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/

 

Design Research Methods: 20/20 Presentation

Slide.1.Introduction

I have always find movie posters and trailers more interesting than movies itself and I have been collecting those innovative artworks for many years. It's because I find the art of narrating big stories on one page-one second-very amazing. Therefore, I decided to put together my best movie posters ever, for 20/20 presentation.

 

Slide.2.The Man With The Golden Arm-Saul Bass-1955

The designer of this poster is father of a movement, which shaped the style of movie posters forever. Saul Bass was a graphic designer and Academy Award wining filmmaker. He worked for Alfred Hitchcock, Otto Preminger, Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorsese during his 40-year-career. The movie's theme was the struggle of a jazz musician played by Frank Sinatra-to overcome his heroin addiction. Bass featured an animated black paper-cut-out of a heroin addict's arm. Knowing that the arm was a powerful image of addiction. Bass had chosen it rather than Sinatra's famous face-as the promotion poster. That paper-cut-out arm caused a sensation and Saul Bass reinvented the movie as an art form.

Slide.3.Vertigo-Saul Bass-1958

For Alfred Hitchcock, Bass provided effective, memorable title sequenced, employing kinetic typography. His optical techniques and innovative perspective made Bass a revolutionary graphic designer. As you can see he had assşgned the whole narrative of the movie with one striking piece of artwork.

Slide.4.A Clockwork Orange-Bill Gold-1971

Bill Gold is known for being the man behind the campaigns for the greatest movies the world has ever seen. His life's work spans six decades and over two thousand films and A Clockwork Orange is one of his most remarkable works.

Slide.5.Blade Runner-John Alvin-1982

The designer of this poster, John Alvin, created film posters which are also known as key art, means using the most striking image of the movie on the poster. One of the most cinematic posters was his work for the iconic Spielberg movie E.T. He's style was more illustrative rather than typographic art which hasn't been used too much anymore however he is a very important icon of a certain movement through the poster design history.

Slide.6.American Beauty-Pulse Advertising-1999

In late 80's, with the developments in the computer technology the movie industry started to work with advertising agencies rather than individual artists to promote movies more effectively. So Pulse Advertising is one of the leading companies in the business whom made the marketing and design of the most cult movies of '90s. I believe the poster of American Beauty is an icon, which describes '90s generation perfectly and certainly evokes curiosity.

Slide.7.Donnie Darko-KO Creative-2001

In the beginning of  '90s the poster work basically turn into a billion dollar advertising industry, the promotion of the movies aren't limited with the posters any more the agencies release uncountable teasers, web pages, TV advertisements and many other marketing tools. KO Creative is also one of the leading companies, they are working with Fox Televisions and Disney Channel thus the promotion of Donnie Darko was one of their first works. I really like this poster because "to find the rabbit you need to collect the pieces" and the poster refers to this slogan perfectly.

Slide.8.Ocean's Trilogy-Neville Brody-BE Design

In my point of view this poster is one of the best works of Brody. It really influences me that he didn't use the pictures of the huge Hollywood starts casted in the movies rather he used simple typography with a lovely color scheme and let those names present themselves.

Slide.9.Artificial Intelligence:A.I.-Intralink Film Graphic Design-2001

With an enourmous budget, perfect story by Kubrick and long list of producers A.I. couldn't became a cult movie. However the poster of the movie was the most successful part of this whole production for me. I really like the typographical game and I love the idea that the "A" stands for human and the "I" which stands for robots comes out of it.

Slide.10.Sin City-BLT Associates-2005

Sin City is already very famous for its artwork, which draws heavily from film-noir, including its use of shadows and dark backgrounds. Black and white are the sole colors. Partial color usage is designed to draw attention to a certain character in the story. Since the movie was adapted from a comic novel it was a very graphic production and the poster captures the essence of the whole concept very well.

Slide.11.Les Chansons D'Amour(Love Songs)-All City Media-2007

All City Media is an innovative corporation, which gives movie advertisements a very unique perspective. They win the Screen International UK Marketing And Distribution: Best Poster Award this year. What makes them different is they combine vintage, hand-made illustrations and modern computer technologies in posters quiet successfully.

