1. I observed Stadium Drive Apartments which is in Western Michigan's Campus. Stadium Drive Apartments is an apartment complex that provides housing for students who do not want to stay in the dorms or who may want to live with more of their friends. I observed Stadium Drive Apartments on a Saturday night.
2. Stadium is a clean apartment complex with minimal seating. There were lots of people who were walking around. It seems useless to have seating in the complex itself as people are going to go to the apartments anyway. The sidewalks are large and there is grass around the area. It seems as if everything is used as a walkway, no one really cared. The apartment rooms themselves were nicely furnished. There were tile floors and carpet. I really have no idea what materials were used to build everything, building materials? Cinder blocks, dry wall, wood, etc. The sound level was extremely high as the noises were emanating from every room and building.
3. I think that these apartments try to provide an affordable alternative to the regular dorm rooms. I do not think that this area gives off a good image for Western Michigan University.
4. People were extremely friendly at the time. There were those who were a little rowdy but they just need to be ignored. It seems that almost everything in the area can be used as some sort of chair/bed. If it's a nice flat surface then people will sit on it or lie down.
5. There really is not anything interesting about this complex. There was just only one curious thing, I saw a play structure in the area which is strange thing to have for a college.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Nov. 14
1. I think that design affects marketing in a huge way. For instance, Rolls Royce is not going to advertise their cars to the average American family. If an expensive, high class product is going to be designed, the marketing strategy will be aimed at the people that can afford them. I find it interesting that the majority of the higher end products do not do that much advertising, people just seem to already know about them and everything gets around via word of mouth.
2. I think that when a company shows a commercial of their product, it displays a certain experience that a person could have with this product. I was watching a Jeep commercial where the occupants look like they were having the time of their lives, it looked and felt like they were riding a roller coaster. The commercial even had the sound effects of a roller coaster playing in the background. It is these sorts of experiences that people think about when they see that brand. For the most part, these products will probably not deliver that experience. Will driving a Jeep give you a fun experience? If you think being on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck is fun, then yes. Will getting a huge flat screen make you the most popular person in your group of friends? Probably only on game day. Will spraying Axe all over your body transform you into a McDreamy? Never.
3. I think that the most important element of Kalamazoo College is that it is a small liberal arts school. The small campus, small class sizes all scream small school. Even the schools largest classes are considered tiny by a large schools such as Michigan.
2. I think that when a company shows a commercial of their product, it displays a certain experience that a person could have with this product. I was watching a Jeep commercial where the occupants look like they were having the time of their lives, it looked and felt like they were riding a roller coaster. The commercial even had the sound effects of a roller coaster playing in the background. It is these sorts of experiences that people think about when they see that brand. For the most part, these products will probably not deliver that experience. Will driving a Jeep give you a fun experience? If you think being on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck is fun, then yes. Will getting a huge flat screen make you the most popular person in your group of friends? Probably only on game day. Will spraying Axe all over your body transform you into a McDreamy? Never.
3. I think that the most important element of Kalamazoo College is that it is a small liberal arts school. The small campus, small class sizes all scream small school. Even the schools largest classes are considered tiny by a large schools such as Michigan.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Monday Nov. 10
1. A "Third Place" is an area that is separate from the work area and the home. It's a place where people can go to hang out with friends such as a coffee house or a bar. It is a place where people can meet together and talk. One place that worked as a "third place" for me during the summer was a juice bar in Downtown Birmingham called Tropical Squeeze.
2. I think that a successful "third place" is a place where many people go and talk with one another. A place that has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. If this place is quiet the people are not mingling, it's a failure. I think places like restaurants are not really "third places" because no one randomly sits down and starts talking to one another. A third place needs to be a place where people can just start talking to one another without actually knowing them; like a bar.
3. I think that the lounges in Trowbridge could be a successful Third Place. There are usually some people at the lounges but they never seem packed with people. I think that the lounges could be more popular if the library was not so close to all the dorms. The majority of students will be found studying in the lounges however, I think that everyone would rather study and work at the library because it is close and a very nice library.
2. I think that a successful "third place" is a place where many people go and talk with one another. A place that has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. If this place is quiet the people are not mingling, it's a failure. I think places like restaurants are not really "third places" because no one randomly sits down and starts talking to one another. A third place needs to be a place where people can just start talking to one another without actually knowing them; like a bar.
3. I think that the lounges in Trowbridge could be a successful Third Place. There are usually some people at the lounges but they never seem packed with people. I think that the lounges could be more popular if the library was not so close to all the dorms. The majority of students will be found studying in the lounges however, I think that everyone would rather study and work at the library because it is close and a very nice library.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Friday Nov. 7
1. I thought that some of the author's main points were how to attract people to a plaza. I thought that Whyte had many interesting points. One interesting thing that I read was how women and men interact with a plaza differently. A woman is more likely to scout the area while a man is usually going to sit down where ever. I thought it was amusing, it reminded me of the different ways a man and a woman would shop. Another thing that I thought was interesting was how people would venture away from the plaza if their building was in it. On reason was to "put some space between themselves and their boss." Another thing that I thought was very interesting but not that surprising was how a popular plaza would have more women than men. Whyte linked the high proportion of women would mean that the plaza was a nice place to be. There seem to be a noticeable discrepancy in seating between men and women. Men tend to sit at the front and women will tend to sit in secluded areas. However, it seems that the men will sit around the women.
