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Design Process

The actual design process begun with the technicalities. 

I started with going through and studying guidelines related to design, planning and services. I also found ergonomic data in relation to my design.

Ergonomics is the process of designing a space so that it is convenient and easy to use for the people it is designed for.

Ergonomics is a relatively new branch of science which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 1999, but relies on research carried out in many other older, established scientific areas, such as engineering, physiology and psychology.

I crossed over to the development stage where i actually begun to put things together and begun to develop a concrete design. I started off with sketching out patent designs in accordance with my research process, but settled with a conventional layout which fits well into the layout of the rest of the house.

I concluded with the final design which complete detail and technical information of my proposed design.

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Design Process

I decided to take up my design, one room at once instead of having an holistic approach. I realized half way through my research process, that restricting myself to the research and design of one room at a time would help me have more in-depth knowledge about each room and would aid me in designing it in a better way with more precision and technique.

I started off with browsing models of existing concepts of modular homes and even was inspired by a few for development. I then began to list down every aspect of design, starting from function, form, technique and technology. I researched on furnishing systems from the time it has been ever documented to understand the pace of development in technology over time.

I then went through current and past market trends as well as general information such as buying power of the general public. This is important as my aim is to attract the newer professionals with a lower income per capita as my audience for my design.

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I derived inspiration and chose to use a lot of concept designs created by designers who like me, wish to create futuristic homes too. I came across a very interesting concept design of the Brick Refrigerator which is proposed to be a modular refrigerator as well as microwave oven. It is a beautiful design by Jangho Kim which has customizable modules. It’s key features including ·A modular fridge, customizable according to user preference.Brick shaped modules serving different purposes such as refrigerating, freezing and microwave oven. Customizable door direction and door handle.·                  Control touch pad for changing  functions as and when needed. 

Another amazing product I came across while researching for Smart technology for my design is the Built in Induction Hob by Beko. It’s features include: ·         Extended cooking surface; any number of utensils can be placed anywhere.“Touch and Slide” functions to adjust heat according to requirement.Stop and Go function which allows the user to switch off the hob and switch in on again with the exact same settings later.Memory function which allows the user to save cooking settings in different zones.Warming Function that allows the user to warm food at a constant temperature at a single touch.Safety function which warns the user if cooking surface in not safe to touch,shuts off the heat if the pot is overflowing,Automatically shuts off the device if unattended for a long time.The wipe guard function which locks in settings when the device is to be cleaned.

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A creative idea is always a process according to me.I have never formalized a particular process as such, but I tend to follow a certain protocol when it comes to design.

Asking questions during any process of idea generation is important. 5W+H generally covers most of it. Secondly, I like to take inspiration from various things, such as professionals of other fields, other designers, etc. I have always believed that like energy, design can never be created or destroyed. It can only be evolved from one design to the other.

Idea generation for me always first starts with brain storming. Sketches, flowcharts and a lot of doodling. The initial idea may or may not materialize, but it certainly marks a beginning which can further be developed into something concrete.

I believe that primary research is the soul of any project. The research procedure must be precise and fulfilling and must be the answer to every difficulty faced later on during the project. This can include surveys, experiments as well as textual research. 

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Self Assessment

The over-all experience of maintaining a blog has been very intriguing, interesting as well as enlightening. I begun with a very haywire and non-defined way of blogging, but it slowly gained speed as well as begun to have a more clear direction towards my practice, proposal as well as project.

I stumbled upon various methods of research as I went along. The assignments aided me greatly on the way in enabling me to think critically and analyze my own practice as well as research.

I have personally never really gone through such a process of learning and researching. This was a more practice led approach than a practice based approach of researching. I have always concluded my projects on the basis of practice based researches till date. It had never occurred to me that critically examining each and every aspect of the project would be so encouraging and exhilarating. 

What I enjoyed about penning down my process the most that I realized that when thoughts and words are put down in writing, they become more solid, convincing and invoke more confidence regarding your ideas into you. I also felt that it has increased my power of concentration and has made me a better learner. It has also fostered my writing, analytical and critical thinking skills.

On the basis of the reflective blog, I am a lot more clearer with my vision towards the MA project. It has helped me to somewhat formulate the next plan of action for the project. I believe that it has also been beneficial to my professional practice as my thoughts have become clearer and more directional rather than trying to do everything together and messing up in the end.

I have also learnt to differentiate between my own thought process, the context of the question or assignment and how they can be applied to different situations. I have learnt to monitor my own responses to situations when put in different ways. Every situation may have different ways of looking at it and we have explored many of them in this module.

