Thursday, June 9, 2011

FITKIT : Children Health Program

Reflection

This project is really challenging, it is a brand new thing. I found it pretty hard because we have to consider product that fits into the system and also the system, which work surround the product. It needs a deeper thinking rather than just designing pure product, because its not only involves the manufacturer and consumer, but also every supporting unit around them.

In my opinion, industrial designer should consider PSS into their design solution. Product service system offers a longer life cycle of a product rather than just a pure product. Most of pure product will end their life cycle once it cannot be used anymore. With product service system, the product will be kept maintain for public purposes.

What I like the most about designing PSSis the challenge of designing a product and try to put it into the real life scenario, how the system works among the product and how people involve in the system. And it is not easy to involve those aspects together and make it beneficial for the user. The least I like about designing a PSS is I had lack of understanding about this task at the first place, so we try to figure out what is right and not.

There are a lot of PSS design advantages, one of them is giving many unfortunate people chance to get equal public facilities (especially for the system that government funded). Another one that I found very beneficial is it has lower impact for the environment, as PSS is mainly design for sharing purposes. But PSS design can also be not beneficial and might create huge amount of waste if some of the product within the system does not get along with another.

I learnt a lot from this exercise. I learnt how to solve problems with another two heads with various ­thoughts. My overall view of product has changed because there are a lot of aspects to be considered in designing product. It teaches us to think outside the box and look at what is needed to improve people’s quality of life.

This project is really challenging, it is a brand new thing. I found it pretty hard because we have to consider product that fits into the system and also the system, which work surround the product. It needs a deeper thinking rather than just designing pure product, because its not only involves the manufacturer and consumer, but also every supporting unit around them.

In my opinion, industrial designer should consider PSS into their design solution. Product service system offers a longer life cycle of a product rather than just a pure product. Most of pure product will end their life cycle once it cannot be used anymore. With product service system, the product will be kept maintain for public purposes.

What I like the most about designing PSS is the challenge of designing a product and try to put it into the real life scenario, how the system works among the product and how people involve in the system. And it is not easy to involve those aspects together and make it beneficial for the user. The least I like about designing a PSS is I had lack of understanding about this task at the first place, so we try to figure out what is right and not.

There are a lot of PSS design advantages, one of them is giving many unfortunate people chance to get equal public facilities (especially for the system that government funded). Another one that I found very beneficial is it has lower impact for the environment, as PSS is mainly design for sharing purposes. But PSS design can also be not beneficial and might create huge amount of waste if some of the product within the system does not get along with another.

I learnt a lot from this exercise. I learnt how to solve problems with another two heads with various ­thoughts. My overall view of product has changed because there are a lot of aspects to be considered in designing product. It teaches us to think outside the box and look at what is needed to improve people’s quality of life.















Wednesday, April 13, 2011

PROJECT 1: DESIGNING FOR DISASTER




EVACUATION ROUTE INDICATOR


Background Information

Earthquake happens in Indonesia so often. When the base of the Indian ocean fell, and causing the tsunami in 2004, the tectonic plate is also moving until now. To recondition of the effect, another part of the plate is moving slowly to make the plate (Eurasia-Australia) below Indonesia keep stable. So, the earthquakes happen is the effect of it. Some of them are earthquake in Nias and Yogyakarta. BMG (Meteorology and Geophysics Operation Unit) Indonesia concluded that the plate's move will stop until there is an earthquake again in West Sumatra.

Indonesians realize that that they are on war with the nature. They cannot hide and fight, but they can try to survive. The problem is that Indonesian people are still behind in know how to survive when an earthquake happens. Indonesian government has not done anything significant that can save more of these people when an earthquake hits. I intend to decrease the number of earthquake casualties in Indonesia by creating this device. This device is easily understood that these conventional people will know where to go to save their families, relatives, friends, loved ones, and themselves when an earthquake hits.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

My device is Evacuation Route Indicator. It will provide people evacuation route guidance to the safest place. This place includes landslide free area, higher ground, and an empty land. The indicator will sound like “kentongan,” which is a tool that has been used for years to attract people's attentions when danger occurs.