2. There seem to be a few differences betweeen the design of an urban space and a consumer product. I thought it was extremely interesting that the aesthetics of a plaza really did not matter and that aesthetics are extremely important to consumer products. Perhaps this is due to the fact that a plaza is mainly used for behavioral uses, not reflective or visceral. Another thing that was surprising was that the surroundings were not important at all. Whyte writes about how at first he thought that perhaps the surrounding buildings had something to do with the popularity of a plaza. In fact, his research showed that the surroundings have almost nothing to do with the popularity of a plaza because people are looking at things that are eye level, not looking up at the buildings. This seems to contradict the design concepts for a consumer product, the surrounding of a product is its package, an extremely important part of the product.
3. If I were designing a plaza I would make sure that it was in the center of the city. I would also make sure that there were ample places to sit and more importantly, that the seating was comfortable. I would have a plaza that was not sunken because it is disattractive to people. I would make sure that the plaza is appealing to women because if the women enjoy being in the plaza, men will follow.
2. There seem to be a few differences betweeen the design of an urban space and a consumer product. I thought it was extremely interesting that the aesthetics of a plaza really did not matter and that aesthetics are extremely important to consumer products. Perhaps this is due to the fact that a plaza is mainly used for behavioral uses, not reflective or visceral. Another thing that was surprising was that the surroundings were not important at all. Whyte writes about how at first he thought that perhaps the surrounding buildings had something to do with the popularity of a plaza. In fact, his research showed that the surroundings have almost nothing to do with the popularity of a plaza because people are looking at things that are eye level, not looking up at the buildings. This seems to contradict the design concepts for a consumer product, the surrounding of a product is its package, an extremely important part of the product.
3. If I were designing a plaza I would make sure that it was in the center of the city. I would also make sure that there were ample places to sit and more importantly, that the seating was comfortable. I would have a plaza that was not sunken because it is disattractive to people. I would make sure that the plaza is appealing to women because if the women enjoy being in the plaza, men will follow.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
November 5
1. I thought that Downtown Kalamazoo was a very nice area. There was a variety of of stores that sold different things. One store that I had some interest in was the sports store, Gazelles. Another thing that I liked about Downtown Kalamazoo was the size of the sidewalks and the bricks that were laid out. The area was a very clean place and there was a police station nearby, this made the area feel like a very safe place.
2. I would try to renovate the whole area completely, I still noticed buildings that looked unattractive. For instance, some buildings that were in the alleyways had bags of trash out in front, things like that. Another thing that I thought could be improved was the seating in the area. All the tables and benches seemed to be concentrated in one area, I think it would be more beneficial if everything was spread out. Another thing that I would enjoy would be more street vendors. I thought things like hot dog stands and such would add to the downtown appeal. I only saw one hot dog stand in the area.
3. "A pawnshop that once lent a vaguely disreputable air to the neighborhood" I thought this quote relates to Downtown Kalamazoo because I noticed a liquor store that seemed like it took away some appeal from the otherwise nice area.
2. I would try to renovate the whole area completely, I still noticed buildings that looked unattractive. For instance, some buildings that were in the alleyways had bags of trash out in front, things like that. Another thing that I thought could be improved was the seating in the area. All the tables and benches seemed to be concentrated in one area, I think it would be more beneficial if everything was spread out. Another thing that I would enjoy would be more street vendors. I thought things like hot dog stands and such would add to the downtown appeal. I only saw one hot dog stand in the area.
3. "A pawnshop that once lent a vaguely disreputable air to the neighborhood" I thought this quote relates to Downtown Kalamazoo because I noticed a liquor store that seemed like it took away some appeal from the otherwise nice area.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
October 29
1. Robert Gibbs evaluates Main Streets by looking at the stores that are on that street. I thought it was interesting how he said that some objects, such as trees and boxes look nice however, they block the store itself. Also, how tables and benches make the area seem inviting however, teenagers will scare people away. I actually did this and I never thought I was frightening people, kind of makes me feel powerful. I also thought it was interesting that the area's surroundings can actually distract people from the stores. It seems ironic because these are the things that are used to attract people to the area. He also talked about the cleanliness of the area. If the area is dirty, then no one will come. Also a main street should never be accessible only through a left turn only, because people will not go through on coming traffic.
2. I do not think that Main Street should be a mall. I think that main street is like a mall however, there are some differences that make the shopping experience much different. I thought it was funny that Gibbs would try to think like a woman when evaluating a shopping area.
3. I would want a main street to seem inviting without distracting anything from the actual stores. I want stores that make the area appealing. For instance, I would not want any pawn shops or liquor stores nearby.
2. I do not think that Main Street should be a mall. I think that main street is like a mall however, there are some differences that make the shopping experience much different. I thought it was funny that Gibbs would try to think like a woman when evaluating a shopping area.
3. I would want a main street to seem inviting without distracting anything from the actual stores. I want stores that make the area appealing. For instance, I would not want any pawn shops or liquor stores nearby.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
October 2007
1. The store that I chose to observe is Best Buy. Best Buy markets to people who want to buy any sort of electronic product. These people's ages most likely range from the young to the middle aged and to those who have enough money to spend on high end electronic equipment and are mainly males.
2a. The store had a large sign that lets customers know where the store is located. The walls of the store are dark blue and they have placed the logo of the store on top of the entrance. On the side of the store, there is an area where people can take there cars and have some after market electronic products installed.
2b. There are different sounds that emanate from different areas of the store. From the audio department, there is the sound of different types of music being played, the t.v. department has noises from different television programs, the car audio department has different types of music and the video game department has different noises from different games.