Slide.12.The Cake Eaters-Gravillis Inc.-2007

This poster is a good sample of beginning of a certain trend. Letting the audience have a peak to the crucial scenes of the movie. And I believe the fade colors and the close shot describes the emotion of the movie very good.

Slide.13.True Blood-Bemis Balkind-2008

The strategy was to create an event around the highly-anticipated second season premiere with a big and bold announcement. The tree ads, each with different taglines, feature the same graphic imagery, the Season 2 start date and HBO logo. The campaign included heavy saturation of outdoor media in New York and Los Angeles and national print and online media, which bring them the Effie Award this year. With the successful teasers and the campaign True Blood is more like a brand rather than a TV series.

Slide.14.Valkyrie-BLT Associates-2008

The poster of Valkyrie is so simple and strong. I love that they used the blue prints at the background it really supports the military concept of the movie and the balance of the contrast makes pictures at the front a lot more stronger.

Slide.15.Precious-Ignition Creative-2009

Precious is very vintage looking, Saul Bass style poster thus it delivers the emotional feeling of to the audience perfectly. You can see that the image at the front-Precious-is falling apart, because of the external effects. Therefore, the poster gives key concept to the audience with one image-in one second.

Slide.16.Watchmen-Mojo Design-2009

I am not a huge fan of technologically developed images but for a movie like Watchmen I believe there is no other way. However the design studio didn't follow the usual path for the posters and they add a sketch touch which makes them different and they refer to the comic book better.

Slide.17.Soul Kitchen-Alternate Design-2009

I just love the title of the movie very much. According to me poster is not very unique however the color combination and the playfulness of the illustration is in a very good harmony with the concept of the movie. The budget of the production was quiet low thus they managed to create something different anyway.

Slide.18.From Paris With Love-Ignition Creative-2010

The marketing of the movie is one of my favorites because the posters are developed from a very strong combination of typography, photography and comp. technology. And the gun with the Eiffel tower is just brilliant.

Slide.19.For Colored Girls-Ignition Creative-2010

For Colored Girls-One Color Many Voices is a million dollar campaign, which supported by an interactive web page and many teasers. I love the way that they promote each actress individually with a facial expression that gives audience am idea about their character. And the main poster they use an illustration which is quiet ironic, couse its formed from many colors.

Slide.20.Another Year-All City Media-2010

This poster grabbed my attention at the tube station, it was standing out among lots of other posters. It is very simple and beautiful and I love the way that the title treatment appears to have grown. You can see the tree is divided into the four seasons - spring at the bottom, with leaves and flowers on the branches, summer next, then autumn with brown and orange leaves, fading into winter at the top with branches. The shovel and fork symbolise a relationship between two people and a human element.

Design Research Methods: 20/20 Presentation Outline

Orginally, I find this task very clever because as I know all the designers collects something, posters, flyers or interesting objects. However I am an organization freak, I don't like pile of books or objects around my working space, so I simply don't collect any items to keep my room clean and tidy. Therefore I couldn't came any ideas about this Authorship and Collections task, until Peter gave me the best idea. It shouldn't be something physical, it can be virtual. Thus I have been collecting movie posters on my hard drives since I was a small child. I have always like watching trailers more than movies and the way that the posters communicates with the audience just for one minute for a two hours of movies just amazes me. So I flick through some of the movies and posters I like and try to make a list of them for the outline of my presentation.
If you look close enough you can notice that just like everything else movie posters also have trends and fashions. Therefore I didn't want to go all the way back to really old movie posters. However I feel the need to give place to big artists like Saul Bass or Bill Gold which I really admire. I will pick twenty of the posters among this list I created chronologically:

The Man With The Golden Arm - 1955 

Director: Otto Preminger - Genre: Drama - Design: Saul Bass

Vertigo - 1958

Director: Alfred Hitchcock - Genre: Crime, Mystery, Romance - Design: Saul Bass

A Clockwork Orange - 1971
Director: Stanley Kubric - Genre: Crime, Drama, Sci-Fi - Design: Bill Gold
Blade Runner - 1982
Director: Ridley Scott - Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi - Design: Intralink Film Graphic Design - Artwork: John Alvin

