Experience City - 21/1/2020
Primary Research
I felt unsafe when I was walking on the street at night by my self.
Experience City - 23/1/2020
Maps of London
The first one outlines book stores and cafes. The second one indicates where different grocery shops are located. These maps could be the inspirations of my route choices.
Cheshire, J. and Uberti, O.(2014) LONDON: The Information Capital: 100 maps and graphics that will change how you view the city, Particular Books
Wildlife - 6/1/2020
Primary Research
Epiphytes. It is a type of plant that does not need soil to grow. It grows on the surface of other plants or objects. It gave me the idea of growing it on a piece of furniture, inviting nature to our everyday life.
Fallen leaves are collected and used as fertilizer for the soil. I like the cyclic process of nature. Plants die and decompose. They turn into another form of life.
I found many broken terracotta flower pots. The material could be used to make other products like a lamp. They are already reusing it as a support for the plant.
They are collecting water from the rooftop, using brush to purify water and collect in a bucket. The system is sustainable.
Wildlife - 28/12/2019
ECONOMY
Vestre is a manufacturer based in Oslo, Norway. It produces sustainable furniture for outdoor public spaces. It has integrated nine of the 17 United Nations sustainability goals into its business model.
1. They make furnitures that will last a long time. An anti-throwaway-attitude is central to its philosophy. This is achieved by using better quality materials that are sourced locally. Compare to wood from warm areas, Scandinavian pine is harder and better suited for outdoor furniture. Furthermore, Vestres applies a higher standard process of cathodic protection to enables its products to remain outdoors for several decades. Vestre also uses local production techniques. Nordic steel has 30 per cent less emissions than the world average. There are other manufacturers offer outdoor furniture at a lower initial cost than Vestre. But in the long term, taking product lifetime into account, Vestre is unbeatable.
2. Vestre has a plan on cutting emissions on transportation. Vestre is one of the first companies in Scandinavia to order the new Tesla Semi – an all-electric battery-powered truck. It will have zero emissions on its internal transport by 2020.
3. Vestre plans to be self-sufficient in energy by 2025. In 2018, it installed 600 solar panels on its factory roofs, which produced enough energy to power the plant.
4. Every year, Vestre gives at least 10 per cent of its annual profits to outside sustainability measures, which includes UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, Church City Mission charity and so on. This also contributes to the region where Vestre is based. It offers grants for newly qualified designers in Scandinavia and cooperate with local vocational colleges on internships.
In the case of Vestre, It is possible for companies to make a profit without compromising their measures to foster sustainability. Vestre is founded in 1949. Seventy years later, its manufacturing is still taking place.
https://vestre.com/about-vestre
https://www.dezeen.com/2019/06/04/sustainable-design-brands/
Utility - 29/11/2019
Utility - 29/11/2019
Coil, Bram Kerkhofs, 2018
https://www.dezeen.com/2018/08/28/bram-kerkhofs-cabinets-coil-modular-furniture-design/
Droog, Function tiles, 1997
The function tiles immediately came to my mind after talking to my client. They fit his style.
Droog Design: Spirit of the Nineties
Vessel - 17/11/2019
Vessel - 17/11/2019
Batch Production
Bench Mould furniture, Studio Glithero, 2010
The collection of furniture is made using the traditional technique of running plaster cornice. I like how the mark of the material and the making process is made obvious on the final piece. Only one machine is used during the whole process - a 2D profile is repeatedly cut through wet plaster on a craftsman’s bench.
http://www.glithero.com/bench-mould-furniture
Pewter Stool, Max Lamb, 2012
The stool is made using sand casting. The sand mould can only be used once, which makes each piece unique. Max Lamb also recorded his making process on the beach. The structure of the stool helps to make up the potential flaws of the technical - the triangular shapes make the stool stronger. The appearance of the stool is partially determined by the manufacturing process. That is why the video showing the making process is equally valuable as the stool itself. It provides a narrative to the stool. I could make a video of my making process some time.
http://maxlamb.org/031-pewter-stool/
https://www.dezeen.com/2012/11/28/dezeen-book-of-ideas-pewter-stool-by-max-lamb/
Vessel - 17/11/2019
The history of travel sewing kits
Sewing kit was used in wars. Soldiers carried them on campaigns to repair their clothing. It was called "housewife" in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is a feminine object.
https://ageofrevolution.org/200-object/housewife-sewing-kit/
Movement - Primary Research - 3/11/2019
These tools remind me of drill and stroke.
