STUDIO – Molly Davy Design

DUAL PURPOSE

TASK BRIEF:

Design a “Simple” product that provides the ability for the client to complete two associated tasks, with the same solution, using inspiration from past assignments. Make sure the product deserves to exist.

“Kill two birds with one stone”.

IN CONTEXT RESEARCH :

HOSPITALITY:

TYPE: Cafe

NAME: Shaky Isles

Shaky Isles is a humble cafe located in the Britomart area of Auckland city. In the company’s words, ‘Shaky Isles’ stands for “All the is good in New Zealand” and the delights within. They believe that all New Zealanders are easy going and know how to sit down and enjoy a good meal, and great coffee!

MY EXPERIENCE:

My overall experience was very pleasant. The staff were all extremely friendly and the atmosphere was welcoming, with great music and free WIFI.

PROCESS:

I watched the workers at the counter and took notes of the steps they go through when taking someones order.

Customer walks in
Greats customer
Takes order
Gives Customer a number
Customer takes seat
OR If the food is cold cabinet food, customer takes food to table
Gives order to kitchen out the back
OR heats order by self
Order is brought to the customers table.
Payment is made when order is being placed

Looking around the cafe, I noticed some thought out structure to the way the store runs.

WATER STATION: The cafe had a water station by the counter. This made it easier for the staff because they didn’t have to bring water over to the customer, and distract from the kitchen and greeting. This was also a benefit for the customer because they could get water as they pleased.
COUNTER: The counter was by the door and had an obvious arrow pointing “ORDER HERE” to ensure no confused customers. The counter is also by the door which minimizes aimless customers walking around the store.
TABLES: Having table numbers is an efficient way for the workers to know where the food is going, and have fast service. The tables also had boxes with condiments inside, This is a interesting way to provide condiments. It also allows customer to not have to leave their seats, as well as not calling over busy workers.

I also noticed some problems around the cafe, and also problems that I think the workers would have.

CLEANING: Shaky Isles is quite big with two levels. The store also has very high ceilings and tall windows. I think that it would be a problem for the workers to keep the seating areas clean while the cafe is packed full. It didn’t look like there were any waiters. There was also a piece of lettuce on my table when we arrived. The tall windows would be a hassle to clean, along with the large floor space.
ORDERS AND PAYMENT: Because the entrance is by the door, the customers do not have much room to line up when the cafe gets busy. Also, some customer would rather pay after getting their food. Some people don’t like to pay for something they haven’t tried yet. Some form of at table ordering and payments would minimize this.

TYPE: Food

NAME: Yogurberry

Yogurberry is a self serve frozen yoghurt chain. The store I visited was located in New Market.

Process:

The store function with a “chain” style process.

Customer choses cup
Customer self serves yoghurt
Customer chooses toppings
Chain ends at counter
Customer pays

Yogurberry has already developed a thought through process that makes the customers experience run smoothly.

BENEFITS:

CHAIN: The chain process is very smooth and easy to follow, with large signs.
PHONE CHARGING: The store has multiple phone chargers at each table. Not only does this keep the customers happy, it also draws in new customers who are looking for a place to charge their phone.

Looking around Yogurberry, I found some problems that the store could/would face.

HYGIENE: Even though the toppings are covered, they are not kept cool, and also have spaces for fruit flys to get in on hot days.
STAFF: I found that the staff were unfriendly and not very connected to the customers, since the operation is customer driven. It wasn’t a very welcoming environment.

TYPE: Transport

NAME: Train Station(s)

Auckland Transport (AT) is a day to day task that most of society use.

I wanted to look at Auckland Train Stations, to see how they run and the Process that the user goes through to get to their desired Location.

PROCESS:

Without AT card:

Buy ticket at counter or station
Go to train arrival area
Show ticket worker and be let through small gate
Go to plat form
Get on train
Watch digital location signs
Workers walk around and check tickets
Get off at stop

With AT card:

Go to train arrival area
Swipe card and let yourself through small gate
Go to Plat form
Get on train
watch digital location signs
Get off at stop
Swipe card off at arrived station

As for the process of train transport, it is clear that the process is faster and easier with an AT card. Here are some other positives when using train transport.

