Synapse

Lamp design by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec - use leather to cover electric wires I present to Daniel my inspiration topic and random sketches. Daniel guides me that the next step is to focus and start to sketch ideas for design keeping simplicity in mind. I note two main challenges: 1. Taking a large scope of information and narrowing it down to more specific design direction. 2. Translating abstract concepts into simple design forms. As guidelines to face those challenges, Daniel proposes that I look at some of the work of designers Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec Quote from the  Contemporist  website: "This unique context has often led us to compare our work for the gallery to the use of a sketch pad, a more instinctive form of research free from the constraints imposed by industry, the norms, weight, size or other issues more or less justified by mass production. Here, we give ourselves the time to explore different ...

This is my most agonizing part of the process - the first step before starting to actually design the product. I get a piece paper (or sketch book) and my favorite "Lamy" pencil, and glance at an empty page with full intention to come up with some ideas for the design At this point, I have some faith that by having done the research, I will be able to start coming up with ideas.  But I also see that by doing research, it doesn't mean that I would automatically create something brilliant or that ideas would just flow at me. Research has a different purpose, and still, very important during the sketching stage. It gives me inspiration and good background to keep me focused and not stray away from the developed concept and purpose.  At least, to be faithful to the concept, I need to maintain this focus. Nonetheless, sketching, for me, is still very challenging, 

This is an experimental and somewhat spontaneous event. I like to collect images that represent in my eyes some form of inspiration to the theme. They may represent a mood, a color, a shape, or a feeling... and maybe I can later on extract some features that can help during the design process. This is a completely unscientific process. I mostly rely on intuition of what may be relevant to what I consider my concept or direction. And with this in mind, I might easily discard it later  just as I might easily use it.  On the mood board, I particularly like the image of the trees hovering and hugging from above. To me it is symbolic of space and light creation, and also the forms signify network , collaboration.  Interestingly, the shapes and forms also appear similar to some of the images that graphically portray our brain neuron network. It's a playful process... Extracting Colors I like using Tiny Lab website to extract colors from...

Thinking about the idea of creating collision environments for a co-working space, made me think about one of the greatest net work systems that exist in nature: Our Brain. The idea that exchange of information in our brain is created within the Synapse  between two neurons is a great metaphor, in my eyes, for a collision environment.  A synapse - Definition A Synapse consists of a tiny gap between two nerves, with one nerve serving as the transmitter and the other as the receiver. When sending signals, the transmitting side of the synapse releases little packages of neurotransmitters, which traverse the gap and bind to receptors on the receiving side, completing the information relay Based on my topic of inspiration, I decide to re-make my original A3 mood board Graphic references to our brain network 

In class, present assignment #1 that includes: 1. A printed A3 Mood board to encompass some ideas, references, and key features that will ignite the design direction.  To guide my board, I use the following list for my "design challenge": Provide task light solution for the more “casual” and non-traditional work space, especially collision areas Serves the range of functions that facilitate a productive environment for a user of a co-working space Create new meaning for a lamp that assimilate the drive and motivation that matches today’s worker’s “life style” – the work / play balance. Can be part of a system (moving desk, space divider) 2. Print and present a design brief that includes main features that the lamp will include. I offer a design briefing that is b ased on Alessi Success and End-Means Chain formulas,  

Location The location for the Task Lamp will be incorporated into a co-working projects that is part of Interior Design III project at CIDI Chanapat. In collaboration with the ideas of interior design, here is the concept statement that will be a theme guidelines for the space itself: Concept Our following design brief takes into consideration the human needs for the new working model based on findings from the thesis: “Environmental Psychology - Work Space Culture (Based on Google Corporation and Some…)” In order to accommodate the new work model, designing work spaces must shift from a physical work setting to an entire work space culture. How work space is designed affects not only how we feel, but also our productivity, our loyalty to an organization or our loyalty to our personal goals and aspirations, and our sense of pride and purpose. With this understanding, a design scheme should put emphasis on psychological and social attributes that have impact on human ...

To tap into people’s minds and behavior patterns, we must understand the personality behind startup people, employees of companies such as Google, and co working space users -- the Tech Savvy Gen Y. When it comes to the workplace, most are Gen-Y, on the one hand, are driven, ambitious, and confident. On the other hand they are not willing to “kill for the catch”. They are less hardworking as previous generations and are also prone to job hopping always looking for something new and better. Part of the “less working hard” mentality might have part of the attention seeking mentality: Gen - Y want to be noticed; they want to connect; they want to be part of something. Understanding the sensitive and complex needs of Gen-Y makes it appropriate to provide an environment that assimilates work-life balance.   Human interaction might very well be proven to be that very basic ingredient to satisfy the cultural and psychological needs of the modern worker. Perhaps in the past there...

In today’s competitive market we demand better quality work spaces. Until recently, the design of office buildings conformed to older work models. Traditionally, workers are required to perform rather than to think.  People were centered within a spaces in order to be supervised, access work tools, and have barrier between work and their other activities. With the changes in the 21st Century, especially since the rise of the startup culture, those conditions are becoming ineffective With advances in computers and technology, people no longer need to be gathered in enclosed offices to physically work together. People are starting to seek for career options, as opposed to just a job, as part of life choices. And the lines between work and personal life is dissolving: people work at all hours, build a social life at work, and even sleep and eat at work if necessary. Being one of the dominant player of the new startup generation in Silicon valley, Google co...