In last Wednesday's tutorial with Wendy we went through my recent blog entries. Wendy noted that I was now reading and researching design and emotion, and that I now have a new structure for my dissertation and a contents list.

We established the following points;

* I am now able to write the introduction. I have set myself a deadline of 28th November (tomorrow!!) to do this. Not impossible. I will email this to Wendy when it has been done to get some feedback.
* I should continue to read and mark design and emotion references, and start the plan for the 'design and emotion' section of the essay.
* There is potential to have visual expositions in support of the prose.
          A. Participating examples or exercises of how design relates to emotion.
          B. Survey results as a photograph exhibition (completed already).
          C. "Conclusions" - common ways of segregating self from others.
                                      - commonality of personal objects, etc.
          D. Kids to adults - found images, create images and/ or sketches.

I will meet Wendy again on the 5th December to discuss my introduction and the 'design and emotion' section.

I had a friend over from the Netherlands so I was entertaining all weekend.

Need to write up my tutorial with Wendy.

Dissertation Aim:
* How and when does design meet our need for emotional well being?
* An exploration of people and their dens.

Introduction
* There appear to be reasons why people need respite from parts of their life.
* People appear to want to reach an emotional state and they appear to achieve it with a personal 'den'.
* There appears to be some commonality in that desired emotional state.
* There appears to be little commonality in the spaces/ artefacts that they use as a 'den'.
* Can designers create spaces/ things that facilitate people needing this state?
* Can these outcomes be conceived as 'dens'?

Design and Emotion
* Explaining emotional wellbeing and the need for personal space from time to time. Explaining why the need for emotional wellbeing is so important to design practices.
* Do we really need a den? What happens if we don't?
* Debate/ discussions around emotion and design, highlighting the currency of this debate.
* I have read about the fact that attractive things work better, and the multiple faces of emotion and design. I am on a chapter revolved around design in practice, and the three levels of design: Visceral, Behavioral and Reflective.
*Norman writes about some interesting examples in emotional design and will be quoting from these examples.

Dens
*What is a den? People's different interpretations.
*Examples of these dens, "sense of den-ness" - the emotion/ the state.

The Diversity of Dens
* Interviews and photographs
* Similarities and/ or themes in these people's 'dens'.
* Catagorize these themes. Linked to the designing of dens?
* There appears to be little commonality in the spaces/ artefacts that people use as a 'den'.
* Clearly identify the 'common' emotion saught through 'dens'
* Link to other writing (e.g, escapism through film.)

Links from childhood to adulthood
* Interview with experts on this, e.g. Steve Rennie.
* Psychology behind why we make dens. Nature or Nurture. Need for control in ourlives.

Consumerism
* How much dens are influenced by consumerism.

Designing dens
* How can design be used to create an effect that fulfils our need for emotional comfort?
* Understanding the meaning and physicality of dens as a way of exploring whether design can contribute to wellbeing.
* Examples of places and products currently attempting to meet people's emotional wellbeing.
* There appears to be little commonality in the spaces/ artefacts that people use as a 'den'.
* 'Virtual' dens
* Can designers create spaces/ things that facilitate people needing this state? Can these outcomes be conceived as 'dens'?

Conclusion

Dissertation Aim Possible Wording:

*How can design be used to create an effect that reflects our need for emotional comfort?
*How can design be used to create an effect that satisfies our need for emotional comfort?
*How can design be used to create an effect that fulfils our need for emotional comfort?
*Understanding the meaning and physicality of dens as a way of exploring whether design can contribute to emotional well being.
*Researching the meaning and physicality of dens as a way of exploring whether design can contribute to emotional well being.
*Investigating the meaning and physicality of dens as a way of exploring whether design can contribute to emotional well being.
*Investigating the role of dens as a way of exploring whether design can contribute to emotional well being.
*Understanding the purpose and psychology of dens as a way of exploring whether design can contribute to emotional well being.
*Understanding the role of dens as a means of exploring whether design can contribute to emotional well being.

When does design meet our need for emotional well being?
An exploration of people and their dens.

