A way of working

After having grounded my project in a campaign last year I see this is a good way to work as it can clarify the main goals, and saying that I love to do everything for myself seems too egotistical and self obsessed like the world needs to be like me. So I am making a note of certain campaigns that could evolve into something, linked to products or art pieces that carry something strong within them.
Here is one...

Where I am at

I am sorting out all my design work from first to fourth year to see what if any projects I could take a little further as I need to sort out my thoughts and where I have come from and where I am heading. I sort of feel trapped at the moment like I need to really let some things go and I feel stuck like nothing is moving forward there is no past or future just the present time of the sameness. I am not sure if other people ever feel this way, I know that people don’t ever think or feel the things I do sometimes its sort of scary and completely crazy but I guess its something I can’t control. Sometimes there is no one to talk to as they can’t relate to the things I say. I love this quote I found long ago from a book called the the social self in the chapter titled challenge of differences.

‘The basis for understanding others is in the understanding of ourselves.’

Sometimes I wonder is it because I don’t understand my self so much that I struggle at times. I don’t know what I want half the time and are to indecisive. The worst I think of everything is that I know deep down inside myself is that I really do have and ability and creative mind to actually go somewhere and challenge thoughts ideas and the normality. This above everything sometimes scares me to paralysis where I cant move forward as I am to afraid to fail and loose all the faith that is inside me as I don’t know how to move forward after this.

Sometimes I wish I could turn of my ability to question myself so I could continue forward tune out all the voices of what are you doing, it doesn’t look like that. It gets to a point where I am to uncertain to decide and then just seem to stop everything.

I’ll post up my years as I finish of the things I like. I am hoping to blog at least twice a week and put up my thoughts on articles as I don’t want to become stale and loose what I have just spent all this time learning and know that every thing can be improved upon.

2010 will be a year of mistakes as it will also be a year of risks for me. There is a lot to think about and as my mood changes like the weather so to can my direction. I think that Industrial Design is about mistakes some good and some bad but it mainly to do with risk as it encompasses everything that is uncertain as we are talking about the future here.

So I am lost, unknown and different I will now look to design to save me in what ever way it can. I will look forward with defining my past and having a ground to stand on.

The path untraveled…

Well it’s the start of a new year one that’s going to be completely different from any other as I am out of school, well for the time being anyway as I hope to go back and learn Chinese. It feels a little depressing and annoying now that people have to constantly remind me that I should have already gotten a ‘real job’ and that I am now spending my life working part time in retail. It seems that we really are defined by jobs and incomes well in my family anyway.

I have written out a list of goals and plans of what I want to get out from the next six months to start my career or at least have as much as fun as possible and create some cool things. My first challenge (along with finding a real job) is to write and illustrate a children’s book not really a design project but something I have wanted to do for ages.

It’s a weird spot to be in as there are so many possibilities and a lot more pressure than when I last finished school as if I don’t use this degree in someway I have a huge debt for nothing, plus I can’t handle boring work that I can’t stand for to long. So I need a plan of action to keep my sanity going. It was nice to get an email from Soumitri as it feels like we aren’t just left stranded as it can take some time to construct the best image of ourselves that speaks and sells us to others.

Fingers crossed that this will be a good year. If it all gets to much though I am going to blow all my savings and just go for a big trip away from everything here, it’s the best way to find yourself just to get totally lost and let go of everything, from a few thousand kilometres away the world looks and feels different. I am feeling a lot of pressure to get somewhere from my family but at the same time its summer and it’s nice to be able to enjoy the sun and relax, who knows when I will have the chance to enjoy another summer? It seems that so many people want to live my life for me and I am doing everything wrong, or they would do it all different, I know its only going to get worse as time goes on.

Its me :)

Design Droplets wanted to do a small write up on some recent graduates and their work come and have a read and look at a few photos. Here is the link enjoy getting to know a bit more about my work and a bit more about me. I would like to thank Raph again for having me.

 

The end result

The end

Well its all over and finished now, my time as a student is over so its time to plan out the next phase. I have feeling that now its going to take some time for my to find my path into design, but I am happy just spending time to find out what I really want to do. I am not sure if I am a career person I am certainly not driven by money as its only a means to an ends, I have witnessed people that value it to much so can’t be driven by it. I am only driven by passion. Its interesting to have reached the end as it still doesn’t feel like it. I have a few projects that I want to do over the summer within my free time, its not all design related but I am hoping it will fuel my creativity.

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.