DesigNT

Learning Journey @ Hort Park 19 July 2011

2011-07-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

Left: Group photos of Sec 2D with Mr Woo and Mr Ling

Sketching exercises in the Park

3C & 3D group photo with Mr Woo and Nicolette from Designrete

Learning Journey : Creativity in the Park

Explore Calendars through the Ages

2010-01-31T05:26:00.000-08:00

Explore Calendars through the Ages

This is an example of a good Mindmap

Coursework 2010 : Mindmap

2010-01-31T05:22:00.000-08:00

Mindmap or Concept map

In order to u nderstand the theme of 'Selection' or 'Home' you may use Mind maps to assist you. There are many freewares in the net which you can use in mapping out the theme. Example are listed below:

Freeware : can print it out for your design journal

http://www.edrawsoft.com/freemind.php

Very nice way to mind map but would be difficult to print out. Need to sign in using email and password.
A sample is shown in one of my posts.

http://www.spicynodes.org/a/fd15ee43638285acdad08ae5cc917755

It is very important that the mindmap items are related to the theme. The wider your mindmap, the more situations you will be able to surface.

DnT Coursework 2010

2010-01-31T05:05:00.000-08:00

New year new beginning

Coursework 2010

Jan 31 2010

By now, the D&T pupils must have completed the following:

- a plan proposal for Project Schedule and Management
- Mindmaps of the theme : Selection (O Levels); Home (NA levels)
- Situational research on the theme
- Needs analysis using PIES
- Chosen Project Situation

The next posts will have short revisions on the topics already covered in class.

Design - Electric Unplug 1

2008-07-04T04:51:00.000-07:00

Problem : Taking out an electrical plug from the socket. At times, we need to really pull hard to extract it.

The unplugging device works in a simple way. It is fixed in together with the plug. The two ends of this device is pressed and the leverage will then lift the plug from its socket.

Design - Bowls

2008-07-04T04:44:00.000-07:00

Drinking from a bowl is very Asian and it could be difficult to hold it while drinking the content as it could slip. This design added a flap like edge which rests on one hand when holding it.

Posting in New Paper blog

2008-07-04T04:43:00.000-07:00

Mr Elvin Woo P F on July 1st, 2008 9:09 pm
Best Director

Slaven Bilic, the man who made the Croatian players played with a smile and happiness in their heart. The sight of him, in his grey suit and red tie leaping high, looking frenzy and then flew to straddle into the arms of his assistant when Srna scored against Germany epitomizes the child like innocence that endeared him to all. He was never far from the field in all the games, always gesturing, coaxing, pleading and once a while tried an imaginery header or kicking clearance (he was a former defender). One could virtually feel that his heart was on the field with the boys. One would also fear that he would, at any moment, run into the field to play the ball and be sent to the stand by the referee. His boyish enthusiasm was felt, like a 12th player and his boys put up grand performances to beat Austria, Poland and Germany. He wears a stylish earring, is a lawyer, rock musician and a smoker. His personality and actions cast out the notion or perception that football managers are all dowdy, grey haired and are strict disciplinarians. Slaven Bilic had definitely brought back the fun factor to the game and his players responded superbly in the qualifiers (esp against England) and Euro08. Rock on Bilic and Croatia!

Mr Elvin Woo P F 55, Civil ServantRed devils Fan since 60s

Design - Cup Identifier

2008-07-04T04:37:00.000-07:00

This design arose from the problem of identifying one's disposal cup amongst company. It is such a ridiculously simple idea of having tags at the bottom. This number tags can be bent to signify a personal number.

Postings in The New Paper Postman

2008-07-04T04:19:00.000-07:00

Mr Elvin Woo P F on July 4th, 2008 6:26 pm

Cristiano Ronaldo was borned for Real Madrid. It was only that Man Utd’s players were super quick to notice that he is special and urged Sir Alex to sign him. Since that fateful day, Ronaldo had developed so much that he feels that he has to look for a bigger stage to perform. His personality, show-pony style and constant crave for attention suits the Real Madrid setup better. Throughout Man Utd history, their greats like Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and later greats like Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson, etc did not have such characteristics as Utd is not a place for them. The only exception may be George Best decades ago. Let Ronaldo go, let him have that stage in Madrid. I believe that he has that mental strength and capabilities to do well in the whites of Madrid only when he had developed FULLY in the red of Utd. He is still a pony who is still wet behind the ears, not a stallion yet.

Mr Elvin Woo P F55 Civil ServantRed Devils fan since 60s.

