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.

Tentacle Revision

OCTOOLPUS
Alexa and Naomi
After a experimenting with the form of the octoolpus on a life large scale, we decided that the tentacle should have more structure before user testing. Our previous model had almost flat tentacles that couldn't be detatched. Within the past couple of days I tried revising the overall shape of them - though somewhat time consuming, the overall feel, shape and quality of the tentacles have been improved. The picture above are only 2 parts of the 3 compartments...

User testing issues

Right now, I'm experimenting with different fabrications and additional "characters" for our tree structure but also had some questions about where to user test. The children to which I've been in contact with (preschoolers and toddlers) have had interesting reactions to the tree but obviously aren't literate enough to encourage suggestions on how to improve it. I think our structure lends itself particularly well to "big kids" those between 8-12, ages that enjoy playing dress up and telling stories with toys and objects. I have a niece in Long Island who would potentionally be an excellent person to user test on but I haven't yet been able to coordinate a trip out there. Like I said, im still developing the outer aesthetic and functionality of the piece, but I think I would be able to even more so improve the tree overall if I had the help of this age group. Does anyone have suggestions?

another..

Origami Business Cards

For the origami gals

Connection Experimentation, Functionality and Coloration

After experimenting with different connections of our branches ( we added snaps, sewn on tassles and fabric handles to various branches to increase the options of hanging and interconnecting) we've concluded that we want to continue with our original idea of having our branches be intertwined and installed at the whim of the user to replicate a tree like from that adds cushion, comfort, shelter or adornment to a space. We don't want our "tree" to be used for just anything, and we've decided to market its function as something of this sort. By adding the various connections, our tree can be installed anywhere in which an existing hook or ledge has been installed. Anything that allows for something to be hung on or wrapped around is a place were these branches can be placed. We are hoping to do more user testing this afternoon during school hours to see how those who often are waiting in between classes that use the walls or school furniture as a resting place interact with our plush object. We see our tree as being a comfortable cushion that can make such hard surfaces more pleasurable to rest and relax. Imagine everytime you were to sit on the concrete or linoluem floor of our school, of an airport, of your bedroom, etc. that you had a more plush, intimate and inviting enviorment to relax in. This is the idea that we want to continue with. Along with photographically documenting people today, we wanted to discuss with everyone the possible fabrications/colorations of the trees. We originally had no desire to colorize the branches, but now we are considering making "sets" that can be marketing for particular spaces of peoples personal color preferences. I was incredibly inspired by the Ugly Doll, one of our genius illustration students thesis, (which i'm bringing to class today) and I think the color and narrative of these pieces may be an interesting project to consider while further developing our own.

Connections Experiment 1

Rosary

Since last presenting I have altered my project a bit. I am now focusing specifically on the rosary and directions of action. I felt that the directions and object aspects of my project were to disconnected, and have since found a way to incorporate them with each other.I plan to make several of these rosaries. Each will have an embroidered pouch containing many small pouches tied shut. You unwrap them and pull out a small piece of paper resembling a fortune. Each one contains either a small message for consideration or a recommendation for an action. 

I first tested this on my friend Grace. When I handed her the necklace she instinctively wrapped it around her hand. She said she thought the pom-pom's were "exciting." The first piece of paper directed her to paint her face. She did so, adding pink circles to her cheeks. When I asked her if she felt she would do this in actuality she said yes, "it's refreshing to be goofy." The next piece she pulled out read "gravity-it's not just a good idea. It's the law," which she found quite amusing. 

Her main problem with the rosary was the pom-poms. She said she really liked the feel of them,but felt that they ultimately looked too crafty. 

Next I gave the rosary to two friends of a friend visiting from England named Will and Katie. I gave them the rosaries and explained what to do with them. Will examined the object, and took out one of the small pouches. He passed the rosary to Katie, waiting until she got one to open his. I was really pleased with how instinctively the opening became kind of an event, like opening presents. Will received direction to pick a stranger at a coffee shop to observe, then write a story about them and give it to them. He said he didn't know if he'd actually want to give a stranger a story he made up from watching them, saying "it's a little bit creepy." He did, however, ultimately like the idea of focused people watching. Katie pulled out an exert from the Tom Robbins book "Still Life with Woodpecker." She thought it was very beautiful and asked if she could keep it. 