Ed Wood - 1994

Director: Tim Burton - Genre: Biographical, Comedy, Drama

American Beauty - 1999

Director: Sam Mendes - Genre: Drama - Design: Pulse Advertising

Ocean's Eleven - 2001

Director: Steven Soderbergh - Genre: Action, Crime - Design: Neville Brody

Donnie Darko - 2001

Director: Richard Kelly - Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi - Design: KO Creative

Artificial Intelligence: A.I. - 2001

Director: Steven Spielberg - Genre: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi - Design: Intralink Film Graphic Design

Sin City - 2005

Director: Frank Miller - Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller - Design: BLT & Associates

Les Chansons D'Amour (Love Songs) - 2007

Director: Christopher Honore - Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance - Design: All City Media

The Cake Eaters - 2007

Director: Mary Stuart Masterson - Genre: Drama, Romance - Design: Gravillis Inc.

Doubt - 2008

Director: John Patric Shanley - Genre: Drama, Mystery - Design: BLT & Associations

True Blood (TV Series) - 2008

Creator: Allan Ball - Genre: Fantasy, Drama - Design: Bemis Balkind

Valkyrie - 2008

Director: Bryan Singer - Genre: Drama, History, Thriller - Design: BLT & Associates

Precious - 2009

Director: Lee Daniels - Genre: Drama - Design: Ignition Creative

Watchmen - 2009

Director: Zack Snyder - Genre: Action, Crime, Fantasy - Design: Mojo Design Agency

Soul Kitchen - 2009

Director: Fatih Akin - Genre: Comedy

With Love From Paris - 2010

Director: Pierre Morel - Genre: Action, Crime - Design: Ignition Creative

For Colored Girls - 2010

Director: Tyler Perry - Genre: Drama - Design: Ignition Creative

Another Year - 2010

Director: Mike Leigh - Genre: Comedy, Drama, Design: All City Media

Design Research Methods: Task 5: A MINIFESTO - Project Outline

This week I was really focused on my RSA concept, therefore I wanted to create a context and concept for my brief. So I flicked through bunch of design books and porfolios of famous designers then I release that the concept is not about corporate identity or a simple book. It is all about creating a Manifesto, a thought. For me deciding the colors or picking the font family is not that hard however building a philosophy is extremely hard. So I worked hard and think carefully on "What is important for me as a designer?" and "What is important for me as a designer about this project?". Thus I decided that I am too immature to create a Manifesto for me or my project, so I titled my ideas on this project under "Minifesto". I really love the name and the idea, it is mini like me as a designer, you can't became Paula Scher over a night. Therefore here is my Minifesto-I Want-on RSA project-Make Something Disappear;
1. I want to make good design, sustainable and communicational.
2. I want this book to be useful, simple and trustful.
3. I want to change common custom patterns between objects and people by increasing flexibility and options.
4. I want to believe that people still care and they will participate.
5. I want this book to be childish and playful.
6. I want to use every possible tool to communicate people because that is the essence of both marketing and design.
7. I certainly don't want this campaign to have any profit motivation at all. How can you inspire people about re-using if you make them buy new stuff?
8. I want to show people that "You can't make anything disappear!". No matter where you throw it away, the waste will still be there probably after a million years later.
9. I want to remind people that "Old is useful".
10. I want people to remember the beauty of working together-using your hands for making something-discovering and embracing this way of thinking. 
And here is my poster-identity-for my Minifesto;

I think it is very obvious that I was inspired by streets-being local-and Thomas Matthews Studio a little. Therefore I absolutely share their believes and build mine on a parallel pattern. Moreover I did some research about the printing process of project this week-which is extremely important to keep it green at this point to serve the spirit of my project. So I visited some eco-friendly print centers around London and I wanted all to print a complicated image consists of vivid colors. Thus I find out that vegetable-based ink gives very bad results-because after a while it started to spread and messed all the work. So a supplier a met by chance told me that the most environment friendly ink is the "silver ink" and it definitely gives the best results with printing. And I will use-unfortunately thin-card board for the cover of my book and recycled paper for the rest of the pages. With this approach I can save up %70 of the embodied energy of a piece of a print.