BENEFITS:

SIGNS: Large signs that can be seen through station. very clear directions, as well as train times
TOP UP STATIONS: easy way to top up at card
TICKET STATIONS: alternative to going to counter, rolls through faster. Can use card or cash
TIME: Trains are always on time

WHAT I NOTICED:

Here is what I noticed when taking the train

Mainly everyone were on their phones
Ticket workers didn’t check tickets
Very busy
If you purchased ticket, Long line to get in to plat form.

TYPE: Social

NAME: Courtyard/part

The New Market Courtyard area is a beautiful space, surrounded by cute cafes and stores. This public area is local to many business areas and buildings, which gives them a nice place to relax from their busy work day and eat lunch.

PROCESS/ WHAT I NOTICED:

People eating lunch
Kids and families
Workers (people is nice outfits/suits)
General mood of “happiness”
Lots of people
People there around dinner time
cafes were busy
interesting stores surrounding
Birds

This beautiful area has a central water fountain as well as other architectural benefits.

Plenty of seating
Grass is kept short and green
Flat surfaces, suitable for picnics and bike riding

TYPE: Pets

As an animal lover and pet owner myself. I personally know the pros and cons of having a pet. I thought it would be interesting to look into the process of my own Cats life, as well as seeing other peoples experiences with their pets.

PROCESS/ DAY IN THE LIFE:

sleep, sleep, and more sleeping
eating
drinking
Disappears for a while
Plays with her toys
Plays with/scratches furniture
Flea treatment and groom
Cuddles

All pets have different patterns and activities. I talked to family members, neighbors and friends to get a better idea their pets problems and activities.

A lot of feeding
walks for dogs
grooming (long haired pets)
remembering poo bags
loosing cats
pet safety, running away ( rabbit )
loud barking
leaving pets alone
where to let their pet sleep – big beds are obtrusive
cats scratching furniture
dogs ruining owners belongings
where to store dog toys
where to store cat toys
where to store cat treatments
vet appointments- booking and remembering

The problems that I personally have for caring for my cat is her bed gets in the way, and even though she has a nice bed, she prefers to sleep is a storage box.

From what the people I talked to said, I also agree that pet supply storage is annoying and hard to deal with. When my cat plays with her toys, they are hard to find over the house. I also never know where to keep her flea treatment and other medical and grooming supplies.

Chosen Focused Area: PETS

WHY PETS?:

Being a cat owner myself, I feel like I am familiar with the responsibilities that come with owning a pet, and I am not alone. According to the NZ Animal Protection Program, 68% of all New Zealand homes own at least one pet. I went out and talked to neighbours friends and family and asked them about their experiences with their pets. Just like humans, pets have different needs.

I wanted to focus on pets because of the large number of families with pets around New Zealand. I also feel that I personally have a large knowledge about owning a pet that will help me when it comes to research and development.

DUAL PURPOSE:

The two categories that I will be looking at is pet health storage and pet bedding.

When talking to other pet owners, I found that a problem a lot of people mentioned was lack of storage for pet health supplies. Where do you keep all of your pets medication and progress book? It is good to keep these supplies close to the pet, so you can keep on track with treating them. If your cat or dog doesn’t have their up to date shots, they are unable to check in to a cattery or kennel.

Another problem that people mentioned was pet bedding. I was surprised that a lot of people said that they have gotten rid of their old pet bedding because it is two obtrusive, gets destroyed or not aesthetically pleasing.

I am going to design an object that combines pet bedding with pet health storage.

PRESENTATION:

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Pet owners who live in modern compact homes face a big struggle with space. It is very hard for families in small homes who are wanting to own a pet. This inspired me to design a pet space that is unobtrusive and can easily be moved between room to room.

