origami scenarios

1. Ice Breaker Since the origami piece is an interactive and challenging piece, using it as an ice breaker would get people to work together and communicate with each other.

As an activity, these campers are using the large origami piece to learn to work with each other, follow instructions, and play a competitive game. They use it to race with another team to see who can work best with each other and build the origami piece the fastest.


2. Family Activity
Traditional origami was once passed down through generations through word of mouth. It was used to help kids to use their memory and to practice mobility in their hands.

On a Sunday afternoon, this family goes to the park with the origami piece to hang out and have some fun. They lay out on the flat origami piece and use it as a blanket to picnic on it, and then decide to fold it into a turtle. The parents help them make this, while trying to encourage communication and teach them how to read and follow instructions and symbols.


3. Just for fun
Today, paper folding is considered an art form. After it is folded, there isn't always a function for it except for it being beautiful.

These group of teenagers are decorating their auditorium for their first prom. They decide to use this origami piece to make large flying cranes that will hang from the ceiling. They decorate these cranes with lights so that they are large, beautiful flying cranes that add the dim lighting needed to set the mood.

The Kiosk

"Got something on your mind? Listen Up New York intends to find out.

Stringing together 2-minute video narratives collected from participants, Listen Up New York follows winding trains of thought to find out what New Yorkers really think. Each one starts with an open ended question. Participants respond to the last video in the sequence, and there’s no telling where the storyline goes! The videos stream live on our website, where you can watch the train of thought as it unfolds. Check out the latest entries at www.ListenUpAmerica.com.

Join 8 million New Yorkers in a mission to find out what the city is thinking! Record a video with us today."

Ashley and I put this blurb together as a concise explanation for Listen Up New York, the kind that would be found right on the outside of the kiosk itself. We've been focusing on the communication of the project in and around the kiosk itself, the site where all of our content is generated; we've been finalizing design decisions for our branding imagery, the outside look and interior layout of the kiosk, and the actual touch-screen interface sequence users encounter inside.

Based on Naomi, Alexa and Denise's feedback on Friday, we readjusted the designs so that the kiosk would have 2 entrances/exits (to facilitate an easy flow of users); changed the configuration of chair/entrance/direction; added signage outside to indicate when the kiosk is in use; added a monitor that previews videos from different times and spaces in the city (so as not to give away the narrative one encounters). We also streamlined our interface for easier, more intuitive use, using clear wording and buttons/symbols. Its functionality is based on the MTA metrocard vending machine.

Free Gift!! Read here!!

Stella and I have been working hard on re-doing packaging and making multiple of the re-worked prototypes.


As far as packaging, we have designed the packaging to read in the language of a sample, with the "Free Gift! Rip One Out!" meanwhile still keeping the implication of a condom with the size and shape. Does it communicate to you as a sample? We will bring it into class so that you can actually hold and feel it yourself. We have tested it and it successfully rips open.




As you know, we've also figured out all the text/facts that we're going to use (and we're still waiting on feedback from some of you! Don't worry - we'll get you on Tuesday :)

Here are some of the re-worked booklets for chlamydia, herpes, and HIV. The front are the photoshopped images and inside each one has the tactile image and one-liner on the first page, and the fact on the second page.





Here are our scenarios!

DVD



Book



Magazine






Let us know what you think! Thanks.

~S&M

naomi and i have really been focusing on fixing and finalizing the quirks that we have found with our octoolpus. to begin, we realized that the best *we think* method of attatchment for the tentacles was to use industrial strength snaps. we had originally designed the tentacle snaps to attach onto the bottom of the head, but realized that logistically it didnt work so well. through a bit of testing, we realized that the tentacles should snap to the SIDE of the octoolpus head so that it not only fits better on the chair, but also helps weigh the head down. naomi and i have also been working on packaging for our octoolpus. our initial thought was to put the octoolpus in a dark purple bag, but then we came upon some netting-like fabric and decided we liked that better...too bad it turned out looking like a laundry bag! so currently we are working on trying to find a fabric for the bag that a) still maintains the net-like quality b) is durable and c) doesnt look like a laundry bag

"Thats not a planet, thats a space station!"

Hey Everyone,
Here is a quick update on what Kevin and I have been working on in the final weeks...

1. CONSTRUCTION REVISIONS:
We're currently working on BRAND NEW BIT-BITS which come complete with fixed magnet positions! Each magnet's location will be shown by a circular piece of fabric, and that will be uniform throughout the BIT-BIT collection. We are working on two different families, one is soft and called "sunnies". These are the ones made out of the felty material. The other family is called "snappies", they are made out of really bright and shiny material and have more angular shapes. We're making 6 sunnies and 4 snappies for now.... we might also make some without magnets and one or two out of muslin so people can draw on them. We would appreciate your thoughts regarding those two options...

