Week 5
For the past week I have been slip casting the familiar form of the disposable pint glass. It has been interesting as I have learnt a new process, and it has given me a really literal understanding of the form I am working with and the notions of volume. I have expressed this in relation to one of the four areas in which I aim to create a family of objects:
The familiar:
How we associate measure with certain things, looking literally at different forms and the similarities they share. Executed by exploiting the obvious as a means of understanding.
I really like the result of the ceramic cups and the process is very rewarding. However; despite this this I have came to the conclusion that glass would be a more suitable material for the pint measuring jug I am trying to create. For the prototype I am to deliver next week, I will slump another pint glass and sand blast subtle markings in order to create a familiar yet alternative to the typical measuring jug.
I have become slightly obsessed with slip casting and the pint form, however I aim to finish that today and move on to the other areas I have defined. Another area I aim to look at is; iinformal measure:
Using the idea of approximation and guesswork as defined through human dimension using natural units to create tools. This offers more freedom and allows the user to instinctively measure and build confidence.
I want to create a product that encourages the use of the human body as a unit for measure; as it has become de humanized, a theme that has re occurred throughout this process. I aim to look at methods of measure by observing behavior and analyzing current methods of measure.
Empowerment:
Making consumers more confident, by using their surroundings as a tool. Enabling people to look at measure in a less regimented way through the use of existing forms, therefore taking the familiar and creating a dual function. This relates to my previous research of association, for example 1kg=a bag of sugar. Using everyday items, as a form of measure is really interesting and dates back to the 18th century. From looking at a cookery book called; the art of cookery, made plain and easy: which far exceeds any thing of the kind yet published... by Hannah Glass. A revolutionary cookery book, which deals with wholesome British food. Interestingly one of the methods of measure is, ‘the amount of shredded parsley and sage that will fit on one sixpence’. I just find this so fascinating, how currency was used as it has a nationally uniform size, yet is unhygienic. I want to create a product with a similar principle that we relate to in current society, this may well be achieved by appropriating the existing. Proportion
Observing what we understand volume or measure to be through different shapes as a means of educating people. Allowing them to trust their judgment more. This exercise started back with packaging, it could be a marketing led product designed to be a catalyst for change and awareness. I will continue to experiment with this through looking at packaging and making alterations through models. Then obtaining peoples opinions of the results.
Key themes that link this family of objects:
Products that provide a relationship between the user and task in hand
What I want to achieve:
Human informed tools/products
Subconscious methods of education
Products that blend into the everyday
A strategy for change; that may perhaps inform my future project, in terms of:
Efficiency
Waste
Value
In the next week I aim to finish my prototype of the glass jug and have a good idea of the costing criteria. I then intend to develop each of the other areas more through research led investigation and model making.