Ben Arent
Product Designer
info@benarent.co.uk
In this quick how-to, I will go over how I turn hand drawn product design sketches into high quality line drawings. Below isn’t the best of my drawing skills, (its a range of thumbnail concepts, but we are focusing on the scan.)
Jump in to find out (more…)
I received a copy of the first MADE magazine today, Its a great magazine from the guys at London Materials and Design Exchange. Its around 60 pages and has some really great graphic design. It has a range of short articles all about how companys are using materials to create better products, architecture and everything in between. The magazine is free to all members of the Material and Design Exchange network and is being published 3 times a year. I guess that means if you want one you need to join,
I have had this book over two years now, and would highly recommend it. Design Sketching is a extensive selection of inspiring sketches by 24 students at the Umea Institue of Design. The book has been compiled by Erik Olofsson and Klara Sjolen. Although you can only buy this book from the www.designsketching.com .
On a side note, Erik Olofsson one of the editors has also released a new book. Called Sketching: Drawing Techniques for Product Designers. I havn’t got my hands on it yet but it look like these are the sort of books product designers need.
After finding out that a potential student wanted to come to Middlesex University as a result of my website. I thought that I had better update some things.
I have now finished my product design dissertation, and am now just focusing on my final design project. My brief is looking to address the needs of older adults though social communication. I have been creating a lot of Bill Buxton style experience prototypes, and using my dissertation as a guideline to turn my late majority into early adopters.
I plan to be updating my ‘about my uni : Middlesex’ as this is just a little out of date, and it getting just a little too much attention! Middlesex are trying to create a better online presence, and I’m working with lectures to create a better ‘online’ brand. But working with large academic institutions is a little slow… (especially with SEO). If you want to see some of the new facility’s check out the my Flickr Middlesex University Feed.
I’m also part of the crack marketing team for the graduating students. Everything is still being filled out, but keep an eye on www.pdeproduce.com, and the PDEMarket at the Trueman brewery on the 5 - 9 th of June.
I have now submitted my dissertation. Its been a long but fun journey. I would like to thank my six participants and Andy Bardill for help focusing down the topic. You can Dowload it here (1.9MB PDF)
The dissertation starts with a broad overview of emotional and experience design, this leads into my research area of Social communication. To test the academic theories of design in design. The end result is this practical design process which can be used during product design brief creation in an increasing complex world. 
ABSTRACT-
In the last seven years, the understanding of product pleasure has greatly increased in academia. Currently the discussion has extended beyond just pleasure and has included the complete experience. While these frameworks exist there is little empirical research that this is what the consumers want, especially within an increasing complex world.
Current technologies have created a plethora of new social methods of interaction that have been activity adopted by the late majority. This fundamental shift in product adoption means traditional late adapters have embraced new products and services faster than traditional early adopters. This paradox of adoption is still under designed for, as current manufactures still don’t completely understand their users.
This dissertation will use a triangulation of user centered design methods focusing on the late majority. Comparing the results against a range of hypothesizes focusing on overall experiences and product adoption. The resulting research combines experience topologies with practical process, to create an iterative design framework that could be used to create better framed briefs.
After reviewing the internet’s and hearing Clive Grinyers podcast at InterSections 2007 InterSections 2007. I have never seen this concept before, even within Bill Buxtons apple overview from “Designing interactions”. Clive only has a short introduction about this concept.
“tangerine’s first project for Apple, where Jonathan Ive began to make his mark. This was one of three concepts based on different types of mobile working. Workspace was for intense, static activity with high feature levels and the ergo “Harley Davidson” keyboard.”
Its an interesting object, and would be great to see a Harley Davidson keyboard in the next iPhone. The short pop-out keyboard on the side seems like a great idea too. So Blog-o-Sphere.. dose any one know more about this concept?
To finish of my Christmas Presents I decided not to give into the £1 generic Christmas wrapping paper and decided to make my own.
For this you will need.
> A Printer (I use a R1800, as It allows me to print A3, and a roll of A3 (effectively double the width of A3).
> A sketch of something Christmas, I drew a rather odd looking snowflake.
> Photoshop.
> Some blank newspaper, I picked mine up from the London Graphic Center. It cost 20p for a A1 Sheet, in which I cut into half.
Continue to find out more and download my wrapping paper designs.
I’m now working on my final year project. We were allowed to create our own brief. I wanted to work on a project that would be very Web 2.0, and would allow me use a whole bunch of new interaction design methodology. I decided to pick the 60+ crowd to design a product to encourage social interaction. I think this project is going to be really challenging and I can’t wait.
Watch the blog for lots of updates!
Hey Web visitor! I have uploaded my own crimbo tree and reindeer designs for all you people to have. I have 3 different type of Christmas trees, and my own ‘wonkey’ and cute reindeer. The legs may need a little bit of reinforcement, but mine are standing fine.
I got this idea from the overpriced MUJI reindeer and trees, these are selling at £4 - £8 each! I’m going to be uploading some similar more angular reighdeer soon, and even making a 4ft CNC routerd crimbo tree. Watch this space… but until the end of the week you can get downloading my tress, and reignderr
Download the reindeer for any 3mm sheeting, I used Live Edge, which glows. Although clear acyclic is just as classy!
On the 17th of October 2007, I visited M.A.D.E. The Materials and Design Exchange. Its a physical resource library with around 200 different materials to touch, feel and investigate. By being able to hands on with material allows me as a designer to have a real feel for what the product could be and the limits of the material. If your in London I would recommend checking it out. You need to register via the website, and e-mail in advance to let them know your visiting, but its all FREE!
The guys and gals at the materials institute seemed more than welcome to have any question thrown at them. The more challenging the better for them. I hope to be working closely with the “material people” in the future.
Reading MADE, the magazine from the inssuite. While we wait until we are shown where the materials resource center is.
D30. Shock absorbend material. In putty and padding form.
A two part injection molding.
A super-light carbon nose cone. From a F1 Car.
There is a huge arrange of synthetic and natural materials available.
Welcome to my Blog, this is where I post updates on my work and publish interesting stuff that I otherwise had trouble to find on the internet.
Please feel free to comment, and comment to me on twitter.
