#shapingdesign

[shapingdesign]

In 1917 Guillaume Apollinare coined the term surrealism, contracting "sur” (on top of) and réalisme. He named a joyful playground where, between fact and fiction, surreal designs subvert and exceed reality. Shown: L’introuvable, 1937 by Marcel Marien.

[stumax]

In my early Shaping Workshops, I would close the sessions with the Skittles Map exercise. Designers developed their own personal map describing the competencies that matter to them. They also had identified areas in which they could grow. And areas in which they could help others. via Pocket

[lydiakolinski-blog]

Blog 4: “The dilemma of designers’ empathy delusions”

I think its interesting now that there is this battle between empathy and sympathy, and that fine line that is often idealized by designers. This coincides with this article, saying that this is one of the three delusions of emphatic design.  “At best, many designers have developed sympathy for the people they design for. Appreciating their needs. Feeling for them. But not really feeling them. Sometimes this can become pity. Way too often in my experience.”. This is very interesting, that it kind of poses the notion of a fine line of actually caring about changing someones life, versus capitalizing on someones needs. 

“Imagine a doctor. Imagine if she had high empathy. She would struggle to make decisions for the population she helps. If one of her patient suffered, she would suffer. The pain would impede the process of resolution. It’s why many healthcare professionals build up barriers to the emotions and the pain of the patients they serve. It helps them make better judgement calls.

I’m not saying a designer shouldn’t care. Often, they should. But i’m not sure that empathizing over every user they meet can really be that productive or helpful.”

This is so important and a complete oversight in my mind. This is a very interesting perspective to parallel these two professions but its true. WE, as humans, need to develop barriers and boundaries between self and work. My mom is a strong empath and she works in the mental health field and in order for her to be functional, she made herself have boundaries on how invested you get emotionally, so that its not taxing you in anyway and inhibiting your job and end goal.  

Source: https://medium.com/shapingdesign/the-dilemma-of-designers-empathy-delusions-a61f0663deaf

[shapingdesign]

Reprogrammable dyes that let objects change colors when exposed to UV light. MIT AI Lab’s invention can help us love our stuff longer and reduce waste. Demo film here.

[shapingdesign]

Before the Mayans were the Olmecs. The Aztecs called them “rubber people” as they had invented the material by mixing latex from rubber trees with moonflower juice. Archaeologists found 17 enormous 10’ heads carved from single basalt blocks that like the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge, display inexplicable prehistoric building abilities.

[shapingdesign]

With enough photographic images of an object plus photogrammetry software you can generate an authentic looking 3D model replica. In future, if this “object capture” lets anybody own close approximations of objects designed by anybody else, will this democratize or devalue Design?

[shapingdesign]

I loved to play marbles and still find their uniqueness and infinite variety intriguing. This rare Pink Opaque Lutz marble by Christensen Agate sold at auction for $25,800!

[shapingdesign]

I read about Mo Pinel and his story has stuck with me since. He is a Design hero. His creativity, enthusiasm, and tenacity changed the world of bowling forever. Mo’s asymmetric cores are what help modern bowling balls be spun and aimed at the pins with amazing power and accuracy. His seminar here.

[shapingdesign]

Here’s my #3DBenchy, probably the most printed model in 3D printing history as it’s used to calibrate printers. Designed by Creative Tools in 2015, the little tugboat really floats! You can download the model here.

[shapingdesign]

Ferrofluid developed by Kent State University researchers in 2021 reportedly cleared the amyloid plaques in human brain cells that are associated with Alzheimer’s. Amazing technology to help solve a large and growing problem in the world. Infographic here.

[shapingdesign]

The ‘Jumping Rooster’ by Akiyoshi Kitaoka is a brilliant optical illusion using anomalous mirror symmetry (shown on left) to create height reversal of the foreground object. Confused? Then this probably won’t help at all.

[shapingdesign]

This is the shillelagh (Irish fighting stick) that hangs in my office. Ready for action! Historically, the oak sticks were smeared with butter and placed up a chimney to cure for several years, the accumulated soot creating the stick’s black sheen.

[shapingdesign]

Fungal spores harvested by Alexander Fleming in 1928 leading to his discovery of the first antibiotic. By the mid-1940s, the invention of penicillin had become the greatest therapeutic impact event of all time.

[shapingdesign]

Tamagotchi, 1996 by by Akihiro Yokoi and Aki Maita. The long-term results and impacts of virtual relationships are yet to be seen and felt. They open seemingly endless philosophical and moral debates. As AI continues past the Turing test, an inevitable question will arise: Who am I in a relationship with?

[shapingdesign]

Charles Darrow developed the game Monopoly and his niece loved to play. She began using the charms from her bracelet instead of the wooden tokens provided. The metal pieces were perfect as representations of the players’ personalities and so the charms were made a permanent part of the game. Note: Look to your superusers to help accelerate your product’s design development.

[shapingdesign]

How do you protest? In 1832 French citizens against the regime of Louis Philippe beat pans to express their discontent with the monarchy. Over time, this form of dissent was mainly practiced in Spanish speaking countries and became known as a “cacerolazo” or “hitting the stew pot.”