I had a charrette meeting with some of the design team of "playworx" that does the custom playgrounds by 'GameTime'. This company manufactures and sells playgrounds, outdoor gyms (by TriActive America) equipment, ramps, playground flooring, etc.
the charrette started with my brief presentation of the project's concept, and then gradually developed in few directions:
Main conclusions:
First part of the Charrette:
1.Ways in which Human energy can be generated and stored+ main optional users:(20 minutes)
A Basic actions (static): push, pull, hit, turn, kick, squeeze, drag, press.
B Advanced motions (movement involved): run, pedal, ride, jump, lift.
C Storage / Usage: fabrics, surfaces, directly to electronic appliances, discharge to battery, heat, light.
D Main optional users: children, children+family members, athletes, students (free equipment), people who like to show-off, people who like to work out in nature, elders who want go to gyms, visitors, city residents, school classes, museum tours.
Second Part of the Charrette:
2.Possible ways to generate energy from the company's different types of equipment.(20 minutes)
A Rotational equipment will generate most energy - such as: merry go round, steering wheels, rolling steppers
Advantages: continuous motion, can generate energy even after motion stopped - spring technique - like in hybrid cars).
Disadvantages: rotational equipment tends to break / need maintenance more often than more static equipment.
B Use of piezoelectric surfacing in specific parts where impact action takes place: the end of the slide, around the merry go round (the runner who pushes the carousel), Plastic hitting drums and rope jumping locations (the floor on which the jumper lands)
Advantages: allows children to free themselves, no limitations - the harder you hit the better you generate power. The technology is hidden and not visible or accessible.
Disadvantages: expensive technology, maintenance issues.
C joggers and runners -
Advantages:an activity that occurs all year long, it becomes part of a lifestyle and a routine, sport addiction...for all ages.
Disadvantages: Personal equipment, large surface coverage, questionable amount of electrical production...
Third part of the Charrette:
3. "Users interface" - what is needed beyond just the equipment itself? (20 minutes)
A Educational benefits for children.
B Action-Reaction: Feedback to the Energy actions so people will "see" the energy they are producing and its effect.
C The electrical wiring, generators should be either hidden or exhibited in a way that create a 'show' for the people, viewers.
D Analyze the equipment in 3 ways: Function (technology, mechanisms), Form (color, shape, materials, etc) and behavior- how will the user use the object, react to it, what other optional usages are possible (sometimes the users use the object in an unpredictable way- not exactly how the designer intended)
Personal Conclusions:
-This meeting helped me thinking and focusing more on the visualization of my concept through the objects themselves, the feedback and projections of my designs. What i want the user to do with it, and also what would the user to with according to his/hers own understanding.
-Second lesson is no to think just about the object itself, but everything around it that contributes to the purpose of the object (for example- energy can be created not just by the merry go round itself, but by the kids who push it and run on the surface around it, the kids that are on it and hold on tight not to fall, etc.) - Maximize the design in every possible aspect to convey the message.