2c. The merchandise is displayed in a very neat way. There are large signs that show people what items are for sale. Some of the merchandise is out on display so that customers are able to try it out.
2d. The floors of the store vary from carpet to tile. The carpet floors are generally blue and the tile is white.
2e. There are many signs through out the store that hang from the ceiling. These signs are large and tell customers what section of the store they are in.
2f. There are multiple cashier areas throughout the store, the main ones are located at the front. For some odd reason, there are snacks and drinks at these front cashiers along with items that are on sale as well as batteries.
3. I think that this business tries to project an image of an electronic merchandise superstore. There are many different sorts of electronics within the store as well as the size of the store, which is fairly large.
4. Customers go to the area of the store that contains the type of product that they want. Sometimes they may ask an employee if they have any questions about that product.
5. I thought the most interesting part of the store was its simplicity. The store was pretty bare, it was pretty much like a big warehouse.
2a. The store had a large sign that lets customers know where the store is located. The walls of the store are dark blue and they have placed the logo of the store on top of the entrance. On the side of the store, there is an area where people can take there cars and have some after market electronic products installed.
2b. There are different sounds that emanate from different areas of the store. From the audio department, there is the sound of different types of music being played, the t.v. department has noises from different television programs, the car audio department has different types of music and the video game department has different noises from different games.
2c. The merchandise is displayed in a very neat way. There are large signs that show people what items are for sale. Some of the merchandise is out on display so that customers are able to try it out.
2d. The floors of the store vary from carpet to tile. The carpet floors are generally blue and the tile is white.
2e. There are many signs through out the store that hang from the ceiling. These signs are large and tell customers what section of the store they are in.
2f. There are multiple cashier areas throughout the store, the main ones are located at the front. For some odd reason, there are snacks and drinks at these front cashiers along with items that are on sale as well as batteries.
3. I think that this business tries to project an image of an electronic merchandise superstore. There are many different sorts of electronics within the store as well as the size of the store, which is fairly large.
4. Customers go to the area of the store that contains the type of product that they want. Sometimes they may ask an employee if they have any questions about that product.
5. I thought the most interesting part of the store was its simplicity. The store was pretty bare, it was pretty much like a big warehouse.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Wednesday Oct . 22
1. I think that one of the main points in this story is how companies use their store fronts to attract customers. I thought it was interesting how different stores try to convey a different specific message to their customers and how people usually understand the gist of this message as soon as they see it. I have read some works from Malcolm Gladwell and I know his theories about snap decisions; decisions that are made in persons subconscious even before they realize it. I think that the second a person sees a store front he or she decides whether they will go in or not.
2. I like being in stores where I can try out the product. For instance, the Apple Store has all their products out on display so that any potential customers can try their products. I think that this is a great idea because it gives people their own opinion about their product and I have something to do when I am bored in the mall. The Apple Store is also easy to navigate, for the most part. Their products are arrainged well and everything is easy to find. If you need help there is usually someone that can help you. I dislike retail stores such as Diesel where there is loud music a confusing layout and very little service.
3. A good checklist would be a store that can be noticed easily. I also think that a store should have good floor plans. For instance, if it was a clothing store, the men's section should be seperated from the women's section and people must be able to distinguish the two.
2. I like being in stores where I can try out the product. For instance, the Apple Store has all their products out on display so that any potential customers can try their products. I think that this is a great idea because it gives people their own opinion about their product and I have something to do when I am bored in the mall. The Apple Store is also easy to navigate, for the most part. Their products are arrainged well and everything is easy to find. If you need help there is usually someone that can help you. I dislike retail stores such as Diesel where there is loud music a confusing layout and very little service.
3. A good checklist would be a store that can be noticed easily. I also think that a store should have good floor plans. For instance, if it was a clothing store, the men's section should be seperated from the women's section and people must be able to distinguish the two.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Design Intelligence October 20
1. The packaging of an item is extremely important for the marketing of the product. The package is like the cover of a book; people look at it and judge it without really knowing what it is. I remember when I was younger there was a toy that was packaged in an extremely cool box. There were intense graphics and bold lettering that made the item seem like it was extremely fun.
2. I think that apple products have iconic packaging, every box seems to have the apple logo on it somewhere.
3. I think that perhaps for larger items it would be nice if the packaging had places where you could hold the package easier. I think that a bad packaging design is something that is awkwardly shaped and hard to carry.
2. I think that apple products have iconic packaging, every box seems to have the apple logo on it somewhere.
3. I think that perhaps for larger items it would be nice if the packaging had places where you could hold the package easier. I think that a bad packaging design is something that is awkwardly shaped and hard to carry.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Design Intelligence October 15
1. I believe that this reading relates to user-focused design because it discusses how some websites are difficult to navigate through. In our last class discussion we talked about how easy it was to use Wikipedia and how that its ease of use was one of the reasons why it is so popular. The article also touched upon the unnecessary features that many websites have that make it difficult for people to navigate through the site. This is similar to how the phone companies would add features that they believe would help the user but instead made the product difficult to use.
2. I thought that suggestions the author gave to make sure that the words were easy to read. I thought this was important because if a person cannot read the words on a website it renders the website useless and no one will use it. I also thought that making the website easy to navigate was an important piece of information. It makes sense to make a website easy to navigate because if users cannot access the information they require, they will leave it and find a better website.
