We've moved!

This blog has now moved to another site, so please update your bookmarks etc to point to our new URL: http://designstudies2010.wordpress.com/

Change is coming...

It's been a bit quiet on here recently, for all sorts of reasons (one of them being that Twitter seems to have taken over as a means of sharing links quickly).

But over Christmas I'm hoping to move this blog over to WordPress and relaunch it with, hopefully, some new writers.

Watch this space...

Desktop apps for blogging

Writing a blog in a web browser interface can be a pain. Fortunately there are lots of desktop applications that allow you to write your posts, save them for later, post them then edit them to your heart's content.

On my Mac I use MarsEdit and, more recently, have been playing with Blogo which is quite cool but occasionally behaves oddly. MarsEdit is fairly basic on the surface but has clever integration with Flickr and other services which I often forget about.

Design Shack has posted a run-down of twenty blogging tools for Mac and Windows - some I've not heard of - which are well worth taking a look at.

Calling all jewellery students and graduates

I would like to introduce you all to Vanilla Ink. It is a new initiative founded in 2009 by Kate Pickering who studied Jewellery and Metal Work at Duncan of Jordanstone and then went on to study a Masters of Design at The University of Dundee. Currently, Kate spends one day a week in the jewellery department at Dundee University, engaging with students observing how their work is developing for post graduation.


So what is it?

Vanilla Ink aims to support Jewellery graduates in making the big step into the real world. Vanilla Ink empowers the graduates as it is their chance to make a mark in the Jewellery world. It is a one year course that offers time, space and education. It is the missing link into industry.

“As a designer, I delve into the connections between jewellery, story telling and narratives. I believe jewellery hold endless opportunities to enhance the wearer’s relationship with memories. As Founder of Vanilla Ink, my goal is to truly empower jewellery graduates."

How can I get involved?

Jewellery students are pretty excited about this so I would ask you to follow Kate's blog www.vanilliaink.wordpress.com and follow her on twitter www.twitter.com/katesjewellery

If you are a student in Dundee chances are you will bump into Kate in the corridor so drop her an email and arrange to have a hot chocolate.

Jewellers - this service is for YOU so leave comments, ask questions and spread the word.

Flexible Love - folding chairs with a difference

Sana Aziz, a level 2 jewellery student at Dundee, found this video of an innovative approach to folding furniture. Seems to answer quite a lot of needs - easy to store away, able to be used in lots of different ways...

Design Thinking diagram

This great image (click on it for a larger version) and explanation of Design Thinking comes from Stanford University's K-12 Lab Wiki (see link below)

UNDERSTAND

Understanding is the first phase of the design thinking process. During this phase, students immerse themselves in learning. They talk to experts and conduct research. The goal is to develop background knowledge through these experiences. They use their developing understandings as a springboard as they begin to address design challenges.

OBSERVE

Students become keen people watchers in the observation phase of the design thinking process. They watch how people behave and interact and they observe physical spaces and places. They talk to people about what they are doing, ask questions and reflect on what they see. The understanding and observation phases of design thinking help students develop a sense of empathy.

Visit the Wiki site for the rest of the explanation - really clear and a good introduction to an important concept.
link: Steps in a Design Thinking Process

The Fun Theory

How do you get more people to take the stairs? Turn them in to a piano...

Design Council calls for change in how design is categorised

Basically, design is more closely related to science, engineering, technology and maths than it is to art... especially in terms of what it offers the economy and society.

(I happen to agree, but what about you?)

Design Council chief executive David Kester has called for a change in the categorisation of design education. In a speech delivered at the Liberal Democrat Party conference fringe in Bournemouth yesterday, Kester called for design to be more closely linked within Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. Stem subjects are regarded as strategically important to the UK economy and are ringfenced in terms of research funding. Earlier this year, Professor Sir Christopher Frayling, former rector of the Royal College of Art, called for design to be included as a Stem subject, saying, ‘The dots aren’t being joined up. Engineering and technology are rated, but design isn’t. The big issue now is making design a Stem subject.’ In his speech, Kester also called for a sustainability element to be embedded across education, and for the nature and value of creativity to become an integral part of all learning. He said, ‘Our educators have a responsibility to bring hard business and technological skills together with creative problem-solving capabilities.

link: Design Council chief executive calls for design education change | Design Week

George Kembel: Awakening Creativity

You can select individual chapters at the for a.tv website

Being a critical student

A good, brief video from the University of Leicester on what we mean when we ask you to be "critical"