Roll
Turn
Pull created by magnetism.
Movement - Stroke
Movement - Primary Research - 2/11/2019
Movement - 2/11/2019
Rotate
Vinyl rotates on a turntable to play music. The movement visualizes how the music is produced.
Planets rotate around the sun. Some planets have moons that rotate around them, and they each have their own rotation. The rotations are caused by an invisible force - gravitation. The model itself can also rotate.
Source: photos taken by me at The Design Museum; Exhibition - Moving to Mars
Turn
The needle turns out from the body of the syringe, emphasizing the aching feeling.
Source: screenshots from Dark City
Experience City - 28/1/2020
DiDi is an app similar to Uber. It is widely used in China.
Users can set an emergency contact. When the user is on the taxi, a message includes the information of the driver and the car and the real time location is sent to the emergency contact. In case of emergency, user can call the police or the emergency contact.
This function makes me feel much safer when I am in a taxi. However, the emergency calling function is too complicated. There are too many steps before making a call. The emergency button should be direct and effective. I would simplify it in my design.
Wildlife - 9/1/2020
Wildlife - 9/1/2020
力 li, Bentu Design
Plants grow out of stones. I like the idea of appreciation of plants. To value their vitality.Reis, D. & Wiedemann, J. (ed.) (2010) Product Design in the Sustainable Era. Cologne: Taschen.
The Phytophiler, Dossofiorito
This design has a similar concept as the one above. The mirrors allow users to look at the plant in detail and to appreciate its beauty. The mirrors also add value to the plant, as if they are a piece of art. http://dossofiorito.com/portfolio/the-phytophiler/
Scolapianta, Mathery
I like how it reuses the water. Water from the dishes flows into the soil. It reminds me of sometimes water is left in my bottle for several days. I do not want to drink them, but it is a waste if I throw it away. I could use it to water the plant.
Reis, D. & Wiedemann, J. (ed.) (2010) Product Design in the Sustainable Era. Cologne: Taschen.
Kawara Bench, Tsuyoshi Hayashi
Reuse tile. The shape of the tile fits with the shape of a butt. It is suitable for people to sit on. It reminds me of the broken terracotta. I could make them into a lamp. The shape of the pot can focus the light, and the gaps allow light to come out.
Reis, D. & Wiedemann, J. (ed.) (2010) Product Design in the Sustainable Era. Cologne: Taschen.
Let’s Grow Some Balls, Krejci
I like the idea of inviting nature indoor.
Proctor R, (2009) 1000 New Eco Designs and Where to Find Them, Laurence King
Wildlife - 9/1/2020
Primary Research
Eastern spotted doves are living in a nasty environment. They are surrounded by machines. I wanted to design a home where they can find plants and things that they are familiar with in the wood.
Wildlife - 28/12/2019
ENVIRONMENT
Malai:
Malai is a flexible and water-resistant biocomposite material with a feel comparable to leather or paper. It is made from sustainable bacterial cellulose grown on agricultural waste from the coconut industry in Southern India. The material is created in a sustainable way. The production of malai uses waste coconut water that would otherwise be dumped and cause the soil to become acidified. It is beneficial to the surrounding environment. However, the source of the material is limited - only in Southern India where it is rich in waste coconut water. The products will travel miles from the source to its final destination. It will lead to greater cost and pollution(CO2 emissions) during transportation.
http://made-from-malai.com/about/
Agriplast - eco-friendly plastic:
Agriplast is a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. It is made out of up to 75 % cellulose obtained from local meadow grass, mixing with recycled or biodegradable plastics. The biorefinery used can generate its own heat and power. Neither waste nor sewage is generated in the production process. The only wash water left is used as fertilizer. The product is 100% recyclable. Agriplast is made only with meadow grass from the region. However, AgriPlast is lighter than comparable fibre-enforced composite plastics. So additional energy is saved during transportation.