3. I think that a website URL should have something to do with what the website content will be. For instance webmd is about medical information. This would give the user a general idea to what kind of information the website contains. I also think that a website should not play any music on the website. For some reason the music a website plays always seems to annoy me, mainly because it is very bad music. If the website does play music, there should be a button cleary visible that allows viewers to turn the music off if they deem it necessary.
2. I thought that suggestions the author gave to make sure that the words were easy to read. I thought this was important because if a person cannot read the words on a website it renders the website useless and no one will use it. I also thought that making the website easy to navigate was an important piece of information. It makes sense to make a website easy to navigate because if users cannot access the information they require, they will leave it and find a better website.
3. I think that a website URL should have something to do with what the website content will be. For instance webmd is about medical information. This would give the user a general idea to what kind of information the website contains. I also think that a website should not play any music on the website. For some reason the music a website plays always seems to annoy me, mainly because it is very bad music. If the website does play music, there should be a button cleary visible that allows viewers to turn the music off if they deem it necessary.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Design Intelligence October 13
1. I believe that one of the author's main points in the article was that misinformation was one of the reasons why there were problems in the world. I believe that he felt Wikipedia was not a good source of information at all mainly due to the fact that anyone and everyone had the ability to write about something and change information to how they see fit. I think that the author has a valid point, nothing can really be said without a touch of the writers perspective. A few things that he or she feels is unimportant may be a critical aspect to another. There are also people who will change information just to be malignant.
2. "Connolley believes that Wikipedia “gives no privilege to those who know what they’re talking about,” a view that is echoed by many academics and former contributors, including Larry Sanger, who argues that too many Wikipedians are fundamentally suspicious of experts and unjustly confident of their own opinions."
I thought that this quote would demonstrate the need to have a good source for credible writing. This quote displays the downfalls of Wikipedia: that anyone can write whatever they feel like writing. For some reason, it seems like the loudest person is the one whose ideas are most accepted not the one that has the right information.
3. I think that both are very extremely similar. There are however, several differences between the two. To begin with, the Encyclopedia Britannica is written by experts where as Wikipedia can be written by any idiot taken off the street. Wikipedia may be more appealing to people because it is free, you must subscribe to Encyclopedia Britannica. People feel that there is no need to pay for information when they know of a source that is known to be credible and is free. I also think that it is a mass usage that makes Wikipedia very attractive. Let me explain, literally everyone uses Wikipedia as their source to find their information and why not? It's free, easy to access, credible for the most part and did I mention that it was free? When was the last time you saw a high school student go to the library and gather books that might possess a smidgen of information within its numerous pages. Hell, when was the last time you went to a library? And really, why should that student go to the library when he or she can just sit on their butt, go to Wikipedia and find everything the need.
2. "Connolley believes that Wikipedia “gives no privilege to those who know what they’re talking about,” a view that is echoed by many academics and former contributors, including Larry Sanger, who argues that too many Wikipedians are fundamentally suspicious of experts and unjustly confident of their own opinions."
I thought that this quote would demonstrate the need to have a good source for credible writing. This quote displays the downfalls of Wikipedia: that anyone can write whatever they feel like writing. For some reason, it seems like the loudest person is the one whose ideas are most accepted not the one that has the right information.
3. I think that both are very extremely similar. There are however, several differences between the two. To begin with, the Encyclopedia Britannica is written by experts where as Wikipedia can be written by any idiot taken off the street. Wikipedia may be more appealing to people because it is free, you must subscribe to Encyclopedia Britannica. People feel that there is no need to pay for information when they know of a source that is known to be credible and is free. I also think that it is a mass usage that makes Wikipedia very attractive. Let me explain, literally everyone uses Wikipedia as their source to find their information and why not? It's free, easy to access, credible for the most part and did I mention that it was free? When was the last time you saw a high school student go to the library and gather books that might possess a smidgen of information within its numerous pages. Hell, when was the last time you went to a library? And really, why should that student go to the library when he or she can just sit on their butt, go to Wikipedia and find everything the need.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Design Intelligence October 8
1. I think that making a product look complex can add to the visceral ,behavioral and reflective design aspects. Having a product that is complex is viscerally attractive because it looks much more attractive than a product that has a simple layout. People just seem more attracted to products that look more complex. A product that displays some hints of complexity can also add to the behavioral aspect of design because the product seems like it has tons of features, features that most people do not need. Perhaps these features would be nice "just in case" or they feel that they will use these features later. Having a complex feature also adds to the reflective design aspect because it sends a message to other people that perhaps the user is someone of importance. For instance, if you see someone with a Blackberry you may think that they are some sort of businessman.
I think that simplicity also contributes to visceral, behavioral and reflective design. Viscerally, simplicity can make a product look more attractive because it may be less cluttered with buttons and give the product a nice sleek look. For instance, most televisions today have their buttons tucked away on the side of the television giving it a nice smooth look. Behaviorally speaking, simplicity makes a product seem user friendly. A product with less buttons just seems easier to use. For example the Ipod only has 5 buttons, each button does one thing and this product is hailed for its ease of use. Also most people that are in some sort of profession require a product that does one thing and one thing only. They don't need a product that is complex because it would make their job harder. A simple product does not have as much of an impact on reflective design as a complex one but there are still some contributions. I think that a message that is given through a simple product is that the buyer knows exactly what he or she wants. They have left out all the useless clutter that they have no use for and have bought the product that will do the job.
