Safety Razors

[Brett Lutchman]

Friends,
In my weekly R&D mind-session, we spoke on the Fusion razor by Gillette.
We often speak on these things to keep our creative juices flowing and to generate new ideas.
I'm not sure how many here are interested in industrial design, but I challenge you that if you are not, it would be good to consider observing this industry.
Here is a great read on the history of safety razors http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_razor

Matt Milan actually had an opportunity to speak to the creators of this fine product. If you remember Matthew, he was the individual who made the presentation on Innovative Design by Saab.

Our R&D team actually studied some Saab designs and did a personal heuristical assessment of this brand's products.

Industrial design is a very, very intriguing industry and it may help with designers block. Remember, websites are not the only user experiences out there. I am constantly amazed by the lack of reference made to industrial products.

Enjoy the read.

--
Brett Lutchman
Web Slinger.

[Iain Lowe]

Thanks Brett. This is a great suggestion. Some time ago I viewed this presentation by Bill DeRouchey, which I think is a good example of ways to look to industrial design for patterns and antipatterns for web and other non-physical spaces

http://uxweek2007.adaptivepath.com/sessions/learning-interaction-design-from-everyday-objects

[luke ryerson]

Good one. I really hope the ball gets rolling on this. Design is always a great topic.

By the way, Brett I love your writeup on search box usability. Everyone had some great points but yours was very logical based on my own experience as well.

[Brett Lutchman]

Hey guys, yah I'm always so amazed at the way we as designers can run into designer's block or start getting tunnel vision from the Internet and forget that design exists outside as well. I was in the military so I'm really into weaponry and stuff. Here are 2 links which are mind-blowing.

1. How a Naval Turret Gun works http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Animated_gun_turret.gif
2. New Israeli sub machine gun that fires around the corner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al64prrVGGA

The industrial design craze has caught on in my company and now everyone wishes they were in R&D.

Enjoy the links.

Thanks for article Iain.

[Matthew Milan]

I was lucky enough to attend a presentation at last year's Overlap conference where the industrial designer for the product gave us a very intimate and informative look into the development of the Fusion razor.  I can't share any of the deets, but it was very eye-opening! The scale of the R&D undertaking was incredible.

Matthew

On Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 10:34 AM, Brett Lutchman <brettl...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Brett Lutchman]

Oh...uh...don't press CTRL 'F' on my first link on safety razors and type in the word bikini line and click it. Ooops sorry guys (blush)

[luke ryerson]

LOL OMG. That is too funny. We know that was an honest mistake Brett. You almost got me busted at work.

 

Here's a another good article if anyone missed it on Razor safety. http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33930

[Brett Lutchman]

Hey guys,
Apologies for directing you to the link. I honestly did not know it was there. (I mean I did but I never clicked on it until after) But more importantly it wasn't a proper response to the thread and I shouldn't have purposely directed you to it no matter how funny some may have found it.

I started a great thread here and would like for it to continue.

[luke ryerson]

No worries. this is a really inspiring thread you started. hey you know what else is very usable and designed well? A Banana.

It has the stem at top to grab hold of and open...sort of like a tabbed can opener. It peels down easily, you can effectively hold it in your hand by the peel without getting your hands sticky on the edible part. If it's bruised on the inside, the outside lets you know.

When it's not ripe it's green, when it's ripe its yellow and when it's bad it's black.

I know that this is not exactly industrial design, but it really is a near perfect example of something that is usable and sends the right messages.

[Jamie Strachan]

My wife actually graduated from the Industrial Design program at Carleton.

I've pulled her into the conversation in case anyone had any questions.
She'd be happy to share what she knows.

Jamie

[Brett Lutchman]

Welcome Laura, before I went to Uni I took an Industrial Design program for my Design Foundations course. My The class major was to build a suitcase, a coffee cup holder for cars, or a remote control with story boards to interact with the buttons. I did the suitcase, I made it out of foam core and spray painted it black. It had real removable parts and adjustable compartments. I actually used it as my school bag to carry my supplies. It lasted for about 2 weeks before it fell apart.
Was there any major devices that you and/or team created that you are particularly proud of?

[Joyce]

Hi everyone, jumping into the conversation here --

I now work as a User Interface Designer but have been trained in
Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) and I find that the skills I've
picked up in IDE were really useful. For example, my team lead was
asking me to justify graphics choices for a web-based application for
our client and I can state clearly that the forms (shapes) of the
icons are consistent with our other company offerings and that the
colours complement the client's own company colour palette. Another
example is to decide on which interface is overall better -- IDE uses
tools like the Harris Profile that helps you assess different designs
(and gives a very solid quantitative reasoning if you ever need
evidence to back it up).

