Overall.
We worked very well together, learnt a good range of technical (Illustrator, Solidworks, InDesign) skills from each other, and delivered a very well thought through product.
In the beginning:
It was difficult to set our constraints. "Distill something from your culture" is a pretty broad starting point. We could perhaps have used some help with how to define constraints. It seems the Irish side focussed much more on existing products, and on re-interpreting those in a contemporary manner.
There were moments when we had trouble translating the idea of DIY into a product opportunity. It seemed more like a behavior than a product opportunity. To tackle this it seemed that the best route was to tackle DIY and innovation at a philosophical level. It was then pleasing to see, with research, other NZ designers translating the style at this deeper level. Our mission with this in mind was to come up with a product that carries as much information or knowlwdge as possible. Perhaps we could suggest "function ever follows knowledge."
In the middle:
We narrowed down to lighting and furniture which lend them selves well to sculptural form. We had some brilliant ideas, but many of them were DIY solutions, and not products. We used a lot of visual research to stimulate ideas. This was very effective. (Go B1 library!)
Toward the end:
We felt that we had to push the three D puzzle solutions further than the Dovetail table, and we departed from this concept completely, but could not come up with anything that hit the nail on the head. We eventually decided to stop this process, and go back to what we had, and develop that further as opposed to try and come up with something new.
IRL 4's comments about the dovetail table helped inspire a new direction and a re-exploration of the concept. (Along with Sophie Ho's toy storage seat poster in the B76 reception).
Ultimately this proved to be the right decision.
Using Cad in the design process was time consuming but useful for a good preliminary presentable visual reference, comparing this with the model making was very interesting. It became clear that the model making had a tendency to be more fluid and change the form on the go. Both seemed to have complimentary restrictions. Having both side by side allowed for a great view of the form.
With another month or so extra time, there are definitely more features and interactivity that we could incorporate into the table.
Here are our final two boards.
There were a few details that we did take into account but did not put on these for the sake of visual clarity. This is not to say they have not been considered:
- The top and bottom of stool have opposite chamfers on edges for easy assembly by children. Top slots into bottom.
- The top half is designed as the primary stool, and is 250mm high. The bottom is around 215mm deep - enough to store reasonably sized toys. The table is 500mm high.
- The stools themselves only fit under the table in one orientation, like a big 3D puzzle.
- Whatever you "post" in the outside slot of the stool, you can retrieve for the inside slot - or take the top half off to get at it.
- The central bag is mesh to allow visibility of stored toys/items/siblings...
- Compartment covers on legs have a concave lower edge, which fits onto a convex ridge in the leg. This acts as a natural hinge/locator.
A couple of extra observations see here are
very little of the chairs were actually in use due to the fact that the children could only sit down for a very short time period.
Possibility - More interesting seats rather than ergonomic, maybe stools.
The use of colour and geometric shape is attractive to adults and children.
Possibility - Geometrically fitting pieces
Most of the tables had paint and paper etc. to draw the kids in.
Possibility - Having a place in the table for toys/activities as suggested by IRL4.
The most interesting of the tables was a mosaic that the kids had made them selves.
Possibility - An interactive table which has been customised.
Kids really getting into the large scale modular building contraptions outside.
Possibility - an aspect to the set which the kids assemble.
