Postal Presents

i wanted to design a jewellery holder that was more interesting than the generic bar forms and too literal tree forms on the market at the moment. however, i still wanted it to be easy for the recipient to assemble, which is why i streamlined it to two main forms repeated. also i believe the shape of the pieces allow for intuitive assembly, as the slots that connect the parts have obvious matches. because of the multiple arms, more jewellery can be fitted onto this than other holders i have tried in the past.

Reflections: the story of stuff

i  used to get incredibly fired up about this kind of stuff, a regular little highschool activist =P. theres a magazine i used to read called the new internationalist about exploitation and all the stories you never seem to hear about through the regular media.

this video helped remind me about the important things, namely:

we as designers have an INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ROLE.

we can EFFECT CHANGE.

design objects of WORTH and SIGNIFICANCE.

actively reduce EXPLOITATION and POLLUTION through the CHOICES WE MAKE.

(just as an aside, in addition to the information presented on dioxins and other substances found in consumer products, i have a book at home called the chemical maze which lists all the additives found in our food by name and number. its really quite scary how much of what we eat is banned in various countries overseas because its just so darn poisonous and detrimental to our health.)

the statistic i found most disturbing was that in north america, only 1% of consumer goods are still being used 6 months after their purchase date.

lets do something about that. lets reduce the amount of landfill, the number of harmful chemicals used in production, the exploitation of workers in third world countries who have little choice in the matter. lets create change and work towards a sustainable future.

Pictures to supplement poster

4 PLEASURES ANALYSIS (not visible on poster):

PHYSICAL - ergonomic handle for parent - ergonomic wing handles for baby - rounded, friendly shape

SOCIAL - educational tool, increased interraction at meal times between parent and baby while at the same time encouraging learning and independence

IDEOLOGICAL - safe for children, communicated through the large, fun, friendly shape - no choking hazard - bright colours child friendly

PSYCHOLOGICAL - turns dinner into a game, rather than a chore - fun, bright, happy, baby more willing to cooperate because its an extended playtime with a toy easy and comfortable for them to use

RATIONALE

in designing for young families, i wanted a product that enriched the experience of both parent and baby, and i believe this tool does exactly that. to the child, the brightly coloured spoon is simply a toy aeroplane - but to the parent, it represents a means of actively fostering independence and teaching children to not only feed themselves, but to also enjoy mealtimes and encourage healthy eating habits. the ergonomic form is designed to meet the needs of both parent and baby. the tail of the plane is fashioned into a handle that fits comfortably even in larger hands. the wings are a form similar to the handle of a rattle, and provide a comfortable grip for the child. these elements allow the child to hold the spoon while the parent is still ableto gently steer with the rear handle. also, the fact that there are two handholds positioned like handlebars for the child makes it far easier for them to manipulate and manage the tool on their own when they are able, as opposed to an ordinary spoon.