Week 13 – Overall

Over the past 13 weeks, Project Sunfish has evolved many times through countless ideas and research. Our research for the project was to a very high level and I have learnt much in all environmental issues covered. I have also learnt much about group work and how the group can handle a project much smoother. The issue of sustainability and recycling were the main focus and how we can implement an interactive design outcome that would educate and inspire people to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.

Being in hospital for several weeks, and the incurring weeks of medical interruptions meant there was a loss of communication from me for an amount of time. This was a difficult time, but I managed to be back to produce the video and design the report with the rest of the group. We are very proud of the work we have completed. 

Week 09

Thats last week really. ahahahahahahahaahhhhhh

Week 07

I was at Agideas design conference this week.

Week 6

Not a good week at all. My illness has returned after feeling well for only a week. I got checked out after the conditions got pretty unbearable again; it only took one night for them to flood back, and am now on some pretty hardcore drugs.

My medications is doubled, 6 pills, 3 times a day. As well as the jelly stuff and strepsils every now and then. This double dose has knocked me pretty hard and havent been able to function all week.

I return to Melbourne on Friday to shoot the video for our project with the team. Should be pretty exciting to be back. Until then. Oh…and I need an operation for my throat. WORD!!!!

Peace.

Week 5

On my return to Melbourne, I am the happiest man alive. I am nearly 100% back to health and on track with the rest of the group with our direction. Today we established our main project statement which is (insert the statement here later as wiki isnt letting me see the page with the statement on it……..gahhh)

We understand that the tried and tested methods of the cliche recycling campaigns just do not have the same impact that they used to. Many people over look them and have been desensitized towards the message that is trying to be sent out on numerous occasions each day. We are surrounded by these ‘think green’ approaches which are targeted largely towards the public, and many people are turned off because of the lack of physically seeing what change is happening. A much more interesting appeal is needed to catch the attention, one that shows a final outcome that people can be involved with, interact with and be excited about within the community. 

This week will focus on this new direction and involve looking at the types of products and materials that are indestructible which are turning into rubbish. Using this waste and turning it into something that is of value such as products or even artwork, the idea that these things can be re-used some how will reach people and open their minds instead of going straight to the tip. It will open up an awareness that was not there before, something can grow from something useless.

The differentiation from conventional recycling and promotion will be our biggest weapon to help stand out and create a project that will be looked upon and hopefully acted. A good example is Earth Hour, where more people became interested in this very good concept which is now widely known across the globe. Just shows to show that an interesting concept will help gain attention from the general public.
website: www.earthhour.org

Another good example of an interaction project within the streets of Melbourne is A-Lure, that I just came across today. It starts soon and runs for eight days. 12th of April to the 20th.
website: www.a-lure.org 

Also today, we planned and organised our approach towards the video part of the project. All I can say is that it will be a stop motion!

Easter Holiday & Week 4

Two week of sickness

The very start of the easter holidays; I ended up in hospital. Diagnosed with quinsy. Unable to eat, drink, talk or barely open my mouth to breathe, I was stuck in a hospital bed. Four days later, 8 kilograms lighter, and still with a drip in my arm, I was discharged from the ward and allowed to return home.

For the next week or more, a nurse came to my house three times a day to inject me with three syringes of god knows what. All I know is it felt cool running through my veins and it made me hella drowsy; unable to concentrate on anything.

After my hospital in the home era had finished, I returned to the doctors and received a bunch of prescription meds. As well as this rad jelly like substance that makes your whole throat and tongue go completely numb. All you need is 10ml of the stuff! The nurse warned me to dispose of the rest of the bottle once I had completed my course of medication. I still have the jelly.

 

Week 3

Still we continued with our research on paper consumption and the effects it can have. The environmental approach was still being pushed forward and we looked into areas such as recycling and rubbish on the streets. We started to branch out this week. Thinking of creating an awareness for sustainability and recycling. We established that alot of people do not understand recycling completely, such as the different numbers and symbols on the products. This would create confusion and a simpler method is needed.

