If you're annoyed, chances are others may be too

Great article in the Times featuring Marc Newson today. A person who's earned respect for his successful approach to design in various applications, Newson demonstrates the benefits of infusing actual Design in universal design.

In the article, Newson states that '99% of door handles bug him'. His design response is lauded by design enthusiasts, and perhaps more importantly addresses accessibility without sacrificing a design language consistent with his usual touch of simplicity and sophistication.


Perhaps the best part about the design is the fact that Newson was compelled to re-design the handle because it annoyed him. Nothing is more motivating than designing something you know can be done better. Plus, if it annoys you, there's a good chance that it annoys someone else out there, too.  What could be a more effective way to channel negative emotions (i.e. being annoyed) than to respond with a productive solution? Being annoyed with the frustratingly bad design of hospital environments is what initiated my pursuit of a career in design. Being annoyed brought people to Zuccotti Park for the OWS protests. It seems that 'being annoyed' can compel people to do powerful things, when channeled effectively.


So the next time you find yourself cursing some inefficient banal object, environment, or situation, harness your annoyed state (and creativity) and make something happen...or consult a designer.

Scale project updates & progress

As I continue to develop my scale concept, I've started to make some progress in the way of finding a technology that is low profile and will provide the desired response. Check out the latest and greatest little load sensor!

Now that the technical part is resolved, I can focus on making it something you could comfortably live with in your home. I did a quick comparison study between the wheelchair 'footprint' and the natural stance (feet shoulder width apart). See results below...

(top left: wheel chair point of contact // top right: feet in natural stance within the footprint left from the wheelchair // bottom left: wheelchair footprint // bottom right: anatomical vs. natural stance)

 Its seems like a low profile platform of ample dimensions could be a comfortable solution for everyone given that not many of us stand "at attention" in anatomical position, especially not as we age and often require a larger base of support to maintain our balance.

Earlier today, I can across a scale that was featured on the website Spinalistips. I was in awe of the work that went into crafting this adapted model, but also felt that it illustrates quite strongly the relevance of my project, as there are not many options for consumers in wheelchairs.

Home Ergonomics

Read a recent piece I'm quoted in discussing ergonomics for the home. Most of us don't realize just how much of an impact simple adjustments can make.
http://gettysburgtimes.ctwfeatures.com/home/home_20111012_ergonomics.html

To read the rest click the url above!

Evening at NYC Resistor

Tonight I went to Craft Night at NYC resistor to get some technical advice for the scale I've been developing as part of thesis. I've designed a scale that is extremely flat, almost level with the floor, to be effortlessly accessed by stepping or rolling onto. The design considers that not everyone weighs themselves standing, and that most bathroom scales are not useful to those using a wheelchair. Also, since not everyone is able view the floor display, a wireless display is visible from the wall or counter.

So after studying varied user needs, the next step was to hack a scale I bought on Amazon...

The very helpful group at NYC resistor offered some suggestions for making a working prototype.

      

So the next step is finding either a solution with piezo conductive fabric, or flat load cells, or both?

More to come...

Asking the people

People have different ideas about what constitutes universal design (as demonstrated Left).


Since perception plays a powerful role in shaping both understanding and acceptance (or rejection) of ideas, I frequently ask people what their thoughts are on universal design, including whether they can think of any universally designed products they own.


The responses are varied, and sometimes entertaining. As Arnold pointed out upon explaining the "universal design" behind his monster lighter pictured Left, "this design will allow all people to smoke easier even in old age."


What more could you ask for?

Pratt Thesis Projects

http://prattmid.blogspot.com/2011/10/carla-jaspers.html
Learn about the initiatives of current Pratt students with future goals!
Presentations are December 9, 2011 in Pratt Studios Rm 43.

Design fail!

Ugh! The dreaded tennis ball on the legs of a walker. Words cannot describe how unhappy this makes me. Its the quintessential example of a design fail, but ask anyone who's suffered through dragging the standard rubber walker feet around and they'll tell you what a great little trick the tennis ball idea is.

What's worse is that now manufacturers have made this phenomenon commonplace by making actual tennis ball attachments instead of improving the design of the initial object. This, to me = lame. At least cutting a tennis ball open with a utility knife and jamming it on the leg of a walker demonstrates that someone was resourceful enough at some point to fix a problem with a familiar household object, like sitting a kid on a phone book so they can reach the table at dinner when a booster seat isn't available...but "designing" and manufacturing and selling a product that is no more evolved and adds a bunch of unnecessary plastic is a step in the wrong direction. Not to mention that the design language continues to communicate that industry really isn't interested in providing the population who uses this product with a more sophisticated design solution.


When I came across this work, featured at the Conner Contemporary Gallery in Washington DC and posted on the BYT website, I had to smile. The statement is probably made better with this one image than with anything else I could write.