So yes, IDE isn't just about "eye-candy" design things but has really
good methodologies for conducting user research and approaching
designs from different angles (and giving you a more solid reason to
back up designs).

Hope that helps :)

Cheers,

Joyce Wong
p.s.
Design projects I've done in IDE include:
- Multi-purpose kettle
- Ergononomic handle for tool in laparoscopic surgeries
- Layout of a public washroom for blind people
- Prosthesis for young adults
- Transportation-entertainment strategy with design for visitor flow,
ticket booths etc.
- Launch strategy for a new sportswear product

On Feb 25, 4:25 pm, Brett Lutchman <brettlutch...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Welcome Laura, before I went to Uni I took an Industrial Design program for
> my Design Foundations course. My The class major was to build a suitcase, a
> coffee cup holder for cars, or a remote control with story boards to
> interact with the buttons. I did the suitcase, I made it out of foam core
> and spray painted it black. It had real removable parts and adjustable
> compartments. I actually used it as my school bag to carry my supplies. It
> lasted for about 2 weeks before it fell apart.
> Was there any major devices that you and/or team created that you are
> particularly proud of?
>

> Web Slinger.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Joyce Wong]

Hi again,

I do have a portfolio but not online, mainly because all the work I've
done belong to the respective companies/universities and I haven't
quite figured out how to make that public without giving secrets away.
(Does anyone have any advice on how to walk this fine balance in an
online portfolio?)

The other great designer is nature, like how Luke mentioned a banana.
Things like velcro were inspired by nature and there's lots of
scientific research being done on this. Although not fully prototyped,
I've also done a design for a baby buggy that overcomes stairs and
curbs on roads in which the design constraint was that it had to be
inspired by nature.

I'll also throw out some of my thoughts on IDE and web and software
interface design since Brett started a great topic:

How do you all feel about the level of challenge in designing
something for the web and/or desktop application? I personally miss
the other design considerations. For example: so far in web and
software interface design, the input is mouse or keyboard and the main
design aspect is visual. I miss thinking about the material of a
product (metal? wood? plastic?), the emotions invoked when the user
touches it, how the user interacts with it (from far away? up close?
voice?) etc. If I look at whatever it means to "design," I feel a bit
constrained by web and software interface design. I've been doing
software interface design (with a bit of web) for 6 months now and
would love to hear your thoughts/advice about this.

Thanks,
Joyce

2009/2/26 Brett Lutchman <brettl...@gmail.com>:
> Joyce that is very impressive. You've brought this convo to a whole new
> level. I often wish that I had chosen this path as my major. There's
> something about creating or innovating something and being able to just
> simply "hold" it with my own bare hands. Even better, to watch other people
> use it and to step back and gain a holistic view of the product and user.
> This is true research in motion. (I know this can be done online...but I've
> never "held" a website before ;)
> Joyce do you by any chance have an online portfolio of some of these
> products or can you provide links to some of your work?
> Thank you for your input. Incredible.

[Matthew Nish-Lapidus]

Hey Joyce,

There is absolutely no reason to feel constrained, you just have to
get used to your new material.

Software interaction design has it's own set of "material" properties,
or foundation. Dave Malouf suggested these as a starting point:

Time
Abstraction
Metaphor
Negativity (space, time, etc)
Motion
Emotion/behavior

There is still a material flow and resistance when working in the
realm of interaction, think about how people will use your software,
how they will feel when using it and how they feel about using it.
think about how it might impact their lives and how your design can
improve the experience. There is a whole level of design for
interactive media that is beyond the visual... Check out the
discussions on the IxDA list (www.ixda.org), there are always people
talking about this type of thing. Especially look at what Dave Malouf
has to say.

The other thing to keep in mind is that we are just starting to break
away form the mouse/keyboard paradigm a little bit, but it will
continue to change. Multi-touch devices will become more common, and
I'm sure there are new interfaces we haven't even thought of. Even
the trackpad on my MacBook Pro is multi-touch/gestural now...

Matt.

On Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 10:04 AM, Joyce Wong <joyce....@gmail.com> wrote:
> How do you all feel about the level of challenge in designing
> something for the web and/or desktop application? I personally miss
> the other design considerations. For example: so far in web and
> software interface design, the input is mouse or keyboard and the main
> design aspect is visual. I miss thinking about the material of a
> product (metal? wood? plastic?), the emotions invoked when the user
> touches it, how the user interacts with it (from far away? up close?
> voice?) etc. If I look at whatever it means to "design," I feel a bit
> constrained by web and software interface design. I've been doing
> software interface design (with a bit of web) for 6 months now and
> would love to hear your thoughts/advice about this.