I think that the reflection also helped me in understanding who I really am and what defines my practice as an individual professional practitioner. It has made me more self aware and has helped me develop my analytical skills. I already knew what I was researching towards, but I now feel more motivated as I know why I want to achieve what I want to achieve. I felt proactive in terms of attempting to extend my knowledge and understand of topics I have not explored into earlier. I have understood many new concepts on the basis of my earlier experiences in the field of design.

Lastly, I am now able to identify as well address my weaknesses and strengths in the field of design more easily. That is important because one can work towards eliminating their flaws only when they know what exactly they are.

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What is your Methodology?

I believe that my research is a combination of both practice based and practice led researches. There are certain ground rules of construction that are pre-determined by the experts and it is unreasonable to question them. So they can be taken as a word and applied directly to one’s design. Some of them are more derivative in nature so they can be used as the basis of further research for design.

I do agree with the fact that artistic research processes are iterative to an extent. It is because artistic solutions are often subjective in nature. However I do not believe that it can be applied to design processes for that matter because design is more technical in nature. In spite of the fact that design can be subjective by it’s aesthetical nature, it technicality can be classified into either right or wrong only. Certain processes may work and the other’s may not. So the design process can only be carried out once the technology or methodology behind it is pre-determined to be correct in it’s entirety.

As mentioned in Smith, H. & Dean, R. (2009) Practice-led Research, Research-led Practice in the Creative Arts, this method requires an individual to repeat a certain process of research or determination of a solution with different methods in order to gain different results and then choose the results most appropriate for further research and/or design process. Now, the results received have to be analysed on the basis of various factors such as factual, aesthetic, technical, etc. Hence, each of the results may lack in any one of the above determining factors and hence deemed unfit for further research or use in design. According to me, what is expected of any design solution is that they should be a balance of aesthetics and technicality both. Another aspect of this process can be choosing any of the results and working on the weaker aspect, possibly borrowing it from another result received by the application of this process.

The cyclic process of research is only vaguely applicable to the research of my Ma project proposal. As I mostly employ practice based research to my work, it is highly unlikely for me to employ a method which gives me multiple results. Instead, I would prefer to pre-determine all facts and that begin to model my project in way that it can be finalized with minor changes at every stage.

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OFF THE GRID: These Harvard-designed tiny homes are the future of weekend getaways

A group of grad students from Harvard’s Innovation Lab have come up with a start-up to help people seriously unplug from the daily grind. Getaway builds and rents tiny homes that they place in the Massachusetts wilderness and rent out. 

While feeling like it’s in the middle of nowhere, its only about two hours away from Boston, making it the perfect weekend escape.

Learn more about each of the house’s personalities in this video.

Did this post fail to quench your thirst for tiny homes? Luckily for you, we have a new Facebook page dedicated to all things design, including multiple tiny homes.

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TRANSFORMATION TUESDAY: This building in Austria changes shape every hour

Things I’d never thought I’d say: “I like the way this BUILDING moves”. 

This is the Kiefer Technic Showroom, a building whose moving facade was designed by Ernst Giselbrecht + Partner. Its wall panels can move automatically or manually in order to control building temperature and sunlight.

Learn more about the building in our full video.

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Understanding the Function of Research

I understand that creative practice is a combination of creating something new with the required processes and techniques. It involves creating ideas and implementing them in a creative solution. As there can be many changes as well as transitions in thought, they also reflect in an individual’s work. Creative practice is not only defined by the creation of something novel, but also on the way that process is affected by the transformation of ideas which in turn leads to development in practice. It does not necessarily require repetition of effort to achieve perfection, but probably does require a longer period of research to determine facts and technology that affect the result of the practice.

Even though research differs from field to field, the basis of research remains the same. Research is basically done to augment our knowledge on a particular subject. Research must not be shallow or only of personal value. It must be carried out in depth and must impact the practice positively. It must be ground breaking and strong enough to establish facts as well as guidelines for the determination of the practice.

Research positively impacts practice, as the popular saying goes “Half knowledge is more dangerous than ignorance’. A complete in-depth research into a particular topic can firstly, help you master it’s pros and cons and hence help you augment your own practice by attempting to eliminate the flaws. Secondly, it strengthens your practice in a way that finding solutions to any issues in design or working is made easier. Thirdly, it also helps you go about your practice more easily, eliminating the need for you to repeatedly look for solutions to any issues you face during the development of your practice.

In my practice, the areas of my research are well defined and must be taken up one by one. Knowing the minor technicalities of my subject will help me innovate further and hopefully come up with something revolutionary and unique.