I decided to focus on cats. This is so I can make my product catered for cats and their needs. Cat bedding is much smaller then most dog beds and their medication is very different.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Health Storage:

Storage drawer for pet health equipment
80 x 400 x 400
Has four compartments

Pet Bedding:

Has bedding for small animal
Can fit a cat or small dog
320 x 400 x 400

Extra:

Must be comfortable for the pet
Portable. Able to be carried
Pleasurable environment
Outer dimensions : 400 x 400 x 400

Materials:

Full sized scale model
MDF
Bought cushioning

STYLE:

When deciding on a style for my design I wanted to experiment with a range of designs to find the best outcome to cater to my design brief. I played around with a range of developments.

Sketch models:

Bean Bag Concept:

An idea that I considered was incorporating a beanbag styled bed with a storage system. I thought that this would give the cat a comfortable bed that is portable. Developing on this idea, I found that it was impractical to add a storage unit. This would effect the cats comfort and would be badly attached.

Cushion concept:

Cats love pillows and cushions. From a bedding point of view, I found that this is extremely portable and comfortable. The standard shape of a pillow (400mm x 400mm) would work well with the sizing specifications I have for my final product. I could incorporate a draw underneath the pillow, creating a risen bed.

Basket concept:

The standard bought bedding for cats usually comes in the form of a soft bed or basket. I looked into this style as a concept, but soon realised it wouldn’t work. When talking to other pet owners, they all said that these forms of bedding are so obtrusive and tacky. I want to design a product that is sleek and subtle. Also, It would be hard to incorporate a type of storage, and still give the cat complete comfort.

CHOSEN DESIGN:

WHY A BOX:

The reason why I decided on the idea of a box, is because it is the most practical. The context for my design is a compact modern home, a box type design makes it easy to fit in to small spaces and is unobtrusive. The design is a simple style that would be compatible with a range of homes. The shape of the box is consistent with modern furniture. When the box style is turned around, it can discretely hide the sleeping area. And of course, everyone knows, cats love boxes.

CREATION:

I wanted my design to be 400mm x 400mm because this was the base size of a standard cushion. I started by cutting the walls, base and roof to 400 x 400.

For one of my walls, I chose a circle design. The three cut outs gives a more spacious environment for you’re cat, even though they are still closed in. The biggest circle is big enough for the cats head to fit comfortably out of. The second two holes are the appropriate size for the cats paws. This gives the cat interaction with the box and its owner. I cut this side out using solid works and the laser cutter.

I primed all my sections with MDF sealer and spray painted them white. I screwed all the sections together. I hand created the drawer and used drawer runners to give it a smooth motion.

For the drawer handle I used a silver handle that reminded me of a cats tongue. For the bedding, I used a flat cushion, perfect texture for your cats claws. I also added a soft fleece cuddly blanket.

For the drawer, I created 4 sections. Suitable for all your cats medications, including : flea treatment, worm tablets, progress book and vitamin treats.

Final Design:

The name that I came up for my product is “The Cat Cube”. This fits my product perfectly because it is frankly, a cube for a cat. I am very happy with the outcome, which I believe is due to my organisation and keeping a tight schedule.

PRESENTATION BOARD:

Organic Form Study – Lemon Squeezer

DECONSTRUCTED BRIEF:

To create an “organic handle” design for a wooden kitchen utensil of our choice. The aesthetics of the handle must be cohesive and elegant. The shape will reflect the style of grip for the utensil and can be held in more than one way. The design must be comfortable for a range of hand sizes to old, as well as look inviting and interesting.

ORGANIC FORM:

The definition for organic is “relating to or derived from living matter”. An item of “organic form” includes characteristic from nature. Sand dunes have a very beautiful organic form. The rise and fall of the sand, is an organic element that I am fascinated by. The cohesive style of the dunes would be an interesting element to experiment with when designing my handle. Waves show the effortless style of nature. The way the water rises and curls under is an organic element that would look interesting if reflected as the grip of a handle. The waves have a similar form to the sand dunes, as they both have a “rise and fall” motion. The simple, yet graceful form of a “liquid drop” is a common element found in nature. This could relate to rain, mud, tree sap etc. The sharp point stretching out to a bulbous bottom is very elegant and if reflected could create a beautiful handle.

