Design Concepts and Semiotic Chairs | Week 8

Design Anthropology: Object Cultures in Transition. London:
Bloomsbury, pp.69–86.

‘Poetic Observations: What Designers Make of What They See’

The Social Science perspective entails the practice of observing and interviewing people in their natural habitats. In a business standpoint, it is defined as “Ethnographic Style Research” which is a strategy that allows for “zeroing” in on unarticulated desires; symbolically, it can give the consumer what they didn’t know they needed. Through this facet of research, the confidence in design can increase the likelihood of having the desired cultural impact. It is a valuable form of consumer insight through the lens of people, context, and behaviors.

There are numerous ways to see, which include the design strategies, principles, or concepts that are relevant to the project brief. The emphasis is being able to “make something of the observation” by understanding what is meaningful and interesting, in a regard of what you give attention to. “The diversity and richness of perspectives is powerful.”

The difference in perspective influences the approach to the design execution, an example being a cultural lens. Cultural immersion allows for taking largely unstructured time to soak up an experience, both directly and multi-sensorily. It is essentially using contrast and conversation to make sense of impressions.

The referenced designers were able to display a particular sensitivity to the physical, metaphorical, and cultural values- within the context, forms, and materials that were experienced. It is the understanding of elements in an environment that can be manipulated and controlled. The formal relationships between sensory qualities include: color mass, layout, and texture. In turn, these translate to the feedback, rhythm, sequence, layering, and logic that can be analyzed through the choiceful artistry of an executed outcome. Through observation, there are patterns and hidden rules that apply, which supports the power of a designer's eye for visual metaphors.

Gen Suzuki

Gen’s approach highlighted the “blurring boundary” that objects possess, which is the (material,visual, spatial) quality that connects them in a meaningful way to the objects or environment around them. His design strategy was a personal and intuition point of view in which he used primary research as an advantage. Gen’s reflections of his outlook, observations, and thoughts were an appreciation for the instantaneous and intuitive moments he experienced. Preserve the flexibility of perception by using intuition and unstructured time to look through a personal lens. Pre-defined research plan are not the sole basis for an executed outcome. “It matters less of what you look at, but what you see and make from it.”

The Handbook of Interior Architecture and Design. London:
Bloomsbury, pp.261–277

‘Redesigning for the Body: Users and Bathrooms’

The Modernist principle is an embodiment where form follows function.

The design ‘standard’ was an analysis of functions, needs, objects, and dimensions. From the 1920’s and onward, there was an emphasis on cultural analysis, field research, lab testing, and a series of proposed re-designs to better understand the bathroom. Siegfried Gideon mentioned that “the main simplicity of bathroom equipment perfectly exemplified modern aesthetics.”

Buckminister Fuller implied that the bathroom demonstrates a limit of modern architects' embrace of technological culture. It was noted that the bathrooms promoted the progressive social goals of improving public health, an example being basic hygiene rituals. The design approach involved more of a reference to the collective social body, vs the individual sensing one. It was a space standardization that worked to the average human dimensions, which in turn would generate exclusion.

From 1958-1965 Cornell Center for Housing and Environmental Studies “challenged the neglect of individual users in all varieties and actual behavior patterns.” Their study proposition was to create an effective new design criteria by understanding the factors. These factors included subject elements, like psychological and culture elements as well as objective, including anatomical.

Their research was divided into three categories

Extensive Multidisciplinary literature research
Field survey of “ current attitudes, tactics, problems, and middle class households.”
Lab research to identify practical design issues associated with personal hygiene.

Alexandra Kira’s approach was widespread and allowed for him to establish design considerations for different age groups. His research process entailed each task described in detail through observational studies. Kira recognized the consumers were the drivers of change, rather than the producers. The article elaborated on not necessarily focusing on the value of his research, but his user-centered approach to design.

Project Theme: Knitting | Strategic Observations

A selected product for a behavioral understanding was the Beam-n-Read Knitting light.

Key Features: hands-free; use anywhere; wide light; easy on the eyes; external power option. The consumer benefit of a knitting light is portability: being able to work anywhere- in a chair, bed, car, train, plane, or hotel room.

Product Reviews:

personal, portable, hands-free light is perfect for hand stitching, reading, and knitting.
Unlike headlamps, Beam n Read lights don't bounce around during normal head movements, won't shine in a companion's eye's when you look up at them, and won't give you headlamp hair. Unlike floor or table lamps, they run cool and comfortable and won't throw heat on your shoulders.
Doesn’t disturb others nearby
A nice thing to have in your knitting or crochet bag if you do often knit or crochet in the dark and don't wish to turn on the lamp
Versatile Craft Light

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