User:Adinda.persoon

Written Assignment

Introduction

As a 4th year communication and multimedia design student I am very aware of the developments around me. I'm starting to learn more and more about this newer techniques myself. When working with this techniques I became very conscious about opensource software and design. Without really knowing it or realising it I myself became a huge open source consumer. In this written assignment I will take you on a short view of my opinion and worries about this.

Open Designer

The past four years I’ve been educated to be a interaction/visual designer, creative concepter or a developer. This forced me to keep searching for the ultimatie solution for the costumer or myself to extend my profession. With only a computer and paper as a tool to visualise. There is no direct approach but there are some basic guidelines, like receiving the assignment and create a concept which will be reflected on by teachers or customers. So you can work to an end goal stated by the teachers/customers.

The method I use for an incoming assignment is plain simple. I just let the assignment work in on me. I use brainstorms and wordwebs to get to every detail and expand my vision. After that I just start with some prototyping on screen so I have a basic set up which the customer can reflect on. For this I use photoshop, illustrator and several open source programs. There are really no borders for new media technologies you can use as a designers. As a mather affect you have to be the first in something in order to stand out. New media technologies like 3D printing and the constant development of opensource makes it harder and harder to be the first in something as an educated designer. As an example lets go back a few years to a time before the wordpress, wix and other pre-build websites. Where you needed a load of knowledge to make your own website or hire an agency to do it for you. You would sit around the table with the agency to discuss the content of your website and the relevance of this content. Because of this you where aware of the profit your website would give you, which was more than the costs of it. As a result a happy you and a happy agency who satisfied another customer and could pay their bills.

But what happens when a customer can build his own website? Wordpress is one of the big examples of this kind of opensource developements. Wordpress was first released on May 27, 2003, by its founders Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little. Since then the use of wordpress has took 22% of the top 10 million websites as of August 2013. Which means 22% of 10 million websites run on wordpress which is opensource and free to use in a certain way. Ofcourse you have to pay for several themes, and domain space. But you don’t have to pay for a designer or agency. As a future designer I could be a bit worried about this development. Because we keep producing themes and opensource people can buy (for a small amount of money) to start their own business. But on the other hand we as designers want these people as customers to make a website for them. The big question here is, are we destroying our own profession? Breaks opensource the link between intellectual property and value, and doing to designer what the internet did to music and journalism?

I don’t think there is an answer on that yet. But we should keep in mind what our profit can be in this whole development. Because newer technologies are very important to keep up on if you are a designer. Especially with the collactable knowledge of the internet on which your customer can lay hands on. You have to show them that you will always be one step before them. As a future visual designer and creative concepter it is important for me to lay hands on techniques that could support creativity and ideas. And if there’s an opensource network that could help my customers I would recommend it, but only if I see a way that I could benefit from this too. Intelectual property will become more and more important as open source develops itself.

So for my own sake, I will always take care of the knowledge I will spread in the future. And will not put all my cards on the table. There should always be some layers, a customer can only experience when he takes the effort to stand up and knock on my door.

- To be continued and open for discussion

Sources

Wikipedia. (September, 2014). Wordpress. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPress

The economist. (November, 2012). Opensource Design Mass Bespoke. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2012/11/open-source-design

Owen W. Brown. (January, 2014). 4 Reasons companies say yes to open source. Retrieved from http://www.computerworld.com/article/2486991/app-development-4-reasons-companies-say-yes-to-open-source.html

Fantastic Forgeries

For this week the assignment was to choose your own Boijmans object and have it thoroughly researched. After some doubts I eventually chose the BB suit by Borre Akkersmans. Well.. not quite true, its not just by Borre. The BB. Suit is a project and a collaberation between ByBorre, Martijn ten Bhomer (TU Delft), Want.nl, 22 tracks & Crisp .

I was attracted to the suit because it was just hanging there in the air, not on the wall or floor. The first time I looked at it, the fabrics and the way it was shaped and made me think it was just a pretty piece of fashion. I was kind of thinking it was a little astronaut like. I then walked away and went on a exploration through the museum. After some wandering I came to the conclusion that I didn’t even know who made the “astronaut like” suit. So I went back and came to a sign of the maker and an iPad. Unfortunately the iPad was behind glass so I wasn’t able to scroll through the contents.