EXISTING HANDLES:

I looked at already existing organic handles to give myself a greater understanding about what styles have a attractive outcome. When creating for a specific style, it is good to see what works and what doesn’t. I also looked at an organic door handle in my home that I use everyday.

The handle design is sleek and has a comfortable hold. It is both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Above are example of existing organic handles that I found looked elegant. As well as the door handle from my own home.

CHOSEN UTENSIL: I chose the lemon squeezer as my utensil because it is an item that is used in my household regularly. In my opinion, the excising handle is uncomfortable to hold due to its small size, causing it to be hard to form a secure grip. It is also an item that I think would be used in a large range of homes. In order to create a handle for the lemon squeezer, I wanted to document in detail how it is held to develop a comfortable grip. BREAKDOWN OF GRIPS: The top two image are the standard way to hold the lemon squeezer. The underneath images are showing that the squeezer can be held at the top for a more powerful grip, and how it can be held for a left handed user. Above is a break down of the grip when holding the lemon squeezer. The first image shows that the style of grip is a “power grip”. A power grip is when the fingers and or palm hold the object with force with the thumb pressing down with strong pressure. The second image shows the pressure points when using the lemon squeezer. The size of the targets resemble the strongest amount of precious. When designing my handle, I will cater for these attributes. I will make a handle suitable for a power grip, and be comfortable for the hands in the areas with the most pressure.

CONCEPTS:

I began by doing some quick sketches, playing with shape and different organic “blob” forms.When creating handle sketch models. I noted down a quick ‘Aesthetics’ vs ‘Function’ Bar to judge each model. This is so I can quickly look back and see the handles which had a nice balance between aesthetics and functionality.

example below:

On all my uploaded images, I recreated this to show my personal handle evaluations.

SKETCH MODEL GALLERY:

When designing my models, I went through a process of creating and developing off different models. Below is a map of the process I went through to design my chosen handle.

I chose this design because it is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. The fluid design resembles the organic features of rain drops and the effortless details in nature. The design is functional and has a comfortable hold. The curve on the underside gives a secure hold for the users fingers. The design is suitable for a powerful grip.

DEVELOPMENT:

After perusing my final design, I came to the realization that the handle is not suitable for a range of hand sizes. People with larger hands are unable to fit their fingers in the groove comfortably, and use the handle with a strong powerful grip. Their thumb is also to long to fit on the intended rest area.

To make my design more functional for a range of users, I think I will make my design longer. The length of the design will cater to a range of hand sizes with comfort. I also want to make more room for the pressure point of the hand. I can do this by making a dent in the handle.

I began by doing some quick sketches based on the organic shape and form of my previous model.

I experimented with different shaped and sizes, stretching out my original design. I narrowed it down to 4 favored designs. I developed these handles to create a functional, elegant final design.

Development models:

I did an in depth evaluation so I had a strong idea on what aspects worked on each model. This helped me to create the ultimate handle that would be developed in all categories.

I clay modeled over a spare lemon squeezer to give myself a true representation of how the complete design with feel and look. My developed design is more elegant then the previous version. The length creates more room for the hand and the indent on the side creates a comfortable grip, focusing on the pressure points. The design is both functional and beautiful. The high points relate to the sand dunes and waves with the one longer and shorter sides. The indent are effortless and simple, very similar to the characteristics of nature.

Below you can see the comfort that both a small hand and a big hand have when holding the handle. I huge development from the previous model.

I added “flow lines” over the clay model to give a better idea idea of the organic form and shape of my final handle design. The sand dune form wraps around the handles side.

