.Charette 2

The objective of Charette 2 was to deconstruct a used Breville kettle down to its components. After using a combination of muscles and screwdrivers to take apart the assemblies, we weighed and noted the material of each component and entered the stats into http://greenflyonline.org/. We reviewed and edited the design guidelines, addressing issues to minimize the environmental effects of manufacturing the product. We addressed issues concerning the manufacture, transport (distribution), use and end of life in order to determine its energy, waste and water consumption and its impact on global warming.

Sheer amount of material used for the components (waste!)

Results from the greenfly site



Using this information and design considerations we were able to redesign the Kettle to minimize its impact on the environment while making the product more sustainable.

the 11th hour

The 11th hour documentary highlights the devastating effects of climate change & global warming on our planet. Past and present human actions have negatively contributed to these environmental crises. The industrial revolution accelerated the damage to our climate and biodiversity; unfortunately current industries and corporations are still causing extensive damage to our planet's ecosystem through use of non-renewable energy such as fossil fuels & carbon. Current consumerism, globalisation and materialism has encouraged excess consumption, which is cultural problem as the society and consumers are ignorant of the large-scale effects. Mass consumption derives from mass productions from commercial & corporate industries; these industries rely on burning fossil fuel to source their energies resulting in emission of greenhouse gasses trapped the atmosphere causing global warming. By-products of the industry include wastes that are irresponsibly dumped. The overall consequences are damaging – rising sea levels due to melting of polar ice, deforestation, soil erosion, polluted waters no longer sustaining the ecosystem and declining of human health as a result from air pollution and contact with chemicals.

“What happens to our plant should make us think & act differently because the ecological crisis is global” (Mihkael Gorbavech). We must take principle actions to prevent the earth’s damaged life system from collapsing. We must search for solutions to create a sustainable future. As industrial designers we can reshape current activities to create a positive impact on our ecosystem. As architect William McDonough says, “we can redesign design itself and see design as the first signal of human intention where materials are highly valuable and used in a renewable cycle”. We should “use our understanding of science & technology along with out understanding of culture & cultural changes to create a culture that will interact with science and the world around us in a sustainable fashion” (Thom Hartmann). The developments of renewable alternatives (solar, wind & biomass), efficient use of energies & recyclables in sustainable, economical designs can greatly reverse the carbon imprint we have made on this world. We can set examples for others to follow by assimilating these changes in today’s society; we can reduce our carbon imprint to restore, renew and protect our planet’s resources. As it is often said, small changes can make a big difference.

.Project 1: Design for Disasters

.Charette 1

Mind map of chair disposal



Prolonged product use






Physiological pleasure after market attachment





Psycho/socio attachment after market attachment





Final Concept - Stable







The proposed solution will allow the chair to be light and easy to manoeuver so can be used in social situations or out of convenience of the user. Social situations would include group of friends watching sport shows or movies on t.v together over dinner or at a backyard barbeque. Because it is a convenient solution, the user is able to utilise the chair anywhere. Additionally the chair can be diversely used so the proposed solution will improve the emotional attachment of the user to the chair.

The chair seat & back support will be made from polypropylene (moulded plastic) with stainless steel legs. These materials are light & durable, so easy to shift around living areas. The tray will also be made from polypropylene with a steel rotating hinge mechanism.

To use the tray attachment, the consumer would have to pull out the tray, which is hidden underneath the chair seat. When not in use the tray can be pushed back to underneath the chair becoming hidden, discreet and unobtrusive. In terms of context of use, the consumer will most likely use it when consuming foods or drink and instances where they require convenience such as in front of t.v or at parties.

A change in life circumstances (moving into an unfurnished new house), a type of lifestyle (businessman who spends more time in office than at home) and budget conscious (uni student living in a small apartment) are the stimuli that will encourage the user to modify the chair with the hidden tray attachment.

Charette reflection

This task has challenged me to think beyond the product's primary use. Long-term satisfaction, product attachment and product endurance are 3 primary factors that will enhance the product's value. These factors foster an emotional attachment to the product with the user thereby extending the product life. As designers you want to design a long-lasting solution so the product has no expiry date. Not just a solution that is disposable and fulfils one aim but so that the consumer will desire continually using the product for a life time. The task was a challenge as it involved problem solving however the way we tackled the task was to ultimately find a solution for potential problems.

Designing is a continual process so designing beyond the original product is typical. We are always continuing to improve existing designs as our context and values change. We redesign products so they can fit seamlessly into our changing lifestyles. Currently the earth is suffering as a result of previous generation's lack of concern for the environment and as a result sustainability is the primary goal in most product designs. We want to enhance the product for our own purposes but also to reduce negative impact on the environment.

I enjoy collaborative problem-solving activity as working with peers encourages us to think outside the square. One's idea can stimulate others to think further, fostering more ideas. After discussing problems associate with our design we were able to settle on a hinge mechanism as an appropriate solution to attaching our tray to the chair.

If I were to design a piece of furniture from scratch, how would I do it differently? I would most importantly understand how and in what context it would be used in. After the charette, by creating an emotional attachment with the user the product's life span can be greatly extended.

.Objectified by Gary Hustwit (documentary)

(reflection on society's complex relationship with manufactured products; what can we learn about who we are and who we want to be, from the objects with which we surround ourselves)

Who we are

We often surround ourselves by objects that identify us; these objects fit so seamlessly into our world, we are unaware how greatly it affects our lives and how complex the relationship is. We never consider the process behind the designs and how the product was created. According to Dieter Rams, German industrial designer:

"People understand things positively if things are clear and understandable. Good design is innovative, good design makes a product useful, good design is aesthetic, good design will make a product understandable, good design is honest, good design is unobtrusive, good design is long-lasting, good design is consistent in every detail, good design is environmentally friendly, good design is as little design as possible."

These 10 principles to good design encompass every single design aspect in that if a product design considered all the principles, it would provide the user with a satisfying & stimulating experience. The complexity of the experience is that the product's use is continued like a silent connection, it works so efficiently it requires unconscious effort from the user. These products include mass manufactured every day products like the Apple peeler, post-it note, toothbrush, toothpick and etc. These products are widely used and are commonly found in most homes, each product has individual characters giving individual elements to its use. We give objects different layers of meaning through history of use. There are different contexts, stories, habits, uses, feelings and emotions. Whether the object becomes a family heirloom or is subconsciously used on a daily basis, we develop complex relationship with these products that reflect our emotional energy and greatly impact on our lives.

Who we want to be

As designers we are motivated to design solutions. The dissatisfaction with things that don't exist inspires use to design a solution by adapting current products. The ideal product is something that is new, worth keeping and that won't out date. We generally design for mass production, which allows us to connect with and reach a wider audience. However I agree with Rob Walker's (author & columnist of NY Times) comment, "the real audience is ourselves; person speaking to when choosing design is the statement to self about yourself 'I am that guy' ". We are connecting with the world through expression of self. Design acts as a medium to create things and through mass production there is mass communication. We are communicating how we would want to use the product ourselves subsequently creating solutions for the generally population and resulting in "making effect and change in an uncomfortable world". (Karim Rashid, NY designer). I think mass production has supported the growth of pop culture as well designed products become more attainable to a wider population, spreading the look of the "now" or "it".

Ecological Footprint