The BB. Suit

BB. Suit - Boijmans, Design Column 8

When I decided to use the suit for my assignment I came to the conclusion that I had to find out what the suit exactly is. The BB (By Borre) Suit is a suit embedded with copper wires that enable WiFi, GPS, NFC, and Bluetooth, BB.Suit turns its wearer into a mappable hotspot with mp3 streaming ability. Batteries, processor boards, and UI actuators live in the BB.Suit’s pockets, making the rest of the suit feel seamless. The suit also seems to be a little puffy, that’s because it’s made of two layers of cotton to hide and protect the copper cables, with filling that puffs when it’s steamed.

At SXSW, Borre collaborated with 22tracks to showcase the suit’s potential. Festival-goers could upload songs to the BB.Suit and then stream them via its hotspot, making the suit (according to Wired) a “walking URL.” Akkersdijk has only made two prototypes of the BB.Suit so far. Mass production is problematic given the delicate mechanics involved in the design, so Akkersdijk looks to partner with a tech company who will help him develop microprocessors that can withstand daily wear and tear. (The creatorsproject - Ella Riley-Adams, 2014)

On his instagram Borre Akkersdijk placed several photos of the making process of the BB suit. For me this was inspiration to understand the suit a little bit more. I could see a little how the suit was build with pieces, sketches and samples. I loved the fact that I could find all of this on the internet. It shows how open the project is for other people.

The Making proces of the suit (Instagram: http://instagram.com/byborre)

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The Maker - Borre Akkersdijk

Borre Akkersdijk is a dutch designer who owns his own fashionlabel ByBorre. He 3D prints complete garments using a hacked circular knitting machine. A big part of his work is recognisable from the Ready-Made collection. The Ready-Made is a collection of materials in basic shapes. It’s a concept that’s all about the production process; a new way of making filled clothing using the production technique that has been used to produce mattresses. Using this technique in a different way makes it possible to create pattern pieces for garments that will come out of the machines filled, thick and with sewing allowance ready to be put together.

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100 Images

Because the BB suit is not an old museumal piece it wouldnt be possible to find all kind of ripp offs or immitations of the suit. But I went for a search to related product, people who do the same thing, influences and everything that can be linked back to the BB suit.

Technology and the Future

In order to find the 100 images I first had to do some more digging into the BB suit itself. I went to the Booijmans website to find out why the BB suit was in their collection. I came to the discovery that the BB suit was a part of the Column #8 collection, a collection that changes every three months with a new theme. The theme of this collection is about the extreme developments around drones, transhumanism and ways to experience live. The collection gives a view on how design can let us feel things we couldnt feel before.

“ We use technology to expand our influence on a distant, by using camera’s, Google Earth and drones. Apart from that we also try to make technology a part of our body as much as possible. And although the technology comes close to the skin, it remains an elusive phenomenon for many people. Fewer and fewer people understand how our devices work, and feel the loss of control growing. Every innovation means a new search to balance, an adjustment of our moral compass, a redefinition of our humanity. Design Column #8 “Buiten zinnen” researches what is the question we have to ask ourselfs: the question if we want to have this future and how we want to shape it?” (Boijmans Museum, 2014)

For the first set of images I went to look for futuristic solutions or projects that will be more common every day. The pretender project for example was something that I found to be very interesting. At first it seems similar to the Oculus Rift. But for the pretender project two users are required, one to wear the headset and another to provide the body. While the user with the headset looks around, the other user has an electrical suit that translates the movements of the headset wearer into actions. While the primary objective is to allow someone to experience another perspective, the nature of having your movements manipulated by an electrical current is said to be quite unique. (Deanna Hutchinson - simpublica.com). Not only im real life but also in movies I see the constant development of robotics entering the human body for strength or compensating for lost limbs. It almost seems like we won't be able to live without all of this new developments at some point. We get greedy for all this shiny and new objects and want them to be a part of our live more and more.

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  3D Printed hand

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  Epson Smart Glasses

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  Ekse Bionics

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  Under Armour Future

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  The Pretender Project - Yifei Chai

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  Elysium (movie)

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  Robotic arm (movie)

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  Counter Force

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  Robotic eye for blind people

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  Robocop (movie)

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Smart Textiles

After my foundings on the BB suit, the technology and drones I started at the begining. So I went for a straight research in smart textiles. I’ve never worked with textiles so it was all new information for me. While doing the research I came by some really awesome design and innovative things. As an example a wearable coat that reacts on the surrounding environment. I also came by an inspiring movie about fashion and the future of clothing. In this they talk about using technology and clothing together. For me it was very interesting to watch because I did see some wearable tech clothing but I never really gave it that much thought.

