Yves Behar: Designing Objects that Tell Stories

http://www.ted.com/talks/yves_behar_on_designing_objects_that_tell_stories.html

What Behar focused on was values - creating and keeping in mind values in work that we do, so that we can change the world, eventually. He designs things that are not only attractive or functional, but both, and he wants to satisfy the human needs and create a difference, which can be seen from the works that he's done.

"... advertising is the price companies pay for being un-original"

This statement is absolutely true. No one really thinks about why advertisements all contains the same content, and talk about the same thing. So then, keeping this in mind, Behar went to start his own company, and work not just on the skin, but on the inside, outside; the whole thing - human experience. I think all designers should have a mind-set like this, and if they do, there will be no such thing as useless design, which will help the world be a better place.

Don Norman: Emotional Design

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/don_norman_on_design_and_emotion.html

Sometimes people buy things out of their necessities. The reason for this is because a certain emotion/feeling is generated when he/she sees it and they would like to feel it again. It's different for everyone.

Don Norman explains that when we are happy, new ideas come out, we think out of the box. However, under pressure, the brain defocuses, therefore we can't really think of anything creative. He also talks about the 3 levels of brain processing - visceral (e.g. typefont, colour), behavioural (e.g. usability, understanding, feel, heft) and reflective. Furthermore, he said that emotion communicates and interprets the world. That is what I feel the most important thing in this video.

I think everything that a person buys reflects what kind of person he is, and from the objects, he would like to show his emotions. Everyone's thinking is different, that's why there are so many things in the world. That is also, I think, the reason behind 'no design is bad'.

Good Design

The Passat CC by Volkswagen is a four-seater four-door coupe. The 'CC' stands for 'comfort coupe'. It combines the appearance of a sports car and the interior of a saloon. It clearly expresses elegance and high class by use of its colour and also the silver lining around the windows and doors. The shape of the car ensures aerodynamics, while the lines represent speed. The large sunroof may be the most interesting part of the car, it aims to provide a bright, airy feel while driving, as it occupies more than half of the car roof.

Completing this task forces me to analyse a good design, and consider how much thought was put into it. Also, it teaches me to not take something for granted.

David Kelley: Human Centered Design

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/david_kelley_on_human_centered_design.html

In the video Kelley talked about human centered design - design which takes into consideration human's behaviours and personalities. Therefore, design now has a broader definition which includes the environment and services in it.

He introduced a few designs that I've never seen and heard before, but the most interesting one was the high-tech Prada shop in New York. Careful thoughts of how to serve customers better was really evident in the design. Other examples - the Science Museum in London with its interactive walls, defibrillator, cubicle, e-magazine, Spyfish and the water recycling system, are all human-centered designs, which some of it we may have heard of, but may not have realized that it's made for the consumer to be closer to design, and that consumers are invited to relate with it.

This video is very important to designers, especially industrial designers, as it shows how advanced technology has become and how design is following the trend by incorporating technology into design. Also, it reminds industrial designers that they need to design products that are useful and accessible (reasonably priced) to the society, which makes lives easier.

Shape of a Scent

The main elements were:

-flowing

-feminine

-strangling (choking)

The final design, slightly changed from the previous one (below). The base was cut off because it didn't add to the meaning of the design.

The basic shape was a portray of a feminine figure, with flowing and strangling (as if choking) elements.

Inspired by flowers, because the perfume did have a sweet, floral scent. The flowing element was represented by the organic shapes.