--
Matt Nish-Lapidus
--
personal: mat...@gmail.com
twitter: emenel

[Brett Lutchman]

In regards to design when it comes to websites, I have become a builder. When it comes to desktop applications, I have become and innovator. When it comes to online applications, I am a creator.
I have been through the 36 chambers of usability and best practices that I am now able to build sites quickly and efficiently while keeping best practices in mind. I find that I get more of a thrill from educating clients and others in usability.
I don't find the web constraining. I find it liberating. I have truly fell in love in terms of designing online applications. Especially the ones that actually encourage the user to accomplish a challenging goal. One of my favorite applications online that I love is http://www.fitday.com/
The dashboard, tabs, features, information, interaction and the ultimate goal of eating right and getting in shape is what turns me on.
With this application, the user does not enter information and is simply finished with the product. This requires the participation of the user and their will to drive for results. I love it. I'm trying to take this methodology and see how I can use it to break out of just being a builder and becoming a true creator again.

It was at my session with Matthew Milan that I realized that I have become a builder...especially in regards to websites. There's nothing wrong with this. Houses have designers and architects that create and innovate, and then pass the blueprints along to construction workers to build it. There is honor in all sides of the project, but I am making an aggressive effort to get my creative juices flowing again.
I'm extremely fortunate to work for an amazing employer who has the passion for design and being creative.

If we are honest, most of us have become builders and innovators (which again, is not bad) and need a revival to become creative designers again. As stated in my blog http://nauticalsurf.com/2009/02/original-thinkinga-design-challenge/

How do I feel about the level of challenge in designing for the web and desktop? I did not feel challenged for a while. But I do feel extremely challenge now, which is the reason why I started this thread. I realized the biggest challenge is me.

Going to talks, reading blogs, clicking on links, has not helped much, because even though the 'experts' talk about design, they are builders themselves.
Sometimes it just takes a fellow colleague in the industry (Matt Milan) to say a precise word at a precise time to spark the creative juices.

Matt's talk, the whole Saab thing that we both studied out and my desire to break into creativity again was all an eclipse that I am thankful for.

It's OK to feel constrained by the web or constrained by anything like you state. We've all felt that. If you haven't, I question your passion for design. It's like a fighter who says, I've never lost a fight, but yet he's only fought twice, verses a fighter who has lost 5 times but has 37 victories under his belt. Real fighters will lose and real designers, will feel constrained at times and even get designers block, or medium-tunnel vision.

But will we break out of these constraints and life to design (fight) another day? For me, I'm using industrial design as my ramp to break the rut. Something about wireframes can keep people 1 dimensional...like a prison guard who goes to work everyday but feels like he's the one who's doing time.

:)

On Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 10:04 AM, Joyce Wong <joyce....@gmail.com> wrote:

I'll also throw out some of my thoughts on IDE and web and software
interface design since Brett started a great topic:

How do you all feel about the level of challenge in designing
something for the web and/or desktop application? I personally miss
the other design considerations. For example: so far in web and
software interface design, the input is mouse or keyboard and the main
design aspect is visual. I miss thinking about the material of a
product (metal? wood? plastic?), the emotions invoked when the user
touches it, how the user interacts with it (from far away? up close?
voice?) etc. If I look at whatever it means to "design," I feel a bit
constrained by web and software interface design. I've been doing
software interface design (with a bit of web) for 6 months now and
would love to hear your thoughts/advice about this.

Thanks,
Joyce

[Brett Lutchman]

Joyce that is very impressive. You've brought this convo to a whole new level. I often wish that I had chosen this path as my major. There's something about creating or innovating something and being able to just simply "hold" it with my own bare hands. Even better, to watch other people use it and to step back and gain a holistic view of the product and user. This is true research in motion. (I know this can be done online...but I've never "held" a website before ;)
Joyce do you by any chance have an online portfolio of some of these products or can you provide links to some of your work?
Thank you for your input. Incredible.

On Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 8:50 AM, Joyce <joyce....@gmail.com> wrote:

[Iain Lowe]

I too, found Matt's presentation on SAAB a good shift in thinking for my online work. I'm one of those folks who pulled myself into a UX position with no formal design background, but I have long done woodworking as a hobby. I find that the skills I picked up learning to craft wood have given me invaluable insight into crafting pixels.

[luke ryerson]

Uh, why am I looking at other avenues of employment now? Landscaping would be nice, maybe a Concept Designer for tools?