by bensu.kaya -

🟦 01_Ideation

Hi! Last semester, my research topic was „Approaching Basic Senses Using Interaction: A Journey Into The Multi-Sensory Experience.“ I gathered extensive information on how and where multi-sensory design is used and its importance.

This semester, I want to continue exploring multi-sensory and experience design. I began with a brainstorming session using the card sorting method, writing down my wishes, inspirations, and questions.

What I want? How I want?

  • A multi sensory protoype
  • Immersive experience
  • Futuristic but not realistic?
  • Innovative idea
  • I want to make people FEEL something
  • Maybe spatial experience? Through various senses/materials
  • Dive into human interaction with senses
  • I wanna do something cool!!!! But how tho? 🙂

Real and Hard Questions

  • Do I wanna fix a problem, have a goal?
  • How can I use my skills, my knowledge in this project?
  • What I wanna experiment with the tools I have?
  • Do I wanna create an artistic experience?
  • What I wanna learn in the end?
  • What is my inso? Do I have any source that I wanna work on?
  • Do I wanna improve or create, a product or service?

Reflection of Card Sorting

After this exercise, I realized I wanted to create something cool with an artistic approach. Seeing all my questions and concerns together was helpful, even though I didn’t land on a specific idea during the process.

I then placed potential ideas on post-it notes and asked ChatGPT for additional inspiration. Despite this, none of the ideas fully satisfied me, and the wide range of topics left me feeling lost.

Next step

The next step is to continue searching for ideas. I plan to discuss my project with Ms. Bachleri, hoping her feedback will help me find a clear direction.

by mathilde.bogen -

17 | Ideation 2

In this blogpost, I will pick up where I left off and introduce two new concepts.

CONCEPT 3

What:

Sustainability score on shoes. Inspired by the Exhibition Design Trend workshop in the International Design Week.

Why:

There are a lot of greenwashing happening and it can be difficult to know what kind of shoes are more environmental friendly then others. While one might assume that vegan leather shoes are better for the environment, some are produced using toxic chemicals. Implementing a sustainability score can help consumers make more informed choices and purchase genuinely eco-friendly footwear.

How:

The score system would be similar to the nutrition score on food. The score should represent the environmental impact from the whole life cycle of shoes, including: raw material extraction, raw material processing, manufacturing, assembly, packaging production, transport and disposal. The score can either be stamped on the soles of the shoes or placed on the shoe boxes. They should also be visible when people are buying shoes in shoe stores.

Challenges and opportunities:

  • It can be difficult to collect the data from the whole life cycle of shoes. How willing are brands to share this information?

Status quo:

No similar scoring system currently exists.

CONCEPT 4

What:

Modular shoes. A shoe brand where all the different parts of the shoe can be replaced. Inspired by the phone company Fairphone where all the different parts on the phone can be fixed and nothing is glued shut.

Why:

When shoes are worn out, there are usually parts of the shoe that are totally fine. By using a shoe where different parts can be replaced easily, the lifetime of the shoes will be extended dramatically.

How:

The concept revolves around a modular shoe design, where the different main parts of the shoe can be taken apart from each other. The mechanism should be user-friendly and robust to ensure secure attachment of the parts. When a component wears out and requires replacement, you simply order a new part. Instead of throwing the pair, users can easily order a replacement part, which will extend the lifespan of the shoes and reduce waste. This modular approach enables effortless customization. This innovation helps the environment and gives people more options for their shoes that last longer.

Challenges and opportunities:

  • Can be challenging to create the attachment mechanism.

Status quo:

There have been some projects where people have tried to create a modular shoe.

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by mathilde.bogen -

16 | Ideation 1

After organizing the topic into different areas, I have more clarity and I am ready to continue the ideation phase. While I was reflecting upon the different problem areas, the ideation process already started. Ideas popped into my head and I tried to write them down as soon as possible. In this blogpost I will present some of the ideas.

CONCEPT 1

What:

Rental of shoes

Why:

Fast fashion and trends that evolve fast makes it challenging for people to stay stylish without overconsuming shoes, but rental of shoes will make this possible. This can also be a solution for those needing shoes for special occasions, such as the one time a year when heels are required for a formal event. By renting shoes, you can find shoes that better match your outfit and avoid the need for unnecessary purchases.

How:

There are two types of users:

  • People that have a monthly subscription where they can rent a specific amount of shoes every month. If they like some pairs better, they can keep them for several months and still swap the other pairs of shoes.
  • People that want to rent a pair of shoes for one single usage.

There might be hygienic concerns from users regarding wearing shoes that others have previously used. This can be solved by addressing that the shoes will be thoroughly cleaned after each rental.

This concept can either be app-based, where users find the shoes they want to rent in an app and they are then delivered to the users house, or it can be store-based, where there is an actual store where customers can visit a physical location to try on shoes before renting them. Alternatively, a combination of both app and store could be an option.

Challenges and opportunities:

  • Not sure how willingly people are to use shoes others have used before them
  • Might be an option to focus on children shoes

Status quo:

Similar concepts exist, most are tailored specifically for designer shoes and only for one time rentals.

