Design Sojourn | Strategic Industrial Design Blog (via Mowser)

Design Articles
Design Strategy
Oct 13, 2008
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10 Useful Cost Saving Design Strategies for these Troubled Times

I finally got the time today to sit down and really think about the impact of these troubled times.

It has been a very hectic month since I officially started my new role, as a result I really only hovered around the “doom and gloom” of the global impact from the US Sub-Prime Crises. With only snippets of news via early morning radio and the occasional Stock Market update on my iPhone, I never really had a chance to think about this crisis till today.

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Industrial Design
Oct 11, 2008
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“Flatshare” wins Electrolux Design Lab 2008

I don’t really do this sort of thing often, but check out this worthy forehead slapping idea that really makes one say “why did I not think of that”?

Stefan Buchberger, from the University of Applied Arts, Vienna, Austria, has been chosen winner of the Electrolux Design Lab 2008 competition for inventing Flatshare. Flatshare is a modular fridge with individual compartments for people who live with several roommates.

Flatshare consists of a base station and up to four stackable modules. The modules allow each individual user to have his or her own refrigerator space and can be customized with various colorful skins as well as with add-ons like a bottle opener. Handles mounted on the side make it easy to transport the modules.

I just wanted to celebrate this concept with my dear readers, as anyone who lived in a hostel or communal living environment would have experienced major problems with refrigeration. I think I like to see one module with an option for a pad lock! From someone drinking your juice or Coke, pinched yogurt tubs or fruits, to expired and spilled food, this fridge idea will be a god send for people with terrible roomies.

Finally no more having to tell your roommates that you spit into your milk!

Fore more info on the winners check out the Electrolux Newsroom.

Via: Official Press Release

Design Tips
Oct 07, 2008
(3 comments)

More Stefan on TED

Last time I wrote about Stefan’s book and how I bought one.

Here he is again, in a short blurb on TED, where he runs through some of the things he has learn in his life so far.

Oh, a kind person has compiled what Stefan has learn in a nice little cheat sheet that I have reproduced here. Hmm…I now wonder if I should have bought that $80+ picture book that still remains wrapped on my shelf!

- helping other people helps me
- having guts always works out for me
- thinking life will be better in the future is stupid. i have to live now
- starting a charity is surprisingly easy
- being not truthful works against me
- everything i do always comes back to me
- assuming is stifling
- drugs feel great in the beginning and become a drag later on
- over time i get used to everything and start taking for granted
- money does not make me happy
- traveling alone is helpful for a new perspective on life
- keeping a diary supports personal development
- trying to look good limits my life
- material luxuries are best enjoyed in small doses
- worrying solves nothing
- complaining is silly. either act or forget
- actually doing the things I set out to do increases my overall level of satisfaction
- everybody thinks they are right
- low expectations are a good strategy
- whatever I want to explore professionally, its best to try it out for myself first
- everybody who is honest is interesting

Enjoy!

Design Strategy
Oct 05, 2008
(9 comments)

Industrial Design and The Branding Mad Men

It’s about time, the (M)Ad Men figured that out. Well they sort of did before and there always been Industrial Designers in advertising and branding. But much of the focus then was on packaging design, and Industrial Design was often seen as nothing more than skinning.

Core77 has a pretty good article called “Stepmothers of Invention: Branding Firms Enter the Industrial Design Fray“. While the article comes across a little wishy-washy at times as the author tries to play both sides, the central message is clear:

“…branding and ID are different sides of the same coin. We’re both satisfying the needs of the customer.” ~ John Winsor, Crispin Porter + Bogusky.

I have another take on this:

Design is the silent ambassador of your brand. ~ Paul Rand

Basically, nothing shouts your brand more than your logo/product/graphic/interface design. Furthermore, designers need to understand the role branding plays in Industrial Design, correction, in Strategic Design. It is but one aspect of the entire design strategy that we need to consider, in other words, an important vital ingredient so that the dish (product) comes out right.

I’m no expert in branding, but this basic credo has always stuck with me, “branding is all about the product”. In today’s emphasis in authentic branding, the focus should be about the product or idea, and not the the other way around. Just look at Viao, iPhone and Playstation! Even better, if you want to build a great authentic brand ground up, build it around a product such as James Dyson did.

For something as focused and well-defined as a brand-building product design, hiring a few skilled designers to extend your service list can potentially work out, because the problem is so specific. When we look for examples of “authentic,” “innovative” design, however, we’re almost always looking at a different sort of team. The current poster children of innovation-spawned market success–the Wii, the iPhone, the Flip video camera–emerged from large groups of researchers, designers, engineers, programmers and manufacturing specialists who worked together for a long time, and knew both their brand and the applicable technologies intimately. This type of work cannot be emulated by assembling a team or hiring an agency and handing them a brand bible, no matter how good they are at their jobs.

However I’m quite please that the article got it right in the end. Many companies, not just the “poster children” have engaged such great development teams. Perhaps some more successful than others.

Now, that my friends, is what Strategic Design is all about. Welcome to the club!

Designer Musings
Oct 04, 2008
(1 comment)

These Designers Have a Hard Time!

It is interesting how these two different products are packaged in such similar form factors. The only differentiating factor seems to be the graphics. Right?

Some things to think about…

1) Why does the package on the left cost $80 and the one on the right $12?

2) Why do we implicitly know that the thing inside is circular?

3) Do you know how much each product package really costs to make?

4) How much to you think Branding plays a part in the cost?

5) Do you think the placement of the wordings are intentional? What about the fact that Tiger and Steve seem to be in almost the same place?

Tough job eh? Respect.