Design is in

A bridge lights the way 10/12/2009

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One of the world's largest pedestrian footbridges opened very recently in Brisbane, Australia. The Kurilpa Bridge is the world's first solar powered bridge. Its solar panels power its own LED lighting, and also pump surplus power into the main grid.

The bridge connects South Brisbane with the city center, and spans the Brisbane River. It has 84 solar panels. The bridge is aesthetically unique, as it is inspired from sailboats. The design has been described as 'beautiful, bold' and even 'fantastic' and 'unreal'. It is unlike most bridges we have seen. It has a sculpted structure, with a series of masts, cables and flying struts, similar to those on boats. It looks like a series of poles pointing spontaneously to the sky. At night the structure is dramatically lit. The LED lights allow for different lighting settings, changing according to the environment and for various events or festivals.

The 84 solar panels are mounted on the bridge and can generate a daily output of 100KiloWatthour. This is enough to light the bridge in most lighting conditions. When the bridge is completely lit the solar panels can supply upto 75% of the needed power. The bridge is connected to the city electric grid, so that it can draw power, and put supply excess power back into the grid as and when possible.

Such beauty and functionality however, did not come cheap. The Kurilpa Bridge cost 63 million Australian dollars. It is also regarded as the first bridge to use tensegrity, or tensional integrity design principles. These are structures that stand on a synergy between balanced tension and compression components. It creates exceptionally rigid structures, that can stand with minimum supports. Tensigrity was proposed and experimented with by Buckminster Fuller. The first significant structure to use tensigrity was the Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Arena for the 1988 Summer Olympics. Tensigrity structures respond to gravity but are not dependent on it for their structural peformance. The construction of this bridge started in 2007, and it was designed by the Australian firm, Cox Architects.

During construction the bridge was dogged with controversy regarding safe construction and cost issues. But after opening it has been drawing attention across the world for its unique design and solar friendliness.

Do have a look at the video below to see the bridge on its opening day.

By Armeen Kapadia

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Braun at 50 08/12/2009

Phonotransistor TP 1, 1959, Braun

Sixtant SM 31, 1961, Braun

Braun, a company that’s practically synonymous with great product design, has a 50-year design legacy. Braun has designed many daily use household products from juicers and irons to shavers and hair dryers. Braun’s origin goes back to the 1920s, but it became the global icon it is only post 1950. More than the products themselves however, it is interesting to see the way Braun has documented their 50-year history online. (click on Braun Design World after clicking English)

The timeline starts at 1955, and extends to 2004. One product is showcased in each year. You can toggle between the product description, and the context, which is very interesting, and rarely seen in such detail in design documentation of such a large company. For example, for the first 8 products, the context explains the events at the time, which led to, or influenced the creation of these products. It tells us about the internal climate at the company, the success they were having, the products accounting for most of their sales, and Braun’s expansion and take over of other companies.

Products designed back in the sixties have appeal even today, such is the classic timelessness of these pieces. Look at the Phonotransistor TP 1, from 1959, or the Sixtant SM 31 from 1962. These pieces look modern, and easy to use even fifty years later, today. From 1965 to 1974, products have a different context, with the company expanding, collaborating and entering more overseas markets. The Aromaster KF 20 Coffeemaker, from 1972, though unique in design, was too costly to stay for long in the market. (in 1984 they brought out its successor, the highly successful Aromaster KF 40) From 1975 to 1984, Braun decided to move more into the personal appliances market, especially oral care, an idea the visionary Braun brothers had been hatching since the sixties.

You can also view the products by designers, and the list of these is formidable. Some were very influential designers of the time, such as Dieter Rams, Hans Gugelot, a teacher at the Ulm school, among others. These designers were strongly from the ‘form follows function’ school of thought, and it shows in their work. It is said that Ram’s designs have had a great influence on Jonathan Ive of Apple. Listed below are Dieter Ram’s ten principles to good design, which hold true to anything, in any era.

Good design is innovative
Good design makes a product useful
Good design is aesthetic
Good design helps us to understand a product
Good design is unobtrusive
Good design is honest
Good design is durable
Good design is consequent to the last detail
Good design is concerned with the environment
Good design is as little design as possible

Braun celebrated fifty years of Design Innovation in 2005, and its products live its philosophy of innovation, quality and design.

