REFLECTING I GNITCELFER

Okay so I'm having fun with the index parameter. It's refreshing to be drawing something that is not the stapler. It definitely allows more room to play. I had a hard time with "nirvana" though, the synthesis of two sketches only felt perfect a couple times.. twenty was a stretch.. but hey. whatevs. My favorite was the typography.. I will upload a picture when I get around to scanning it. Buuuut for now, here are some index sketches:

REFLECTING.... and thinking..... and making...

So the sketching is still in progress. I like the parameter that requires we use an alternate marking tool. So far I've used an eraser over vine charcoal and a screw. My favorite alternate making tool thus far is the screw. I dipped it in India ink and used it to try to draw the stapler. It was  hard to manipulate the outcome.. I guess that was the point though... 

Reflecting... this time on sketches...

The first three sketches of the stapler that i did

So far I've done about 125 sketches of my hand tool (the stapler). It's been somewhat interesting. I've really had to stretch my imagination in order to depict it so much. Some of the markings and sketches help me to see a new aspect of the stapler that I would not have "seen" if I had not drawn it under that method. 

REFLECTING... this time on Comics..

I thought that the comics reading was interesting. It was definitely more philosophical than I expected it to be. But then again I guess that reflects the whole message. In chapter 2 the author talked about how the pictures in comics are simplified so that the message is amplified. The comics in the chapter were simple, direct, and did not interfere with the message that was being delivered. The chapters touched on subjects that most people never really think about. I wouldn't even really recognize words as a symbol, because honestly, I don't even recognize words anymore. Words are such a part of my everyday life that I don't even really think about them, I just think about the message that give me, ah, but i guess I just proved the point of the readings... 

I also liked when the author was discussing how we project ourselves into everything. We learn how to use objects to be extensions of ourselves. We learn how to recognize ourselves in things that look nothing like us. We design the world in our image, because that's the only think we innately relate to. Using this as a building block, I liked how the author talked about abstracting what we see and feel in a sensual context, allows comics to seem simple, but actually be very conceptual.

Paint Roller: The Prototyping Phase 2

Travis, Lori, Colleen, and I decided that we wanted to meet up on Sunday to build a better prototype. We met at Michael's to buy some materials and then took the party over to my place.

A saw was used to do what a pair of scissors could've done with ease.

.... but it got the job done..

Colleen got crazy with the glue

The Semi-final prototype

Paint Roller: The Prototyping Phase

This week in class Travis, Lori, Colleen, and I started building prototypes for our new and much improved paint roller. However before we even started building, we picked and synthesized elements from our ideas that we thought the final paint roller should possess. 

(Lori's sketches)

(Travis's sketches)

We wanted the new roller to have:

1- a more comfortable grip

2- an extender built in

3- a paint spraying feature 

4- ball bearing rotators (for a smoother roll)

5- even weight distribution 

6- a better sponge/cloth material on the actual roller

With all of these elements in mind we started building our elaborate prototype with none other than: cardboard, masking tape, foamcore, and crazy glue. How profoundly sophisticated eh?

Handle

Truly breathtaking teamwork

Prototype 1 complete

Prototype #2 is like the sibling that no one should talk about. It just turned out weirdly and if I wasn't part of it's conception, then I would gladly give it away. Alas, it should be shown, you know, for good measure.. so here she is: 

Paint Roller in progress

Okay so in class on tuesday I grouped up with Colleen, Travis, and Lori. We decided to choose a paint roller to redesign.


We started off with some good ideas.

 

Then the process slowed down considerably...

Fortunately we were able to pick back up on some momentum. 

We generated and organized oven more ideas. 

Interviews: The Paint Roller Series

Okay home improvement painting is one of those events that doesn't happen that often. However, when it does happen, there tends to be a large amount of painting that needs to be done. So quite a bit of painting (in not that much time) begs for convenient and efficient painting methods. What about paint rollers? Sure, they're more efficient than you're average paint brush, but they are not without faults. I walked away from priming and painting my room with more blisters than I wanted. I probably won't have to do much of painting for a while, but when I do, I'd like to use a tool that doesn't reduce my hands to steaming pustules. With this in mind, I am hoping that there are a couple ways to make paint rollers even more user-friendly. In addition to my own ideas for improvement I've asked a couple people what they think about paint rollers. 