2. "Upon reflecting on several technological purchases made over the years, I can say without trepidation that the determining factors in many of these purchases centered on whichever device was most complex and feature-rich." -Javin
"First, and the main reason I purchased this phone was because it has a touch screen. This may seem sensible at first, but when I really think about it, it creates more of a problem than making things easier. I have to constantly put on screen-lock as any touch in my pocket does something unwanted. Not only this, but it also is more difficult to use than a regular keyboard. Aside from the touch screen, there are many unused features such as mobile television. I will never want or be able to pay for it. Both of these are good examples of how the features at the beginning seemed “cool” or “new” but came to be more of a problem than anything." -Jeff
I thought that Javin and Jeff summed up the thought process of most people when they go out and buy a product. Most people can be caught up with the different features and functions with most products today. They just seem so amazed with some product and they have an urge to just purchase it. I hear people say things such as: "that's so cool!", sometimes they are so taken away they can only muster up a barely audible "whoa". Whenever these words are spoken it seems inevitable that they will buy the product if they can.
I think that simplicity also contributes to visceral, behavioral and reflective design. Viscerally, simplicity can make a product look more attractive because it may be less cluttered with buttons and give the product a nice sleek look. For instance, most televisions today have their buttons tucked away on the side of the television giving it a nice smooth look. Behaviorally speaking, simplicity makes a product seem user friendly. A product with less buttons just seems easier to use. For example the Ipod only has 5 buttons, each button does one thing and this product is hailed for its ease of use. Also most people that are in some sort of profession require a product that does one thing and one thing only. They don't need a product that is complex because it would make their job harder. A simple product does not have as much of an impact on reflective design as a complex one but there are still some contributions. I think that a message that is given through a simple product is that the buyer knows exactly what he or she wants. They have left out all the useless clutter that they have no use for and have bought the product that will do the job.
2. "Upon reflecting on several technological purchases made over the years, I can say without trepidation that the determining factors in many of these purchases centered on whichever device was most complex and feature-rich." -Javin
"First, and the main reason I purchased this phone was because it has a touch screen. This may seem sensible at first, but when I really think about it, it creates more of a problem than making things easier. I have to constantly put on screen-lock as any touch in my pocket does something unwanted. Not only this, but it also is more difficult to use than a regular keyboard. Aside from the touch screen, there are many unused features such as mobile television. I will never want or be able to pay for it. Both of these are good examples of how the features at the beginning seemed “cool” or “new” but came to be more of a problem than anything." -Jeff
I thought that Javin and Jeff summed up the thought process of most people when they go out and buy a product. Most people can be caught up with the different features and functions with most products today. They just seem so amazed with some product and they have an urge to just purchase it. I hear people say things such as: "that's so cool!", sometimes they are so taken away they can only muster up a barely audible "whoa". Whenever these words are spoken it seems inevitable that they will buy the product if they can.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Wikipedia Proposal
I would like to make a Wikipedia page on the Kalamazoo golf team. It will include things such as a current roster, previous rosters, results in the MIAA (Current and past), facilities used (golf courses), opponents, coach, etc.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Simplicity is Highly Overrated
1. I remember buying my phone because the features that it had looked very cool; it's feature included having two sides (One the actual the phone and the other the media part) . The phone just looked much better than the ones that were being offered. All the other phones seemed boring compared to the one I purchased.
2. I think that complexity can only be justified on something that can do many different things, such as a computer. I think complexity is acceptable on a computer because a computer is a complex thing to begin with. It has different parts, different functions and people usually just deal with complexities. Also, a computer is something that most people need, they would not be able to function without it, like a person without their coffee. I think simplicity is most important on a product that values function over form, such as a kitchen knife.
3. "Water, quite simply, is the covalent bond existing between two hydrogen and a singular oxygen. I would assume that above a certain level of purification, differences among brands is negligible. But purification level or technique is not why people often purchase a specific brand of water. Oftentimes something as trite as water is purchased based on packaging alone as certain package designs tug at our heartstrings, and those especially beautiful ones of niche market brands serve as long-lasting mementos. What emotional beings we are!"
I chose this quote by Javin because I thought it accurately describes how people buy things not because of need but because of a connection they develop with a product. It seems funny that something as simple as a bottle could be turned into something that can create different emotions.
2. I think that complexity can only be justified on something that can do many different things, such as a computer. I think complexity is acceptable on a computer because a computer is a complex thing to begin with. It has different parts, different functions and people usually just deal with complexities. Also, a computer is something that most people need, they would not be able to function without it, like a person without their coffee. I think simplicity is most important on a product that values function over form, such as a kitchen knife.
3. "Water, quite simply, is the covalent bond existing between two hydrogen and a singular oxygen. I would assume that above a certain level of purification, differences among brands is negligible. But purification level or technique is not why people often purchase a specific brand of water. Oftentimes something as trite as water is purchased based on packaging alone as certain package designs tug at our heartstrings, and those especially beautiful ones of niche market brands serve as long-lasting mementos. What emotional beings we are!"