Design Research Methods: Task 5: My Observations On V&A Trip

Firstly I want to indicate that Victoria and Albert Museum was one of the most impressive places I have ever seen since I came to London. I believe the museum was the biggest museums I have seen and it really surprises me that the way they combine so many themes in one building. Before we visited V&A, the posters of the current exhibitions catch my attention at the tube and streets. I really admire the strong design of the posters and wondering where was the place so I was quiet happy when I find out that we are going to visit the place. Also the structure of the building and the lovely garden with a cafe fulfil my expectations when I was wondering around. Therefore we visited two exhibitions at that day and I want to write about both of them, which are mainly: Shadow Catchers and, 20th Century.

Shadow Catchers was a very interesting exhibition on Camera-less Photography. Before visiting this exhibition I wasn't familiar with this term, which really grabs my attention now. I was very amazed when I saw how the artists create such strong images without a real camera, or clarity. I am not a huge fan of surrealism, or abstract images, so I was a little prejudgemental about the art of the Shadow Catchers however I find the images at the exhibition very direct, original and narrative. And the conflict between the real photography and camera-less photography appeal to me. Instead of photography, showing what has never really existed is a very extraordinary idea. All five of the artists have very different backgrounds, ages and methods of working, though the images they created were in a perfect harmony with each other.

Adam Fuss, invocation, 1992

Originally the artist influenced me the most was Adam Fuss. I find his artwork more positive comparing the other artists. Maybe it is because of his color choices or the scopes he prefers to treat like life and death. Therefore image of the baby was the most beautiful statement of birth I can ever imagine.

Floris Neusüss, Untitled, Kassel, Germany, 1967

While I was watching the video about the artists at the exhibition, Fuss mentioned that if we wouldn't create we would die. I find those words very moving and inspiring. Thus I also admire the work of Floris Neusüss very much. The shadows he created with real people were unbelievable. And I was quiet surprised when I see the dates on the artwork. How he imagined such unlike techniques in 1950s. However I like his work better on the brochures better when it was combines with typography. I guess seeing just the shadows and the absence of the models make me feel empty some how and a little scared. 

Gary Fabian Miller, Petworth Window, 13 February 2000

Besides I was stuck with admiration when I saw the blurry image, Petworth Window of Garry Fabian Miller. And when I read the footnote which says that was originally a painting of Turner and the only image that he can see from his deathbed I was petrify for a second. How an amazing man who values every single minute of his life even in his deathbed. I believe Turner is a real artist and Miller find a perfect subject to refer to.

The second exhibition we visited was 20th Century, which was a permanent exhibition. I also like this one very much because you can observe the evolution of design until 20th Century on one floor. It was so amazing to see how mankind develop different designs for the same objects over the years. And when I notice the editorial work of students, I just feel jealous. It is because I also love books and making artwork for book covers very much. Consequently I enjoyed our trip to the V&A. The museum was beautiful, Hyde Park was lovely and the weather was warm that day! I love being in London, such a city full with art and design and I want to value every second.

MA Design for Communication: Semester I: Calender Nov/Dec

Here is my working plan until the end of the 1st Semester. I hope I can keep up with that and if any changes occur, I will immediately post the updated version.

Please click to see the bigger version of November.

Please click to see the bigger version of December.

Design Research Methods: Task 3: The Results of My Research

From household garbage to industrial waste, we are producing ever more rubbish. The results of my research wasn't very optimistic, but in order to develop my project I feel the need to post the statistics and answers I get from my subjects. So here are some staggering facts I reach after my investigation:

• Fly-tipping costs British Government around £150m each year to clear up and more in other countries.
• In 2009, 72% of newsprint was made from recycled paper, compared to 26% in 2002.
• Around %20 of the food we buy is discarded, meaning that on average every household throws away £424 of wasted food each year.
• On the average each household pays about £50 a year to their local authority to take their waste.
• About %48 of the renewable gas and electricity in the UK now comes from the landfill gas.

 

Here is the two mapping I made through the information I collected during my research period.