2. PACKAGING:
As for the packaging of the Bit-Bits we will make one or two proto-types for our final presentation. The packaging will be an abstracted rectangular bag form with a large bulky zipper on one side. They will be made of brightly color cotton fabric and have an iron-on component on the front and on the inside of the bag. We want each individual object to be hiden inside its own packaging, so the buyer doesnt know which one they will get (think kid-robot).The iron on component on the front of the bag will be a logo, a short explaination of the Bit-Bits origin along with an simple illustration of their 'home planet', and inside the bag there will be another short explaination of the character traits of the specific family ('sunnies' and 'snappies). It is our hope that this addition will make the Bit-Bits have more of a personality and feel more attainable.

a bit of inspiration....



3. STORIES:
Bit-Bits:
Bit Bits are a peaceful creature from the happy planet of Ooba.
They are diverse and creative beings . They love to join together and play.
In order for Bit Bits to survive they must connect with their counterparts.
Each creature is spotted with magical dots that allow for this connection.
On a recent space trip, the Bit Bits accidently fell to earth and were
scattered across the planet. It is up to you to collect as many Bit Bits
as you can and join them together!
Create stories, families and functions for
this loveable bunch of creatures-
they will return the favor with hours of fun!

Sunnies:
This pod of Bit Bit is the most loveable and soft of all.
The light as air Sunnies awake at dawn and love to play all day, connecting
with everyone they meet. They are energetic and friendly;
although when they tire it is best to let them rest for a while.

Snappies:
Snappies are the group that loves to dance.
They are heavy and aggressive and at some
times a bit mischievous. They like to sleep
all day and use their reflectiveness to see at night!
They will interact with anyone but need a bit more
persuading, as they are very shy around others.

Here is some ideas for our logo...let us know which one you like best!..we are going for something simple and playful






4.VIDEO:
We're making a short video (maybe 30sec to 1min) to be the bulk of our final presentation. It will be a stop-motion video, using lots of white and black paper/fabric and fishing wire (u get the picture...very simple and almost childish). The video would explain how the BIT-BITS got lost and separated on Earth while traveling from their home planet called Oobas. They need help from humans to be brought together again. In the video they will be interacting with one another and at the end there will be human hands playing with them as well (think ipod commercial-sans the narrator).

THANKS SEE EVERYONE TUESDAY.
(by the way, our headline is a quote from star wars, sorry, i had to with all this talk about space and planets)

Planting

This afternoon I did my first test planting the flowers on the street. I placed three below my fire escape so that I could observe how people interact with them without them knowing. I was a little nervous since it was really windy out today, but the flowers held up great. For the language aspect I chose to simply write in chalk "pluck my petals, see what's inside." I also decided to attach a bead to each note so that the user can feel that there's something inside these as they plucked them, further resolving any confusion. 

As I was installing them two girls stopped me and asked me about them. They were both artists and very enthusiastic about the project. The notes they received read "spend an hour in a toy store" and "Draw a picture of yourself. Directly on top of this draw a picture of the nicest person you have ever met. Directly on top of this draw a picture of the meanest person you have ever met." One of the girls said this made her day. 

I watched from the fire escape for forty-five minutes. I had installed two next to a tree and one in a crack on the street. The one planted in a crack was trampled by a jogger almost immediately, so I need to evaluate that placement. Most people walked by without noticing, a few looked but kept walking and six stopped and plucked a petal. Those who stopped took and continued walking so I couldn't gauge their reaction. One guy stopped to photograph them. While plucking one he spotted me on the fire escape. He too said he really enjoyed this experience, and even threw me a king size crunch bar to say thank you. 

Ultimately I was very pleased with the response to these. The biggest issue is with the one placed in the crack being trampled. Since I feel this placement is the most attention grabbing I would really like to find a way to make it work successfully, however am currently at a loss as to how to do so.  

Treetales :)

What Dilhan and I worked on over the weekend was fully realizing and constructing the language of our piece. Specifically regarding how one hooks all the parts onto one base, how one assembles the tree branches together (intertwining) and how one can play with the modular pieces that we've been constructing. We created different colored fabric hooks to both hang the branches and hold intertwined branches together. We've randomly placed velcro tabs on the branches, as well on all the modular pieces to give options for connecting the stuffed pieces to the branches as well as disconnecting easily as a means of narrative building. We chose to make the modular pieces recognizably figurative but also ambigous in shape, to encourage imagination and creativity. We are in the process of making more as well. We also have begun conceptualizing our graphic identity- pictured is a rough sketch of our name and our logo. Ideally we want to have our target audience interact with the piece, which is part of our scenario concepts for tuesday. We have also put a few calls into doctors and have received some interesting feedback in terms of childrens interests in doctor office toys as well as health regulations. We've made a slip cover for all of our branches, and ideally and conceptually, we imagine all of the pieces to be covered in a washable microbacterial resistant fabric. Let us know what you think, thanks!