CocoForm:
CocoForm is very strong, highly protective, totally natural and easily compostable. The fibre used to make cocoform is collected from the coconut husk, a resource that is widely available. Only a fraction of the huge quantities of nuts are collected for industrial use. The fibres are only a by-product. The latex that we spray on the coir sheet is a fully renewable material. Neither the latex tree, nor the palm tree from which we get our raw material is sprayed with pesticides.
Vessel - 24/11/2019
Vessel - 24/11/2019
Ettore, Studio Guillaume Delvigne, 2016
I like the variety of shapes within this stool. Each part can be disassembled and change order. The structure would be interesting if each shape is a hollow container.
http://www.guillaumedelvigne.com/#/ettore-la-source/
Lien, Studio Guillaume Delvigne, 2017
The colour of the leather and the wood fits. It is a reference for me to choose the quality of leather.
http://www.guillaumedelvigne.com/#/lien-herms/
Home, Studio Guillaume Delvigne, 2018
I like the arrangement of the leather string.
http://www.guillaumedelvigne.com/#/home-2018-herms/
Knots & Beads Curtain, Hella Jongerius, 2013
The combination of glazed porcelain and yarn.
http://www.jongeriuslab.com/work/un-north-delegates-lounge-knots-beads-curtain
Vessel - 18/11/2019
Vessel - 18/11/2019
Souvenir Delft Blue B-Set, Hella Jongerius, 2003
I like the combination of thread and porcelain. I want to put soft thread and hard ceramic together in my design. Thread is an important part of sewing. By adding common material, I hope to build a closer relationship between sewing kit and ceramic.
http://www.jongeriuslab.com/work/souvenir-delft-blue-b-set
Giant Prince, Hella Jongerius, 2000
Textile decoration is applied on the perforated ceramic vase. I like the idea of embroidering on ceramic.
http://www.jongeriuslab.com/work/giant-prince
The texture makes me want to stick needles in between.
Panier percé, Guillaume Delvigne & Ionna Vautrin, 2005
The holes on the bowl allow users to embroider on the surface by themselves. I like how it encourages users to do it yourself and to give the product a personal touch of users.
Movement - 5/11/2019
Movement - 5/11/2019
The Beauty of Distortion, Dorian Renard, 2019
The sculpture reconsiders the use of plastic. Plastic is usually associated with the ideas of cheap. By applying traditional glassblowing techniques to plastic, Dorian Renard provides a new way of looking at the material. I was thinking about using plastic bottles as material to create a chair, but it looks very cheap. This series of plastic sculpture gives me new thoughts. I could melt them and give them new forms, but it is hard to achieve and I don't like the smell produced when melting.
https://www.dezeen.com/2019/10/25/dorian-renard-beauty-of-distortion-plastic/
Sea Things, Sam Jacob, 2019
I like the concept of this installation - the threat ocean plastic poses to marine life. Based on a pattern of sea creatures, Sam Jacob adds waste like plastic bottles to it, emphasizing on the theme of ocean pollution. Inspired by this, I came up with an idea of a bench made by transparent Pvc plastic. The Inside is filled with water and plastic waste. People will feel like floating on a sea filled with plastic waste when seating on it.
https://www.dezeen.com/2019/09/16/sam-jacob-sea-things-installation-london-design-festival/
Movement - 3/11/2019
Movement - 3/11/2019
Kinetic wave sculpture, Reuben Margolin
The sculpture is made of many small pieces, allowing the sculpture to flow fluently. The tubes are connected by hooks and strings, which adds mobility and flexibility. This artwork is inspired by the splash of water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dehXioMIKg0
Simone Forti, Hangers, 2010
People standing on the rope are restricted, while people on the ground can move freely. I like the contrast between tension and loose.
Picture from MOVE choreographing you: art and dance since the 1960s
Variable brooch, 1962
I like how the rubies give these circles directions.
Picture from Schmuck, Kinetik, Objekte: Jewellery, kinetics, objects
Undulating kinetic sculpture, Friedrich Becker, 1969
It is a modular system. Each rod rotates around a fixed point. They rotate continuously in order, making the whole sculpture seems like moving forwards or backwards.
