Week Two

The class opened with a few communication exercises to test the our ability to follow instructions. We discussed the many forms of communication other than through speech and conducted an exercise communicating without speech, using only signing and mumbling.

A discussion about the first chapter in "The Laws of Simplicity" followed. The "Reduce" issue and the meanings behind " SHE".

• Shrink: technology is shrinking, consumers generally have a low expectation of small items and so when a small item is found to house great qualities and functions the consumer is very easily impressed, the ipod for example.
• Hide: The swiss army knife for example, is a sleek design with all the functions hidden. Hiding the complexity of a design to make it seem simple is extremely appealing.
• Embodied. In design we try to fit as many features into a small package, then we hide the complexity of the design to make it appear simple. Next we embody it in an apealing package.

IDEO and The Deep Dive

The class were enlightened by a Youtube video about the Design Firm IDEO and "The Deep Dive", in which the viewer is shown the processes the design group go through when a new design project is started. They have a unique office space and ideology to their process, utilising team of multi-disciplinary individuals to create the design.

The process encouraged wild brainstorming with post-it notes on a wall, then voting and categorising the remaining ideas. Research was then conducted by each individual and the results were brought back to the group for analysis.

A work motto is " Fail Often to succeed sooner". The team are encouraged to play, to be open

minded, to experiment, and to think outside the square.

www.ideo.com