I received the book I ordered from Amazon yesterday and started reading it last night. The book is "Emotional Design; Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things" by Donald A.Norman. It has actually turned out to be quite a good read so far. Admittedly I am only a couple of chapters in so far, but I am intrigued enough to keep reading. I have read about the fact that attractive things work better, and the multiple faces of emotion and design. I am on a chapter revolved around design in practice, and the three levels of design: Visceral, Behavioral and Reflective. Norman writes about some interesting examples in emotional design and I think I may be quoting from these examples in my dissertation.

I had a tutorial with Andy today to discuss how I can move forward and tackle my primary research regarding packaging in supermarkets.

We came up with some action points for me:

My first job for next week is contacting a supermarket's management in order to get them on my side, understand what I am researching and for them to help me with my research. I eventually would like to interview them regarding their stores packaging, shelving displays recycling facilities, etc. And perhaps have a look at their stock room(s) and their deliveries. I am going to try and contact the manager of the Morrison's store in the city centre of Leeds this week coming.

The following week, Andy and I decided that I would observe customers in a supermarket; how they go about packing their shopping in bags at the tills, how many bags they use, and whether they bring their own bags, etc. Perhaps also looking at how they get their shopping home; carrying many bags in one hand, or in the boot of their cars.

As well as this, I would like to observe a few people's weekly shopping routine, perhaps students, young professionals, housewives, senior citizens, single parents.

Playing around on Photoshop with the idea that my mini-project of 'Packaging the Seven Deadly Sins' could be continued a little further and transformed into a novelty keyring range, asking people the question, 'Which Sin are You??'.

People could then attach their greatest sin onto their keys to remind them perhaps, not to feel so compelled by their vice.

Or perhaps mugs...'Don't be a mug, swallow your greatest sin'. Badly worded, but you know what I mean.

Or even Tshirts......'Wear your sin with pride, unless your greatest sin is pride.... in which case, you'll be doing it anyway' - now that is even worse than the mug one.

Yesterday's tutorial with Wendy regarding my dissertation went really well. The main purpose of the tutorial was to catch up with where I currently was in the completion of my work. The tutorial helped me to realise a path for my essay and what to do in the next couple of weeks.

Wendy helped me to begin deciding on an aim for my writing. A couple of rough aims were thought up;

'Can you purposefully design things to create an emotional effect/state of being on the user?' (using 'dens' as a case study).

"sense of den-ness" - the emotion/ the state.

* There appear to be reasons why people need respite from parts of their life.
* People appear to want to reach an emotional state and they appear to achieve it with a personal 'den'.
* There appears to be some commonality in that desired emotional state.
* There appears to be little commonality in the spaces/ artefacts that they use as a 'den'.
* Can designers create spaces/ things that facilitate people needing this state? Can these outcomes be conceived as 'dens'?

Could it be completed as an interactive essay??

'Understanding the meaning and physicality of dens as a way of exploring whether design can contribute to emotional well being.'

This could add to my current plan for my dissertation work;

1. Clearly identify the 'common' emotion saught through 'dens' (may link to other writing, e.g, escapism through film.
2. Include the themes of 'dens and consumerism', 'nature and nurture', 'luxury or necessity', 'childhood through to adulthood' and 'the psychology of dens'.
3. Debate/ discussions around emotion and design, highlighting the currency of this debate.

Things to do before my next tutorial next Wednesday;

* Start reading up about design and emotion (Donald Norman, Patrick Jordan, Crozier, and the design and emotion society website http://www.designandemotion.org/).
* Write and rewrite aim, expanding on it.
* Write the introduction for my dissertation.

I have had a look on the uni's library catalogue online and all the books I want are already on loan. Argh!! So I have had a look on Amazon to see how pricey they are.

I think I might buy;
Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things - Donald A. Norman (only £9.99 and seems like it will be useful formy dissertation.)

