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Writing Prompt #5

What were some of your considerations?

I changed my color palette to look more natural

changed the color to highlight the natural ingredients/smell, as well as the California brand

I changed the package to be more sustainable

changed the enclosure to achieve reusability, considering that is typically very important to my generation

I changed the typeface to appear more sophisticated and a better match for the inside product

changed the typeface to maintain consistency with its brand image and align it with my more environmentally friendly and natural interpretation of the brand

What were your pulls?

Although my redesign isn't something that's never been thought of before, compared to where it is at now, I believe it is radical, rather than incremental. It is intended to be human-centered design, making it both more visually appealing as well as functional. My project is going towards an overall more sustainable direction. My design changes were pulled by my interpretation of the brand as well as a generational emphasis on sustainability. The reusability I plan on implementing should make it slightly more technologically advanced. My new product will be very readily acceptable. It is familiar, but innovative in the new branding for the company and more appealing towards gen z. I am hoping it will land in a sweet spot between too cliche and esoteric.

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Writing Prompt #4

In what ways can personality tests be used to identify and define our demographics?

Although I do not believe that personality tests are the best way to divide people into groups, they could potentially help define our demographics in terms of introverts/extroverts, which definitely plays a huge role in the ways we live out lives and the decisions we make.

How can we generate information that helps designers make decisions for their target demographics?

I believe the best way for designers to generate information that helps decision making about target audiences is simply observation. I think part of the role of being a designer is to be observant and notice these things on our own. This includes getting information from various relationships in our lives and the people we surround ourselves with, and their input. But on a more technical, bigger scale level, maybe surveys would be the best way to find out this information.

Can personality types be used as an accountable indicator equivalent to common indicators such as age, income, and education? Why or why not?

I do not think that personality types should be used as an accountable indicator equivalent to common indicators we so often use today such as age, income, and education. The way the personality tests are designed are so bounding and limited. There's no way to divide an entire population of people into just 16 different personality types. There are also plenty of factors that can go into someone's answers on the tests that would affect the answers. Also I don't think it makes sense to group people by their personality type in a professional setting because it discourages people from breaking out of their bubbles/comfort zones.

How can we use it in the design industry?

I don't necessarily think these tests should be used within the design industry. But if they were to

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Quick Splurchase Notes

Functionality: keeps hands moisturized, I have very dry skin; textured cap makes it easy to open, especially with lotion on hands

Brand image/appeal: California company, I am from California so it caught my eye

Packaging: Playful color scheme, cute graphics

Color scheme: very bold - yellow, blue, orange

Scent/odor:

Touch-feel(texture): mostly smooth, but textured cap

Surroundings:

In a very colorful section of the store

Grouped with similar products (beauty/vanity)

Little sign overhead with big text that says "San Francisco Soap Company" with golden gate bridge graphic

Store is within St. Paul student center but a little out of the way and hard for many people to find - a little tucked away

Product was somewhat tucked away as well, not in main area, had to walk around for a little while to locate it

Personal Preferences:

Favorite stores: second hand shops

Time spent shopping per week: 1 hour (mostly groceries)

Etsy vs Amazon: I prefer Etsy but usually resort to Amazon because it's cheaper and often easier to find things, also faster shipping

Splurge vs thrift: thrift

Desirable average time spent in store: If it's a thrift store than maybe 2 hours? 1 hour?

Favorite seasonal activities: ?? hikes/walks in summer ?

Outdoorsy vs Indoorsy: outdoor

Extrovert/Introvert: Introvert

Grew up in medium sized city, right outside of huge city

Group similarities:

We are all gonna actually use our products/we like them/enjoyability

usefulness

close proximity

most was very spur of the moment

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Descriptive/Interpretive Approach notes

February 7, 2023

Why am I buying the things that I do?

personal taste: descriptive

self expression: interpretive

"viewing person as a self-interpretive being": interpretive

environmentally conscious: descriptive? scientifically aware?

functionality: descriptive

impulse, emotion: interpretive

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Writing Prompt 3

1.26.23

I think that it is smart when companies like this are very clear with their packaging. Consumers often like honesty. When companies are self aware and in turn promote the "ugliness" of their produce right on the package, then there's essentially nothing for the consumer to be surprised or upset about if they care about aesthetics. Smart consumers will like that they are doing their part to support a sustainable company and won't mind the appearance of the food, especially since they taste the same as a "perfect" version. I think it is successful when companies use their packaging as a sort of educational experience. Functionality should matter more than aesthetics, especially when it comes to food and produce.