By Armeen Kapadia

Cycle folded 08/05/2009

"I couldn't find a folding bicycle I liked. I wanted something that could take a bit of punishment and that you could have fun with. So I made one myself." That is the explanation that Dominic Hargreaves gives for his latest invention, the Contortionist, which seems to be the ultimate folding bicycle.

Folding cycles are common in many countries, where people often take cycles on trains, or buses. Folding cycles make traveling easier, and encourage people to take their cycles out more. The Contortionist bike bends and folds to fit into the circumference of its 26-inch wheel with ease. After that, you just have to hold the pullout handlebar section, and roll it around behind you, unlike other folding cycles, which need to be carried.

24 year-old Hargreaves graduated from Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication, and completed his post-graduation in the Design Products course at the Royal College of Art. He says "I wanted a bike for everything, one you could use in the city or off road without compromises, but would also fold up within the circumference of a wheel." The bicycle frame uses a set of pivots, and a lockable universal joint, in the front fork.

Hargreaves has already won an award for his earlier bike related invention, a parking device by which cycles can be hoisted up in the house, or on a wall, out of the reach of thieves. Hargreaves thinks that the final production of the folding bike model shouldn’t cost more than $400, and three German car firms (names not yet disclosed), have already expressed interest in manufacturing the Contortionist. It is up for this year's James Dyson Award for innovation. Do see the video below to get an idea of how this amazingly flexible cycle folds into itself.

By Armeen Kapadia

The Braille Tyepwriter 08/04/2009

The Next Generation Perkins/APH Mechanical Braille Writer

Braille, an essential communication system, needs communication devices to make it more usable and accessible. One such device is the Next Generation Perkins/APH Mechanical Braille Writer, designed and developed by the Perkins School for the Blind and American Printing House for the Blind.

In the end of the nineteenth century several different tactile reading and writing systems were in use. They depended on the slate and stylus, tools developed by Charles Barbier and Louis Braille. The slate and stylus allow for a quick and consistent method of embossing Braille writing.

David Abraham, a wood-working teacher at the Perkins School for the Blind, first produced the original Perkins Brailler, a Braille typewriter, in 1951. It has since been used in over 170 countries worldwide. A Braille typewriter has six keys, each corresponding to one of the six dots of the Braille code. It also has a backspace, a space key, and a line space key. Prior to the invention of this typewriter, it was relatively difficult and cumbersome to write Braille.

The Next Generation Perkins Brailler, developed in 2008, is more ergonomically designed, requiring less force to type. It is also smaller, lighter, and quieter. The redesign of the Brailler started with exhaustive international user research, among those who use and know the Brailler best. The product designers, along with engineers, questioned children, adults and teachers in the US, Malawi, South Africa and India, across all age groups. Through the research, they also gained other insights such as the need to erase a Braille error without scratching it out with your nail, or a wooden eraser. The ability to adjust the margins without reaching to the back of the machine was necessary. Users wanted to read what has just been brailled without supporting the page with one hand and reading with the other. It is more environmentally friendly, comes in fun colours, and is has tactile design elements.

The Next Generation Perkins/APH Mechanical Braille Writer is one of the forty-seven silver award winning ideas at the IDEA awards. You can read more about it’s new features here. Do see the video below, which explains the redesign.

By Armeen Kapadia

Designer of 2015 07/30/2009

AIGA asked a question. How can we define the designer of 2015? AIGA teamed up with Adobe to answer that very question. It is good for a budding designer to know what is expected of him or her, before they step into their designer shoes. The industry has already begun to look for a new kind of designer. Traditional skills alone aren't necessary to find a design job; problem solving skills are key.

The survey conducted uncovers the challenges for designing design curriculum. The answer is in five sections: competencies, trends, next steps, editorials and timeline.

