet, recycling paper for the pages and silver-ink for press. When I feel absolute about the materials, I started to work on the cover of my booklet, which also shaped the whole design concept. By using cardboard, my options were already limited about colours, so I decided to focus on the visual language and pictograms. I simply started with drawing basic objects (Plastic bottles, paper cups, compact discs etc…), which are known to be as top wasters. At that point I was clear about the name of my campaign, “What Do We Throw Away” so it made perfect sense to put those waste icons into human shapes. In my estimation, this solution explains the title of my project successfully with its narrative function.

While I was working on my concept mapping, I had determined my target audience as all people who cares about the environment. However, I needed to test and discuss my solutions with the audience. So, met with people between different age groups and ask them some questions to understand how they feel about re-using their wasters. Therefore, I discover that most people do not want to spend too much time by manufacturing the ideas, but they were eager to learn about innovative solutions on recycling and sustainability. This evidence had changed the direction of my process. Thus I decided to create a booklet, which will inspire people about how they can assess their wasters, instead of creating strict lines on how to manufacture the ideas. At that point, I released that my angel about the whole situation was very similar with the organization called “We Are What We Do”. So, I contacted with them and after a couple of weeks I managed to meet with the Communication Director of the organization, Lucia Komljen. Therefore, Miss Komljen was very constructive and open-minded while she was analyzing my project. Furthermore, she inspired me about displaying my project as a pack, which includes all the instruments serves my solution. In the light of this evidence, I agree with Miss Komljen that my work would be more presentable and marketable with a package. So, I developed a box, made by cardboard to place my sketchbook, maps, and booklet in it.

It was surprising for me to release how hard is to create a motivation for the audience. Before I started my degree on Design for Communication, I have always worked on the design part of the projects instead of thinking how the solutions are going to work on real people. However, this semester make me think about the importance of the notion behind my solutions and the connection between the tools that I can use to create a difference. In contrast to that discovery, I was quiet accurate and absolute about the printing process. It is because I have studied Graphic Design subject for my undergraduate degree I believe I have enough experience on packaging design and printing prototypes. Consequently, it was not a hard thing for me to arrange the pages of the booklet and manufacture the box.

Taking everything into consideration, I am happy and satisfied about the final results of the RSA project and my educational improvement during this semester. On the other hand, I would pay particular attention on the observation and interaction process if I were to do a similar design project again. It is because as far as I studied this brief, I have noticed that everything we do as graphic designers is for people to benefit. In this manner, spending more time on how to create a valid solution is more important than designing a nice layout. I believe this aspect will bring my work a humanistic touch and functionality among my design and audience. All in all, this semester had taught me a golden rule, which is putting people over design.

Reference List 
The list of the references inspired me during the evolution of my research and concept development.

Articles

Dixon, H., Wasted Opportunities, New Design, 2007, no. 56, pp. 34-37

Gluckman, J., Focus On Sustainability, PRODESIGN, April-May, 2006, no. 82, PP.38-40

Harvey, J., Lightbulbs And Nappies: Sustainable Development And Consumer Perceptions, International Journal of Sustainable Design, 2008, vol. 1, no.1, pp. 13-28

Jones, P., Bottling Up, New Design, 2009, no. 68, pp. 58-59

Lehrer, J., Is Going Green As Hard As It Seems? , Print Magazine, F + W Publications, October 2009, vol. 63, no. 5, pp.28-29

Lehrer, J. and Hunter, M., Project Renewal, Print Magazine, F + W Publications, August 2010,vol. 64, no. 4, pp.30-31

Books

Benyus, Janine M., 1998, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature USA: Perennial

Datschefski, E., 2001, The Total Beauty of Sustainable Products: Rotovision

Fiell, C., 2007, Contemporary Graphic Design USA: Taschen

Fletcher, A., 2001, The Art of Looking Sideways UK: Phaidon Press

Goudy, Frederic W., 1977, Typologia: Studies in Type Design and Type Making USA: University of California Press

Hailes, J., 2007, The New Green Consumer Guide: You Can Make a Difference USA: Simon & Schuster