Food should not all look the same to begin with. Maybe calling it "ugly" is just working to create more problems rather than fixing anything.

I think the strategy that I liked the most initially was wither the "uglies" packaging. I liked that the company was using these marketing techniques to both be honest with their customers as well as to gain a sense of sympathy towards these foods that are often disregarded and thrown to waste. After last week's in-class discussion though, I did see some problems with this. By calling these foods out as "ugly" or "deformed", it officially labels them as such, and may in turn be more harmful than good. After all they are natural and just as good as the other produce items so maybe its best not to draw as much attention to their appearance in the marketing.

The "ridiculous potato" poster was my favorite because it is simply an advertisement and is working to spread awareness while not actually profiting off of anything.

I think that knowing more about the problem from a systemic level would change my thoughts about the solution. A good place to start would be making "imperfect foods" or foods that don't sell as fast more accessible, and not just sold at farmers market or online. Also normalizing that all food does not look the same and is in turn "imperfect". This would prevent major companies from trashing what they consider "ugly" or "misshapen" produce. I think that the indoor vertical farming solution would ultimately benefit the system because it will prevent lots of food waste from natural sources such as poor weather.

I think that when it comes to the potatoes, it might be good to just include them in the mix with other more "perfect potatoes", so that people are essentially forced to buy the "ugly" ones too. Maybe putting up some marketing poster like the "ridiculous" potato one in an actual grocery store would help people see how silly it is to waste these perfectly good products. But also I think by pointing out up front that these potatoes are "ugly" it puts that idea in more peoples' brain when it originally might not have been. Maybe by putting the "ugly" potatoes in more up-scaled grocery stores it would show people that they are worthy of being more expensive, and therefore there should be no appearance stigma around them. Even though this would not help make them more accessible, but depends on your target audience. Maybe by marketing them as "all natural" would help because that definitely attracts a certain, more environmental audience. This would imply no GMOs or bad chemicals.

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Writing Prompt 2

1.24.23

unboxing videos

I think that occasionally, an unboxing video is satisfying. It scratches an itch in the viewers' brain that someone gets to open and own something so cool that you yourself do not own. It also assigns a sense of realism to all of these products that we are so used to seeing pictures of on websites or advertisements. I think that pretty packaging also intrigues audiences. They work to create visual interest and appreciation for a certain color scheme or a creative box or bag. Sometimes it is enough for people to see someone else get so happy about opening something that you personally also want pretty bad. Or maybe the satisfaction comes with a nod towards the company, almost a sense of pride or happiness that people are purchasing things from a company that you respect for whatever reason. Maybe they feel deserving to you and it feels good to see them be successful.

As for eliminating or creating desires, I truly think it does both, it just depends on how gullible, desperate, wealthy, or bored the audience is.

To make this experience more meaningful, maybe one could collect reviews/watch videos of people unboxing smaller brands that the viewer could then go out and support by buying from them. Another take on this would be to reflect on ones own consumption habits and then possibly go through your belongings and donate the things you do not need. It is essentially part of American capitalist culture to consume as much as we possibly can, and it's usually things we do not need at all. Secondhand shopping is far better for the environment.

One kind of video I do often find myself watching on tik tok and instagram are makeup videos and fashion videos. The thing that excites me most about these is watching these people actually put the clothes or makeup on themselves, which adds a sense of reality to whatever product they are showing. Visualizing the packaging that these products come in is also super satisfying as a viewer.

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Writing Prompt 1

One aspect that connects a few of my methods of consumption would be music. I spend roughly six hours a day listening to music through my headphones. Discovering, sharing, discussing, listening, and thinking about music is a major way I express myself and my emotions. I often connect with my family or hometown friends through music, often talking about what new music we have found recently that we resonate with. I recently joined a new music app with a few different friend/family groups in which we share music with each other and choose our favorite songs that people post. My love for music is definitely made possible through various technologies as well as conversation and experiences. It has truly shaped me into the person I am today in a powerful way. While I don't play an instrument myself, I have a deep appreciation for song lyrics I relate to, or the way that the back track of a song can lift or decrease my mood at any given time. I love the way music connects people to friends and loved ones. There are endless discussions to be had.

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journal day 1

Best part of break!

January 17, 2023

The best part of my winter break was going on a little road trip with my friends to Lake Havasu, AZ. We celebrated my hometown friend's 20th birthday and caught up on how each other's school experiences have been going. It was pretty perfect and a nice break from responsibilities and stress.