Design Execution Reset Part

I made a placemat with pressed pattern and machined lines (form 1a), which could be transformed into an octagon shape by folding (form 2). In the production of this version of “Reset”, I made use of the potential of the transforming properties of cold forming plastic to evoke emotion, but lose the complexity of multiple folds and concentrate on folds that make a single form. I wanted the user to focus on the transformation, rather than the complex decisions of which folds to make.

I used machined grooves in a placemat-sized piece of the material, to make the fold lines, and decorated it with a pressed design to give it the appearance of textured glass. I then made folds in the cold forming plastic, so that when folded it formed an octagonal cylinder. With the addition of a waterproof base, into which the vase slots, “Reset Vase” becomes a vase suitable for holding cut flowers (Figure 38 .

Although the pressed glass effect was lost when the vase was reset, and appeared to become clear glass (Figures 39, 40, 41), the vase was fully able to be returned to the placemat form(form 1b) , then back again to a vase (form 2a).

8.9 Critique of Reset Part 4

If mass-produced, “Reset Part 4” would expose its owners to a story about loss and gain. People would experience the loss of the placemat if they choose to fold it into a vase, but that feeling would largely be supplanted by gaining the vase. Moreover, they can reset the vase to placemat when they choose, and even fold it back into a vase again, but without the pattern so any loss is mostly temporary.

The choice to transform the object, possibly evoked by curiosity, would be made if the owner wanted to verify whether such a change could be made, or to gain a new experience. Each transformation changes the function, with the associated emotions of wonder, excitement and success. In making the transformation, people satisfy their expectation and their curiosity, in a memorable experience. I consider the loss of pattern between the first and second sets of transformation (the pressed pattern) was offset by the excitement of a new appearance.

The people with whom I shared “Reset” were excited by the potential of the cold forming plastic, its appearance of glass, and the transformations that could be produced. While I felt Part 4 most nearly expressed my design intention, some people liked the wider range of forms in Parts 2 and 3. I was delighted with the range of emotions people expressed.

8.10 Summary

“Reset” exceeded my expectations. I found a material that fully expressed my initial design intention, and which inspired me to introduce a wider range of changes and transformations in my design practice, and that I was able to use to elicit a wider range of emotions. I clearly demonstrated that it is possible to create objects like tableware that could elicit the intense emotions in users

Figure 38

Figure 40

The designs discussed in this thesis allowed me to explore ways I could use change to facilitate emotional attachment to objects I designed. I wanted people to experience enriched emotional experiences that would facilitate engagement with the objects. I use the words facilitate and potential because I recognize that people react to experiences in many ways. My intention was that the objects would contain a potential for change, as the element that facilitated a narrative experiences that would be positive wherever possible.

The designs I created allowed me to introduce both positive and negative experiences with the objects, to explore the ways the potential could facilitate an emotional attachment. My belief is that the narrative of change or transformation, intrinsic in each design would help people deepen their relationship with the object. Each of the objects had the potential for the user to be involved, to add, or not, their input to the design, to change the form or function, or appearance, or even the narrative of the product to suit their own aesthetic and needs. I met my objective of not designing to solve a problem, but to allow the user to contribute to the design, with the potential of developing an emotional attachment through their narrative.

I was unable to test the ability of any of the objects I produced to form emotional attachment with users. User and ownership testing was not possible in the time available. I would like to experiment further – to try, for example, different types of silicone with “Standing Liquid” - and to experiment with how I can improve the objects.

Endnotes

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