I chose this quote by Javin because I thought it accurately describes how people buy things not because of need but because of a connection they develop with a product. It seems funny that something as simple as a bottle could be turned into something that can create different emotions.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
1. There are a couple of passages that I would like to post. The first passage can be found on pg. 91. Donald Norman writes: "The coaches are the leaders of a large, active team. Football players are among the largest, most muscular players in team sports. The headset had to reinforce this image: it had to be muscular itself to convey the image of a coach in charge of things." I thought that this quote was interesting because companies try to match their products to the style of certain group of people. Now that I think about it there are many types of people all with different personalities. For instance, in this environmentally aware age many companies are making reusable bags that are an eco-friendly alternative to the plastic bag. These products make the user feel better about themselves, just like the large headset makes the coach feel more in control. Also, people also buy hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius because they feel that they are doing less harm to the environment. I suspect their intentions are good natured because the Prius does more damage to the Earth than a Hummer. That's right, a Hummer is more environmentally friendly than a Prius.
Another passage that I thought was interesting was the quote made by Mort Spivas, the so called super salesman. "When you're wearing a thousand-dollar suit you project a different aura and then people treat you differently. You exude confidence and if you can feel confident, you'll act confident. Then Donald Norman adds: " If sales people believe that wearing an expensive suit makes them different, then it does make them different. For fashion, emotions are key. Stores that manipulate emotions are simply playing the game consumers have invited themselves into. Now, the fasion world may have inappropriately brainwashed the eager public into believing that the game counts, but that is the belief, nonetheless. " I thought that this passage was interesting because it displays the power a product can have on the user. For instance, riding in a convertible can only be described as one of the most fun things that a person can do. The experience is probably why people shell out more money to have this fun feature.
2. I think that the author could use a different term for "Visceral Design". Perhaps he could use Aesthetic design? I really don't know what the word visceral means so that would be the only word that I would change. The two other terms that the author uses fit well. Behavioral design describes how a product behaves and reflective design describes how a product reflects the user.
3. Different products definatley have different levels of visceral, behavioral and reflective designs. Products that are made more for function than form, such as lights and doors could be more behavioral then visceral. However, it really depends on what the consumer wants. If they just want a simple door such as the one for my dorm, they could purchase one just like it. However, if they want a door that has a bit more flair, they could get a glass door that has no hinges. I think that designers have to change the levels of design depending on the group of people they are aiming their product at. There are definatley products that are more form over function and vice versa. The author had a great example using the two different watches. There was the simple digital watch and the more fancier watch that used a difficult method to tell time. The more aesthetically pleasing watch was more harder to use however, it just looks cooler than the black, plain digital watch.
Another passage that I thought was interesting was the quote made by Mort Spivas, the so called super salesman. "When you're wearing a thousand-dollar suit you project a different aura and then people treat you differently. You exude confidence and if you can feel confident, you'll act confident. Then Donald Norman adds: " If sales people believe that wearing an expensive suit makes them different, then it does make them different. For fashion, emotions are key. Stores that manipulate emotions are simply playing the game consumers have invited themselves into. Now, the fasion world may have inappropriately brainwashed the eager public into believing that the game counts, but that is the belief, nonetheless. " I thought that this passage was interesting because it displays the power a product can have on the user. For instance, riding in a convertible can only be described as one of the most fun things that a person can do. The experience is probably why people shell out more money to have this fun feature.
2. I think that the author could use a different term for "Visceral Design". Perhaps he could use Aesthetic design? I really don't know what the word visceral means so that would be the only word that I would change. The two other terms that the author uses fit well. Behavioral design describes how a product behaves and reflective design describes how a product reflects the user.
3. Different products definatley have different levels of visceral, behavioral and reflective designs. Products that are made more for function than form, such as lights and doors could be more behavioral then visceral. However, it really depends on what the consumer wants. If they just want a simple door such as the one for my dorm, they could purchase one just like it. However, if they want a door that has a bit more flair, they could get a glass door that has no hinges. I think that designers have to change the levels of design depending on the group of people they are aiming their product at. There are definatley products that are more form over function and vice versa. The author had a great example using the two different watches. There was the simple digital watch and the more fancier watch that used a difficult method to tell time. The more aesthetically pleasing watch was more harder to use however, it just looks cooler than the black, plain digital watch.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Design Intelligence #4
1. I felt that the author had a few main points in this chapter. I thought that the physical attraction between the person and the object was very important. Humans are attracted to things that are pleasant to our senses. We enjoy sweet fruits, soft materials, and pleasant odors. Our initial perceptions of an object are very important because it is usually the only chance we get at evaluating an object. Therefore it is extremely important that companies make their products stand out and catch our eye. Another key point that came up during this chapter was the function of a product. I think that function is a key point because if a product does not do the job it was created to do then the designers have failed and the product will not sell. I was not surprised to learn that most designers do not actually test their products on real people. I thought that the story about the cup holders was very interesting. I thought that the automobile companies were idiots for ignoring the need for cup holders in their cars. It should be obvious to them that the consumer must be comfortable in their product and not giving them such amenities as a cup holder seems somewhat mean.
2. This chapter is similar to the previous chapter that I read because it provides pitfalls in design that companies fall into. The chapter reflects on previous ideas given in the previous chapter such as the importance of feedback. One thing that the author touched on that he did not before was why companies usually fall into the design traps.
3. To me, a good visceral design is a car that everyone thinks looks cool. I think that when people turn their heads to look at a car going down a road, the manufacturer has done their job pretty well. When a person steps into a show room and sits in a car and they are so comfortable that they can actually see themselves driving in it, the manufacturer has done their job. There are many products that I think succeed very well as visceral design but I wanted to think of a product that did just one thing only. It seems very hard; multifunction products are omnipresent in this age. A lighter is a product that just does one thing, it lights fires and it does it very well. There are also design enhancements to this product. There are simple lighters that are made out of plastic and disposable and the more elegant Zippos that are made out of metal, some even have intricate designs carved on them. Again I will have to use a car as a reflective design success. Driving an expensive car is a status symbol everywhere in the world. Luxury automobiles are not the only type of cars that send a message. Driving a hybrid is making a statement about how you want to help the environment. Driving a sports car may send a message that you enjoy driving. Different cars can send different messages.