Creating awareness at a very young age, such as pre- and primary schooling, would help establish a future in which all persons are aware of what needs to be done to keep our earth healthy.  Such ideas as a colour-by-numbers for children to take part in which would be enjoyable, as well as educational is one method that this information could be injected into the children of tomorrow.

However, we came upon a project called NYCGarbage which opened our eyes in a new direction to promote this problem in the community. The simple idea of taking rubbish from the streets of New York, packaging it in a clear box, smart labeling and then sold to the consumer as what appears to be a small work of art. Your own piece of New York City.
website: http://nycgarbage.com/

By re-using this rubbish, some of which cannot be recycled, a new and much more interesting way of creating an awareness, as well as doing something positive for the environment. More research and thought is needed to build on this new direction. A much more positive journey.

Week 2

Firstly, we needed a problem within the community that would be significant enough for an impact to be made. During this session discussion we came up with the issue of paper consumption in the city and the problems it can lead to. We directly targeted the ‘junk mail’ and ‘flyer’ industries because of the obvious waste of paper and product, which can be seen every day in the city, just walk through Bourke St mall and past that jewllery shop. No doubt there is usually someone outside the front handing out flyers, many people dodge, but some take them, a quick glance, then straight to the bin or ground. Discarded without a thought.

We thought to find out how much paper consumption there is in Melbourne, and Australia in general. This will give us a basic starting goal that we can base research on to investigate the matter further, and thus finding more goals that will lead us on the right track.

I researched some information on junk mail in Australia and found that in 2005 “8.2 billion pieces of junk mail” were stuffed into letterboxes alone. This does not include all the flyers and catalogues handed out in the streets. Also in the article it states that “research by Australia Post shows a third of people do not want to receive promotional mail, and only half want unaddressed catalogues.” This is a very large wastage of paper consumption that can be easily avoided. Or better yet, recycled. Is there a better way to transport this information? And how can we better inform the community of the importance of creating a more sustainable living environment? People are obviously angry at receiving junk mail, but do they know the effects it can really have by? “Another survey, by the federal privacy office, found 61 per cent of people felt angry, annoyed or concerned when they received unsolicited marketing, and 67 per cent thought mail order companies were untrustworthy.”

This information can be found:
Promise to stop junk mail fails to deliver
Kirsty Needham, Consumer Reporter, February 28, 2005
website: http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Promise-to-stop-junk-mail-fails-to-deliver/2005/02/27/1109439456944.html

I watched Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ which was an eye-opening documentary on the future of our planet and global warming. The crisis that it portrays is a real and present danger. An incredible watch.
website: http://www.climatecrisis.net/

I also looked at many other sites concerning with paper consumption and the effects it can have on the community. These being:

Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council
website: www.a3p.com.au

Our initial idea was to create something that would interact directly with the community. We came up with a few ideas involving large scale displays, but ended up on the idea that by using wasted paper; ie. flyers; we can show how much paper is wasted, and its potential for recycling. The idea was to collect a very large amount of discarded flyers/catalouges/and junk mail from the streets of people and create large paper trees. Somewhat of a small paper tree forest. An installation type piece that would demonstrate the impact this wastage can have on our environment. Communicating the need for a change of all this wastage of paper, directly to the public.

Week 1

Introducing Team Sunfish.
The team consists of Adelaide, Andy, Sean, Nick and myself. WORD!

Interaction design is more about connecting people than it is about technology, and thus a problem in the community that the majority are unaware of will be the best target to create a positive and out-reaching project and outcome.

During this week I researched examples of good interaction design. By observing these designs, one is able to better get a feel on how the process works of good interaction design, all whilst being inspired by the creative ideas and positive environmental approach that was displayed in many.

An example that I researched that had an abundance of good ideas:

The Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab
website: http://www.ecoinnovationlab.com/

Full of many intriguing ideas and information. One very interesting idea is “Bike Tubes” and the strategy is to “provide dedicated enclosed bike-ways attached to the existing car-based freeway network”. This is just a concept, that would help reduce many cars on our roads, thus reducing emissions. There are hundreds of other amazing ideas for a better future and is worth having a read.