Greenfly dis-assembly task

From this greenfly dis-assembly activity, it gives us some insight as to how to use greenfly and the benefits this program has as a tool for designers, manufacturers and engineers, getting an accurate estimation of the effects our designs have/may have on the environment.

The actual dis-assembly task was a really good learning experience and a change from our usual routines of putting things together. The dis-assembly gave us an opportunity to really analyse some of the methods and specific materials used in the production of consumer goods.

We also had moments where we would discuss with the team some of our observations we had made, like why certain parts of the blender were particularly difficult to separate and what were the reasons for this.
Overall a valuable learning experience as a designer to actually take products apart down to the screws.

Weekly Feedback - Week 4

Scott- Look into having a pressed aluminium lid as opposed to the plastic lid, cutting down on materials.

Doug- Check out the new cans that have been created made completely of plastic layers that are used to fight bacteria.

Benedict- You need to look at the cues given and see how a user from an outside perspective might read the instructions as to how to open it from the form, colour and labeling.

Cormack Man- you need to work out how to seal the lid onto the can. Try cut open an actual can and work out how everything fits together. Good luck for your project.

For next week: i will work on labels, seeing how the lid fits onto the can, look at the cues and how people will see them in order to open up the packaging.
Look also into pressed aluminium.

week 4 pre-presentation - Draft

week 3 concepts

Weekly feedback week 3

Weekly feedback - week 3

Scott-

Check the tamper-proof seal, make sure that it is able to be opened.

A product's packaging can save money when only the geometry of the lid part is altered to add/create another function compared to a competitor's packaging.

Ginny- your drink bottle concept doesnt seem to have much of an improvement in accessibilty, if anything, it actually makes it harder becaus now the new handle stops general users from using it because it will hit their chin when they drink from it

Lubar- your tuna can concept, the improvements you've made to the packaging is pretty much just an added tool, and the plastic required looks excessive.

Listening to tom- 

Do your research about particular technology parts if you plan to use them or something similar in your design, look into who's using that technology.

Why havent other companies in that industry used that technology for their packaging.

Are there any negative observations of this part?

For next week-

Plan to get my work done earlier and look more into tuna packaging and canned foods in general, why dont they have expiry dates?

T2: Life cycle analysis videos.

Greenfly

-          As designers, it makes us more conscious and think about our designs and their effects on the environment.

-           It may also be used to find more eco-friendly materials and processes to use in our original design

-          This video makes us think further than just the effects of our materials and processes, it also makes us consider the other steps throughout the whole product life-cycle, for example- Transportation.

Whole system and lifecycle thinking

-          The first take home message I got from this video was to not just think about ways I could improve a design but rather take a good look at what the actual problems are about the design.

-          The second take home message I got from this video was to also consider other things in the whole product life cycle through the eyes of designers, manufacturers and marketers.

-          The final take home message I got from this video was to keep looking back on the product lifecycle draw up in the initial stages of the design.

Improving product lifetime

-           The first take home message I got from this video was the idea of a closed loop product life cycle where virgin material and landfill aren’t needed.

-          The second take home message I got from this video was that as designers we should plan out how exactly the product should be used.

-          The third take home message I got from this video was that we could repair, recycle, remanufacture and re-use components of products.

Introduction to light weighting and material reduction

-          Making a design more light weight can save on resources.

-          Light weighting is not for all designs however; other factors such as durability and costs of light weighting need to be considered first.

-          By changing the structure of a product it will lessen the demand for materials.

Green material selection

-          A good material is abundant and non-toxic.

-          A good material doesn’t require heaps of energy to be obtained, refined and put into manufacture.

-          A good material is a material that has good end of life options and that doesn’t cost a lot.

Energy efficient design

-          With a lower amount of energy required at the end of the ‘energy stream’ the less resources and lower costs there is needed to produce the energy at the beginning.

-          The environmental impacts of energy needs may change depending on the source of energy.

-          As designers, the more we know about what happens ‘upstream’ in the energy production cycle, the more we can help people use energy more efficiently.

Weekly feedback- week 2 packaging design

Weekly feedback - week 2. Packaging design

Scott- refine your designs, push the boundaries a bit more.

 Make sure the packaging is not only easier to open but also clear on how to actually close the packaging again after use.

Make sure that you are actually redesigning for a problem that actually is an issue.

Christina le- she liked the water bottle, really liked the sausages, unsure about the milk one.

Concept 2- Try and make a design that reduces the need for a lot of twisting.

Concept 1- make sure the packaging has balance in it throughout the opening process, to prevent it from being knocked over.

Christine liang- 

concept 1- make sure to create proper cues for the user to help guide them on how to use the product, hopefully without them actually needing to read through instructions.

Concept 2- the water bottle design market has become so saturated that unless you're doing something absolutely revolutionary, you should not bother.

Concept 3- try adding to the packaging by also giving it a secondary function particularly after opening it. Eg, a lid that also becomes a spoon after opening.

Listening to tom- reduce the steps needed in the whole consumption process, integrate some, eg. Instead of opening a pill bottle and then tipping the pill into your hand and then bringing your hand to your mouth. Bringing the packaging straight to your mouth.

For next week: i plan to refine my designs, have more solid research behind concept 3. Think harder about ways i can push the boundaries.

Powerpoint presentation week 2