Contemporary Design Culture Week 1

What the f**k is Product Design? This was the topic of our first discussion in the Contemporary Design Culture Module. If I’m being quite honest, I get asked this question by every person who asks me what I am doing in college. I never really knew what to reply, just a quick reflex saying, “it’s like engineering”. A divide was caused within the course when this question was prompted to us. We were asked if product design is more like art or engineering? It was very interesting to see what people thought the course was about, and the various opinions people had about the course has really broadened my view of Product Design. You could say I was a bit stubborn at first as I was completely leaning to the engineering side. I mean, at the end of the day what we must do is create something that works and can be useful and helpful for the public. I still believe that is our priority at the end of the 4 years, but if I was asked this question again I would be placed in the middle between art and engineering. Product Design is also about expression, freedom and about having your own style which are 3 very important components of art. This was a great way to begin the class as it got a lot of students out of their comfort zone and express their thoughts on the course we love.

As part of the second half of the class, Muireann had asked us to bring in a product that had a good or bad design. Again this allowed every student to voice their opinion on the products and what stood out from the design. I thought this was a great opportunity to get an insight into the way people see and interpret design. Some people brought in crazy designs while others were subtle, it was great to see the different interpretations as it made me question myself on what my view of design really is. “Am I creative, subtle or logical?”. After this class I went home and looked back at my work from 1st year and the 1st semester of second year. It was clear to me that I have a more structural look on design. I have fixed my designs on functionality and basically making sure it works and not actually considering other important aspects like creativity and style. This brings me back to the discussion above and it shows how fixed I was on the “engineering” side of product design.

I hope after this class, that I will incorporate more of these important factors in my future designs.