When I was interviewing my subjects I shared those information with them to state their responses. As I mentioned I interview a British family (Two adults and a teenager) and a 25 year old masters student from my flat. After comparing the information I collected from my chats, I created a data conversation that I can check any time I need public opinion so here it is:
Are you aware of the damage we give environment individually? All four subjects answered No.
Do you think you have enough information about recycle? Except the teenager all three subjects started to defend themselves on they are doing what they supposed to about recycling. All of them believes that manufacturers and suppliers can do a lot more-so basically they are blaming someone else.
Who wastes the most in your family? I believe this was an inappropriate question because nobody in the family wanted blame someone else so they all answered-Equally.
Do you think this is related to age group or income? All four subjects stated that they think its more to do with understanding and education and I agree.
Are you doing anything to avoid this damage? Teenager and 25 years old subjects told me that they are apart of organizations to protect the environment-however the parents except that they are not doing anything besides recycling some of their waste-and at this point I release that most people have no idea about which objects are recyclable.
Do you think you spend enough time thinking and acting about environment? All four subjects answered No.
If you would have playful and easy solutions for re-using your wasters would you spend time to try? Three of the subjects answered-Yes, and asked about the solutions. The 25 years old subject answered-Probably Not, more important just to recycle the methods are not important. Naturally the parents were enthusiastic about the solution however I observe that I need find a way to get attention from youngster.
If you would be happy with the solutions for re-using your wasters would you show them to your friends and society? At this point all subjects started to ask questions on the method I am going to use for delivering the information to people via internet, a book or a magazine so I tell them more about my project and the responds were quiet positive.
Consequently, after putting together all the information I've collected, I believe it is time to start to develop some design outlines for my project. To be effective and get the best results in such a challenging concept like re-usage, I am planing to design a web-page, an iphone application and a booklet. Therefore I am trying to collect information, thinking about names and design concepts for my project. However I've noticed that when people hear the word "Waste", they started to prejudge the hole concept. So I need to find a title that will catch attention and ease my audience. Thus I am thinking about those two names; "Making Your Waste Work" and " What Do We Throw Away?". Moreover I hope I will manage to collect all the information I need at the end of this week and I will separate them to 5 main titles to start working on my design concept.

Design Research Methods: Task 3: Making Contact With Organizations

We Are What We Do is basically an international movement that inspires people to use their everyday behaviour to affect big environmental and social issues. So far 82,221 people have done 1,443 actions 4,817,424 times and posted 3,655 things referring their simple actions. Originally the organization shows people that if they take all those actions regularly, they can have a huge impact on many of the environmental and social problems we are facing. They do all sorts of things to involve people to their actions and the organization basically appeared in books Change the World for a Fiver, Change the World 9-5 and Teach Your Granny to Text and Other Ways to Change the World. Therefore I am going to meet with Lucinda Komljen, the Communication Director of the organization and I will make my interview by the following questions:

I spend time on each question and they all serve a purpose related to my project. I am going to meet with Lucinda Komljen on Wednesday and I get her permission to record our meeting so after getting the equipment I will make a type out of our conversation. I strongly believe that an organization like We Are What We Do will have huge impact on the progress of my project and I am hoping to get true statistics about people's reactions on re-usage.

Design Research Methods: Task 2: RSA Project: Make Something Disappear, Analysis of The Project-Downloads

The PDF version of my study is available at:
http://rapidshare.com/files/428802095/Analysis_of_My_Mapping-EKE.pdf

Design Research Methods: Task 2: RSA Project: Make Something Disappear, Analysis of The Project

The origin point of my idea is to find new and playful solutions for re-using old objects that can be considered as wasters, in different ways. In the project I am hoping to find ways to use the products that I listed as wasters/habits in my first mapping. (Plastics, paper, rubber etc...) In order to build a project on re-usage of unrecyclable products I organize my thinking period under five main titles, which are mainly: the problem and aim of this project, my target group, research pattern, my method/abstract and hopefully the solution. Therefore principally I depict a small scenario and series of questions to clarify the abstract of my research and motivations.

The Problem and Aim: In my project, the problem is not just minimizing wasters. It is about changing people's behaviour pattern about environment and recycle. According to my research I released that the damage that people causes to the environment is a product of three main factors: the population, how much each person consumes in order to maintain their standard of living and the environmental damage incurred while producing the goods consumed. So it is clear that the last two factors can be reversed by very small cautions. However most people still ignore even the easiest solutions to not to interrupt their daily routine with global concerns.