If my product was to be mass manufactured. The mold would be created with a join line down the middle. This is because the sides are symmetrical along this way and would ensure a smooth connection. The handle would be created with plastic injection molding.

Part line map out:

CREATION:

My first steps in the creation process was purchasing all materials needed.

Materials used:

Next I cut my lemon squeezer just above the point where I wanted the handle to connect.

I glued sheets of MDF together and drilled a hole in the middle of the same diameter. I drew my cut lines on all sides.

I cut away at my shape and sanded it down to create a smooth design that was the same and my clay model.

To create the side indent, I used a file and sanded it down to a comfortable size for all users.

Once happy, I sealed the wood with MDF sealer.

I also spray primed my handle to give a very smooth, flawless finish. For the top coat I used white spray paint and glued the lemon squeezer end inside the handle.

FINAL DESIGN:

Final design in different holds:

PRESENTATION BOARD:

TURNTABLE- EXTENDED FORM STUDY

INVESTIGATION:

Above is a sample of turntable designs that interested me. I looked at styles ranging from vintage through to designer. The turntable designs had some similarities, such as the main features. I wanted to look into the standard elements that all turntables have to make them work. I wanted to ensure that my final design was functional and had all the necessary elements.

Elements:

Speed calibration
Tone control
Volume control
Balance control (L or R)
Tone arm rest
Platter
Spindle
Finger lever
Needle
Cartridge
On/off switch

INSPIRATION:

For inspiration I looked at a variety of different examples. Since turntables are made for an inside environment, I started by looking at different styles of furniture.

“Floating Furniture” is a style that fascinates me. Furniture is created in a way to make it look like it is floating above the ground. In some cases, it can also look like the objects are protruding out of the wall. This is often used in floating staircases and shelves.

Floating furniture is very minimal, which I like. I wanted to design my turntable in a style that makes it look like it is hovering above the surface that it will sit on. I want my turntable to be able to mesh well with a range of different environments so that it will suit a wide range of consumers lifestyles and homes.

I want the motor of my turntable to be unseen. I like how the ‘coffee maker’ designs I looked at have a basic exterior with the busy mechanisms hidden inside. By having the motor hidden, it gives a clean and minimal appearance. The features shown on the outside are unobtrusive wich gives a well rounded final outcome.

For the ‘style’ of my turntable, I took inspiration from the designer Dieter Ram.

Design should not dominate things, should not dominate people. It should help people. That’s its role.
-Dieter Ram

I want my design to be functional and work with ease for the user. The idea of my design is to be neat and unobtrusive. Dieter Ram’s designs usually have rounded edges and smooth surfaces. The colours that he uses are usually white combined with another “subtle” colour.

IDEAS:

I began experimenting with different ideas for turntables, based on the research I had gathered. I was looking mainly into the top surface of my turntable design. I wanted this to be the main focal point, since I wanted to create a “floating” type design.

Here are a couple of my sketch pages.

I created sketch models out of foam to give myself an idea of what my designs would look like as a full sized model. Sketch models are useful to see how the proportions of the features will look amongst each other and in comparison to the dominant feature in the model.

When creating my sketch models I developed a design that I thought worked really well and that I could develop into a final design.

CHOSEN DESIGN FEATURES:

“Floating Top Layer”- The top surface will have over handing edges. This is so the box bass will appear hidden from certain angles. This will make the surface with the record on it appear to be floating above the surface that the turntable is placed.
“Hidden Motor”- The motor is hidden inside the main ‘box’ element of the turntable. Just like a coffee machine, the hidden mechanisms makes the final design look clean cut and minimal.
“Levels”- The sliders on the side are levels that control features such as volume, treble and bass.
“Speed Control”- A dial that controls the speed of that the record spins
“Balance”– A slider located on the front of the turntable that controls the strength of sound coming out from the left or right side.
“On/Off”- A switch located at the front of the turntable.
“Outputs”- Two outputs are located at the back of the turntable to plug in the speakers. Red= Right, Black= Left

CREATION:

When creating my final design, I wanted to make it out of MDF and Gold Foam. I wanted to use MDF as the main material because I am able to spray paint it white to give my design a more accurate feeling of what my turntable would look like as a manufactured product. For the features on the top layer of the turntable, I wanted to use gold foam because it is easy to work with and creates a contrast with the MDF, in both colour and texture. This makes the features more prominent, also if my product was manufactured, the top features would be a similar colour to the foam. The record plate will also be MDF and white because it will make the record look like it is floating above the surface.

