Before separating first year into their respective subjects an initial task was created to allow each student to work within each discipline to develop an understanding for each with limited guidelines. It was up to each individual to discover their own approach each subject and furthermore the topic of “The Nature Disconnect” which I limited further to my own interest in the future of medical design.
Product Design
Despite the close nature of both Product and Digital Interaction design, I found it relatively challenging to create concepts for this project possibly due to my realistic interpretation of product design with each idea requiring to sensibly work and function.
Through the process of designing I found use for developmental prototypes: small, hastily created models through which form, colour, texture/material and generalised appearance can be observed (this technique was further utilised in the secondary Interior design project and then furthermore in the latter project).
The guideline of reusing found objects provided an interesting physical research need for the topic and further allowed me to explore uses and issues with certain materials that I no great knowledge of prior. It was a creative and different way to explore realistically how certain aspect interact with one another (an aspect I noted as being useful for Digital Interaction as it expands the focus from solely being digital to that of the physical product and digital backbone which I believe is necessary for a success design) which accidentally lead to the creation of the final design for the digital interaction aspect of the project.
Interior Design
By having limited previous experience with architecture I was assisted in the Interior Design project, which I rather enjoyed. The limitation of a transportable hut brought upon research of component living and aspect of compact design both of which became rather interesting topics to myself and even assisted later on in the final project despite not assisting the hut project itself – this proved the need to look out width the realms of previous digital and product forms into a completely different experience.
The overall form creation and orthographic section of the project was highly enjoyable to me as a previous Graphic Communication student. By being allowed to design interior, exterior and even aspects of furniture I found a great amount of freedom within the subject itself and began to understand its own connections to both product and Interaction.
The latter of which proved essential to my final design as the idea of a transportable footprint became my main cause. Through my research I found contemporary architect Maria Vergopoulou who generated a biodegradable and naturally renewable construction material known as “Biofloss” creating a positive imprint on the surrounding environment to the placement of the final tent design which reduces the product’s carbon footprint, creating a knock-on effect.
Digital Interaction Design
As my chosen discipline I found simple to develop and create a concept for Digital Interaction Design as I found the limitation of utilising a camera to be more of an assistance than a hinderance compared to Product’s need for up cycled materials which opposes rather than assists (up cycled materials being weaker due to previous usage compared to new materials).
Although I was relatively comfortable with the project set for Digital Interaction investigation aspects of both Product and Interior were found to be incredibly useful in the developmental process of the final drone concept created:
- Product: exploration of form through model making; research into the physics.
- Interior: exploration of materials; use of orthographic for rendering and exploration.
Traditional Ornithopter
Developed Ornithopter
- Rendever: A contemporary American company utilising VR experiences of local areas to encourage discussion and the provoking of memories in the elderly to reduce loneliness and risk of dementia.
Through this project it became clear Digital Interaction was the correct choice in subject for me despite my new inclines. Digital Interaction is the middle ground between subjects (because of the combination of possible physical product and backgrounding coding and computing); the modern integration of smart home products integrating interaction with interior and objects such as smart clothing and on-person technology becoming increasingly relevant combining product with digital interaction. As previously mentioned there are several techniques found within interior and product that should be utilised in my later studies as I believe the way forward is a combination of the subjects with knowledge in each aspect assisting before the lead of an expert, making digital interaction a truly versatile subject.