CONCEPT 2

What:

App that informs you about what to do with your worn out shoes

Why:

It can be difficult to know what to do with your worn out shoes. Is it possible to fix them at all? Can I fix them myself or do I need the help form cobblers? This app will guide you through different scenarios and what you will need to do in order to extend the lifetime of your shoes.

How:

The user would start by defining the problem area. First off the user must choose the correct type of shoe, and then which part of the shoe that is worn and need to be repaired. Then the repairing options that is fitting would be shown and the user must navigate to find the one that suits their problem best. Then there would be instructions on how to repair the shoe, what kind of equipment you would need and videos showing how to do it.

If the problem is too complex, the app would suggest the user to go to a cobbler and get it fixed there. It could also be an option that the user could book an appointment with a cobbler in the app.

Another possible feature is a scanner where the user can scan their shoes, and the app would suggest how to fix them.

Challenges and opportunities:

  • Not sure how to get people to use the app

Status quo:

No similar apps currently exist. However, there is a website where individuals can contribute and share instructions on how to repair specific parts of a shoe.

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by mert.altinoez -

12 | Ideation 🌱

This semester, our task is to delve deeper into our topics and begin prototyping. By the end of the semester, we should have a refined prototype, which we’ll present through a short video. Although we’re expected to jump straight into prototyping, I wanted to start with some ideation first, as I wasn’t sure what I wanted to work on. Here’s a summary of my ideation phase.

Instead of using formal ideation techniques, I decided to sit down, reread my blog posts, and review my notes. From this brainstorming session, I came up with a few possible approaches:

  1. WebSus: This idea is for a website focused on sustainable web design and development. The website itself would be designed to be as efficient and accessible as possible, minimizing energy consumption. The content would cover topics like low-impact design, planet-centered design, sustainable UX (SUX), accessibility, and green coding. It would also provide toolkits, frameworks, and resources for web designers and developers interested in sustainability.
  2. DigiNap: This would be a mobile and computer application that reminds users to take breaks from their devices by turning them off. The goal is to encourage users to take breaks from the digital world, with the timing of breaks based on their screen time. For example, a 10-15 minute break every 1.5 hours.
  3. Digital Activities Tracker: This background application for smartphones and computers would track the user’s internet usage, including downloads and uploads. It would convert the data into an easy-to-understand and relatable unit to raise awareness about the environmental impact of their digital activities.
  4. Fake News Alarm: This background application would scan the content of opened webpages and highlight potential misinformation. If potential fake news is found, the application would display a trustworthy scientific source disproving the statement via a hover effect.
  5. Focused UI/UX: This would be a non-distracting user interface and experience launcher for Android-based smartphones and tablets. All the features of the smartphone would still be available, but without flashy icons, pop-ups, and other distractions.

While these ideas aren’t fully fleshed out and some may not be entirely realistic, I need to develop 2-3 low-fidelity prototypes before the next class. Therefore, I’ll work with what I have. I’ll write about and showcase my lofi prototypes in the next blog post. Cheers!

by lucas.nuss -

Calm Technology // 11

With the start of my second Master semester, the focus of my Design & Research topic will shift from a theoretical literature and web research focus to a more hands-on iterative prototyping phase. After coming to the conclusion last semester that the true strength of calm technology lies in converters that materialise the digital and visualise the analog. I decided to start there because as digitalisation progresses, the creation of such converters becomes increasingly important. If we do not use them to force the digital into our reality, the risk of getting drawn into and lost in digitality will increase. With products like the Apple Vision Pro, the pull towards digitality is getting stronger and stronger, so I think it is time for products/converters that create a pull in the opposite direction. To REALITY.

Ideation

To start prototyping, the first step was to come up with an idea. I decided to use mind maps to collect all the directions, associations and inputs that had stuck with me from the research phase. I started with a general mind map on the topic of calm technology and then branched into two more around ideas that emerged from the first mind map.

The first branch of the general mind map was the idea of a universal visualiser that could convert digital information into analogue signals such as light, sound and position. Without the use of a traditional display.

The second branch is based on an open source project from a few years ago called Little Signals from Google, which I found during my research last semester. The concept is to translate digital information into natural patterns like movement, shadows, sound, etc. with a series of objects in an experimental but calming way.

After evaluating the possible approaches that emerged from these mind maps. I decided to use the starting point of Google’s Little Signals project, more specifically the Tap object from the series. Firstly, because it would not have been possible to pursue the universal visualiser in a meaningful and sensible way in the space of one semester and with my current skills & abilities. And secondly, the concept of Little Signals is still in a very experimental state, but promises a lot of unfulfilled potential. Because it does not yet have any concrete applications in the real world. And it is precisely this potential that I want to explore through prototyping and find out if it lives up to its promise. The Tap object was chosen from the series because it combines the most communication possibilities in one object and therefore promises to be the most versatile of them all.

Roadmap

// Exploring the Open Source Project
// Paper Mock-Ups
// Planning and assessing Project scope
// Initial Prototyping
// Testing
// Refined Prototyping
// Testing
// 🔁
// Final Prototyping
// Exploring possible applications
// Experimenting with different applications