LEGO challenge: Character, Product, Package
When designing new products we must take influence from the brand which we are designing for and often other objects that exist, man made or in nature. However the Dieter Rams philosophy of "Look but don't copy" is key in this project work. Using the design process you will analyse existing LEGO products from
- a manufacture point of view,
- a user point of view and
- an aesthetic point of view.
Under the LEGO family of products you can choose one of the following categories
- LEGO dolls- a contemporary approach to dalls and mother-baby related roleplay. Target prise = £9.99. Age category 2-5years (Duplo) or 7-11 years.
- LEGO games: specifically for the City of Culture 2013. Price choose £7.99 or £19.99 RRP. see existing LEGO games category. Age 7+ years. Consider a board game or a puzzle game which plays on the following words. These have been derrived from the City of Culture 2013 team.
- BORED game
- CULTURE - what's your passion
- HIS TORY and HER itage matter
- LEGENDERRY- What's in it for you.
- LEGO Anime.
- LEGO smartphone (design for inclusivity). Based on an inclusive principle determine a user group that would benefit from LEGO adaptions to a mainstream LEGO smart phone.
Deliverable 1 Design Context:
This stage of the design process includes the following deliverables as part of 'reverse engineering' and 'task analysis' using sketches, storyboarding and photographs.
- The user group- gender, age, likes dislikes etc (profile user) - A3 mood board
- Its play experience/ user experience- A3 user scenario storyboard
- The visual theme and identity (aesthetics and its tactility)- A3 Theme board
- Design for Manufacture (DFM)- how is it made? Which materials? Cut it in two- look at its section.(contextual note book)
- Design for Assembly (DFA).(contextual note book)
- Its functional elements and features. (contextual note book)
- What are its measurements? Use vernier calipers (see Billy Scampton) and document using CAD. (contextual note book)
- Its strengths (verbal)
- Its weaknesses (verbal)
Stages 2-5 of the process deal with new design and resolution
Deliverable 2: Design Concept
- 30 page, Concept generation sketch pad (marker pad)- every idea counts!
- 3x Experimental renderings using markers and pastels or Alias sketchbook pro / Photoshop, of best ideas
Deliverable 3: Design Development
- Concept development Sketch pad (20 pages)
- Package drawings/ space envelopes of new idea in respect to any ergonomic considerations (2D CAD)
- Experimental 3D modlling using 3DSMAX
- 3 x A3 colour renderings using traditional or digital methods
- Design of cardboard packaging for product
Deliverable 4: Design Resolution
- Development sketch pad (10-20 pages), exploring the product details. for example manufacture, or its functions
- 3DSMAX models developed for one design direction
- Experiential renderings of final product using 3DSMAX
- rendering of final packaging using 3DSMAX
Deliverable 5: Design Implementation
- 2x A3 colour renderings promoting your product (marker and pastel, Photoshop and 3D Alias)
- 5min Pecha Kucha presentation describing a summary of your new product design and features and how they relate to the user needs.
- All sketch work scanned, and colour managed using phosothop (image adjustments) created as a PDF document.
3DSMAX is available in MF116 (V6), which although old is sufficient for most needs (due for update). 3DSMAX2011 is available in MG124 however has limited access. It is also available for free download as a student licence from Autodesk.