Therefore my aim on this project is to inspire people about the future options that can be done by anyone by a clear, dynamic and playful way. Changing habits is not a very easy thing to do, so instead of breaking course of actions, my plan is to add new customs in people's daily routine. My approach is going to be asking people to do easy, enjoyable and most importantly acceptable things about their lives-not directly about environment-to make them feel special, participated and capable.

My Target Group: In that case all age groups are in my target circle however my research shows that I need to make more interaction with teenagers as I mentioned in my first mapping. Because it is easier to change their actions (Yes culture), and they can spread new ideas faster via: Internet and mobile technologies. (Twitter, facebook, myspace etc...) And the age group between 19-25 is quiet important because my research proves that they consume the most among all the age groups. Therefore they have to be involved to the solution. No wonder housewife's and parents are keystones of this project because besides their own benefits they can also educate their children about sustainability of products. Likewise I believe that big companies can do so much help about environmental issues yet it is quiet hard to get attention from them and I strongly believe that effective changes should start with baby steps.

Research Pattern: I've organized my research pattern by the following titles to be absolutely consistent with my lectures.

a. Questions I mentioned those questions below in my first brief and I think I am finding the answers I need step by step with each task I carry out.

• Who wastes most and what wasted most?
• What motivates behaviour change or which emotions can break behaviour patterns?
• Who is my target audience? How should I contact with them?
• Why environmental issues aren't priority? How can I get attention, make people see that those problems will also effect them"individually"?
• Which products can be used for different purposes, became multifunctional?
• Should I think about a campaign, a product or combine them all together?
• How can I manufacture something just with mind power?
• How can I eliminate the need of packaging for my product or campaign?
• How can I include my product to people's daily routines, make it look familiar, easy, useful?

b. Actions From my point of view I can take an advantage from getting in touch with some of the organizations I listed below:

To investigate the measures on the people who recycle their items and find out which items recycled the most. (http://recycle.co.uk or http://recyclenow.com)

Sustain Ability This is an amazing company who works to catalyze innovation and provides solutions to make businesses and markets sustainable. I am following their blog since I started this project and their vision and values inspire me about many things. (http://www.sustainability.com/)

c. Primary Research As I mentioned on my first brief my plan is to set up pilot groups from different age groups and investigate their daily routines about recycle and make small reportages with them about their habits and ideas. To achieve this I agree with one of my flatmates for the age group between 19-25, a British family (Carol and Mike Green-whom I have met with during a hospitality meeting for international students takes place in Harrow Campus.) who lives in Harrow for my parents group and I am going to study with their daughter as a teenager for complete my target circle. During my investigation I am going to ask them to fulfil their daily jobs while I am observing them and I am hoping to take some notes, pictures and if I can manage to find the equipment make a short movie about what I should focus on the most. And at the end of the day I am planing to make a small reportage with them following by those questions:

1. Are you aware of the damage we give environment individually? Do you think you have enough information about recycle?
2. Are you doing anything to avoid this damage? Do you think you spent enough time thinking and acting about environment?
3. Would you prefer to do something individually pr do you prefer to act with a group of people?
4. If you would have playful and easy solutions for re-using your wasters would spent time to try?
5. If you would be happy with the solutions for re-using your wasters would you show them your friends or society?

With the information I collect I am going to make a chart on age groups and the goods, which consumed the most and I am going to create specific solutions referring to those facts.

d. Secondary Research I find RSA further reading and resources quiet useful, though I am not going to limit my research just with essential information. In my opinion to create innovative things I need to feed my imagination from different resources. Still I feel the need to add the names of the books, which I like the most:

• Papanek, Victor Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change
• Datschefski, Edwin The Total Beauty of Sustainable Products
• Mau, Bruce Massive Change: A Manifesto for the Future Global Design Culture
• Human Habitat and Environmental Change: From Cave Dwellings to Megacities (Article)

