Coleman for the Home J08

Nina El-Khuory: http://sayithot.tumblr.com/
Brandon Reed: http://bmreed330.blogspot.com/
Anthony Norris: http://anthonorris.tumblr.com/
Matt Watson: http://ohiomatt33.tumblr.com/
Karyn Pernia: http://karynperniauise.blogspot.com/
Xia Hau: http://littledesign.tumblr.com/

Our team has been working on an indoor storage cabinet for Coleman products. It's a cabinet to store outdoor products like coats, boots, helmets, and any other accessories that an active family may need or use.  As we've been designing the cabinet we've come across many things that we've had to decide on or pick.  One thing was the overall size of the cabinet, because the bigger it is the more you can store in it, but it still needs to be able to fit through doorways and under ceilings.  We've all been compiling ideas and drawing up potential designs for the cabinet, and soon we'll all decide on who's doing which part of the presentation and how they're going about showing it to the class.
So far in our project, we have all taken on about the same role.  We've been compiling all our ideas and designing the cabinet so that it fits the average user the best, and does everything we'd like it to.  I feel like I've been bringing good ideas towards the development and design of our product, and have been played an important role in thinking of ideas and making them fit the cabinet.  Once we begin the next stages of our presentation, I'll be helping make mock-ups and set up the presentation itself.
We do have a few sketches and drawings of what the cabinet will look like, but I don't have any of them on my computer.  We made lists of possible beginning ideas that included pet products, appliances, and even food supplies.  We started thinking about how to combine some appliances or tools in order to make a certain job or task easier, and then stumbled upon the idea of the cabinet.  We then started making lists of things we wanted to include as accessories for the cabinet like a removable shelving unit, hooks, movable shelves, ventilation fan, and plastic baskets.  We plan on making a base-line cabinet, and then many accessories that people can buy so they can make the cabinet exactly how they want it.

Heskett 9-10

I really loved the parts of chapters 9 and 10 when Heskett talked about a great amount of companies and how they develop and maintain their company persona and image.  It's interesting to see how different companies have so many different ways of developing new products, and what their views on the importance of those products to the company are.  I also enjoyed when Heskett made the comment that large companies were once small companies with ambition.  All too often, people think that they'll never get anywhere in todays market because they're just "the little guy," but what they fail to think about is at one point, every company out there was some type of "the little guy."
I love to think about what the future holds in the design industry.  It's amazing how over that last few decades the world as we know it has changed in so many ways.  Sometimes I like to think about what new technology will be coming out within my lifetime, and how much easier or different our daily lives become.  We were once using horse and buggy to get from place to place, we're now using cars and airplanes, and I can't wait for the day when we all have personal hovercraft and helicopters.

McDonough 4-6

"To eliminate the concept of waste means to design things-products, packaging, and systems-from the very beginning on the understanding that waste does not exist."  This quote really got me thinking about how we live our lives, and what we need to do in order to make the world a better place for the coming generations.   If we continue to not get anything done about all the waste and pollution we're creating, the world's resources will be gone, and we won't be able to do anything about it.  We need to collectively spend more money on figuring out how to make and destroy things so they're more friendly to the environment.  I never imagined that things like our shoe soles are hurting our environment as much as they are.  McDonough really got me thinking about how even the smallest, and seemingly least important, things are all collectively destroying our planet.

Week 7

I really enjoyed class this week, especially Tuesday.  I've been thinking about majoring in industrial design, and I loved seeing first-hand what people have done with their degree.  I've been wondering what the work-load of the program entails if I were to major in design, and I really liked what I saw.  I would love developing new products in the fashion that the guys from Cobego have.  I was very worried that my poor drawing skills would hold me back, especially with the entrance exam, but I feel alot better about it now.  I know I'll still have to get better and do it often, but I feel like it won't be that huge of a crutch for me.  Thanks for bringing in the guys from Cobego.  I really enjoyed their presentation, and feel like they gave a really important sense of what it's like to graduate with a design degree from OSU.  And the marshmallow challenge was fun too.  I've done the challenge before, but every time I've done it there's been variations in the materials used, so it's fun to see what designs work and don't work with what you're given.

Online Scavenger Hunt

- 5 manufacturers or retailers who specialize in outdoor camping and recreation products.
     1) Coleman
     http://www.coleman.com/
     2) Campmor
     http://www.campmor.com/
     3) Bass Pro Shops
     http://www.basspro.com/camping.html
     4) Gander Mountain
     http://www.gandermountain.com/site_section/camping_section.shtml
     5) Cabelas
     http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/browse/_/N-1100668?WTz_l=SBC


- 3 pictures from outdoor recreation trade shows

- 5 manufacturers or retailers who specialize in indoor home goods products.
     1) ACE Hardware
     http://www.acehardware.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2568448&clickid=topnav_home
     2) Lehman's
     http://www.lehmans.com/store
     3) Home Goods
     http://www.homegoods.com/index.asp
     4) Consignments at Jarred's Homegoods
     http://jarreds.shoprw.com/home.php
     5) Green Home Goods
     http://greenhomegoodsinc.com/


- 3 pictures of trade show / exhibition booths from the indoor home goods market.

Indoor Home Goods - any item or device that people use in their home for a certain functional purpose, or for aesthetic value




- 3 pictures of different types of possible home goods.

Kitchen Appliences

Consumer Electronics

Indoor Furniture

Letterform Seek And Find

Accessibility

I really liked the classes when we talked about accessibility.  Most people don't even think much about this topic, but it is something that is really important these days.  Most people seem to put this at the bottom of the list of important things, but to the people it effects, it's at the absolute top of the list.  If someone can't get into buildings because there's no ramps, or if someone can't use their hands anymore because of an accident,  there lives are greatly effected.  As designers, we need to look more into this issue than just ramps into buildings, and simple wheelchairs.  We need to be developing and using new technology to make the lives easier for people who are physically or mentally handicapped.  I really love the video we saw during class about the electric wheelchair that allowed such great access and versatility to people confined to getting around in a wheelchair.



Even though this video has really poor quality, it shows some new technology that would allow blind people to use the iPhone 4.  Even though some people would consider it unnecessary, it could allow many people to use the great technology of the iPhone, even if they can't see the screen.  It would normally be almost impossible for a blind person to use a touch screen phone, but with the brail and voice assist, this device would allow a whole new market for people who wouldn't have been able to use it before.



This video shows some technology and innovations that Europe is coming out with to help people with disabilities in their country.  Things like ramps on all buses and new school systems are allowing so much more access for people with disabilities.  When disabled people are integrated and mixed with non-disabled people, it allows them to feel more normal and "like everyone else" in their high schools.  This also allows non-disabled people to become more used to living with and helping people that aren't as fortunate as they are.



This video doesn't introduce any new technology or products, but it does relate very well to our class.  It shows architecture students who are directly placed into the shoes of people that they will eventually design buildings for.  The students are forced to learn first hand how hard navigating the world can be with a disability, and it allows them to realize what they need to do in order to design buildings for all people.




If I were in a wheelchair, I would want one of these motorcycles really badly.  This motorcycle allows people in wheelchairs to bring their chair up into the motorcycle, fasten it in, and ride the open  road like any other motorcycle rider.  Things like this are so vital in allowing people with disabilities to feel just like people who don't have any disabilities.




This is a video showing the e-motion motor assist for regular wheelchairs.  As an add-on to regular wheelchair, it is cheaper than a full electric wheelchair, and very simple to use.  The motors sense force being put on each wheel, and help turn the wheels, almost like power steering. This product would allow people to use wheelchairs will more control, and less fatigue over time.