The device main purpose is to alert people in time of danger. Also to socialize the evacuation route so that people will be familiar with it.

I will use wood for the outer casing of the device. I chose wood because it will blend in with the environment of Indonesian villages. On the other hand, I will use aluminium for the inner layer. Aluminium will protect the device; therefore, it will withstand all weather and hazard.

There are three main components in this device. The first one is solar panel. The solar panel will absorb the lights from sun and turn it into energy that will be charged into the battery. The battery will supply the energy and generate the LED light and the speaker.

I plan to place the device at the corners where most people can see. I will put the device in safe places. In areas where tsunami often hits, I plan to install the light at the points that will lead people to the higher place.



Reflection

I chose Indonesia for this project because I am Indonesians and thus familiar with how Indonesians live their everyday life. Earthquake that happens in Indonesia usually hits a remote area where the people are isolated and are not educated. Those people still do not know how to react properly when an earthquake happens. That is the main reason why the numbers of casualties are often very high every time an earthquake hits a populated area in Indonesia.

Moreover, one advantage that I have from being Indonesian and doing this project on Indonesia is that I know what Indonesian people need during an earthquake. I know what is needed in order to reduce the number of casualties when an earthquake hits. For example, the need of shelters, food supplies, clean water, entertainment for kids to divert their attention so they’re not traumatic.

This project has opened my eyes that there are actually a lot of opportunities to help third world countries like Indonesia in times of disaster, in this case an earthquake. We can design a device that is easily understood and could save a large number of people.










Saturday, March 26, 2011

Task 2B : Sustainable Consumption


After watching the video "the story of cosmetics" and "the story of electronics" my eyes opened that cosmetics and electronic goods which I use everyday contain thousands of toxins. Without realizing it, we include thousands of toxins into our bodies.We don't know who to blame in this matter. From the company officials who seem only concerned with profits, to the scientists and designers who create it withfull awareness.

As a student of Industrial Design, this issue is very important as a consideration in the design. Beginning the process of production, materials to be used, the safety of workers and consumers, until the end of the product's lifetime should be considered.
As a starting point in the design process, we should try to design durable products
and using green materials. By doing that, we can save the world and give better value in human life.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Task 3 EcoRedesign





The product that we disassemble is kettle. This product took us approximately 2 hours to separate it into parts. The hardest thing to do that we found is to take the screws out, many tools are needed.


In this exercise, we identified the product materials and discussed the process of how the parts been made. The main material of this kettle is polypropylene. The design of this product is simple,but there is challenge of hard to take out the heating component. Only this part it has 8 screws. After the disassembly we find out all the material of this product ended up have to go to landfill, nothing can be really recycle that is really waste.





The report from the greenfly shows that the part that has most environment impact is the heating system. (It took long time to separate it.) This result also shows that the design company didn't really consider about the environmental issue.


To redesign this product we can do better so don't have to waste that much. we consider to reduce the require of using fastener, there for most of the part can be use technique of self lock, in this way manufacture can reduce the cost of product and also can easy to get the product recycle which is more friendly for the environment.






Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Recycling



Video "Packaging Giving a New Life" gives an idea how the process of recycling done. Recycling is one of the solid waste management strategy which comprises the activities of sorting, collecting, processing, distribution and manufacture of products/ materials used. Recycling may be the best solution to give new life to a product, or even give better value. But on the other hand, the process requires a lot of machines areinvolved and need a lot of energy. In the near future, we might need a better solution to overcome this problem, maybe to reduce or reuse the product.



As an Industrial Design student, has been invested since the beginning that as designers, we must consider the surrounding environment and create products that are not to pollute the environment, but to make the environment better .There's a lot of things the designer must think of to generate a sustainable design and does not damage the environment. From the start the production process to the impact on the environment at the end of product life cycle. Creating a durable product and use green materials, helps companies and consumers to contribute to create a sustainable earth. Create items that can be recycled to bring a good reputation in the company and also benefit the earth because we do not add waste to the environment.