During my research I've noticed a very entertaining ad informing organization called "We Are What We Do" and I find their webpage user-friendly and eye catching for people who cares enough to sacrifice some luxuries of their life to consume less goods. They titled their movement according to the locations that each people visited everyday so it gives you the feeling that you can do something useful everywhere. And the page also allows you to edit your personal profile just like Facebook, at this point the movement turns into a social network-which I find very cool-that people can share their individual actions and ideas on recycling, I believe showing people what smallest things can do is very important. In fact I started to post some of my actions to the website, hope I can grab some attention. (http://www.wearewhatwedo.org/)

Likewise I find out about the CRR (Centre of Remanufacturing and Reuse) organization by RSA resources page, and I admire the actions they take about recycling very much. They offer many opportunities to people who want to take action such as workshops, courses and seminars. I believe the interface design of the page isn't very user-friendly however the information it offers is priceless. (http://www.remanufacturing.org.uk/index.lasso)

And I want to mention a book, which inspires me deeply. "The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less" by Barry Schwartz is a realistic overview on our obsessions and individualism about consuming unnecessary goods.

Method/Abstract: Originally my idea is to reverse the consuming process with innovative options over the wasting habits. Therefore I am planing to design a booklet or a manual about "How To Re-Use/Re-Value Your Wastes". This manual will include apparent information about environment, sustainability, green materials, and solutions for the junk we consume everyday.

An experimental example of an idea that I am going to give place in booklet.

Moreover my intent is not just inform and orient people with long and boring texts. I am hoping to present a user-friendly context and simple illustrations, which helps the user to accomplish each task and have fun at the same time. What separate this project from a basic craft book is; the motivation, object, and function. Here my real intent is to create an approach for changing human habits, adding new customs to our daily routines.

 

A Review On Jonathan Barnbrook

“A lot of the work in the 1990s was hard to read.”
Jonathan Barnbrook  

Anti-modernist, typographical illustrator Barnbrook entered the industry in order to create different options over the legendary typeface Helvetica. Yet today he is one of the best-known creative designers in Britain. He graduated in graphic design from St Martins Collage of Art and Design in London and took a postgraduate degree in the Royal Collage of Art. His massive and controversial work in graphic design industry makes strong, proactive, yet, sometimes anarchic statements about corporate culture, politics and consumerism. His original fonts, including Mason, Exocet, Bastard and Prozac, displayed a disruptive interaction at language, meaning and letterforms. I envy him because he is not just a designer also he is an original thinker of this century. 

Branbrook's typeface "Priori", 1999.

Barnbrook designed so many innovative typefaces, however my favourite is “Priori”. He created this typeface when he was asked to enter a competition to design a typeface for Glasgow in 1999. When you research the background, you find out that the typeface borrows heavily from early twentieth-century typography seen in London and of course reflects the environment, which the designer surrounded by: very much British! This major typeface produced with different styles but with a common sense and a core character shape, so the users can mix them together in the same word or text, in order to enrich their work. All I know that is important to be true to your surroundings and, cultural background. And typefaces aren’t just decorative objects they have a great impact on explaining the way we use language in our lives. Therefore, Branbrook can be considered the leader of those ideas and he conveys them in each part of his work.

Branbrook's typeface "Mason", 1992.

Although, “Manson” (1992) has been one of Branbrook’s most commonly used and copied typefaces. The original font name, Manson, a reference to the notorious serial killer Charles Manson, I believe it was chosen to express extremes – love and hate, beauty and ugliness. While “Manson” sounds elegant to some, the association is also with the extreme violence and evil. For this reason the name proved controversial and the font’s distributors, quickly changed it to the more neutral Mason. Despite the well-known problems with the name, big companies such as BBC and Walt Disney employed the font, to use their graphics. In my opinion they adopt the font because it also has a religious letterform like Renaissance Bibles and in a contrast to it’s unfamiliar shapes, still it is quite legible. According to me what makes Mason so unique even that it was name after a serial killer, yet it can be assimilate by conservative region.

David Bowie's famous album "Heathen", 2002.

Another impressive work of Branbrook was David Bowie’s album cover “Heathen”, 2002. This album was considered something of a come back for Bowie in the U.S. market. That’s why it had to be striking with the song and also with the artwork. On the cover you can see an application of Priori, which displays on the anti-religious meaning of the title. I find this cover quiet remarkable because if you examine all the album you can see it is more like storyboard rather than a basic album cover and it conveys a story about violating religious objects with a strong combination of photograph, illustration, and of course typography. Therefore, I think both the album and the artwork were considerably successful since it sold over two million copies over the world.

