Objects, Projects and People An introduction to design Part 2: Objects & artefacts Version 1.1 24.10.2011
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OBJECTS & ARTEFACTS
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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We live in a designed world
– Buildings – Space (urban area: the university, the city of Bordeaux) – Roads: interconnecting living spaces – Tramways & cars – Tramway line (rails, catenary, … – Mobile phones – Laptops – Cloths – Paper – Beamer – Screen – This presentation – Your notes (paper or computer) – Etc….
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Examples of artefacts
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Houses
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Specialised buildings Castle
Amiens cathedral
Taj Mahal (Mausoleum) Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
Hotel (Dubai) Version 1.1 24.10.2011
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Refrigerators
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Chairs and seats (1)
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Chairs and seats (2)
Is there evolution? Is there progress? What are the factors of change? Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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House (interior)
Industrial
Traditional
Asian
Rococo
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
Contemporary
Country French Version 1.1 24.10.2011
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Gardens: Japanese, French and English gardens English garden
Chinese garden
French garden
Japanese garden
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Pens
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Loudspeakers
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Bridges
Marco Polo bridge
Tacoma Bridge (+-1940) (An example of structural failure due to resonance)
Viaduct du Garabit
Golden Gate bridge
Le viaduct de Millau Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Locomotives: from … to TGV
Chinese steam engine (Harbin?)
The Rocket (first steam engine)
French electric locomotives Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
TGV/Thalys Version 1.1 24.10.2011
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Cars
Volkswagen Beetle (1948)
Citroen DS
Aston Martin
Prototype 2 CV ‘late 1930’s) Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Car engines
Honda F-1 engine Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Battleships
Russian battelships (1900 – 1910) Displ.: 15-20000 tons
American battelship (+-1930) Displ.: 30000+ tons
Japanse Yamato (1940 – 1945) Displ.: 70000 tons Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Civil aircraft
Ford Trimotor +- 1930 Concorde 1969 - 2000
Airbus +-2006 - today Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Aircraft carriers
Abraham Lincoln Modern American aircraft carrier (1990 - nowadays) Displ.: 90000 + tons
Langley First American aircraft carrier (1930 – 1940) Displ.: 10000 tons
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Rockets: from V2 to Saturn 5
V-2 missile (1942 – 1947)
Saturn 5 (1967 – 1973)
R-7 Semiorka (1957 - today Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Spacecraft: from Spoutnik to Space Shuttle
Lunik 1 (1959) First moon probe
Space Shuttle (1981-2011) First re-usable manned spacecraft
Vostok 1 (1961) First manned spacecraft Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Rocket engines: from V2 engine to SSE Saturn F-1 engine Thrust: 650+ ton Turbine (pumps): 60000 Hp
V-2 engine Thrust: 25 ton
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Computers Laptop
The Analytical Machine
Digital PDP IBM 369 Desktop
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Software
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Arts: from Jerome Bosch to Alechinsky
Mona Lisa, da Vinci Botanique, Alechinski
Guernica, Picasso Is there evolution? Is there progress? What are the factors of change? Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Arts: music and ballet
Music compositions and ballet choreography have to be performed by «a processor » i.e. an artist or a group od artists possibly using instruments, the instrument being sometimes the body of the artist. Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Which type of artefact is this?
Is this mainly a physical or symbolic or cultural object? Is this art? Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Classification of objects: an attempt (1) • A tentative typology for design – Physical objects (a car) vs information objects (a letter) • The physical aspects are dominant while for information objects, there is some physical, but the information content is the most important.
Passive
Active
Physical
X
X
Informational
X
X
– Passive vs active/autonomous
• Hence we find four major types – Physical passive: a bottle, a table, a house, a painting, … – Physical active: a machine, a car, a robot, … – Information object: a letter, a report, a webpage, … – Informative active (to be executed by a processor): a computer program, a process, a music composition, a ballet, ….)
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Classification of objects: an attempt (2) • But
•
In fact, all artefacts that we consider relevant,
– What is a painting: physical or informational?
– Have some information content
– How to type a machine that does not run?
– Have some physical existence and hence, some physical character (a report, an image on computer
– The symbolic (information value) of a cathedral?
•
• Do not forget – Objects can pertain to different classes • A car in parking is a physical passive object • A car on the road is a physical active object, especially when it is capable of parking itself or capable of avoiding accidents • A cultural object ex. a small statue can have a high cultural value for a person and be used by another one as a paper weight Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
It is probably better to define artefacts by – Their physical character (high vs low) – Their informational characters (high vs lowà – Their stability resp. volatility (high vs low)
Theme to be explored further Version 1.1 24.10.2011
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What differentiates the artefacts?