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  NASA Suit project

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  3D printed buttons

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  MP3 Coat

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  Outsourcing coat

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  Military useful Smart Textiles

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  Zen dress

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  Smart textiles coat

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  Mood Sweater

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  Sound reacting

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Because the BB suit plays on the fact that the wearer can bond with his surrounding I went to search for things/ technologies that do the same thing. I found some pretty interesting things. For example a quilt that can be used separately but communicates with each other. So when for example a child and a mother are separated, the mother can make a pattern on the cloth and the child will receive the exact same pattern on his own quilt. I really like this idea of playful visual communication from a distance.

Wearable Techs

Next to the smart textiles there are also a big amount of technical equipments that you can add to your clothing or is already added on your clothing. Because the BB suit also has tech in it, I went to search for clothing that also uses tech as an usability for the user or its surrounding.

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  Solar Bikini

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  Keyboard Jeans

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  Sensor Underarmour

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  WiFi Shirt

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  Music Sharing

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Superheroes and villains

While doing the research to wearable techs and smart textiles my mind went to superheroes. So my hands followed the lead and I was suddenly making my own superhero character on the Marvel website. I’m not quite sure what the relevance is to the BB suit. But the public display of a suit is similar. The suit is a visible thing to show the people to there is something special about them. Also the fabrics en technology used in suits from superheroes and villains and also the bb suit are different and more complex than just standard clothing.

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Into the books

Because I wanted my images to have some more depth I went to the library to look through some art books. The difference with google and the library is, is that I can just simply grab a book and flip through the pages without having to think about search words. I wanted to look for artist or art that made me think of the suit but had nothing to do with clothing. I had grabbed a book named “OVERS!ZE The Mega Art & Installations”, this booked contained several interviews with artist who make art in public places. Just as the BB suit should be in a public place in order to serve its intentional goal (to connect people through the suit). Besides the "interactive" works I also wanted to compare the suit to other sorts of art like furniture and fashion. I came to some objects that made me think of the original in some sort of way. Similar shapes, form, texture or just appearance.

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  Jason Eppink

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  joshua Allen Harris

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  Spy

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  Max Streicher

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  La Bolleur

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  Karina Smiglabobinski

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  Karina Smiglabobinski

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  Shaping

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  Shaping/ Appearance

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  Softness/ Texture

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  Appearance/ Similar

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  Appearance/ Similar

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  Shaping

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  Shaping/ Appearance

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  Texture/ Shaping

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  Texture/ Shaping

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  Appearance/ Texture

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  Texture

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Processing, Drawing and Experimenting

Drawing the suit

Because I was banned from screen for a while due to a concussion I decided to getting to know the shape of the suit a little better by drawing it and just working with my hands to get to some ideas. I was having some struggles to start my idea float for copying the BB suit. So at first I just started to do a few sketches of the suit. While sketching and processing all of the research I had done and the inspiration I’ve gotten. I came to the conclusion that the suit would get a mini version. A version that should still have the main sharing idea and maybe a few tech specifications. Because I had no idea what kind of material I wanted to use. I first started to make a prototype of a bathtub cloth.

Experimenting with cloth

While working with the cloth I got the idea that it would be nice that the miniversion was something you could always have with you. I let my mind wander to things you where on your neck and suddenly I had to think of something I saw at the beachhouse a little while ago. A lighter on a string, knotted in a way that the lighter wouldn’t slip out and you would always be able to find it. It was a nice little thing that I wanted to take with me when making a prototype.

Inspirational Images

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Prototyping with Curving block

At first I was thinking that my prototype should be one whole thing. But after some brainstorming about the functions/ meaning of my copy. I started to doubt If it would be cool to make parts you could take off and on. I tried a little sketch of this with some transparant sheets. The idea seems pretty nice to me but for my copy I won't use this. It will get a little to far from the original to my opinion. But who knows.. maybe the transformation.