Picture from Schmuck, Kinetik, Objekte: Jewellery, kinetics, objects
Smart Fun roll-up rubber keyboard
Rolling can reduce space.
Picture from Collapsible: a design album of space-saving objects
Experience City - 27/1/2020
These are the reasons why this app is needed.
Some statistics about stalking, harassment and sexual assault
The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimates that 4.9 million adults in England and Wales have experienced stalking or harassment in their lifetime.
file:///Users/yangshuhui/Downloads/POST-PN-0592.pdf
20% of women and 4% of men have experienced some type of sexual assault since the age of 16, equivalent to 3.4 million female and 631,000 male victims
https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed/about-sexual-violence/statistics-sexual-violence/
Accidents happened around us
Wildlife - 13/1/2020
Wildlife - 13/1/2020
Studio in the Woods workshop, 2018
The structure is inspirational. The woods are stuck into one another. It is strong and does not need glue. I like the quality of the raw wood. The texture of the tree trunk is preserved. The mechanics would be useful in my design. I am considering using branches to construct.
Nature Scenes, Interaction Research Studio at Goldsmiths, 2019
The combination of the shape and material is natural. I like the use of branches and pebbles. It creates a friendly environment for animals. However, it is fragile and cannot last for a long time. I want to apply the thoughtfulness into my design.
Open Garden, Florian Wegenast, 2017
It is designed for people living in small spaces to grow plants. I like how the structure can be broken down and assembled without the need for glue or extra tools. It is made from terrazzo and plywood. I will consider using these materials. It makes the structure possible to construct.
Bird Nesting Brick, Aaron Dunkerton
The lost of green space is inevitable. The design uses bricks to build a bird nest. so that it can be installed in a building. I like the idea of human and bird living together. It inspires me to design a product that can be used by both birds and human.
Wildlife - 2/1/2020
SOCIETY
What sustainable practices are particular to your own cultural and geographic background?
The recycling rates are low in China. Many materials which could be re-used are dumped in landfilled. To rectify the situation, government put in place a new-for-old policy in 2009, where individuals and businesses could receive 10 per cent subsidy towards new purchases if they sell old electrical appliances back to the state. Furthermore, government carried out a plan to spend 12 billion yuan to protect rural environment before 2012.
China’s technology companies such as Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu play an essential role in sustainable development. For example, a subsidiary of Alibaba, Ant Financial, aims to use digital technology to promote green finance. It developed an app that gamifies carbon tracking, encouraging users to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in real life, such as walking instead of driving, paying electric bills online and so on. This approach has saved 150,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2017.
Siegle, Lucy, Recycle: the Essential Guide, 2006
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/04/china-is-going-green-here-s-how/
Are there traditions of living, learning, eating, making, working, celebrating or socialising that are specific to your own culture? How are these traditions learned?
1.Burn paper that resembles money as an offer to the dead:
Every year during the Qingming Festival, people sweep the family graves and burn the “money”. It is believed that this “money” is sent to their ancestors so that they can live better in the other world.
http://www.qulishi.com/article/201908/354612.html
2.Dinner party:
Employees and employers talk about work on a dinner party, where people have empty talks to establish relationships that are based on profits and interests. Hosts, usually the employees, often order an excessive amount of dishes just to show their generosity to the employers. They have to get drunk to show their sincerity.
https://www.jianshu.com/p/b0717def91c6
Are there any aspects of your culture that you feel are not sustainable?
Burning paper outdoors increases CO2 emissions; A great amount of food is wasted. This not only includes the food itself but the whole production chain from farming, transporting to making.
Did you grow up in a city, by the sea or in a rural setting? Depending on your
geographical location while growing up how do you think you may have been affected by environmental issues? Consider the following: Pollution may effect the environment in a city; rubbish may affect the wildlife in the sea and on the coastline, while deforestation may have an environmental effect in rural areas and communities? What is particular to the environment that you experienced while growing up in terms of sustainability?
Air pollution. There is a screen showing the level of pm2.5 everyday in my school campus. When the index exceeds certain level, students do not have to exercise in the morning.
There is a chemical plant near a residential area in my city. The air and water there might be contaminated.