Competencies
01. To create and develop visual responses to problems
02. To solve problems
03. To articulate context
04. To respond to audience
05. To utilize tools and technology
06. To be dynamic in practice
07. To manage and communicate
08. To have understanding of systems
09. To construct verbal arguments
10. To work in a global environment
11. To collaborate
12. To be ethical
13. To evaluate projects
The list is nothing new. Most of us may be aware of it, but I liked the fact that it is well-articulated. Here are few more competencies I extracted from the user comments:
14. To be savvy in strategy/business
15. To know more about how we think rather than what we think about

Trends
Through this research, six trends were spotted, along with the challenges they pose.
1. To draw on experience and knowledge (emphasis on social sciences and humanities)
2. To address scale and complexity at the systems level (emphasis on anticipation of problem)
3. To shift from mass communication to narrow audiences (emphasis on ethnography)
4. To get used to attention economy (emphasis on understanding clients and markets)
5. To share creative experiences (emphasis on involving customers/users)
6. To do human-centric design (emphasis on sustainability)

One particular point that got me interested: the thinning of personal and private lives with the use of social networking, blogging, etc. How will design react to this trend? Comments welcome.

Source: AIGA

Lovely as a tree 07/29/2009

Paper pulp mill, New Zealand © Greenpeace

Although we know we need to use paper economically, and avoid waste, it’s hard to get information on which papers, and printing processes are eco-friendly. Lovely as a Tree is a site that gives some insights on the environmental impact of different printing processes, papers, and other issues that can help graphic designers make better decisions regarding production.

The site, though UK centric, gives information on things that we may hardly think about while designing, but now probably need to be taught as part of design studies. Such as the impacts of paper making, recycled paper, how exactly its made, and sustainably sourced paper. As the site says, “With so many questionable ‘green’ claims out there, it’s important to stick to a certification system that’s trusted and watertight.” The site gives information on the different paper certifications too. Within recycled papers too, there are various grades, with a big difference between post and pre-consumer recycled waste paper. (news to me) The site explains how ‘sustainable forestry’ as a broad term is pretty meaningless, unless we have a deeper understanding of the issues involved.

The print issues section has information on the issues of energy, emissions, water, waste, solvents, and inks on each of the printing processes. It tells you the plusses and minuses of using each process. For example in a year, a large offset printer could chuck out around 65,000 litres of waste solvent and 85,000 litres of waste developer. That’s quite a bit of waste, and printers need to be made aware of their responsibility. In digital printing there are more energy efficient printers entering the market such as Konica Minolta’s Bizhub C550 and C6500; and Océ’s VarioPrint 6000, which reduce the amount of energy used during its production.

Another section worth a look is the glossary, which covers terms to do with print, paper and environmental certification schemes. There are also tips for choosing a printer, a paper, and deciding on your paper specs, for more efficient printing. In a time where even small design decisions can go a long way in making a difference, these are basic aspects that any designer, client, and printer, need to consider.

By Armeen Kapadia

A whole new drive 07/28/2009

NuDrive in use

NuDrive is the world's first lever-drive propulsion accessory for manual wheelchairs. The basis of this design was to increase independence for millions of wheelchair users, with greater ease and less strain on the body. Apparently, it reduces the force needed to self-propel by up to 40%. This product acknowledges the fact that physical restrictions can be seen as creative challenges.

The user can propel themselves both forwards and backwards, maneuver and brake by pushing the levers. There is no need to spin the wheel rims by hand. This improves both posture and shifts the load on the shoulders. It is hygenic. Hands would stay warm and dry and won't come into contact with the usual dirt from the pavement. It is even suitable for users suffering from arthritis as it requires no fingers or hand dexterity. NuDrive is designed so that it fits almost any manual wheelchair with 24 inch metal spoked wheels in seconds.

Users who have owned NuDrive have had positive reactions. It is a lot easier to get up slopes, posture is usually straight and there is much less strain. The power behind each stroke is maximized. It has also helped tackle more difficult or uneven terrains. Now with NuDrive, the user can brake easily and avoid nasty clashes.

The system was conceived by Robert Orford when he was just 19. Robert came up with this idea while doing work with a disability group. He was encouraged by the fact that his idea could be useful when he saw his friend Emily using it. He won the Young Designer of the Year Award for his design. He founded Pure Global Ltd when he was 20. He has since raised more than £1 million to develop NuDrive and bring it to market. He developed the system in association with London Associates and the Aspire Centre for Disability Sciences at the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital. It costs £349.