Hiebert, Kennet J., 1998, Graphic Design Sources: Yale University Press

Lupton E. and Abbott J., 1999 Design, Writing, Research: Writing on Graphic Design UK: Phaidon

Mackenzie, D., 1997 Green Design: Design for The Environment: Thames & Hudson

Malamed, C., 2009, Visual Language for Designers USA: Rockport Publishers

Mau, B. and Leonard J.; Institute without Boundaries, 2004, Massive Change: Phaidon Press

Mollerup P., 1997 Marks of Excellence: The History and Taxonomy of Trademarks UK: Phaidon

Mott, R., 1994, Managing a Design Practise USA: Phaidon Press

Norton, M., 2006, 365 Ways to Change the World: How to Make a Better World Everyday USA: Harper Perennial

Papanek, V., 1985, Design for The Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change: Thames and Hudson

Proctor, R., 2009, 1000 New Eco Designs and Where to Find Them UK: Laurence King Publishers

Smith, T., 2008, The Book of Rubbish Ideas: An Interactive, Room-By-Room Guide To Reducing Household Waste USA: Alastair Sawday Publishing Co. Ltd

Stuart, T., 2009, Waste: Uncovering The Global Food Scandal UK: Penguin

Thomas, G., 2003, How to Design Logos, Symbols and Icons USA: North Light Books

Wasinger, S., 2009, Eco Craft: Recycle Recraft Restyle USA: Lark Books

We Are What We Do, 2004, Change The World for a Fiver UK: Short Books Ltd

We Are What We Do, 2006, Change The World 9 to 5: 50 Actions to Change the World at Work UK: Short Books

Journals

Human Habitat and Environment Change: From Cave Dwellings to Megacities, 2009, European Journal of Scientific Research, Vol.32, No.3, Available from: http://www.eurojournals.com/ejsr.htm

Podcasts

Film vs. Film Battle, Laundry vs. Recycling, 2010, Available from: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zI0G_Ra7b0

Plastic Planet, 2011, Movie Trailer, Available from: 

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/plasticplanet/

Recycling, 2009, Penn & Teller, Available from: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzLebC0mjCQ

This Bulb, 2007, National Geographic’s Channel, Available from: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvOBHMb6Cqc

The Green Effect, 2009, National Geographic’s Channel, Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IFWYB3c4aU

Web Sites

Apple Recycling Program, www.apple.com/recycling,

Sub Page, Apple and The Environment, Available from:

http://www.apple.com/environment/

Carbon Footprint, Carbon Management Company, www.carbonfootprint.com,

Sub Page, Home Calculator, Available from:

http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

Earth 911, Environmental Services Company, earth911.com/recycling,

Sub Page, News & Lifestyle, Available from:

http://earth911.com/news/

Recycle Now, Informational Organization, www.recyclenow.com,

Sub Page, How Is It Animations, Available from:

http://www.recyclenow.com/how_is_it_recycled/index.html

Recycle Zone, Education Resources, www.recyclezone.org.uk,

Sub Page, Activity Zone, Available from:

http://www.recyclezone.org.uk/home_az.aspx

Save A Cup, Environmental Services Company, www.save-a-cup.co.uk/,

Sub Page, What We Recycle, Available from:

http://www.save-a-cup.co.uk/recycling.php

Sustain Ability, Environmental Services Company, www.sustainability.com,

Sub Page, Blog, Available from:

http://www.sustainability.com/blog

TED, Ideas Worth Spreading, www.ted.com,

Sub Page, A Greener Future, Available from:

http://www.ted.com/themes/a_greener_future.html

Thomas Matthews, Communication Design, www.thomasmatthews.com,

Sub Page, News/Blog, Available from:

http://thomasmatthews.com/index.php/news/

We Are What We Do, Organization, www.wearewhatwedo.org,

Sub Page, Action Tracker, Available from:

http://www.wearewhatwedo.org/actions/categories/

Which?, Works for You, www.which.co.uk/,

Sub Page, Environment & Saving Energy, Available from: 

http://www.which.co.uk/environment-and-saving-energy/