2. This chapter is similar to the previous chapter that I read because it provides pitfalls in design that companies fall into. The chapter reflects on previous ideas given in the previous chapter such as the importance of feedback. One thing that the author touched on that he did not before was why companies usually fall into the design traps.
3. To me, a good visceral design is a car that everyone thinks looks cool. I think that when people turn their heads to look at a car going down a road, the manufacturer has done their job pretty well. When a person steps into a show room and sits in a car and they are so comfortable that they can actually see themselves driving in it, the manufacturer has done their job. There are many products that I think succeed very well as visceral design but I wanted to think of a product that did just one thing only. It seems very hard; multifunction products are omnipresent in this age. A lighter is a product that just does one thing, it lights fires and it does it very well. There are also design enhancements to this product. There are simple lighters that are made out of plastic and disposable and the more elegant Zippos that are made out of metal, some even have intricate designs carved on them. Again I will have to use a car as a reflective design success. Driving an expensive car is a status symbol everywhere in the world. Luxury automobiles are not the only type of cars that send a message. Driving a hybrid is making a statement about how you want to help the environment. Driving a sports car may send a message that you enjoy driving. Different cars can send different messages.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Design Intelligence #3
1. "Consider the door. There is not much you can do to a door: you can open it or shut it. Suppose you are in an office building, walking down a corridor. You come to adoor. In which direction does it open? Should you pull or push, on the left or the right? Maybe the door slides. If so, in which direction? I have seen doors that slide up into the ceiling. A door poses only two essential questions: In which direction does it move? On which side should one work it? The answers should be given by the design, without any need for words or symbols, certainly without any need for trial and error."
I thought that this was an interesting quote because the author described how even the simplest designs could be made into a complicated puzzle. Think about the process you use when you want to open a door. You don't stand in front of the door and begin to deduce how the door may open, you walk up to it and push or pull, turn a doorknob or even turn a handle. However, how many times have you walked up to a door and have accidentaly pushed or pulled the wrong way? How many times have you seen a person walk up to a door and accidentaly push instead of pull? It seems so interesting that added features that are designed to help can at first hinder us.
2. Even thought this book is 20 years old, it by no way means that the information it contains has become useless. Mathematicians use formulas and techniques that are much older and dated than this book. This book contains ideas that are widely accepted, and I would think that many companies would use this book's ideas as a starting point for any products that they produce. This book's opinions and ideas seem like they are the best that can be found today until someone can come up with something better.
3. There are several factors that I would put in a checklist for the evaluation of a product. First, I would make sure that the product was easy and simple to use. Secondly, I would make sure that the product would do its job and do it well. Thirdly, I would make sure the product was practical. Fourthly, I would make sure that the product was produced with quaility. Lastly, I would make sure the product would be appeasing to the group of people it will be aimed at.
Thanks for reading,
Ted Hwang
I thought that this was an interesting quote because the author described how even the simplest designs could be made into a complicated puzzle. Think about the process you use when you want to open a door. You don't stand in front of the door and begin to deduce how the door may open, you walk up to it and push or pull, turn a doorknob or even turn a handle. However, how many times have you walked up to a door and have accidentaly pushed or pulled the wrong way? How many times have you seen a person walk up to a door and accidentaly push instead of pull? It seems so interesting that added features that are designed to help can at first hinder us.
2. Even thought this book is 20 years old, it by no way means that the information it contains has become useless. Mathematicians use formulas and techniques that are much older and dated than this book. This book contains ideas that are widely accepted, and I would think that many companies would use this book's ideas as a starting point for any products that they produce. This book's opinions and ideas seem like they are the best that can be found today until someone can come up with something better.
3. There are several factors that I would put in a checklist for the evaluation of a product. First, I would make sure that the product was easy and simple to use. Secondly, I would make sure that the product would do its job and do it well. Thirdly, I would make sure the product was practical. Fourthly, I would make sure that the product was produced with quaility. Lastly, I would make sure the product would be appeasing to the group of people it will be aimed at.
Thanks for reading,
Ted Hwang
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Design Intellignece #2
1. I felt the one of the key points of the book The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman was the fact that simple everyday objects were too complicated to use. The fact that people were having trouble opening doors was a perfect example of this. It seems almost ridiculous that an object as simple as a door could have the ability to confuse people but surprisingly it happens quite often. I also thought another key point that the author tried to get across was the idea of conceptual models. A conceptual model allows the user to get a sense of what his or her action may have. For instance, a door with a long horizontal handle will probably have to pushed in order to open the door. A good conceptual model will allow the user to use the item easily. However a bad conceptual model can send the wrong message and confuse the user. For instance, take the example of the projection slide remote. The student had no idea that he had to press the button a different way to make the projector go forwards or backwards. I also thought that mapping was a key point in this chapter. In this case mapping is the relationship between the controls and their the controls effect on the world. A product with good mapping can be easily used such as a car. The window controls are near the window, radio controls near the radio, etc. Perhaps the only thing that could confuse a user are the pedals, I would have no idea how to distinguish the clutch, brake and accelerator from each other.
