ID [PNW]

I just got notice that both of my short films have been selected for the Northwest Projections Film Festival !  One is Form Function , the one about my design students projects transformed from sculpture. The second is called The Tree Was Here, and that was my documentary project from last fall, about tree ring science.  It features the work of Chris Robertson of Western Washington University's Environmental Studies Dendrochronology lab.  That was done with my class partner, Ryan Christoffersen.  They will show at the Pickford Cinema in Bellingham, April 16th-18th.  

My documentary about design for the other 90%, Hoima Bicycle , was just released on DVD on Amazon.com.   It shows the process of designing a bicycle for and with Ugandan bicycle couriers, known as Boda-boda. Filmed primarily in Uganda, it shows the realities of current day East Africa, from the chaotic streets of Kampala to the inside of gritty mud-thatched homes in rural Hoima. The intent was that it could be used in the classroom as a point of discussion about designing for social impact.  The project had it's successes and it's shortcomings, but many lessons can be drawn from it.  Especially a look at the culture of modern day East Africa for those who might want to do work there.It's only 30 minutes long and I'll be posting a list of discussion questions here and on the WWU ID site. I'll be presenting on the project at the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) annual conference "Open" in San Francisco on March 26th, 2010.

You are invited to the design presentation of  the Junior Industrial Design Studio project:  Inspiring Industrial Design for Pranav Mistry’s SixthSense Technology Wednesday, March 17th 10:30am – 12:30pm Academic West Building room 203 Western Washington University Bellingham, WA, USA the technology: “ 'SixthSense' is a wearable gestural interface that augments the physical world around us with digital information and lets us use natural hand gestures to interact with that information. “ the project: In its current state, the SixthSense device is a brilliantly engineered prototype.  However, industrial design can improve its ergonomics, its appearance and its ability to serve people in various situations.  This group of 13 design students each tackled a specific user and application and redesigned it to meet their needs. I've been shooting video of the design process and the results, and will post the edited video online.

Here's is Part 3 of 4 of Hoima Bicycle.  An experience in designing a bicycle with Ugandan bicycle couriers.  This part shows the reaction of the first prototype.

Here's the next segment of Hoima Bicycle.  An imperfect example of design for social impact. 

I've posted the complete documentary, Hoima Bicycle, on Youtube. This documentary shows the process of designing a bicycle for and with Ugandan bicycle couriers, known as Boda-boda. Filmed primarily in Uganda, it shows the realities of current day East Africa, from the chaotic streets of Kampala to the inside of gritty mud-thatched homes in rural Hoima. In Uganda many residents use cheap, clunky bicycles for their primary means of transportation. Through a unique collaboration between an American designer and Ugandan couriers, a new bicycle design was conceived and a prototype was made. The designer then traveled to Uganda to meet the couriers and to have the bike tested and critiqued. Would they like it? Or is it back to the drawing board? How can you use your talents and skills to help the poor of the world? This is part 1 of 4. If you would like a DVD of the complete documentary (30 minutes) it will soon be available on Amazon.com.  I'll be posting discussion questions...

A Biographical Documentary about Walter Dorwin Teague begins Development. Walter Dorwin Teague (1883 - 1960) is considered one of the founding fathers of industrial design as well as one of the most prolific American industrial designers in history.  He established his design office in the late 1920’s, which continues today as one of the important design institutions in the world.  His most notable design work includes all of Kodak camera’s from 1927 to 1957, Texaco’s art deco gas stations in the1940’s, the Boeing Stratocruiser and the 707 aircraft.  His legacy led to the design all subsequent Boeing aircraft including today’s 787 Dreamliner.  He directed the design and architecture of the 1939 World Exposition.  He was also an architect whose work includes the Texaco exhibition hall at the 1935 Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas, Texas, the Ford pavilion for the California Pacific International Exposition (1935) in Balboa Park in San Diego, and the 1961...