Interview 1- Molly Heinhuis (esteemed roommate)

Q: Molly, when was the last time you used a paint roller?

A: I painted my room around a month ago. 

Q: Oh I see, so what did you like about the paint roller?

A: They are time efficient and the coats appear smooth. They allow anyone to be a good painter.

Q: About how long did you paint for Molly?

A: I painted my room. It took about two hours to finish. 

Q: What did you dislike about your paint roller experience?

A: I had to reapply paint too many times. Also, I got blisters on both of my hands. My shoulders also shoulders got sore. 

Q: That's too bad Molly. What improvements would you like to see in the paint roller?

A: I'd like a paint roller that pumped paint, so I wouldn't have to dip it so much. I think a squishier handle would be better, possibly a handle with flames on it?

Interview 2- Melissa Miller (esteemed roommate #2)

Q: So Melissa, have you used a paint roller recently?

A: Yes, I primed and painted a hallway a couple weeks ago. 

Q: About how long did that take?

A: It took about three hours over all to complete the job.

Q: Thats quite a bit of work. Did you find the paint roller useful?

A: It was much more convenient that a paint brush. It was faster and the paint rolled on more evenly.

Q: Was there anything that you found inconvenient about the paint roller?

A: Sure, I had to use both hands. I got blisters and my callouses got harder. 

Q: What would you like to change about a paint roller that you might use in the future?

A: I want the wheel to turn more smoothly. I think that softer grips on the handles would make it better.

Interview 3- Joey (cooperative neighbor)

Q: Have you used a paint roller relatively recently?

A: Sure I have.

Q: When painting, why do you choose the paint roller?

A: It rolls real well. It's efficient.

Q: That's good to hear. In your opinion, are there any drawbacks to paint rollers?

A: Sometimes the paint splashes onto me. 

Q: What is the most you've painted in one session?

A: An entire house in one day. 

Q: Well congratulations, thats quite a feat. Since you use the paint roller so much, what do you think could make them a more useful tool?

A: I didn't really have any problems with the paint roller.

Interview 4- Dylan (concise neighbor) 

Q: So have you used a paint roller recently?

A: Yeah.

Q: That's good. What did you find useful about it?

A: It was faster than a paint brush.

Q: What did you dislike about the roller?

A: I didn't like when it splattered onto me.

Q: Yeah, thats a drag. When you painted, did you paint for a long time?

A: I don't know.

Q: Okay, thanks. What would you change about the design of paint rollers?

A: I want the end of the roller to screw in more tightly to the dowel.

Interview 5- Hilary Richardson (H) and Ryan Cloud (R)

(esteemed roommate #3 and accompaniment)

Q: When was the last time that you guys put a paint roller to use?
A: (H) This past august. (R) Yea, we painted her room pink.
Q: Sounds amazing. What did you like about the paint roller?
A: (H) The screw on extender, definitely. (R) Yea, that was a life saver actually. The paint also went on relatively thickly, so that was helpful.
Q: What did you find disconcerting about the paint roller?
A: (H) Sometimes the paint would be splotchy and uneven. (R) That's true. We had to do three coats.
Q: That sounds like quite a bit of labor you guys. How long did the whole process take you?
A: (H) Geez, a couple days... (R) Yep. Three days to be specific.
Q: What a pain. If you could change anything about the paint roller, what would you want to alter?
A: (H) Maybe it could be a little bit bigger. It would be cool if there were stencil patterns on it. (R) A cushion on the handles would definitely make it more comfortable.

IDEO Summary

The IDEO movie was really interesting to me. It was refreshing to see a successful business that has such a non-traditional approach to their work. I liked how they are encouraged to “ask for forgiveness rather than permission.” Their company encouraged creativity and outlandish ideas. Usually there is an employee caste system, however, the employees were not really ranked and did not have titles. I thought that this concept was very progressive. IDEO’s laid-back approach aids in their creative process. Employees are encouraged and work in teams, rather than working alone and being rushed to personal deadlines. It is evident that the people who work for IDEO are having a good time. Much of their work is innovative and playful, which mirrors the way that they work quite accurately.