Just hours remain

Just hours remain until it’s all underway, I still have no poster due to the last minute disaster so will be a quick hang up before 9.30 when it all begins. Only read the title of our emails sent to us by Soumitri which says affectionately yours, which is the beginning of all that stuff where some mean they don’t mind knowing how you get along and others just don’t really care and say it anyway. After a glancing at the last bit of being there for you for the next three years its sort of a lie anyway as I find people are only there for the good times, plus I have an inkling that I might just fade away for a bit until I sort out some things I really want to do, as I have decided to put design on hold for a bit and turn it into a hobby for the time being the stress has killed all desire to continue such a big project with so much value has killed of my joy  and drained me of energy. Plus I have to think about the real world money and paying back this giant debt to study. The times of being a student are over. Back to it need to finish off now.

So close

Today was one of the good days to just be at uni, can’t believe that they are drawing to an end so fast but I know I can always have a smile on my face when I meet a whole bunch of students there to talk to. I am a little disappointed at the moment as thing just haven’t turned out like I planned. I also ran into Kate at Brittany’s exhibition along with a few others from their graduation year. Its amazing to think how close that we have actually gotten as it feels like no time has come between us even though its not often we meet up as a group. Well I have a lot planned for the weekend bed time now so will be up early to go.

What makes a designer?

I was asked in my first year as an industrial design student what does a designer do by one of out lectures. It felt like a silly question at the time, as I had signed up for a four year course to learn this yet here I was being asked. It’s interesting how many answers there can be to this, it can be personality traits of strength and weakness, levels of creativity, understanding to how things work and pushing their limits or just practicing a set of chosen methods.

There are no real defining set criteria that we have as we are uniquely different as to how we perceive and visualize things. This is clear from the diversity of students, who all have the motivation and desire to design. We all have unique personalities and with this bring different passions, it’s easy to stay inspired and be creative all we need to do is look what other creative individuals are up to and our minds start to burst with possibilities. Essentially what we choose to specialise in just what we are most passionate about.

I remember back before choosing design when there are so many questions about were subjects and personalities and everything is positioned, like a giant map that design sits in the middle of art and science. It might not seem true at first as they are really different but it seems that a designer easily sits here and in their work you can see the science part coming through or the artist. The Science is the how will it work, what can it be used for, what should it be made from while the artist is more of the human side of how will people use it and the visualisation how will it look. Writing all this down it seems like there are many things going on inside our heads at once, which is true. This is based of an industrial design perspective as we need to factor in many interrelated things thorough our process. It may be slightly different in other design fields.

The one trait which a good designer needs is determination and motivation to work hard. Often a great idea comes at the last minute and can require a lot of intense work in a short period of time. I think all designers are also good dreamers who visualise things that aren’t around them yet, or how their lives and the lives of others could be improved. I don’t think designers ever stop working as projects are always going on inside their heads as well as new ideas, or at least if there is an off switch I haven’t found mine yet.

Another helpful trait but not a necessity is to have an open mind. This helps to overcome problems and to venture into the unknown. It also helps you to appreciate people and their diversity. As there are many different people out there it’s important to understand and have empathy with them, this offers advantages as normally we tend to design things we like ourselves as this is just human nature as we can’t design for someone else if we can’t think like them. There are many experiences that individuals will never encounter and a bit of empathy can help. Though at the same time I find it hugely frustrating when people get it wrong and think how they know what I feel/think when they just have never been in a similar situation and just think they have, therefore understand me.

Understanding our own limitations is a great characteristic as it allows us to seek help and acknowledge that we don’t know all the answers. Knowing to get advices whether it’s from a manufacture, engineer or even a friend can make all the difference. I think at times some of us like to think we can do everything as we are always taking on projects and learning new skills but a good piece of advice and asking the right question can help out like nothing else. I think a highly creative design process is something that can’t be done in isolation and as if it’s going to be different it needs to be multiple influences.

There is a lot more to say about this as designers are hugely diverse and we all think differently as to what makes a good designer and a bad one. There has always been much talk about this at my university as to what sort of skill set is needed to cater for the diversity of students and to build as many skills as possible, what ones can be self taught to a degree or need to worked on continually.

All I know so far is that design is constantly changing, like the world itself so it can only be beneficial if the designer is also constantly changing and hopefully improving. It doesn’t take long to get stuck and find that you are just relying on an old routine and you are going through the passes, but where is the energy and creativity in that?

Getting tired

Sort of really over this project and year already. My exam when horrible and I know now I failed some bits but I am just aiming to get through now, I studied as hard as I could for it but you can’t just learn a language over night. I am lucky if anything sticks at all its my tones that let me down and only half understanding what is being said so I substitute in parts oh well at least I know what I need to focus on.

I have continued with the running of 5km daily now. Not sure if its helping yet but I am sleeping more soundly as I am so tired. Its also interesting how many people like to honk, or yell random things and whistle as I wasn’t expecting anything like that. I have to run along the road for a bit as to where my house is located and the nicer running spots. I even got an I love you one day and a honk. If it continues I might even start a telly for a bit of fun. Though I seem to be eating a lot more food I am not sure if this is a good thing or bad thing but it feels as if I am constantly eating well it did yesterday as I decided to do a 9km route.

I wish I had an opportunity to do slip casting after seeing this…

Here are some more images and the final piece.

I also watched some students in a lower year making a vase, it was interesting and they used 3D printing to get the detail, I wish I had done something like that. It gets me excited about design again. :) Well back to the project the count down of days continues.  Not sure if I should put up images yet to show. I will put up a link to the book when its finished though.