PROCESS:

My first steps for creating my turntable was to gather the materials needed.

Materials:

MDF (23mm thick) comfortable thickness to hold. Light enough to carry around. Durable.
Gold Foam
Wood primer
White spray paint
PVA (gorilla glue)
Solvent free glue (for gold foam)
Sand paper
Letraset

To begin the process I mapped out the size of my turntable of a piece of MDF, making sure I made enough room for the record to spin. I then measured and cut out the pieces of foam that I needed for the turntable features. I laid them down on the MDF to give myself a feel of how they will look once my turntable has been constructed. I carefully sanded down the foam to give the features smooth edges surfaces and even edges.

I then cut out the “box”sides for the top surface of my turntable to sit on. I wanted the underneath box to sit 3cm in on each side from the top surface. This is a comfortable distance for the users hands to grasp the sides in order to move the turntable around. It also made the bass unobtrusive, so the top layer still appeared to “float”.

I sanded down all sections of MDF, then coated in wood primer filler, then sanded the sections down again. I finished by adding a coat of white spray paint. I then connected all the sections and finished with a final coat of spray paint.

After glueing down the foam features, I added the text needed using a Letraset. I thought that this gave my design a clean finish and was more polished than writing the text on by hand. I made the record plate able to spin, to give my turntable a more realistic finish.

FINAL DESIGN:

GALLERY

DOMINANT, SUB-DOMINANT and SUBORDINATE

TASK:

Create 15 solid models using foam. The model needed to be split into three sections, Dominant, Sub-dominant and Subordinate.

Dominant: The main section of the model, usually the biggest section.

Sub-Dominant: The second most prominent section.

Subordinate: The most minimal and least obtrusive section.

EXAMPLE:

15 Foam Models:

When creating my models I wanted to stick to the brief and only use three main sections. I played around with different sizes of shapes and ways of connection each section. I experimented with different techniques such as having the subdominant section extruding through the dominant shape, and having the subordinate shape hanging off the edge of the model.

MASS STUDY/CAMERA:

The next task was to “explore and then make a form study suggestive of a compact camera” out of gold foam.

For my camera design I wanted to keep it simple, to ensure that the three sections (Dominant, Sub-dominant and subordinate).

The inspiration for my camera design came from the style of a T.V remote. I wanted my camera to be light and easy to handle, perfect size to be carried around in the users hand. The style of remote that I was interested in was one with clean rounded edges, and minimal detail, giving a smooth look to the final design.

My main inspiration was the “apple tv” remote. This design is very discreet with its small size and lack of buttons. I personally like the metal material and curved edges.

Inspiration Images:

CAMERA DESIGN SKETCH MODELS:

FINAL DESIGN:

For my final design I wanted to play around with features that made my camera design unique. I designed a screen style that tilts out from the camera body, to give ease for the user when taking a held held image at a low or high angle. The This features makes it so the user doesn’t have to hassle of carrying around a tripod when taking photos out and about. The tilted screen takes up the entire backside of the camera to give a wide, clear viewing space. I sanded down the edges to give a smooth outcome, similar to the style of a remote.

CAMERA IN CONTEXT:

PROPORTIONAL RELATIONSHIP:

Dominant, Sub-dominant and Subordinate

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

TASK:

For my two household items, I chose my travel sized hair dryer and a stool that sits in our lounge.

