Comments on: Computers for Emerging Markets: UC x HP http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585 Beautiful Design and the Strategy behind it Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:09:34 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Carly http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585&cpage=1#comment-712 Carly Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:54:04 +0000 http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585#comment-712 To Markus: I think it is important to see this project for what it was- a ten-week assignment in which the sponsor asked students to design a desktop PC for an emerging market. Our resources were incredibly limited, and I am proud of the solutions we found. Many did address issues of sustainability and closing the consumption loop (mine included). In regards to the photo in my process book: That was meant to be an image of the African Culture Fest I attended as part of my consumer research. I had no intention of targeting anyone with the photo, simply documenting my process. To Markus:
I think it is important to see this project for what it was- a ten-week assignment in which the sponsor asked students to design a desktop PC for an emerging market. Our resources were incredibly limited, and I am proud of the solutions we found. Many did address issues of sustainability and closing the consumption loop (mine included).

In regards to the photo in my process book: That was meant to be an image of the African Culture Fest I attended as part of my consumer research. I had no intention of targeting anyone with the photo, simply documenting my process.

]]> By: Markus http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585&cpage=1#comment-182 Markus Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:33:12 +0000 http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585#comment-182 ugh... I hate to be a bore, but don't you find this work slightly soul destroying? I know I didn't hear the presentations so I could be way off, but designing computers for Sub Saharan Africa? Carly, with all due respect what was with the voyeuristic shot of the woman in the audience in your process book? Was that photo taken without her knowledge because you believe she looked like she was from Africa? There is something very crass about design that has no visionary intention to benefit the planet in any way, just design to benefit the market. Don't you feel sad that this is just more "stuff" to eventually end up in a landfill? where is the vision and innovation? how can you close the consumption loop? are elements of your design re-usable in any way? Can't this generation of designers please see the bigger picture? I am lucky to be in a studio which enforces an environmental consciousness. If someone pins up a project that does not have a progressive element of sustainable design - socially, economically, or environmentally, in addition to the complexities of form and function, it's ripped off the wall. I wish all studios required this acknowledgment that truly great design must have broader intentions, or we will be churning out yet another batch of designers forever missing the mark. ugh… I hate to be a bore, but don’t you find this work slightly soul destroying? I know I didn’t hear the presentations so I could be way off, but designing computers for Sub Saharan Africa? Carly, with all due respect what was with the voyeuristic shot of the woman in the audience in your process book? Was that photo taken without her knowledge because you believe she looked like she was from Africa?

There is something very crass about design that has no visionary intention to benefit the planet in any way, just design to benefit the market. Don’t you feel sad that this is just more “stuff” to eventually end up in a landfill? where is the vision and innovation? how can you close the consumption loop? are elements of your design re-usable in any way? Can’t this generation of designers please see the bigger picture?

I am lucky to be in a studio which enforces an environmental consciousness. If someone pins up a project that does not have a progressive element of sustainable design – socially, economically, or environmentally, in addition to the complexities of form and function, it’s ripped off the wall.

I wish all studios required this acknowledgment that truly great design must have broader intentions, or we will be churning out yet another batch of designers forever missing the mark.

]]> By: Justin Wagoner http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585&cpage=1#comment-175 Justin Wagoner Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:17:56 +0000 http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585#comment-175 I took a bunch of pictures at the end of quarter show. http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z247/Sliq111/Design%20Work/Design%20Photos/ There should be some pictures in there that are relevant, as well as some process shots of me putting rocks on wood... I took a bunch of pictures at the end of quarter show.

http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z247/Sliq111/Design%20Work/Design%20Photos/

There should be some pictures in there that are relevant, as well as some process shots of me putting rocks on wood…

]]> By: Sylvia Spencer http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585&cpage=1#comment-172 Sylvia Spencer Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:44:45 +0000 http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585#comment-172 Here's a link to some pics of the crit! Sadly I didn't get more detail shots, but it is fun to see "action shots" of the crit! http://www.flickr.com/photos/7328747@N05/sets/72157615850059025/ Here’s a link to some pics of the crit! Sadly I didn’t get more detail shots, but it is fun to see “action shots” of the crit!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7328747@N05/sets/72157615850059025/

]]> By: Carly http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585&cpage=1#comment-170 Carly Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:59:48 +0000 http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585#comment-170 Not sure if this might fill in some of the gaps for people, but here is a link to my process book for this project: http://www.daapspace.daap.uc.edu/files/download/haginsca/S9C3DXvPl-RtlWdQ6fCUSIEKdE88VcOnoR0nIBjQauO29zOQqtLmDsLAdxTs6QL9 Also, I am more than willing to talk to anyone (and answer questions) about this project. I think it is one of the better projects our studio has done. Not sure if this might fill in some of the gaps for people, but here is a link to my process book for this project:

http://www.daapspace.daap.uc.edu/files/download/haginsca/S9C3DXvPl-RtlWdQ6fCUSIEKdE88VcOnoR0nIBjQauO29zOQqtLmDsLAdxTs6QL9

Also, I am more than willing to talk to anyone (and answer questions) about this project. I think it is one of the better projects our studio has done.

]]> By: Spencer E Holtaway http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585&cpage=1#comment-169 Spencer E Holtaway Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:28:32 +0000 http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585#comment-169 I'd liked to have been in that crit. While all of the designs look quite nice, I'd like to learn how they relate with emerging markets in terms of sustainability, investment, end-users' needs (tech specs) and long-term thinking/investment. The ugly iMac one makes me giggle too. I’d liked to have been in that crit.

While all of the designs look quite nice, I’d like to learn how they relate with emerging markets in terms of sustainability, investment, end-users’ needs (tech specs) and long-term thinking/investment.

The ugly iMac one makes me giggle too.

]]> By: Mike http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585&cpage=1#comment-168 Mike Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:45:46 +0000 http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585#comment-168 I wonder if the tendency to wrap high tech items in more "ethnic" materials and designs has any merit or validation? One thing consumers who are buying their first PC or other tech item tend to consider is whether or not this product will last me a long time. So you can make the argument that leather will change over time, but maybe in a cool way. You can also make an argument that these decorative patterns actually shorten the lifespan of a design similar to that of a piece of clothing. By the way nice models. I wonder if the tendency to wrap high tech items in more “ethnic” materials and designs has any merit or validation?

One thing consumers who are buying their first PC or other tech item tend to consider is whether or not this product will last me a long time. So you can make the argument that leather will change over time, but maybe in a cool way. You can also make an argument that these decorative patterns actually shorten the lifespan of a design similar to that of a piece of clothing.

By the way nice models.

]]> By: Rohan http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585&cpage=1#comment-167 Rohan Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:06:35 +0000 http://www.michaelroller.com/?p=585#comment-167 Really great stuff. Got it from NOTCOT Want to know more.... Really great stuff.
Got it from NOTCOT
Want to know more….

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