This module has definitely been helpful given the extensive and developing landscape of technology and the digital world. Skills that I have learnt during this module are essential going into the next quarter century in a rapidly developing online world.
The module began looking at and considering John Maeda's 10 laws of simplicity. It is a book in which John Maeda lays out reasons and ways that simplicity can be used and considered in design, simplicity is a style that I particularly like and so this introduction was interesting to me. I was a little confused at first at why this was the introduction to a technology module, however as it progressed I realised that simplicity is a must in the digital world. Screens are smaller than print and so this make space more valuable, so introducing simplicity makes design a lot easier to understand and look at. I have exampled some in this post, mainly outlining how simplicity can be used alongside technology, like the nest thermostat.
Into the second week, we reflected on previous projects we did last year and considered how they could be improved. I thought all the way back to the first module we did and thought about using interactive projections in the way-finding task, I have outlined in more detail bellow.
During my research later, and throughout the module, I have come to realise that this interactivity with the user is the most important aspect of design in technology. Being able to make something move, change colour or shape, disappear or reappear at the touch or wave of the hand is incredibly engaging with a user, and in my opinion keeping users engaged with the technology is so essential. Things like TikTok and instagram have cut attention span, it is so easy online to swipe and see the next thing, or click the next tab and so keeping users engaged is essential, and interactivity is the way to do this.
These brutalist websites are some great examples of how interactivity could work and why it is so important.
It is this interactivity that I tried to consider throughout the module using different tools and methods. Perhaps my favourite tool that we played with this module is augmented reality. We experimented with Adobe Aero originally using AI to teach ourselves around the software. I made a few different little things just to get used to the app, like planning out how a room could look and interacting with animals in the studio. My first actually attempt at creating something meaningful and useful with it was a digital memorial, which allows you to visit and pay respects to past loved ones, by interacting and placing flowers.
This was a good start and introduction to the software and it gave me some useful learning around how to animate and allow the user to interact and make things respond on the app. I then took these skills and applied this to a nerf game, that can interact with real Nerf darts. I made this experience personal by allowing the user to put their own faces on the targets.
A problem that I encountered when doing this project, but it is also a larger issue with technology, was the cost. I wanted to make the Nerf darts actually interact with the digital targets which is definitely possible, however expensive. I would need to use some sort of motion sensor like a Kinect which can track the darts fired and then something to code together the sensors to the apps. Unfortunately this equipment is not cheap and isn't something I could afford for this small project. This is a growing problem with the latest, increasingly powerful technology releasing every year, the price just keeps going up which is a serious challenge for design using technology. Something I really wanted to use this module but unfortunately costs held me back is Virtual Reality which is basically AR, but in a 360 degree headset rather than a handheld phone.
Going into week 3 we looked heavily at the actual process of creating digital media and ways of making it more efficient and improving overall workflow. Using code can be a really effective way to make unique design very quickly, and is essential in the online world. Technology could not move forward with out code so it is important to understand how it works, and how it can be used to create digital media. We looked at Processing which is a somewhat simple code. We used it to instantly create many copies of a design, with different variations. You can ask it to do all sorts of things in terms of variations like shapes, size, colour and much more. We made 100 similar book covers called 'variations', as seen and explained bellow.
Analysing my workflow and how I can improve it was probably the most beneficial part of the module and is something I should've considered a long time ago. The online world can be overwhelming and sometimes this makes it hard to get things done. Finding ways to increase productivity and clean up your workflow is essential, and the vast technological landscape has hundreds of apps to help you do this. These are some applications I looked at and incorporated in my own work.
3D design is another huge aspect in digital design, it allows you to make all sorts of videos and models that can be used in design. Creating a video from 3D models allows you to do things like passing through objects and getting angles that cameras cannot, it can also animate objects that don't move seamlessly in video, it allows for videography that would be impossible to recreate in reality. We looked at 4D Cinema when creating and animating 3D models which was a somewhat easy software to learn on. Unfortunately I do not have a video of the work we created here at home, and this is another issue with technology and digital media, so I cannot show you but this is a photo of the models I made. I think 3D design will be my biggest focus moving forward with technology and I would like to further develop my skills on a 3D design software, if not Cinema 4D. This is because I believe it has the most the potential and adaptability.
Despite not actually looking into it in too much depth, I think it is important that I mention AI. AI is probably biggest and fastest developing technology at the moment with absolutely massive advancements being made within just the last 2 years and so it definitely needs to be considered. AI is part of my every day in either design or random research. It can be used as a way to learn different softwares because it can explain step by step how to do tasks which is extremely helpful. I've used it this module for Adobe Aero and to make some more advanced code in Processing. It can also be used to create, in the studio we were playing a lot with generative AI both photos and videos, nothing really meaningful however it is still a tool that can be creative.
AI can definitely raise some ethical issues, like it replacing designers like us, or it could be used maliciously, however it seems to be neceassary in the current online climate, as it can be now found in every aspect of the online world, coming as a default in a lot of software. It also takes an incredible amount of water to cool the systems that run the software. Environmental damage is a huge problem thanks to the rise in technology and maybe it is not all great as it seems. No one seems to notice and everyone just wants to advance onto the next best thing, simply disregarding the negative environmental impacts.
To briefly summarise, technology is an essential part of design in 2025 and we all need to embrace and strive towards it in our work. The world is becoming ever digital and this module has given me a basic understanding of skills that I will continue to develop in the future, particularly 3D modelling and animation due to its range of uses in the field. I also think it is important I gain a better understanding about coding so that I can actually create ways to present my work, rather than creating work.
