User:Dionne/Research Tools of the Trade

Back to wiki page

RESEARCH DOCUMENT

RESEARCH QUESTION

How can the (design/creation/development/exploration) of .. help (define/create/explain) .. for .. ?

 My first research question:
 1. How can the design of a tangible computer interface help create digital prints for product designers?
 2. Why should the computer interface we now know change into something different?
 3. What is the relation with the maker and the digital production?
 4. What are the core elements of the toolkit and it's instructions?
 5. Why did you make it?
 6. How does your work function?
 7. What is the purpose of this work, what are you trying to achieve?
 8. What material did you use and why?
 9. What techniques did you used and why?
10. What software did you use and why?
11. Where did you get your recourses from?
12. Does this work exist out of one ore more products?
13. What people are allowed to use your work?
14. What are comparable works of other designers?
15. Can you compare this work with something else?
16. What inspired you to make this work?
17. Is this work personal?
18. Does this work relates to you?
19. Does this work represents you as a person?
20. Does this work represents you as a designer?
21. What is your work? Is this work tangible? 
22. Is your work relevant in the present, or more in the future?

 Tineke's research questions:
 1. What will the movements of the tool be based on? 
 2. Is it stroking for comfort?
 3. For more advanced users will there be a challenge for making combination movements for more advanced patterns?
 4. How can the development of your tool help create a new design movement for professional designers?
 5. What is the impact on the working environment?

My final research question (draft): 
How can the design of a tangible computer interface help to create an innovative hands-on approach for professional designers?

CONTENT

INTRODUCTION

How can the design of a tangible computer interface help to create an innovative hands-on approach for professional designers?

EVOLUTION OF THE COMPUTER INTERFACE

Why should the computer interface we now know change into something different?
Is it time that we are past a certain digital revolution, are we longing for something new?

ANALOGUE & DIGITAL

What is the relation with the maker and the digital production?
The project is about a hands-on/analogue relationship to digital production. A digital approach can be divided in to very precise units and it's measurable. An analogue approach is not measurable and cannot be divided into pieces. I want to mix the two so that new possibilities appear. Why should a computer interface for designers be a trackpad or a mouse? Often very creative and tangible things are being created through digital mediums. Why should the making process of this be less exciting than the actual outcome? For me this tool is a form of resistance against the digital environment, although I don't want to exclude this completely. That's why this tool is a mix of both analogue and digital approaches that are in balance with each other. I want to add more value to the way digital things are being made, by making it more personal and playful. Also I want this tool to rise questions within the design field and the way how we approach creation. The purpose of this tool is to trigger the need for a new design movement to come up with new advanced possibilities.

INSTRUCTION TOOLKIT

What are the core elements of the toolkit and it's instructions? This toolkit exists out of multiple tools with all different functions. These are: the stroke tool, the curve tool and the press tool.

RESEARCH FILM

FILM STYLES

- Film as a research tool, approach & method
- Start making the film right away, it might be helpful
- Film interviews
- Show the process in the film
- Research is a critical investigation
- Show interesting experiments in the film or other ideas for the design
- Film is a reflective process
- The film let others (the public) be part of and witness your process
- Different Research Film styles: 1 min minimal, 3.30 min maximal
   - documentation
   - documentary
   - how- to- instructional
   - contextualization
   - interview
   - probe (cultural probes) to provoke peoples emotions
   - contrafactual film (fantasy) (place something in the past, speculate what our present would be)
   - speculation (speculate what the future would be)
   - brainstorm
   - reflection
- What is the tone of the video, who are you filming for
- stby stand by design documentaries (look up)
- Sinterklaas surprise:
   - make something for your project
   - bring it in a box 
   - film it the next day when you are unboxing it
   - put your student number in there and mail the video to the person
- Next week, in lessons, working out scenario’s, so bring paper and stifts
- Go over the research deliverables
   - 1 (instruction) 2(statement) 3(larger context) —> all in the film and all in the research document
   - 4000 words reflection document, you can use the 1000 words from FF