I use both of these items most days, below I have assessed the ‘compositional logic’, of the items and looked for evidence of a considered composition. I found it very interesting to take a moment to think about the design process of items I don’t think twice about, but am constantly using.

WHAT IS DESIGN?

Positioning Statement:

I believe that design could be justified as the process of creating a product for a specific function. It is a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is made.

Design can create a considerable impact on societies everyday life, and I think that It is very important for designers to ensure that the design experience is positive and fulfilling. The process of design helps to determine peoples experiences with products and other forms of Design. This results in the outcome of how a user with respond to a form of design, which will than contribute to the success of the product.

I find the process of design very interesting, “conceive, plan and realise”. It is very important, that when designing a product, you develop on your ideas to produce an item that reaches its full potential with both aesthetics and its functionality.

I think that when designing, it is very important to look into the “deeper issues”, I agree that “in order to design a successful product, you need to meet a higher order of human needs”. (insert pic)
Over the next few months I would like to expand my knowledge of design, and look into the work of a range of established designers. Even though I am only a beginner, I am also very interested in the technology side of design, I would like to advance of my computer skills.

I want to become a designer as my career because I want to develop my ideas to produce products that help society in a revolutionary and positive way. I love design, and looking at inspiration from other designers. I am really looking forward to Product Design this year, as a starting point to a future life in design.

What Is Good And Bad Design?

When considering whether a product is a “good” or “bad” design. It is helpful to look into existing judgment criterias that have been produced by previous designers. A design criteria is a “checklist” that you can follow to insure that you have covered all the features that you want to include and to produce a “product” that has been developed to its full potential.

This is important because it gives the designer a wider understanding into the ideas of design by comparing the ways that design is “judged” and how the idea of final design can be seen as “good”, useful, aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Dieter Rams is a German industrial designer closely associated with the consumer products company Braun and the Functionalist school of industrial design.

Here is Dieter Ram’s current thinking on defining “good design” for product.

I wanted to see how a profound designer “judges” design to decide what consists of good design for him personally. Dieter Ram follows a style of design “less is more” which is a statement that I also agree with in instances when designing.

I consider the “IPhone” to be a good example of a technological outcome. Below I have tested it against the above judgement criteria to see how it would stand against Dieter Rams criteria in being a good design.

Is innovative –Yes, the IPhone is innovative. It is constantly featuring new attributes and updated aspects. Also, new generations are created to give a wider range of qualities to appeal to wider audiences. It is created with advanced technology.
Makes a product useful – yes, you can basically achiever anything with an IPhone. It has applications for almost everything, including a quality camera (for the price) and of course calling and messaging.
Is aesthetic – yes, it is slim with no sharp edges and a large screen. The size is perfect to fit in your pocket and take on the go. The sleek curves give a modern look, and the screen is big enough to see everything clearly and comfortably.
Makes a product understandable– yes, It is easy to use with a clear, neat layout.
Is unobtrusive – yes, it is a small device made with neutral colours, therefore is discrete. Though you can customise it with cases and colours.
Is honest – I believe that the IPhone is a great product and the hype is truly worth it. Though, I am not stating that is is superior to other phones.
Is long-lasting – No. New models continue to come out with better features, which makes the olders appear outdate quite fast. Also technology is continually updating and I believe in the future the Iphone will be in the past as a “new phone” will become the future.
Is thorough down to the last detail – yes, it appears all aspects have been considered carefully.
Is environmentally friendly – yes, they are not disrupting the environment.
Is has little design as possible – A lot of design procedures went into to create the Iphone. No. It has advanced technology and has had a lot of thought and effort put into creating it.

The Iphone ‘scores’ 8/10 according to what “Dieter Ram” believes is a good design. I Think that this shows how well the IPhone is as a design. It is simple, yet complex. It is aesthetically pleasing and is easy to function. It is honest and is thorough down to the last detail.

Another Product that I think is a good design is this Gun Kettle designed by Richard Sapper.

