Ruge’s journal  23fall

- Semester one 👾

1. Human sense
2. Air
3. Pigeons
4. Shadows
5. Skin

XU of Human  senseDina, Melisa, Swaranjali, Ruge
We have designed a wearable device that enhances people's external perception of postal services.

Observing small animals such as bees and pigeons in the park, we were inspired to experience the postal park from a bee's perspective, aiming to broaden human senses. We simulated bee vision using lenses and enhanced our perception of the park's gentle breeze acoustically with paper.



Process

Prototyping

Swaranjali and I completed our final prototype. It was a challenging process(Time is limited), with an entire afternoon spent discussing details like colors and materials for the glasses. Language barriers made communication more difficult for me, but Swaranjali was incredibly patient. Additionally, our material options were quite limited, mostly sourced from the storage room. Reflecting on it, I believe the materials available to us somewhat constrained the potential of the final model.

Material testing
We explored materials to enhance the perception of 'wind.' I experimented with kitchen foil at home, as it demonstrated a noticeable response to the wind, especially when two sheets were layered, creating a sound when blown by the wind.

Mel explored how to mimic enhanced human vision, drawing inspiration from bees. She used lens elements to create a prototype, which I found aesthetically pleasing. However, we decided not to incorporate the lenses into the final prototype due to technical challenges.


explorations
During our project, Swaranjali and I conducted an experiment to let people feel the color ambiance of the park. We dipped sponges in red and green pigments (representing the colors of park leaves and flowers) and applied them to our hands. This left us with the colors of the park on our hands. It was quite an 'artistic' concept, although we didn't ultimately use this idea, I still found it beautiful.


Feedback

In terms of project feedback, we accurately understood the theme, but I believe it's also a limitation on our part as we were too focused on achieving 'accuracy,' thus limiting possibilities. I think our ideas could be more 'innovative' and involve more exploration, both in materials and themes. This feedback aligns with suggestions from teachers and peers, which I wholeheartedly agree with. Additionally, we need to improve the logical flow in our presentations by establishing a narrative to thread through our entire design process or story.



Summaries

Week1
The Human Sense project served as a 'launch' for me, introducing me to the rhythm of project work in the course. It provided a glimpse into the meaning of the word 'experience,' involving collaboration with individuals from different backgrounds.

The project was both intense and enriching for me, extending beyond academic knowledge. Working in teams with classmates from different countries made communication challenging and rewarding. It demanded extra effort from everyone to adapt to campus life and harmonize with people of diverse cultural backgrounds.Throughout the project, we were encouraged to be hands-on and create 'physical' objects, discouraging reliance on 'digital' technologies. Initially, I found this approach puzzling, as it differed significantly from my previous educational experiences where the emphasis was on embracing new technologies to make projects visually appealing. In the Human Sense project, we abandoned this approach and genuinely crafted physical objects, even if some appeared less refined or somewhat rough. Personally, it was an adjustment I was not entirely comfortable with, and I had many concerns. However, simultaneously, letting go of the technological design process allowed me to focus more on exploring the theme and sensory experiences. It was a unique design experience that challenged my understanding of what constitutes 'good design.

UAL_LCC_MA-UX2023-2024

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