An Avalanche of Ideas
We start the class with people the contents of their pockets and putting them on the table we're all crowded around. We're asked to share reactions. Observations on the similar items, phone, keys, wallet, pocket knife get us started. But the first major reaction I have is that I rarely have anything in my pocket and if we're using this activity as a jumping spot for innovation, we've likely left out an entire gender of folks that tend not to have pocket items - if our clothing even has pockets. My sharing this prompts a request that I share the contents of my bag/purse. I am gitty at the idea because I just repacked my bag and am curious if the items I suspect are unsuspected by my peers are just that.
I'm a planner, an older sibling, a camp counselor, an RA, and generally just a person that likes to be prepared. The epi-pen I don't need but carry for emergencies is probably most revealing of that.
I love where the conversation is heading and how a room full of diverse minds just naturally generates some incredible ideas with just the right guidance to think outside the pocket, bag, or box.
Fictional Design
Five years from now what might not be in our pockets? What might we have then that we don't have now? What can we combine or consolidate? Where do environment and values come into play?
We're asked to doodle... and despite being a very visual person I can't help but put words to my ideas. These words get linked and pointed in directions with sections of the paper designated for different ideas, but visually I'm lacking. I begin to think about one of my favorite topics, diverse learning. There are soo many renditions of multiple intelligences but I know I am a visual/spatial and logical learner and thinker. But during the first day's class, I begin to wonder if I should consider the important linguistic aspect of my processing.
My small group bounces around with ideas pertaining to disaster preparedness and emergency protection in settings of avalanches, earthquakes, motorcycle crashes etc. This opens up a Pandora's box of ideas and eventually, it gets hard to settle on a product that fits our 5-year projection. Is it a protective vest with modular capabilities depending on need? Is it a wall unit that gives accurate and informative real-time hyper-local information. Is it a wand you carry that has sensors for barometry, seismology, air quality?
Fast forward past the utility knives, foam board, and hot glue guns... we offer up a revamped high tech version of what many people may already own, a digital clock with some helpful climate info. We like it. But we don't love it. But that's okay. We're doing low-fidelity diegetic prototyping. With low stakes and an open mind, we're invited, rather advised, to not fall in love with our first idea.
I leave with a refreshing sense of energy. I love people's minds. I love what we can think up and create and just how unique and moving it can be to share in this process with others. Today reminded me of my first day in the Design + Health class where we made and modified medical gowns with some creative, and frankly, consideration for those wearing them.
I loved hearing ideas about The Allmond, a fancy tech gadget external eye-patch that connects to VR and other tech web-based needs. Then there's the dystopian heavy phone, which I loved because I'm not often a critical designer, I am almost 100% an affirmative, solution-oriented thinker. And then there's Mouth Sand, the edible product that addresses the on-the-go need to brush your teeth without the hassle of needing a toothbrush, toothpaste and a sink.
We're asked to "think with our hands" and we're given two important snippets of advice in this classroom setting; 1) it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission, and 2) don't fall in love with your first idea or design.