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Artefacts: some key properties Purpose: what the artefact is intended for
S
Functionality: the services the artefact provide through its use
S S
To contribute to our self-image & identity
S
To improve our control on the physical world
To enable and improve our interactions with the social world (the others) S Artefact
S
The interaction we may have with the artefact Physical interaction (five senses)
S
Cognitive interaction (including the form as perceived)
S
The embodiment (physical aspects)
S
: involves a lot of subjectivity, unless there are metrics available
Materials, size, weight (embodiment: how the artefact becomes real) Structure
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Artefacts : purpose, function & meaning • Survival: food, (organising growing, processing, packaging), physical protection, thumbs, …
• Caring: comfort and long-term survival & development – Chairs, seats, tables, beds, …
• Transforming our physical environment) – From Hammer, plier, drilling machine, bulldozer
• Communication & information processing – Telephone, mobile, networks, computer systems, – Symbolic objects (totem, obelisks, …) & monuments
• Organising space – Buildings, urbanisation (city development planning), home interior, interconnecting spaces (bridges) – Gardens, parks, natural reserves
• Moving: transportation & exploration – From bike, to cars, trucks, trains, airplanes, rockets and space shuttles – Road, railroads, airports The artefact’s function maybe defined by the designer (and the other stakeholders). It’s actual use (it’s function depends on the user and on the context Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Artefacts: structure Structure and function – A wing to produce lift, low drag at supersonic speed, satisfying handling at low speed + fuel storage – Engines to produce lift – Engine nacelles to house the engines with minimal drag – Fuselage for housing the passengers and the crew – A moving nose so as to increase visibility at lift-off and landing while generating minimal drag at cruising speed – A rudder to provide directional stability
Structure is often related to form (see the structure of building). It relates also to the way stability of the artefact is ensured (components keep together through structure) Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Artefacts: structure and form (1) • Structure is closely related to function, at least in engineering while
• Form is often associated with aesthetic considerations
• However, aesthetic considerations appear to play an important role in engineering: « What looks well flies well » (a saying in aeronautics)
• See also, the French locomotives Nez cassé designed by Paul Arzens (inspiration from a sprinter at the start of a race) Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Artefacts: structure and form (2) • Paul Arzens designed a series of locomotives (external design, focused on form)
• It has been said that he was inspired by the attitude of an athlete at the start of a race.
• This shows that even engineering artefacts are influenced by cultural values – Speed – Strength – Readiness to start/concentration – …
Paul Arzens was a French designer who worked for the SNCF, the French Raiway company. Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Why artefacts?
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Objects are created for satisfying needs of “stakeholders” • Needs do not exist « in abstracto » • Needs are related to the stakeholders of the project Technical factors
• Stakeholders are the people
(Internal- organisational factors
– Involved in the project: they have some kind of interest in the project – Stakeholders are those people who are affected by resp. responsible for the outcome of the project • Sponsors • User • Operator • Neighbours (construction)
Social factors Political factors Cultural factors
Stakeholders are influenced by a series of factors
– The interaction with the object over its lifecycle (from its existence to its destruction)
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Example of needs (for Stakeholder
Needs
Project sponsor
•
Succesfull project (politically, economically, socially)
Designer/designer team
• • •
Successful design & successful artefact) The design recognised by peers as “good” Increased knowledge and experience
Realisation team
•
Feasible (technical, cost, time)
Users
• • •
Useable artefact Aesthetics Value for money
Maintenance team
• •
Ease of maintenance & repair Availibility of spare parts
Disposal team
• •
Limited hasards associated withn disposal Re-usability
Other people affected by the artefacts
•
Limited disturbance of way of life and of their living environment (noise, pollution, …;)
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Artefacts (types) evolve over time
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Artefacts (types) change over time - 1 1. Intended modification – Upgrade – Simplification so as to facilitate maintenance
2. Natural decay (wear, rust) 3. Replacement (for technical or economic or fashion etc. reasons) 4. Destruction (accidents, …) and disposal
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Artefacts (types) change over time - 2 Maturity of users and sponsors: education and experience
Needs & ambition
Higher levels of performance Competition (commercial, political, military)
Stakeholders
Performance
Realisation capabilities Artefact Professionalism & professional standards (the position of engineer has been recognised in the 19th century) Education Designer(s)
Design experience of the designers Feedback from the operation and use of artefacts
Capabilities
Design methods and tools (CAD tools Design knowledge: literature, data-bases, mathematical models)
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Summary
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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Summary: the main concepts • « We live in a designed world » • Artefacts and artefact types • An attempt for classification of artefacts • Artefacts properties • Stakeholders and needs • The evolution of artefact types over time
Objects, projects and people – An introduction to design
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