Task Five: Video Reflections - Annie Leonard - The story of Stuff

I found this video very captivating as the images really helped to emphasis the message being conveyed. This video really made me look at the big picture. What the products we design are being used for, where we get our materials from, and where it ends up. It made me realize that the products we design and the products we will be designing are just a small figment in the processes which make up the world.

It shocked me just how much consumerism was ruining the natural resources of the world, and how many people it was affecting. I learnt many things from watching the video and it made me realize many things which i had to overcome as a designer.

After watching this video, i realized that i should design products that were sustainable and environmentally responsible as so much of the world was being trashed due to the consumerism show which we are all a part of.

The video also made me look at the big picture, not just about the products which i would be designing, but got me thinking about where these products would come from, who they affect, and what it would do in the long run.

The product I designed was extra large barbecue tongs with a beer opener at the end of the handle which could double as a hook to hang the tongs. The Product was designed with user comfort and ergonomics in mind. The handle has a slight curve for the hand to rest comfortably, and a grip for the thumb to rest on. There were no obvious groves so that the tongs would be used for males of all hand size.

The target market I had in mind when I designed these tongs, were: males in their early 30’s with a steady income from a mediocre job with a recent family. I envisioned the target market to be quite bored during the weekends, so that the weekend bbq with friends would be one thing that they would really look forward to. The product for them would be a form of control, a manly element. With this in mind, I made the product very structured and did not add in too many free flowing lines. I took the inspiration for the handle from a car. As this was something I envisioned the target market to be interested in still as they were still young although they had a family. The lining and detailing shows give the feeling of precision and speed that enforces the car image.

The pleasure analysis would be as follows:

Physio:

- good serving utensil
- multi functional as it doubles as a beer opener
- Ergonomic
- Robust
- Interesting design

Socio:

- Serving tool for others
- Good talking point

Psycho

- Fun to use
- Sense of Familiarity
- Feeling of control

Ideo

- Environmentally responsible
- Safe to use
- Hygenic