The Copy

Inspirational Images

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Shaping the idea

After last class and some brainstorming with classmates I came to the idea to make a sort of social token. The token would be some kind of symbol for this days technology overload. The token is actually a box that you could hang around your neck and lock your phone in. The box will automatically block the signals coming from your phone. When hanging the token around your neck you will send a (symbolic) message to the world that you are conscious about this days and the futures technology. And you are willing to lock out this development in social situations and control it. The token will turn on a light when your technology device is "turned in". When first using the token there will be a blueprint of the BB suit in it that will state the ongoing process of development and wearable technology on humans. The token will also have the shape and texture of the suit engraved” The token will be made of wood with some kind of lock in system. As a test I also will be trying to 3D print on fabric as a suggestion from Tim.

Modelling Wood

In the weekend I decided to make a quick prototype of my idea to see if it was manageable to make a box and make a light turn on when a phone is entered. And also to figure out how much space I should keep open to put the batteries and LED lights in.

Wood trouble

After making handmade products the whole time, I decided to put some digital work in it. I wanted to use the milling machine to make the token/ phone cover from a solid piece of wood. I wanted to use the milling machine because of the possibility to work big and with thick wood.

3D printing

Laser cutting

The transformation

Printing texture on fabric

Presentation

Set-Up

Text

This past few week I worked on a transformation and a copy of the BB Suit. While I was doing this I became very conceptual and conscious about the making 'process' of products, the layers that are wrapped around them. And the unknown and diverse, complex technology that is used. To explain this whole process and why I chose to use certain kinds of techniques, I will use a ball.

This ball is divided in a certain amount of layers. The upper layer will state the beginning of my process, observing the looks of the object I chose. Each fase of my process is made clear in a mind map and little drawings to support them. From top to bottom you can than see my process as a whole but also as a bal. Why a ball? Just think of the ball as a product. The ball just like my process, began flat. Then I started to put little breaths of air in it with my hands, this begins slow and with an amount of effort but my vision began to shape. Because I was working with my hands I became slowly conscious about the meaning the object had for me and it started to grow deeper every time I made a new prototype. Because in my head I was making a concept for every output I gave. When I finally decided to take the step to 3D printing and lasercutting (machines). I noticed that the output of the machines went to my head really fast. Just like I will blow up the ball and will get round in an instant. I did not quite interpreted what the materials or the technique added to my copy or transformation. The breath got lost and my focus went to making the product instead of creating it.

For me this is a view I can relate to a lot of products this day. They are maked and copied to extension but a lot of those products are about the making proces, the cheapest ways to produce, or the prettiest way to sell it. We add layers and layers to do this. Instead of focus on the creating moment of this products and show that to our customers. So they understand the product they are using. And will see through the layers of it.

Sources

Internet Sources

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Boijmans Museum. (2014). Design Column #8 – Buiten Zinnen. Retrieved from http://www.boijmans.nl/nl/7/kalender/calendaritem/1551/design-column-8

The Creators Project – Ella Riley-Adams. (Apr. 19 2014). The BB.Suit Turns Its Wearer Into A Mobile WiFi Spot (That Plays Music). Retrieved from http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/the-bbsuit-turns-its-wearer-into-a-mobile-wifi-spot-that-plays-music

The Pretender Project - Deanna Hutchinson. (Sept. 11 2014). The Pretender Project lets you be someone else. Retrieved from http://www.simpublica.com/technology/the-pretender-project-lets-you-be-someone-else/

Matt Esert. (Jun. 28 2014). Is This What NASA's Astronauts Will Be Wearing to Mars?. Retrieved from http://mic.com/articles/92417/is-this-what-nasa-s-astronauts-will-be-wearing-to-mars

Syuzi. (Sept. 8 2009). Interactive Fashion gets personal. Retrieved from http://fashioningtech.com/profiles/blogs/interactive-fashion-gets

Sweetwater. (Dec. 26 2013). Human Harp Plays Suspension Bridges. Retrieved from http://www.sweetwater.com/insync/humanharp-plays-suspension-bridges/

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Book Sources

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OVERS!ZE The Mega Art & Installations (Edited & Published by Viction:ary)

DROOG EVENT 2 URBAN PLAY (Ed. Scott Burnham)

DESIGN (Oliveti, Chiari (A) – Roberts, Heather Mackay (A) – Industriele vormgeving; 20e eeuw)