Week 5

What I've done

Saturday: [20 min] Started sketching possible design issues that I've observed these past weeks. I want to create a redesign for ziplock bags that use paper instead.

Sunday: [3 hrs]
Did sketches for my IP crit project for tuesday.

 
I'm working on a conceptual project to redesign zip-lock bags using paper. I've been studying paper containers that contain liquid (usually waxed). I want to make a flat box that can be assembled into a tupperware box with a few tab placements. This would be an alternative for plastic bags since they can be recycled and wouldn't take up much space.

CONCEPTUAL. I don't know how to work with wax and paper yet but I'm just creating the form and laying out it's functions and branding.  

Watched Info shopping commercial on christmas gift boxes because the girl folds a flat template at 2:30 sec in the video. Trying to find the templates in the library books I took out.
Zooly Top 10 styles of folding boxes

Looking at the structure of a box that can be folded flat.

Since I was thinking of the wax lining in milk cartons and other 'juice-box' type containers, I wanted to see if they were recyclable. According to ecochick.com,

"Milk cartons ARE recyclable, however, according to an EPA report of MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) provided to me by the National Recycling Coalition, in 2006, 510,000 tons of milk cartons were generated in the United States and less than 0.05% (5,000 tons) were recycled.
In 2006, only a little more than 550 towns across the country recycled milk cartons (source: Organic Valley). To put this into perspective, there are 556 municipalities in New Jersey. Doing a non-scientific search on the internet of various towns across the country, I discovered you cannot recycle milk cartons in San Diego, DC, the entire state of Pennsylvania, Los Angeles and Austin but you can in New York City and Boulder, CO.
But why?

According to Ed Skernolis, Policy and Program Director for the National Recycling Coalition, “Milk cartons, because of the wax lining, are not universally recycled. Each locality is different, depending on their recycling processing capability. Some communities may allow milk cartons to go into composting/food waste bins if offered.”j

 This website was also mentioned in the blog, so I decided to look it up.
Tetra Pack  


Monday: [5.5 hrs] Working in my studio on the designs. Researched basic ziplock sizes. Calculated what a pint would be (~29 in^3) in a rectangular form.
Showed my friend in Minnisota my ideas over webcam. He said "yea, it's cool, but why would anyone want to take the time to build something when they're in a rush? Why don't you think of a fold that doesn't need to be assembled." We started brainstorming over video.

Tuesday (El día del accidente): [3 hrs] Just recieved the comment below

'Packaging implies adding an outer, superfluous layer to the essence of something. How can "package" be integral to content? An egg?'

Something to think about. What needs it's exterior? I can't think of anything more than an egg right now. Any living thing need their exteriors to survive. (Oo, deep. Unless if you take Decartes to heart.)

I keep realizing these design issues as I'm working. Why paper? If reusable objects were utilized all the time, there wouldn't be a need for disposable containers. So, either I design a reusable container and hope people change their behavior and bring it everywhere or I redesign the disposable to be more adaptable with the environment. I think people will keep using disposable containers regardless, so it makes sense to change it's integral structure. 

Also, this is still just a starting point for me. I'm going to continue to come up with design issues that I find. My first observations were in produce. I plan to keep making different packages for more than just produce until I come up with a good idea.   

Went to the Duderstadt for the final hour of studio because I couldn't focus in my cubicle. Worked on writing my proposal and weekly plan.

Wednesday: [4 hrs] Spent writing and revising my proposal down to be a concise ~250 words.

Thursday: [4 hrs] I met with Stephanie and Juliet about December presentations. We talked about how my project for the critique had potential in pacing, interaction, and surprise for narrative. I started to work on the poetic side of the piece, and preparing myself to understand the sequencing of the panels. Ultimately, I am interested both in functionality and intimate interaction. Stephanie said that suggesting I stay on a purely functional route will hinder my exploration and play. I completely agree. Spent some time experimenting images on the form. Also made some origami with writing on it to see how the letters looked once it was folded.

The discoveries 
Wow, making that first exercise really makes me feel better about what to do next. I learned most while observing what I was creating, in contrast to how it should function in real life. I was able to see the design issues in it. I also realized that I haven't given myself the freedom to play like I want to. I get excited when I think of narrative. I know that I want to combine the aspects together.
Things just started to feel interesting to me.
 


To do next  
I want to keep starting with design issues, reform them on functionality, then try to create a visual narrative within it. I want to see what manifests from there, with two different outcomes from the same form. I also want to try different materials and transparencies. I need to think about what to do for December reviews too! AAH.