The books I want but can't afford right now;
Emotionally Durable Design: Objects, Experiences and Empathy - Jonathan Chapman
Manufactured Pleasures: Psychological Responses to Design (Studies in Design & Material Culture) - Ray Crozier (both over £25 second hand)

I have placed a hold on;
How to Make Brilliant Stuff That People Love ... and Make Big Money Out of It - Patrick W. Jordan (back of the book says the book tackles the consumerism aspect of my aim. I just don't like the title. Hopefully the student currently loaning this book hands it in soon.)

The photographs that I have taken for my dissertation were originally presented in the form of a photograph exhibition.....

.....but is this the ideal format to communicate what I am trying to say??

I have a tutorial with Wendy on Wednesday - I will sort out my plans then.

My proposal yesterday went very well.

Below I have outlined the key points that came up:

My studio project will be a small group of products based on a packaging theme making up 50% of my final year on the degree. There is potential for a 'live' connection if I can find an appropriate not-yet-designed-and-packaged-system. I plan to move all three proposals forward. I need to think about the system which surrounds the use, disposal and reuse of packaging, and possibly encouraging people to reuse with perhaps, a reward system in place.

Things to look into;

* Anya Hindmarch bag system.
* Books on Experimental Packaging
* 'Skin' by E.Lupton

Oh and the possibility of continuing with my seven deadly sins project. Possibly as novelty keyrings?! Hmmmm.

Which Sin are You??

Okay, so perhaps this isn't my best work, infact, to be honest, it isn't even great work, it's not meant to be. But it is the theory behind what I have done and the process it took to get there that counts.

So here I have packaged the seven deadly sins....

Seeing as the sins are not actually physical objects, I had to interpret how I would package them in a slightly more imaginative way. I shall try to explain.

LUST

Lust is described as being compelled by a burning desire that consumes you.
Physical representation of lust I imagined, would be a very syrup-like liquid.
Lust would be packaged in a vase, which are more shapely and provocative than a bottle.
The top of the vase would be open not sealed as lust can be spilled if not cared for.
Lust would take on the female form, with sexy curves, often associated with this sin.
The liquid acts as a dress; the more lust used, the more ‘skin’ is exposed.

ENVY

Envy is the desire for others’ traits, status, abilities or situation.
Eyes are used to represent the looking and wanting of others’ good fortune.
Envy, despite being an overwhelming emotion, is portrayed as a small item of packaging, as the person often tries to hide the envious feelings behind a facade.
The packaging is a smooth squashed sphere shape, seemingly innocent until it is cracked open and an overwhelming sin leaks through.

GREED

Greed is, like lust and gluttony, a sin of excess. However, greed is applied to the acquisition of wealth in particular.
Lots of hands reaching out, grabbing at whatever they can get, represent the need for more regardless of what they already have.
The sphere can grow, the more money it contains.
The money represents the wealth of the sinful individual.

PRIDE

Pride is the excessive love of self.
It is represented as a large beautiful diamond, but it is only when you look at it closely that you see its hidden imperfections inside.
It is seen as the most serious of the seven deadly sins as it is the ultimate sin from which others can arise. It is very hard to get inside this sin, hence made from the hardest mineral there is, a diamond.

SLOTH

Sloth, the unwillingness to act, and the unwillingness to care, often linked with unhappiness and depression. It is the only sin characterised by an absense or insufficiency of love.
The box of sloth is the simplest form of packaging, lazily designed, and unloved and uncared for. It is damp from sitting in a cold place, probably a cellar, and is ridden with cobwebs as it has not been moved in a long time.
The box appears empty.

WRATH

Wrath is the only sin not necessarily associated with selfishness or self-interest, but is the inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger.
The large spiked orb represents fiery anger that is dangerous and ready to explode.
The ball and chain symbolise that the person when consumed with wrath, is tied down by this emotion until it has gone. Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns for love and chooses fury instead. It is not possible to get through the wrath’s shell until it explodes.

GLUTTONY

Gluttony is described as the over-indulgence and the over-consumption of anything to the point of waste.
The stomach is often associated with over-eating, and therefore there is more than one of them, where the food goes through the last gets more and more full.
The funnel is used to represent the large quantity of whatever is being indulged, and the never ending supply of this food.

Front
Back