25 October – 20 November 2004
Introduction
As human beings, we move, physically and psychologically, need and want movable or moving objects since we were young. The toys we played were not all driven by motor, but as children, we prefer toys that can move. When the moving mechanism is supplied by electricity, or better say, by batteries, they create a serious problem to our environment when they are used up.
As a designer who cares about our environment, have you ever thought of creating toys that can move without using batteries or fuel that damage our planet?
Objectives
1.To foster the application of visual elements and design principles.
2.To reinforce the creativity in problem-solving and material manipulation.
3.To further develop the presentation techniques.
4.To enhance the skill on model making and three dimensional visualization skill.
The Brief
Part A - Research on the toys that children play nowadays. Investigate on the moving ones without using batteries or fuel. Chinese folk or traditional one is a good point to start with. Collect as many images as possible, analyze, organize and categorize them. Produce a report of your findings which includes your comments and conclusion.
Part B -Create a toy that can move on its own without consuming any energy. It should target to a certain age group which you defined at the very early stage. Report to your tutor what you target audience is. Information such as age group, educational background, family background, etc. should be set and reported after the research. As a toy, it should be attractive in form and colours, interesting to play with. It can be educational or just for entertainment. All these should be defined beforehand.
Explore different self-moving devices that do not take up batteries or fuel (such as fly wheel, rubber bend, wind, etc.) Investigate all the possibilities and work on different proposals, don’t just stick to one idea.
In the developmental stage, pay attention to the aesthetic, be professional, and turn your idea into a product that is really designed by a product designer.
Assessment Criteria
1.The breath and depth of the research.
2.The ability of data collection, organization and categorization,
3.The innovativeness and application of the moving mechanism,
4.The creative application of materials being used,
5.The application of visual elements and design principles, or the aesthetic sense, and
6.The participation, attendance and attitude throughout the whole process.
Project Tutors: Damian Cheng and Kacey Wong
Diploma in Design Studies October 2004 ©
