Key Dates

Research Presentation (online): TBD; but preferably Feb 23

Prototype Presentation (in-person): TBD; but preferably Feb 25

Project Overview

Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored the meaning of design, design thinking, rapid prototyping, and how constraints define creativity.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll practice what designers do:
research, collaborate, build prototypes and adapt to changing constraints.

Working in small groups, we’ll
research a designed object,
create a shared research archive, and
redesign that object under an ambiguous design brief (a new constraint or user need).

The goal is not just a finished project. This project is about learning how to work as a designer by doing the work a designer does: finding and organizing sources, experimenting with low-fidelity prototypes, documenting your process, and sharing our work with others.

Most important of all, this is about learning how to effective collaborate across difference, over time, through iteration and prototyping activities.

Objectives

  • Learn how to research the history and impact of a designed object.
  • Build and organize a simple research archive (with image + sources).
  • Practice collaboration in a small group.
  • Use low-fidelity prototyping to redesign an object under new constraints.
  • Document your design process as you go.

Process

  1. Groups will be assigned an object & a group in Lab Section (Lab 3).
  2. Research Archive
    • Document…
      • A short description of your object (what it is, who designed it, when and why, and how it works)
      • An origin story: what constraint, problem, context, insight, or opportunity led to its invention?
      • Its impact: what difference has it made in the world, positive, negative, and otherwise?
    • Gather three good images of the object (they can be images you create yourself!)
    • Gather three credible sources that inform you about the object (articles, patents, websites, videos). Stay away from Claude / ChatGPT / Gemini as a source; likewise, stay away from listicles, and so forth.
      • Write 1-2 sentence notes for each source about what it contributed to your understanding.
    • Organize all materials in a shared folder + simple sources spreadsheet.
  3. Redesign Challenge – After your in-class prototyping exercise (Lab 3), post pictures + caption of your prototype to #classnotes.
    • I will provide your group with an ambiguous design brief (a new constraint, context, or user).
    • Brainstorm and briefly sketch at least 5 possible redesign ideas.
    • Build at least one lo-fi prototype using everyday, commonly available materials and/or further modify the prototype you built in class during Lab 3.
    • Demonstrate at least two iterations, seeking and incorporating feedback (friends, instructor, other groups, parents, friends, strangers), refining and improving as you go.
  4. Documentation
    • Save sketches, notes and process+prototype photos to your archive.
  5. Final Presentation
    • Groups present:
      • Research archive (online, lecture)
      • Redesigned prototype (in person, lab)
  6. Each student writes a short reflection when the process is complete:
    • What did you learn about collaboration?
    • How did the new constraint change your ideas?
    • What would you do if you had another three weeks?
    • What will you do differently next time?

Deliverables

  • Group Research Archive (shared folder with images, sources, spreadsheet, and notes)
    • Process Documentation (sketches, notes, photos, iterations)
  • Research Presentation
  • Prototype(s) Presentation (lo-fi builds documented with photos; demonstrated in person in class)
  • Individual Reflection