Even if you're not totally interested in camera's, this site describing Nikon Camera Design is still extraordinary interesting. A step by step look at design and ergonomics.

Here's one talking about the design process with Canon Camera's.

Take a look.

Mm, should have posted these photos from last years exhibition a little earlier but never the less, here they are.

The top is from the UTS exhibition and the bottom is from ours. The UTS space is actually quite nice and they've managed to utilise it well. It just doesn't feel right if our own were to be put in the foyer of the FBE building. UTS actually puts out most of their students design work and the way they structure their graphics is quite impressive, I dare say, even ahead of ours. The Flex one in particular is very well done. Having said that, professionally printed posters is very nice, but it feels a smidge too wordy. By all means, we've got most of our model making skills to shine (kudos of course goes to Pete and Tony) but I wish we had more space in the bond to show the posters that the students actually designed (which is actually on show in the Design Lab at Uni).

This might be a bit forward, but I've been contemplating what it would be like if UTS, UNSW, UWS or even the Tafe colleges had a combined show. I had recently passed through a design/jewellery exhibition and sales at Carriage works and the place is absolutely fitting. It's just been renovated, it has plenty of space, and it just feels right. If you haven't been there, go and check it out when they hold events there. The Bond is very nice, and it is definitely very swanky but I'm not terribly sure if it has the right atmosphere.

Anyways, back to drawing, and Photoshop ... Oh and if anyone is looking for work in the laser cutting and 3d printing department, who is from an FBE program (archi, ides, interior etc) gives us a yell.

Well like I said, I've been meaning to throw down some more design bits and here it is!



It's a straw!

Well to be precise it's an upgraded version of a telescopic straw, it's a periscope straw!

Yes, many of you may be wondering why I'm talking about a straw of all things. Well, our generic straws that we use are usually one long singular tube or the smaller version U shaped straws we see on poppers.

Has anyone ever wondered how they make straws? Ok ok, so the ones we usually grab for a Coke bottle would be extruded. But what about the U straws? How do they put the flexible grooves into the straw? By using a crimping machine of course!

What I found interesting about this little straw was the amount of little considerations put in place.

a) In it's unextended form, the double wall give it enough strength and rigidity so you can pop it through the covered hole without the straw bending. Who hasn't experienced the mild annoyance of having to poke the straw at the hole again after you've missed and bent the straw? Now you have to grip it under the bent bit and hope that this time it breaks through. Not with the periscope straw! I think the angled cut of the straw also helps ...

b) Ok so you've almost finished your drink but your straw can't reach the last drop, what do you do. Do you 1) place the popper on the ground and burst it open with frustration, 2) put your mouth over the hole, tilt your head, and suck the life out of it, or 3) wish you had a periscope/telescopic straw with you and then proceed with steps 1) or 2)? This straw extends! Hence that problem is solved.

c) Did I mention that the two parts don't separate unless under a serious amount of duress (although why you'd want to ever do that to this lovely thing I'll never know, maybe you want to see it's insides ...) I have a feeling that because it's slightly tapered towards the joint and the fact that there's two horizontal crimps slightly above the tapered joint, that that is what keeps them together. Will get back to you once I've separated them >.>

d) Speaking of crimps, there's a singular rib on the side of the straw. Not only does this give it greater strength, but I know there are some people that like to squeeze the side of straws to play with their drinks for no apparent reason. Squeeze away! That's what the visual cue is there for anyways.

e) This straw is periscopic and not telescopic for one reason, it's got flexible grooves. More playthings!

f) So what actually keeps the inner straw from sliding out the other way? See that curled over edge on the drinking side? Yeah, that's what keeps it in and also for those people who get cuts from an exposed edge of the straw (whoever you may be ...) huzzah, problem solved!

And that's why I find the straw interesting. Yes so the average coffee cup has about 20 or so patents and it's so simple in design. Same difference here.

Now, off to find the rest of last year's design pics!

For anyone actually interested in the manufacture of a straw

Here's a snappy pic of the sunrise after a jog. I thought it was rather interesting the way the clouds fanned around the sun, first time I've seen that happen. Not a bad shot could have been better.

Anyways, a tad late but will be posting some of last year's exhibition pics. Still have an entire page of design to do's left ...

There will be updates of what I've been doing, design and photography wise. This is more of a note to self that will force me to post things up I've been pushing back. You will definitely see new things.

Watch this space.

Cheers,
Kin

Happy New Year to everyone.

'Tis a year for change, 'tis a year for big things. It's time to shine.

Good Luck to all and may you have a wonderful and prosperous year!

Next year is going to be f'ing hard.

Very very lame, I passed Studio. I was so looking forward to having a repeat session with Rina ...

You know, having come out of studio, faced screwing up and then reading a bit of Cradle to Cradle and a few other design books, I've kinda realised that although we're still students and what not, it seems that we are kinda naive and superficial when it comes to design, really only looking at the surface of the problem. Just because we have recyclable materials integrated into our designs, doesn't equate an eco-friendly design. It's kinda pointless if it goes into landfill because you can't separate the recyclables from the non-recyclables.

Yes there are many budding new designers with a more mature mindset and a strong sense of design intent, and being a student allows them to have a certain direction in their creativity not constrained to the extent that experienced designers may have from 'knowing' limitations and what not.

I should probably have a crack at doing more form studies from the Pratt course, as well as a few mini projects and re-projects. I wonder if I should have a crack at Furnitex again, still going to plan a trip down to Melbourne for Design Month. Exhibiting for and entire week was wearisome. Anyone want to come along next year?!

More to blog later once I've finished ruminating.