Utility - 28/11/2019
About my client
- gather information, especially finance-related new
- cooking while playing TV, movies or music
- Prefer running, walking is too boring
- keep a clean and tidy room
- doesn't like dust
Utility - 1/12/2019
Utility - 1/12/2019
Broooom, Carl Clerkin, 2013
It is a broom with tiny wheels. I like how he combines two everyday objects to create a product that tells a story. From the perspective of function, the wheels allow users to carry the broom around easier.
https://www.dezeen.com/2013/09/22/the-other-way-by-carl-clerkin/
Kitchen Pencil, Sebastian Bergne, 2007
It is a combination of a pencil and a spoon. When you are tired of working and writing, and you want to have a rest and grab some food. There is no need to go to the kitchen, just use the other end of the pencil. I like the idea of combining eating and writing. The design inspired me to put two common objects together - a brush and a spinning tip. Their functions are complementary to each other. Brush catches dust, and spinning top throws dust away using centrifugal force.
http://www.sebastianbergne.com/product/kitchen-pencil/
Computer Brush, Twentytwentyone
It gave me the idea that I could design a small brush that is put on a desk. It also has an ornamental purpose because people want their desk to look beautiful and clean, especially for my client who is very organized and like to keep things tidy.
Wooden Tops, Fredericks and Mae
I had the idea of putting a spinning top in my design when I saw this. It has a long handle, which I immediately associate to the handle of a brush.
https://fredericksandmae.com/collections/games/products/wooden-tops
Vessel - 21/11/2019
Vessel - 21/11/2019
A group of porcelain vessels with bound and woven handles
I like the woven handle and how the body of the vessel is covered with fabric. I want to apply this to my own design. Craftivists use fabric with sewed words to pass on massages. I could use a similar method to invite people to sit down and sew.
Sue Clews
I like how the woven part is wrapped around the cup. The gaps in the woven plastic wire reveal the ceramic inside. I am thinking about using woven fabric to cover my designs and sew some messages on it.
Movement - 5/11/2019
Movement - 5/11/2019
One Two Three Swing!, Superflex, 2017
This three-seater swing encourages group work and collaboration. To swing together, the three persons have to hit the ground at the same time. The concept is similar to my current idea of a sharing chair. It requires two people to sit on the chair at the same time.
Whimsical park, Mikiya Kobayashi, 2018
I like the shape of the see-saw. It is smooth. The tyre underneath is used to buffer.
https://www.dezeen.com/2018/08/19/playscape-mikiya-kobayashi-playscape-tokyo-japan-design/
CrossFit, Schimmel & Schweikle, 2019
I like the visual effect when the two materials are put together. It combines minimalist furniture designs with organic shapes. The solid part is coated with car paint, and the soft part is artificial fur. I was inspired by the contrast between the round and rough fur and straight and smooth plastic. I came up with the idea of putting a balloon inside a plastic box. Part of the balloon will come out from the holes on the box.
Return To Default, Schimmel & Schweikle, 2019
The standard office chair is multiplied to create a giant lounge chair. I like the shape. There are wheels on each piece. I can imagine it rolling around in various directions.
https://www.dezeen.com/2018/12/09/schimmel-schweikle-return-to-default-office-furniture-design/
Sharing Food, Bilge Nur Saltik, 2013
The tableware is designed to share food. The v-shaped base allows users to tip it towards people on the other side of the table. The concept of the design is similar to mine. Two people have to share the bench - sitting on it together to achieve balance.
Source: photo taken by me at V&A Museum, FOOD
Soft Black Hole, teamLab, 2016
The space is filled with soft cushion. As viewers walk through the space, one's body changes the space, and that space influences others. The concept inspired me to create a bench that when one person sits on it, other people sitting on the bench can feel the change. I wanted to emphasize that one person's subtle action could influence people around.
Source: photo taken by me at teamLab Tokyo
Movement - 7/11/2019
Movement - 7/11/2019
Invasions, Charles Pétillon, 2015
The white balloons are dream-like, and they invade a realistic scene. I like its visual emotion.
Inflate, Fern Toynton, 2015
Balloons are used to connect beechwood slats. It adds fun to the assembling process. Balloons are stronger than I thought.