If you are interested in knowing how it works, read this paper.

By Sanjay Basavaraju

Enabled by design 07/27/2009

The Ironing Board Mirror

Enabled by Design is a site that’s “all about people powered products”. Enabled by Design is a community concerned with finding ways to transform equipment for people with disabilities, by making it more useful, aesthetically pleasing, and funky. Why should the image of assistive equipment be boring and drab?

Enabled by Design was started by Denise Stephens, a 30 year-old who suffered from multiple sclerosis. "It's about removing the stigmatising image of assistive equipment and encouraging designers to adopt the concept of inclusive design," she explains. "I feel very much that the disabled community are put in a box. Things are designed and produced, and then you get the disabled community saying: 'We can't use it.' They try to retrofit the equipment to people. Why not take that into consideration during the design process?" It is also an attempt to turn on its head, "the uninspiring one-size-fits-all approach to assistive equipment.

When Denise was in her early twenties, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This condition would alter the whole course of her life, as she says, “You almost feel like an alien in your own life.” You can’t do the things you once did. With multiple sclerosis, came periodic relapses, extreme pain, constant visits to the hospital and fatigue. She could no longer hold a full-time, or even a part-time job, though she struggled to for a long time.

She was given assistive equipment, which she says was great as it helped her do things around the house and function normally. However, every time friends came over she would hide the equipment, and she realized this wasn’t right. Her growing concern was that people with disabilities were missing out on good design aesthetics. She felt that the designs for the disabled look 50 years outdated, and unchanged. The equipment could be fun and inspiring, besides being practical. She started Enabled by Design with the help of a friend, Dominic Campbell, who later became a partner.

Enabled by Design has three section, Loves and Hates, where you can rate products, Ideas Factory, where you can say how you would like to improve things, and Product Reviews. Some things featured on the site, such as the Etac Relieve Angled Carving Knife are amazing simple innovations, where slight changes in the product can result in major improvements in a person’s life. Similar are the Electric Heat Pads which are like hot water bottles that wrap around painful joints. The Ironing Board Mirror is space saving, and useful to anyone. The Lifestyle Bath makes bathing much easier for the disabled, or the elderly. The website encourages a sort of ‘open-source’ design, where users can rate the designs, and post suggestions and ideas.

Enabled by Design is a winner at the Social Innovation Camp 2008. As the founder Denise says: "I would love it to be the case where inclusive design becomes the basic design for all products that are manufactured, because that would completely mainstream disability."

By Armeen Kapadia

The curious case of Nissan designers 07/24/2009

Nissan's aging suit

Nissan motors is thinking for the future. After 25 years, there will be more elderly citizens driving cars. The problem is that most designers working directly on car design are young. To simulate what it is like to be a 70-year-old person, designers are donning an 'aging suit'. The suit gives designers the mobility and faculties of a driver twice their age.

IDEO feels enacting and role-playing are active sources for insights. They have been doing it for many years. To see a big corporation such as Nissan adopting such an approach is encouraging. Nissan's interaction design team is making an effort to make future car interiors easier to understand and more comfortable to use. Nissan has understood that feelings — emotional responses to what people see, touch, hear and smell in a car — are critical for the design to succeed.

It is challenging to analyze and quantify feelings, which is inherently subjective. Nissan feels that observation can lead to insights. Designers spend hours looking for uncomfortable interactions as people use their cars. The special suit limits movement of elbows, wrists, knees and ankles. Special goggles are worn to simulate worsening eyesight while testing the legibility of markings on switches.

Nissan's Interaction Design team was started a few years ago to ensure logic and simplicity in their design. The interaction team is working with other teams in Design, Engineering, Product Planning, Marketing, Sales and Purchasing.

The motto of the interaction team is to keep surprises as low as possible by making the interiors as familiar as possible. Everything should be understandable and reassuring for elderly citizens without needing to refer to the manual.

In India, Interaction design is commonly looked at as something to do with the computer screen, and nothing beyond that. The aspect of interaction is in all aspects of life, and is crucial in all design disciplines.

By Sanjay Basavaraju