Will made a good point when he asked if these were just for girls. He said he felt that men would never wear a necklace, even a playful one like this. I asked him if he might carry it with him, or maybe wrap it around his wrist and he said maybe, but it would likely just get left at home. 

They both found the excitement of reaching in and unwrapping the directions the most compelling aspect of it.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a material that's a little higher quality than pom-pom's but still has a soft texture?

Do you feel men would like this product? Is there a way to make it a bit more masculine?

 

Design Dilemma

My proposal has come under scrutiny from most regarding the function and more specifically the placement for application of the product. This disconnect in terms of comprehension of functionality has occurred in part due to my inability to clearly communicate my agenda. With my product, I am attempting to create a platform for expression, communication or even just doodling. I see my role as a designer here as a facilitator of sorts. I am NOT the end user, thus to even attempt to predict its full range of usage and restrict it within any one dimension is a concept that I neither comprehend nor pretend compliance with. As product developers however, designers can at best attempt to predict some of the applications that their product may be subject to. My platform will be available in three sizes small, medium and large, with the traditional paper being optionally substitutable by suitable textile or plastics. The small will serve, as a substitute for notebooks and its most likely users will be children, seeing its obvious advantage as it has a rigid back in contrast to regular coloring notebooks and the like. This basically means that a child can simply place my product on his/her lap without needing an additional hard surface that a notebook will require. The medium size will may find application as notice boards or communication forums within where volume of information exchanged isn’t high. This may be in classrooms, homes and other institutions. It may also occasionally serve as a memento for a group where individuals may wish to collectively document an act such as culmination of trekking trip. The larger pieces may serve as billboards, installations or even practice space for artists who may wish to experiment on these rolls instead of using framed canvas as a cheaper alternative.
During critiques, a lot of applications for the product have been suggested by my peers some of which I have tried to include above at the same time reevaluating some of my own.

BiT-BiT Trial One

For this research portion of the project we choose to focus on children, specifically two of my youngest cousins whom I often babysit for.
A little background information: Jack is ten and his favorite toys are his skateboard, bike and PS2. Leah is seven and her favorite toys are her trampoline and her American Girl Dolls

When I introduced the Bit-Bits to them I was focused on finding out what interested them about the toys. I asked questions about the colors, textures, shapes, names and what could make the product better. Both kids really liked the name of the toy. At first they both gravitated to the shiniest pieces. Without telling them their purpose it was quite evident that the pieces we viewed as singular items, each shape was its own entity and combining them with the magnets created a 'scene' of sorts- a penguin and a tree, a marshmallow and a mans face. They were very interested in creating a narative. The silver piece was a gun, the smallest piece was a mouse.
They suggested the idea of them coming in a set before I mentioned anything to them and quite liked the idea of getting one you could draw on and personalize...and they insisted it must be washable so you can make many different drawings. Once I suggested the idea of combing many piece to make one creature Jack caught on quite quickly, making all sorts of different creatures yet Leah (who is three years younger) never grasped that concept- to her they were always separate.


About ten mintues into this activity it was aparent that Jack was much more interested in the magnets than the toys themselves, although they both liked the texture and softness of all the pieces. Jack then suggested that we try them on the fridge. At this point the piece developed themselves more as a game than as just a toy. Now they were each tossing them to see who could get their Bit-Bit to stick on the refigerator. Leah had a 'fashion show' with all the pieces walking down the fridge like a catwalk. She then attached a few and I suggested the idea of it being a necklace, which she liked very much, although at this stage of development it wasnt very easy to do. After playing I asked the kids if they could think of another shape that would work- Jack suggested a 'U' shape explaining it could be hair, legs, arms, a smiley face. I then asked what could make the toys better as a whole and Leah showed me a Barbie toy she has where everything is magnetic- you stick magnetic clothes to a magnetic paper doll and put her in different scenes...very neat.

Michael Bierut Poster

http://pollingplaces.nytimes.com/

sorry, forgot the link

polling place photo project

happy halloween everyone!

when pumpkins drink too much...

japanese rice art

need a little inspiration? i thought this was kinda cool. thoughts?

emergency stool

Interesting idea thats extremely related to some of our proposals, especially the origami maybe? check it out.