2. I remember I had trouble setting up my father's printer at his office. I was trying to set up the printer so that it would be connected to the wireless internet so that everyone could print their documents and reports. I remember that I had misplaced the manual but I had already connected everyone's computers to the network and I thought that connecting one printer would not be too difficult to handle. After a half hour I had scared off most of the workers in the office. I was sweating profusely and cursing at the printer trying to get the stupid machine to work and I had gotten no where. Even after I found the manual I still could not get the machine to work properly. The design was fairly simple, it had a up, down, left, right, and an OK button. However, the controls were the only things that were simple. Trying to understand the computer jargon was like trying to read Chinese. I had to use a crude system of trial and error to see if I had programmed the printer correctly. I think that the printers controls were not mapped correctly, there was no correlation between the controls and the outcome that control would have. I think the problem that I had was very similar to the problem the author had with the telephone. There were so many functions that the phone had but it only had a few buttons to operate these functions.
3. The designers of the Ipod did an excellent job of making the Ipod user friendly. The Ipod only has a few functions and they are labeled well. The play button plays music, the menu button takes you to the menu and the scroll wheel lets you scroll through music. The controls give visual clues to the user that allow them to use the Ipod with ease. Also these buttons only do one or two things, nothing else.
Thanks for reading,
Ted Hwang
3. The creators of the Ipod
2. I remember I had trouble setting up my father's printer at his office. I was trying to set up the printer so that it would be connected to the wireless internet so that everyone could print their documents and reports. I remember that I had misplaced the manual but I had already connected everyone's computers to the network and I thought that connecting one printer would not be too difficult to handle. After a half hour I had scared off most of the workers in the office. I was sweating profusely and cursing at the printer trying to get the stupid machine to work and I had gotten no where. Even after I found the manual I still could not get the machine to work properly. The design was fairly simple, it had a up, down, left, right, and an OK button. However, the controls were the only things that were simple. Trying to understand the computer jargon was like trying to read Chinese. I had to use a crude system of trial and error to see if I had programmed the printer correctly. I think that the printers controls were not mapped correctly, there was no correlation between the controls and the outcome that control would have. I think the problem that I had was very similar to the problem the author had with the telephone. There were so many functions that the phone had but it only had a few buttons to operate these functions.
3. The designers of the Ipod did an excellent job of making the Ipod user friendly. The Ipod only has a few functions and they are labeled well. The play button plays music, the menu button takes you to the menu and the scroll wheel lets you scroll through music. The controls give visual clues to the user that allow them to use the Ipod with ease. Also these buttons only do one or two things, nothing else.
Thanks for reading,
Ted Hwang
3. The creators of the Ipod
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Design Intelligence Assignment #1
1. The article "The Perfect Thing" displays a few elements of the design process. To begin with, Apple brought together a team of people that would design, evaluate, test and market the product. One of the "fathers" of the Ipod Anthony Fadell created three different forms of the Ipod two of which he designed to fail and the other product he hoped would please Steve Jobs. To say the least, Fadell's plan worked brilliantly. Using Fadell's model as a base for their new Ipod they began to fuse ideas together that they felt would make the perfect product. While all this was going on Apple had another team that would leak information out to the press. After the Ipod was finished, a handful of tech writers would be given the Ipod; Apple's hopes being that they would enjoy the Ipod and write good things about it.
2. There are a couple factor I would use to evaluate the "perfect thing". First, the "perfect thing" must do the job it was created to do. For instance, the first Ipod was created to play music and it performed this task quite well. Secondly, the "perfect thing" should be able to do its job 24/7, not every now and then. The "perfect thing" must be easy to use. No one enjoys a product that is hard to use especially the lazy people of today's society including yours truly. The "perfect thing" also must be a quality product, it can't break down after a few days. I have never had the pleasure of having the "perfect thing". Even my beloved Ipod still manages to frustrate me from time to time.
3. There are many great characteristics that my Ipod has. It is a good looking product, it has been quite reliable, it's easy to use and it does its job very well. However, my I did have to replace the headphone jack system about a week ago. Not having music with me all the time was very infuriating. Also, for some reason I have to keep on replacing my headphones, they always seem to break every couple of months and it has always has been the right headphone that breaks.
Thanks for reading,
Ted Hwang
2. There are a couple factor I would use to evaluate the "perfect thing". First, the "perfect thing" must do the job it was created to do. For instance, the first Ipod was created to play music and it performed this task quite well. Secondly, the "perfect thing" should be able to do its job 24/7, not every now and then. The "perfect thing" must be easy to use. No one enjoys a product that is hard to use especially the lazy people of today's society including yours truly. The "perfect thing" also must be a quality product, it can't break down after a few days. I have never had the pleasure of having the "perfect thing". Even my beloved Ipod still manages to frustrate me from time to time.
3. There are many great characteristics that my Ipod has. It is a good looking product, it has been quite reliable, it's easy to use and it does its job very well. However, my I did have to replace the headphone jack system about a week ago. Not having music with me all the time was very infuriating. Also, for some reason I have to keep on replacing my headphones, they always seem to break every couple of months and it has always has been the right headphone that breaks.
Thanks for reading,
Ted Hwang
Thursday, September 18, 2008
First Post
Hi, my name is Ted Hwang and I am a freshman at Kalamazoo College. I am writing this blog for a seminar called Design Intelligence. In this class I hope that I can better understand the role that design has in this society.
Thanks for reading,
Ted Hwang
Thanks for reading,
Ted Hwang
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