Ground for Ground

Project 2 Reflection

This studio project definitely did bring some new challenges when considering the whole product service system rather than just the product. Usually we just have to design a product that is a one package deal. I definitely found it more difficult to design a PSS than a product. It required a much deeper level of thinking as there was so much more involved. I think making this project a group project enabled us to create a much better solution for coffee compost than what would be achievable if I attempted this project on my own.

I think it is important for designers to consider the whole picture PSS included. Being mindful of a PSS is all a part of research and development. Even if the product doesn’t need its own new system it might be able to piggy back an already existing one.

I think what I liked most about designing a PSS is that it forced me to really visualise (through research and concept development) the product’s use from start to finish. Even though this is something we do all the time when designing in this project you really had to more so that you could apply it to a real life scenario to enable you to design a system that it could be used in. The worst thing about designing a PSS for this project was that you were required to create a new tangible product when sometimes the best solution was to use a simple interface or to use an already existing product and change it slightly. That wasn’t a problem our found with our project but something that a lot of people had with theirs.

The thing that I will take most from this assignment and incorporate into my next studio assignment is designing for the bigger picture. Not just considering my proposed design but the people and environment that interacts with it.

On a whole I was really happy with my group’s coffee composting system Ground for Ground. The way that we had designed it it could be easily adapted to suit most cafes. I think this PSS is something that cafe proprietors would want to have in their establishments as it promotes sustainability, is low cost and would attract a like crowd that fair trade coffee does. Most of all it brings societal change through people taking responsibility for the waste and channelling it into something other than landfill. 

I am really pleased with how well we worked together as a group. Everybody made a great and equal contribution to this project; we all focused on our strengths and pulled them together to create a really great PSS that we are all proud of. I am really glad we made such a great group! Go team!!

Video Reflection 2D

The Genius of Design

Episode 4 – Better Living Through Chemistry

It was very interesting watching this episode of Genius of Design to see the rise of plastic. I guess it is something that I have taken for granted that plastic was always around but as they say plastic doesn’t grow on trees. It had to be created by someone. As I am exposed to a countless amount of plastic products everyday I never really give much them much thought. Like Robin day’s Polyprop chair I must have sat on them hundreds of times in different venues but I never considered the history behind it or who designed it. I guess I never really saw it as a product that was designed but just something that came into existence when the big bang happened. Sometimes I think that some of the greatest products are not seen as designed but they are just seen as a staple part of our society. 

Just like the road sign format I never really gave any consideration to who made that a standard design. I always find it really interesting when I see the different design considerations that go into things like how from certain distances you don’t read the word but just recognise the overall shape of the word. It makes me realise how research and prototyping really does improve, refine and perfect a design.

Something that really did resonate with me was what someone said towards the end of the episode about how our society will leave behind plastics for historians. I think that is a bit sad about how our way of life is so dependent on plastic.