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While researching for the Summative Assessment submission of the module ‘Practice 1-Art and Design’, I came across this particular design of a Tiny home. It is queer looking as well as very intriguing as the first thing that came to my mind while looking at it was ‘How is it floating and inhabitable at the same time?’

Being a designer, I first plunged myself into looking into it’s technicalities, as I believe that aesthetics can be compromised upon, but not technicalities. 

Fortunately, the artist/designer of the ‘ FLOATING WOODEN EXBURY EGG SHELTER ‘ , Stephan Turner has mentioned them in the description of his works. It has also been covered in articles of a considerable number of Architecture, Art and Design websites.

The energy efficient, self sufficient work space uses the science of a boat to float in water. It is surprisingly entirely made of wood. 

Speaking about the Artist Stephen Park Turner and researching into his other work, he pays attention to detail and likes to make sure that his designs fit harmoniously into nature.

I personally found this particular piece of his work inspiring as I am also working towards the design of Tiny sustainable homes for my MA Project. The structure of the house is way more interesting than the internal space and use.

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“Why do we feel like we need to keep revisiting the archetype over and over and over again? Digital cameras for example, in which their format, proportion, the fact that they're horizontal rectangles, are modeled off the original silver film camera. So, in turn it's the film that defines the shape of the camera. All of a sudden our digital cameras have no film. So why on earth do we have the same shape we have?” - Karim Rashid from Objectified

Certainly production costs, technological advancements and other factors have a lot to do with the kind of stereotypes we have always been using in our designs, but there is no harm in questioning them in the hope of innovating something entirely new, different and out of this world.

It is a common perception that stereotypes, rules and blue prints must never be questioned and that the rules of design have been jotted down by ultimate geniuses and hence can never be wrong. Regardless of how far a particular designer wants to implement a vicissitude, most of the clients would prefer to settle down with the ‘safe options’. Moving forward as a design community requires questioning the materials we use, the shape, size, proportions and every detail we can, while granting ourselves the freedom to ask: ‘Is there another way of doing this?’

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“Innovative designs often break the common vision by integrating more or less familiar parts into a new concept. When the design is overly unique or different, it tends to be rejected by perceivers at first glance, but seem to be favored when perceivers become more familiar with them.The analysis of eye movements in a new space indicates that innovative designs may be interpreted as more balanced in their conceptual structure.

A lot of what a design is, is about how it makes you feel because of what you see. Movement in Design creates an element of interest in the visual setting of the design. One of the basic principles of design is flow/rhythm/movement. Flow is about movement and direction, and leading the eye from one part of a composition to another in the direction you want it to move. You create flow through a combination of visual weight and visual direction.

Elements of greater visual weight (focal points) pull the eye and become resting places. Other elements impart direction and move your eye from one point to another through visual cues such as arrows and lines.” -(Design Principles: Compositional Flow And Rhythm By Steven Bradley April 29th, 2015)

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The primary mistake most designers make, in my opinion, is that they design according to the present ‘trend’ without capturing the essence of the inhabitants. Trends in Interior Decor magazines change every now and then, but the design would probably last for about a decade or so before it’s worn out and has to be replaced. A residence is supposed to make it’s users at home, warm, safe and comfortable. Nowadays, people look for homes like hotels and hotels like homes. A well designed home must be timeless, unique in appearance, luxurious but functional and most importantly, connects with the user at a spiritual level. Designers have the ability to provide tailor-made designs. And a design is for the inhabitants and not their visitors. There must be  there an elegant and cohesiveness design that ebbs and flows in a well balanced and harmonious rhythm throughout the entire home.

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What most clients today seek skills from their designer is entirely different from what they expected from them probably a decade ago. Clients are comparitively sharper and make sure that designers are paid only after their design is completely executed and occupied. Clients look for designer with vast experience, strong knowledge and innovative research methodologies and methods for testing outcomes. They have developed a very disbelieving attitude and want to be sure of the outcome of the space after is has been treated by a designer (3D models, for example). They evaluate the budget and the time to execute their project on the basis of the designer’s reputation first and the adjoining firm later. Also, clients choose firms on the basis of the projects they have executed earlier, their previous clientile as well as the quaity of their projects as well as staff.

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Every design is a hypothesis and a practical experiment. Every design is aimed to be solved in a different way. The research behind each project is a compilation of the hypothesis of the design and the design interposition. It is difficult to verbalize design because it is an unconscious and a very  intuitive process as it relies mostly on applied knowledge as well as unmeasurable experience as well as problem solving capabilities rather than logic or explicit thinking.

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House design