Design Development
Research
The first group project of the course, this segment focused on designing a new experience/concept to assist users who are tourists, new movers or residents in ‘playfully’ navigating the space of Dundee using an array of research methods.
Working alongside another student, our team decided to research ideas on the market focused on navigation. This brainstorm brought us to the use of apps such as: Pokemon Go, Zombies Run and especially Google Glass where we began to develop the initial concept (due to the use of a wearable being easy to utilise whilst providing a noticeable interactive aspect to the concept itself).
Inspiration: Pokemon Go
Inspiration: Zombies Run
Inspiration: Google Glass
Development
Building on the Google Glass idea (acknowledging the over usage of phones within society and allowing for users to navigate whilst observing the world around them) our team began creating 1:1 scale models for body storming (utilising a model to test its usefulness and overall design).
Eyepiece Notes
Bodystorming Model in practice
Bodystorming Model: Eye piece
Bodystorming Model: earpieces
Earpiece notes
Initial earpiece sketches
Ideology
The device itself was agreed upon to be bluetooth, working alongside an app to allow for a feed of information to be sent to the user whilst allowing them to observe the natural world – using technology to amplify space rather than remove one or the other.
Due to the ear piece nature, the use of binaural audio inspired by the former use of stars as a form of general navigation during the 1800s (the tool of the sextant also inspiring the final design) was decided upon; allowing for a user’s chosen playlist to guide them from place-to-place. This information would be found through the setup of an account on a base app which would allow for map and data set usage and the integration of cookies from online search activity, specifying the locations lured to.
By the creation of the app, the concept could be put in place around the country or the world, allowing for a more inclusive design and the utilisation of the concept across all three types of people pertaining to the criteria.
Building off of my acknowledgments from the last project, I spent an extensive period of time on concept creating and sketching before continuing onto the design; this assist with the quick construction of all aspects especially the earphones (which provided trouble shooting time for the electronic process).
Design Creation
Design of Identity
The project was then labelled ‘Waltzer’ based on the act of Waltzing: to travel about informally to music in a rhythmic pattern (mimicking that of a common commute).
With our logo agreed to be an abstraction of the literal design:
- Circles: music frequencies
- Earth (triangulated): fragmented navigation .
- Arrow: Online Cursor, navigation
- Earphone: music
Design of Earpiece
In order to cater to a larger demographic two concepts were created: a sport and regular model, both of which would be bluetooth to avoid tangle-some wires focused on navigating instruments.
This resulted in further developments of both colour pallet and finalised concepts. This blue foam concept was then further rendered in Rhino, a 3D modelling software which allowed for a more realistic appearance for our finalised concept in its true material and scale which did cause slight confusion and difficulty at first use. Despite this, Rhino will be used in future projects due to the appearance of realism achieved in the renderings and possibilities to test models (e.g. stress testing, material use, 3D printing).
Final Concepts and Colour Pallet Deliberations
Sketching the Design onto Foam
Before Sanding and shaping
Finalised Concept
Sport and Standard Earphone Designs
LED wiring
Painted Concepts
Working LEDs
Standard Earphone Render
Sport Earphone Render
Aspects:
- LEDs for notification of charge.
- Red to blue colour pallet: red for vibrancy, blue for earth/nature.
- Circle indicates a disc which can be used for music skipping, pausing or playing and when around a indicated area can provide a voice description.
In future, investing in a soldering iron and possible battery conductors will be a good idea – the wiring process of the model whilst not inherently difficult would become more safe and reliable but as a first attempt works rather well.
The modelling process itself would have been smoother if the LED aspect had been planned ahead and if previous experience with foam and wiring had been in place; the entire experience of which should assist me in future projects.
Design of Application
The music lure itself would be focused on either being a sudden occurrence if the app is open with no music (resulting in a favourited song being played) or the re-editing of the song being listened to by the patron, creating an interesting, interactive approach.
Aspects:
- Login: for community influence on location and music selection
- Cookies: event calendar and places of specific interest
- Timing: learns your most common routes around the city and depending on urgency (e.g. work) and time, will accommodate a suitable route.
Audio Concept: walking past a lure
Design of Presentation board