the quiltable: 3 scenarios

1. room divider

separating kitchen and living room 

in a small NY apartment

2. blanket and sleeping bag

3.  detachable pocket (pencil case) 

folder, pillowcase, cosmetic bag, purse

Origami Instructions

The instructional part of the origami project will be illustration board size (20x15inches). We plan on creating an accordion style, large, book of instructions so that it can stand on its own if you need it to. As for packaging the book, the origami fabric itself will be folded into an envelope, and the instructional book will be inside of this envelope.

Here are some of the instructions for the origami piece.

This is a close-up of one part of folding the tulip

Close-up
Close up #2

origami thingie

Here are some images of the actual size of the origami piece.

We plan on dying the fabric soon. We ran into some complications and had to switch to a stiffer buckram, but this material does hold up. We still need to add zippers and snaps to make things more secure. Right now, we're working on the instructional part of the project, and we want to use the seam lines on the inside of the origami piece as guide lines instead of embedding more things into the origami piece.

MAD Museum talk

this talk looks promising:

Slowing Down: Artists and Designers Mapping the City
Organized in collaboration with slowLab

Thursday, December 11, 2008
6:30 PM
Free.

To the fashion students...

Since I don't believe I'm authorized to post on Native Funk N Flash, I'm posting here on some designers who recently graduated from Parson's BFA fashion. They were credited on a few different design blogs which I thought was really incredible and they have a really well designed website. 

here.

Second life is so real y'all

Hey Kevin and Jill! I found this article about a couple who met in second life, got married in real life, husband banged a prostitute in second life, got caught by his real wife, and is divorcing because of his virtual humping. Fantasy and Real life is colliding....

S & M Booklets

Here are the more advanced prototypes of the booklets Stella and I have been working on.



In case you haven't been in groups with us and are a bit lost, I'll explain how we got here. While we are still working with the idea of targeting young adults about the topic of safe sex, we are using a different approach. We began with the idea of a pop-up book to convey a story about sex (specifically using a condom,) and have since evolved into condom-sized booklets that have a humorous yet informative approach. We have one page with a shocking/crude image to draw the person in, and then a fact that explains the reason for the image. These booklets would be distributed guerilla-style and placed on items that young adults would normally buy or read, such as DVDs, books, magazines, and lingerie. To connect the user with our cause, there is a website that can be accessed and used as a tool for discussion, information, and support.

Public Open Mic

So... as most of you guys know Michael and I have been exploring many different ideas.  The last idea that we were working on was the camera and notebook idea.  The interaction between the user and our prototype made us realize that there were no connections being made between the people using the camera/notebook.  Each page started to become an individual idea that stood alone, rather than a thought provoked by the previous entry, which was what we initially wanted and thought would happen.  We started exploring different ideas that might be able to solve this problem of discontinuity between the different entries.  However, somehow within our discussion, we ended up coming up with a public open mic idea! 

This idea would involve putting a platform and microphone in a public space, like union square, and would be open for anyone to come and talk about anything they wanted.  The next person would then come up and either say a response or any thought that was provoked by what was said by the previous person, and so on.  While discussing this idea a problem we saw coming was how do we get people to want to come up and talk?  Instead of just resorting to bribing people with food, for friday we decided to just go out there to see what would happen.  Instead of setting up a mic and platform, we decided to do individual interviews.  We would approach the individuals and would allow the next individual to listen and see the previous interview through our cameras.    

We started out in Union Square and started interviewing individuals we found sitting around.  We started with a middle aged woman and asked her to say whatever she wanted, anything she was passionate about or had on her mind at the moment.  She started to talk about Obama winning the presidential elections and her views on it.  We then went on to interview 10 people in total.  Each showing the last interview that was done.  The last person ended up talking about his views on being positive, not mentioning the election or Obama once.    

Although we are not exactly sure where this will all lead to in the end, we found the process and outcome very interesting.  We also discussed different ideas of approaching it, such as giving the initial person a topic.  

Fun Do It Together Origami

Susan and I have been testing dying our fabric choice this past week to see how the look and feel changes the shape of the origami shape. We both feel that the dyed fabric looks more friendly and inviting then the plain white fabric that we had from before. We also tried sewing four pieces of fabric together to see if the stitching would match up with the folds and later on when we put in a zipper or other application. After testing this out, we found that the four sewn pieces was successful. We are looking at other color choices and having multiple color and also if the sewn pieces would be different if we had six pieces sewn together. We are also researching to see if we can incorporate more shapes into our origami.