Design 21: Social Design Network

Echoing Robert's comments... we need to read the critical thinking behind the graphics. Otherwise, we have no criteria by which to evaluate your work. Looking forward to hearing more...

(This feedback encompasses the three posts you have here).

The mechanical drawings are quite nice, but I fear that there is still a bit of distance between your concept and reality. I would begin testing your ability to communicate with the community in Kenya. How do you express a DIY project to a population in a different country and in a very different culture? I know you are figuring out the engineering challenges, but it would be a real lost opportunity if this project does not feel rooted in an actual community. Begin correspondence with this community as soon as possible, even if it is to just test communication.

Your sketches of the children by the washing station should include the information you have written there -- incorporate your notes about heights and human factors in the visual (as well as a sketch of a child on a stool) -- making the drawings as accurate as possible, so that we see where your conclusions are coming from. It is a lot easier for critics to accept your criteria if your analysis of the numbers is easily seen.

Great project - there are a lot of things you have to juggle here. Please do not put off connecting with the users until the mechanics are perfect. you will miss the opportunity to get the user feedback, which may be more valuable than the engineering to your final design.

I think it is important to communicate how you came up with the physical modules you have. How do your design criteria respond to the waste material that you are working with (or other relevant research findings)? How do your forms, in turn, respond to the criteria? Communicating this critical process will help others evaluate the solution.

I would make sure to go over the mission statement with someone at the Writing Center or one of your classmates at the very least. There are some grammatical errors which makes it slightly difficult to get to the true objective of your project. We can work on this in class.

It would be great to start writing up your analysis of this feedback as you go -- how might this translate into design changes? What design criteria have been challenged/supported by the response to your prototype. Is the prototype what needs to change? The scenario/context of use? The criteria? You are doing a really good job of collecting lots of feedback on your prototype. I would suggest developing a method of processing this feedback (some objectives you have when you do these user tests and questions you will then ask yourself when the feedback comes in). Keep it up!