23 days

The count down is on its all over for me on the 12th of November with a lot to be done in between. I have now started taking the good path of being less social and turning down events even though I would love to go to but I really need to focus on getting everything ready. So many to do lists its down to the crunch time  of project management, classes have ended now so it really is doing it alone.

I am a little behind where I would like to be but know that a lot of hard work can get me where I need to be. We are certainly seeing less of each other now and things are getting more stressful but there is an end to it all. I don’t know what I will do with all my free time (well I do its to take on another job) and then I will have time for a life. Hopefully my projects ends up the way I wanted.

Seeing my body as a temple

I have now started a new method to getting better, apparently lots of exercise and healthy eating is the way forward. I have been told to go running and not just a short run either, I am starting at 5km daily, as this is meant to increase endorphins and make you feel good but you need to get the heart rate up. So I started yesterday it was mostly me power walking the whole way. So day 1 was hard I think I am physically so tired I can’t even think any more so I think is working, though I need to find time to do this daily.

I am also seeing a naturopath so change my diet and getting a blood test done as I have nutrient problems as I am a girl I loose more than guys, so I can end up with 1/5 of what I am meant to be at. Hopefully this helps out and I can focus more on the tasks at hand. Busy studying today for Chinese exam, it has listening along with writing so this means I need to know about 250 characters off hand.

I have a draft outline for studio and might start getting things done in the work shop this Friday if not defiantly next week. Its going to be intensive to catch up, and I want a quick chat with Simon if he is around tomorrow, as I am thinking it might be worth investing the money and getting it made and he knows of someone out in Echuca, its going to cost a lot though. I a not sure if I like it or not, so its going to be an intensive weekend of finish off CAD and renderings, then strait into making it. Book is travelling on nicely just missing the end section and the manufacture and CAD section…

Nearing the end

Well I can now say that its exactly one exact month until the date I finish November the 13th, its a good feeling as I trust Soumitri was right and can actually finish with something to show within the time frame. So its CAD this week all Soildworks to create Part A, B and C and D which I call the grate. Not worrying to much about underneath the ground only need a drain pipe to funnel water into the stormwater and of course the right part to attach to the mains.

I had a shocking past few weeks loosing my phone and iPod last week, I found my phone again but not my iPod so I am little crushed and now need to buy a new one as I use it every day and its the only thing that can get me into the city as the trip is over an hour long (really would have dropped out in first year without out it.) Plus its so easy to listen to my Chinese Lessons on the move. As usual I am behind where I wanted to be but its realistic to just sit down and figure out all the CAD work. I am also getting some help with it so will be on track.

It’s great to think that all my time studying is finally coming to an end, even though its highly unlikely with times as they are I’ll be using them anytime soon. Its good entering at the worst point as anything that’s in the future will hopefully seem brighter. I also have enough passion and help from my parents misfortunes that money comes and goes and as long as you are doing what you love that’s all that matters. I mean money can’t really but you any lasting happiness, its mostly what you end up doing with it.

The other good thing is living as a student for so long I still can’t justify spending lots of money, I remember in first and second year I refused to buy food from restaurants as I was at uni every day and deeply committed to studying that I was living of the savings from working in between the semesters. This is the first year in my life that I have had a continual income, after last year with only $20 in my bank account before starting my job it was time to change, plus I want to move out and start saving for other things rather that train tickets to uni, books and material fees. I plan to move out end of February next year as all my jobs are still out near where I live so its easier to stay until then.

I am thinking of continuing on with Chinese and who knows I might be good enough many years down the track to translate and can have that as my job. Not sure if it really feels like I have gotten anywhere yet I guess everything has slowed down, but time is traveling at a rapid pace.

The summery of my project

I am not sure how good it is or if it needs to be longer this is what I used for the book its meant to be only 80 words long. Only about two days to fix it if its wrong before printing.

Why are we transporting water around in trucks hundreds of kilometers around the country when it’s available in our taps for a faction of the cost and creates 100 times less green house gases than a single use bottle?  Could the answer be as simple as a new drinking fountain/bubbler that people can trust in and know that’s its hygienic and clean. A beautiful form that can be seen around our city, it’s modular so it can be upgraded to adapt to its location, fitting into both parks and streets.

I Heart Tap Water campaign

Since the inception of the “I ♥ Tap Water” campaign, 813 students, faculty, and staff (as of this month) have taken the pledge to make tap water their beverage of choice, says Trish Ratto, manager of UHS’s Health*Matters, the campus’s wellness program for faculty and staff. Ratto adds that 80 percent of those people are using refillable water bottles, quenching their thirst from sources across campus — from water fountains to departmental kitchen sinks.

“We’re trying to address health and sustainability by reducing the consumption of caloric beverages and encouraging people to drink more water,” says Ratto. Tap water, she says, is a good choice, not least because it’s free and healthy. More on the hydration station.

A new drinking fountain

A new drinking fountain

Remember the days when you could get a drink from a water fountain–in the park, or on a street corner or at the library? Now they all seem to have disappeared: is it vandalism? health and safety? cut-backs? Well one water fountain has come back: just opened in Hyde Park, it’s the first in the park for 30 years. Funded by a private developer, it’s already a hit with children who think it is a huge novelty.

And in another strike against bottled water, a private water company is going to install water machines in some public places. Thirsty people will be able to fill their own container with water for 20 pence (¢30) or buy a reusable bottle on the spot.