Design - Toothpick Dispenser

2008-07-04T04:12:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this design is to solve the problem on taking out the toothpick out of the container in a hygienic way. Slots on the top part of the container allow space for the toothpick to be isolated.

Design - Shower Brush

2008-07-04T04:01:00.000-07:00

The Shower Brush combined the shower rose with a rubberised brush which allows the bather to scrub his body while splashing the water.

Design - Spring Scissors

2008-07-04T03:50:00.000-07:00

This pair of scissors helped those people who may have problem manipulating it to cut. It may be designed for cutting stems and branches off Bonsai plants. The springs help to keep the cutters open.

Design - Chopstick Helper

2008-07-04T03:34:00.000-07:00

The above shows the design of a chopstick holder for those who want to use but could not manipulate the chopsticks properly.

Though helpful, it took away the elegance of beign able to hold the chopsticks well. This design could be for the very young or one with hand problem.

Design Process - Bus Stop in Tokyo

2008-06-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

Design always starts from a situational problem and this case

it was about the bus stop in Tokyo as listed above.

Research then was done on existing bus stops

Design specifications were then listed

Design concept was then raised.

Further research was done with regards to the ideas

The final idea

Prototype Model of the idea in action

Universal design problems

2008-06-17T03:08:00.000-07:00

The image was captured at Toyota's Mega Web design area which typifies the spirit of Design

Below are some of the typical problems which are universal.

A mess of brooms on sale. Chairs are not kept properly

Moving a baby stroller across a mass of bicycles

A washer person's nightmare

Toyota Mega Web in Tokyo 9th June 2008

2008-06-17T01:47:00.000-07:00

A visit to Toyota Mega Web at Tokyo's Odaiba Park revealed the latest design of their cars and the futuristic trend towards its design. The cars above are in production at this moment.

Sketches of the designs are shown.

The design of the seat took into account of the wheel chair features, designed for the elderly.

One of the future cars on display which modelled itself like a cart on four wheels. The significant change is in the wheels which are totally different from the synthetic rubberised ones used now.
There is also the individual travel model seen below. There seemed to have no cover, like a rickshaw.

The I-foot looked like a monster dinosaur. The driver is seated on a high pedestral. There is no wheels. Instead the two large legs move along in its travel, like someone seated and being carried around on a throne.

Taken with permission, courtesy of Toyota Motors. I would recommend a visit to this Mega Web in Tokyo if one is enthralled with the latest designs and gadgets.

Design Journal : Project Schedule and Management

2008-06-03T06:14:00.000-07:00

In your Design Journal, you must show detailed planning and scheduling from the beginning till the end of the project. In the course, you will have to update your schedule, to show changes caused by unexpected circumstances.

Gantt Charts (sometimes misspelled "Gant Charts") are useful tools for analyzing and planning complex projects.

The website is a usual resource for the above:
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newPPM_03.htm

When a project is under way, Gantt Charts help you to monitor whether the project is on schedule.
If it is not, it allows you to pinpoint the remedial action necessary to put it back on schedule.

Working on a Gantt Chart:

1. List all activities in the plan
A For each task, show the earliest start date,
B estimated length of time it will take,
C and whether it is parallel or sequential.

If tasks are sequential, show which stages they depend on.

The table show all the tasks for Planning a custom-written computer project

Task possible start Length Type Dependent on...

1. High level analysis week 1 5 days sequential 1
2. Selection of hardware platform week 1 1 day sequential 1
3. Installation and commissioning of hardware week 3 2 weeks parallel 2
4. Detailed analysis of core modules week 1 2 weeks sequential 1
5. Detailed analysis of supporting utilities week 1 2 weeks sequential 4
6. Programming of core modules week 4 3 weeks sequential 4
7. Programming of supporting modules week 4 3 weeks sequential 5
8. Quality assurance of core modules week 5 1 week sequential 6
9. Quality assurance of supporting modules week 5 1 week sequential 7
10.Core module training week 7 1 day parallel 6
11.Development of accounting reporting week 6 1 week parallel 5
12.Development of management reporting week 6 1 week parallel 5
13.Development of management analysis week 6 2 weeks sequential 5
14.Detailed training week 7 1 week sequential 1-13
15.Documentation week 4 2 weeks parallel 13

The above tasks are then compiled into a chart using the Excel format

Another Project Schedule and Monitoring tool is :

Critical Path Analysis & PERT Charts

http://www.mindtools.com/critpath.html