“The 9091 was Alessi’s first designer kettle, ushering in a long and successful tradition. The central element in the design is the brass whistle which, when the steam exits, produces a short and pleasant melody. Richard Sapper wanted to avoid the usual anxiety-generating noise produced by other kettles then on the market, and by following this exquisitely poetic philosophy he produced what is probably the first multisensory object for the kitchen.”

–Alessi.com

I have also tested this design along side the Dieter Ram Criteria.

Is innovative – Yes, the Kettle is innovative. Richard Sapper introduced a feature that was “new to the market” he experimented with the uncomfortable sound that a kettle usually produces, and created a pleasant tune that is more settling to the target market.
Makes a product useful – yes, the kettle can be used for boiling water (ordinary kettle functions)
Is aesthetic – yes, the designs main element is the brass feature that produces the sound. The colours and rounded style of the spout match perfectly with the round sleek reflective surface of the kettles body. It is understated, yet appealing to look at.
Makes a product understandable– yes, It still follows the ‘traditional’ style and carries out the acts of a kettle easily and functional.
Is unobtrusive – yes, it is an ordinary size of a kettle, and the reflective stainless steel surface creates a way for the product to blend in with many surroundings. The colours to not “clash”, they work well together and are muted.
Is honest – Yes, this design is produced to boil water which is the function of a kettle. It works well and is successful tradition.
Is long-lasting – The heavy duty stainless steel used is designed to withhold boiling water. The product has been designed to last.
Is thorough down to the last detail – yes, it appears all aspects have been considered carefully. Including materials, (athletics) and it is also functional.
Is environmentally friendly – yes, they are not disrupting the environment.
Is has little design as possible – There are no extra features that have been added to make the Gun Kettle obtrusive. The design follows the style of a traditional kettle. The main design feature is the brass spout.

Richard Sappers design has scored a 10/10 according to what “Dieter Ram” believes is a good design. I Think that this shows how well the kettle is as a design. The brass feature that produces a pleasant whistle is a very well thought out element that is beneficial to the user, in the way that they don’t have to put up with a loud overwhelming sound. The design is also very aesthetically pleasing and would work well in a range of kitchens.

Bad Design:

I believe that “bad designs” are outcomes that have not been thought through in depth and developed in detail. By following a design criteria, or creating your own, it is an effective way of making sure, you as a designer, have taking every element mentioned in to consideration.

I think that all of Dieter Rams 10 points can help to create a good piece of design.

Saying that, I don’t believe that they are needed to be included in the creation of a “good” design. It is always a good idea if they are considered, because they would add to creating a better design in some situations, but not definitely needed. For example, the Iphone is a world wide used product that does not meet the expectations of Dieter Rams requirements.

When considering a good design, it is important to realise that Judgement criteria is constantly changing.

Here are 3 contemporary judgement criteria that have become prevalent over the last 30 years, and the reasons why criteria for judging the quality of design have changed over time.

Recyclable– Recyclable designs have become a popular aspect to consider when it comes to designs. I think that this is because people want to purchase products that make them feel good in the way of helping the planet. This idea has become more popular over the past 30 years because people have a broader knowledge of recycling and what can harm our earth.

Fair Trade- An example of fair trade related designs, is the creation of fair trade chocolate.

Fair trade benefits: Fairtrade cocoa offers farmers an opportunity to make a real living, as the Fairtrade Standards include a Minimum Price. A Fairtrade Premium is added to the purchase price and is used by cooperatives for social and economic investments such as education, health services, processing equipment and loans to members. These benefits is what caused people to buy fair trade products, which leads to more companies creating them.

Locally Sourced Materials– An example of this is locally sourced foods. New Zealand lamb is distributed all around the world. Over the last 30 years, people want to buy meat that is locally sourced. This is because people want to know that they are buying from there home town which pleases them.

New criteria effects design decision making. This is because new updated design criteria used are targeted at specific people to interest them in buy products. Without the use of them, people with would not have new up to date innovative designs.