Exploratory
Making
C&A
T&R
In short
In the course Exploratory Making we were trained to make design decisions for aesthetics in exploratory ways by doing in-class exercises and bigger weekly projects. Below you will find various projects that were completed during this course. Other than broadening my vision on rich interaction in design, both technological and non-technological prototyping skills were developed throughout this course. The final deliverable consisted of redesigning a coffee machine, serving as an opportunity to develop and showcase the acquired skills in decision-making, iterative design, and low and high fidelity prototyping.
grade
9
Modular marble machine
Light switch
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Scenario panel
In the following photos, the different stages of an interactive, foamcore recycle machine are visible, being the first assignment in this course where prototyping techniques are combined with technology. The first stage is the waste bag entering the machine through a conveyor belt which was created by using a stepper motor. As soon as the waste bag has arrived in the machine, the second stage of the machine will start, in
which the waste gets recycled into a new plastic bottle. To indicate that this process is complete, the machine will show a checkmark sign which is moved by a servo motor, and a green LED will turn on. This indicates that the machine is ready for user interaction: by pressing the button located on the front of the machine, the recycled item will come out of the machine, which is the third stage of the machine.
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Hot beverage vending machine
For the final assignment of this course, we were asked to create a hot beverage vending machine that could produce at least 3 different drinks. My initial idea for creating a hot beverage vending machine was to create a combined coffee and tea machine. Although the assignment was to create a vending machine that is able to create and deliver at least 3 different types of drinks, and a coffee and tea machine seems to provide only 2 different drinks, I eventually managed to develop a view on the different types of drinks which became the foundation of most of my design decisions: by being able to customize, and therefore personalize, different aspects of the coffee you create the opportunity to make an ‘unlimited’ amount of different drinks.
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After some brainstorming I decided that the design goal for the hot beverage vending machine would be the following: the vending machine should provide a very personal coffee design experience that allows the user to create their unique coffee based on flavour and aesthetic preferences of the coffee like the user aspires to make or is used to making at home.
The machine is, unlike most vending machines which you may find in a regular work environment, small and focuses on a small variety of coffee types since this allows to make the coffee-creation experience more personal without the user getting overwhelmed by all the different options available on the machine. Personally, I am not a coffee drinker so before I started working on the assignment I believed that it was essential to get an idea of what is possible when it comes to creating different types of coffee. After doing some research I got inspired by Latte coffee in particular. This coffee type creates the opportunity to create so-called ‘Latte-art’: creating visible structured layers that vary between coffee and milk. Based on further research I decided that I wanted to use the following elements: K-Cup input possibility (this determines the flavor), choose a coffee-milk ratio & unique layering design, cup output possibility, and a final coffee presenter.
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Learning points
Other than the course serving as an excellent opportunity to hone prototyping skills and enhance the exploration and communication of ideas, I recognized an initial fascination with foamboard modelling and the opportunity it provides for achieving aesthetic perfection. Feedback from the second lesson helped to understand the importance of paying attention to small details for cleaner models. This realization inspired me, as a perfectionist, to invest time and effort in creating aesthetically pleasing models.
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However, I also learned the importance of balancing efficiency and perfection. By struggling with the idea of creating exploratory models that did not look complete, I recognized that efficiency and functionality are key in explorations, guiding my work in later assignments, and being of significant value for decision-making in future design processes.
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Because of a sense of inadequateness at times, I consciously shifted my focus to learning from others' work rather than comparing myself. This change in perspective eased the process and is beneficial for identifying a broad range of development opportunities as a designer.
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In the later part of the course, significant challenges were encountered with the electronics required for an assignment, leading to additional time, effort, and financial burden. Despite initial frustration, I managed to solve the issues and regained motivation to continue working with electronics. By seeking help and maintaining focus, I was able to overcome obstacles and find motivation to achieve my goals, enhancing a positive learning attitude for the future.