Branbrook's "The Little Book of Shocking Global Facts".

Branbrook’s newly released book called “The Little Book of Shocking Global Facts” is an interesting research about many complex issues. I adored the book because it is more like a visual manifesto questioning annually on weaponry, the poor education system, and large corporations, which branded the world. Addressing this kind of problems request a lot of courage, and Branbrook combines his typographic skills with colourful illustrations to send an ethical message. And I find it very hard to not to admire him since he uses graphic design just like a toy to refer and demonstrate global issues.

A Review On Hussein Chalayan

"The Tangent Flows".

With his insecure expression one wouldn’t expect this kind of passion from Chalayan. The half British, half Turkish-Cypriot designer left Turkey when he was eight. So one may consider him more British than Turkish. However the Turkish public tended to place claims on him because of his great success in fashion design industry.

His first public preview was at his graduation from the renowned fashion college Central St Martins, in 1993. In this collection, named “The Tangent Flows”, Chalayan famously buried his decomposed silk dresses in his back garden. He then dug them up especially for the runaway! Unexpectedly this collection caused a sensation and captured mass attention from design authorities moreover displayed in Browns, London.

 Anyone who knows a little bit about his background can easily understand the symbolism behind his first collection. He referred to the process of immigration that he and his family faced when he was a small child. I think he is so brave for addressing such challenging and personal matters for his graduation project.

I strongly believe that a designer’s mission is not just dressing people, the clothes should also reflect an artistic perspective and the creator’s cultural background. In my opinion Hussein Chalayan represents these factors in his collections perfectly. On the completion of his graduation collection a new era began for Chalayan.

"Post" album cover.

Despite the fact that he was so productive in those years he had a hard time financing his collections and research. It can be observed that in his collections between 94-97, he had faced an antagonism between being a market designer who could easily finance his work with prêt-a-porter collections and becoming a real artist, who worked independently of the strings of the industry. I strongly believe that he choose to be a real artist.During these years he had the chance to work with one of the most innovative and creative people in the world: Björk. In 1995 Chalayan designed the jacket that she wore on her iconic cover of her album “Post”. The special thing about the jacket was that when you fold it was shaped just like an envelope, which, completed with red and blue striped borders and string it tied into the letter format. After the success of the album cover Björk modelled for him during London Fashion Week.

The Table Skirt from the A/W "After Words", 2000.

 In 2000 Chalayan finally created his signature collection called “After Words”. In this collection you can see how he merged different disciplines in one context. Chalayan touched on all the important issues of complex design work such as: method, tools, materials, need, use and aesthetics. The function of the dresses, were more striking than the design. In today’s polluted, problematic modern world this is essential.

Function must overcome beauty and aesthetics because appearance will not answer any of our global problems - function will. Chalayan reflected this point of view perfectly in his futuristic collections.

The Airplane dress from S/S "Before Minus Now", 2000.

In his spring/summer collection in 2000, named “Before Minus Now”, he took his skills to the extreme. The “Airplane Dress” from this collection was a modern masterpiece for our time. The dress was made with the same material used in aircraft construction and changed shape with the help of a remote control. 

Function of a piece from S/S "The Readings", 2008.

His predilection for reducing fashion to abstract notions of place and identity that all but disregard the body, is what fashion must head towards today. “I’ve always thought of him as an artist who has chosen fashion as a career when he could have gone in other directions.”  said Greg Hilty, the curatorial director of the Lisson Gallery, and I strongly agree with him.

I like to consider Chalayan as a futuristic sculptor who uses clothes for his installations. He demonstrated an inter-disciplinary mindset, often using different tools. While he has certainly employed a conceptual approach to fashion design, he himself has always insisted that this is not fundamental to the understanding of his clothes.

He says that it is part of his creative process, a method that keeps him interested in fashion design. For Chalayan, fashion is an applied art in as much as it represents the employment of an artistic sensibility to create functional objects: function over beauty.