Visualizing the Issues behind Food Dependence: How to Feed the World?

Visualizing the Issues behind Food Dependence: How to Feed the World? - information aesthetics

If you appreciated the depth and level of detail of the now classic infographically animated The Credit of Crisis - Visualized, you will probably also like the following! "How to Feed the World?" [dvanw.com] explains in more than 8 minutes the intrinsic issues involved with international food dependence and the existing regional differences of food intake, in both quantity as quality.

For instance, in Europe, people have access to a varied, large diet, while the available (affordable?) food in Africa does not cover the normal human needs, causing African people to die about 20 years younger on average. What are the reasons for this injustice? You can watch the answer in the movie below.

The movie even discusses the feasibility of some potential solutions, such as increasing the cultivated land area, increasing the yield of a given agricultural area, increasing the use of organic products, introducing innovative watering techniques, and so on, and finishes with a concrete recommendation of where you have the ability to make a difference.

http://vimeo.com/dvanw/videos

The Discreet Window: Publicly Showing Work Activity to the Outside

The Discreet Window: Publicly Showing Work Activity to the Outside - information aesthetics

The Discreet Window [ishback.com] is a window blind that provides visual feedback for a home-office environment about a user's work activity. As an ambient display, The Discreet Window acts as a membrane that communicates the work intensity to both the home-office space and the outside. The more the user works, the less light is coming inside the room. Thus, the less visual contact there is between both sides of the window.

In practice, this means that when the shade is all the way open, one has not been working, and vice versa. The graphing function then shows the historical data. Most of the current tools of self-monitoring provide intrusive alerts, bringing the risk of disturbing the optimal work pattern of the individual. Instead, the same information has more attractiveness and influence to the user when presented to him on demand as a summary over time.

Designworks

design capabilities. people. resources. philosophy. history > designworks

designworks is a global team of product development experts. Our knowledge and skill, combined with cutting edge research and technology allows us to design the future for our clients. We understand and work with clients across the consumer, medical, sport, ICT, toy, and transport sectors.

design capabilities. people. resources. philosophy. history > designworks

designworks was established in the UK in 1991 by Jeremy Gardner and Peter Rickett. Today designworks meets and exceeds the challenges of a diverse and prestigious clients list.

designworks > Brisbane Australia + Windsor UK + Hong Kong > contact details

hong kong.

unit 312a

new east ocean centre

9 science museum road

tsim sha tsui east

kowloon

hong kong

t +852 3188 2287

f +852 3579 3030

+brisbane and windsor UK offices

DAKA - industrial design

DAKA – ABOUT US

Established in 1993, Daka’s passion for innovation has led to over a decade of sustained growth. We create unique products with ability to identify niche markets where we apply our product development expertise. We have also built a strong portfolio of Intellectual Property Rights to protect the innovative technologies and designs of the products that we have developed.

Fueled by the dedication of our team, we now stand as a company that won multiple international awards, and with ISO9001:2000 accreditation that upholds the highest standards of quality.

Building on our success is our key motivation, and our expanding portfolio of products reflects this. With quality and innovation in equal measure, we are committed to total excellence.
+ Preview Corporate Video
Identify, develop and market innovation niche products that possess mass consumer appeal in the global market.

Our focus is to specialize in the development and marketing of next generation innovation consumer products by applying advanced technologies and know how to every aspect of product development. We are also dedicated to strengthen our Intellectual Property Rights for all the products that we design.

Emotive Studio

Emotive Studio, Design Agency, Hong Kong, Packaging

Emotive Studio is expert in the packaging practical aspects: displaying optimization and shipping protection. We develop a strong visual and tactile ways to reach your customer.
We will also ensure that your product is packaged for maximum impact on your customers and not the environment.

Since 2001 Emotive Studio has been serving a diverse portfolio of clients from our office in Hong Kong.  Our team of designers from Asia and Europe has experience in working with many industries and International markets.
From initial concepts, then brand development and finally bringing your product to market, we can provide an integrated service or just fulfil a one-off design brief.

104 -105, 1F Casey Building
38 Lok Ku Road, Sheung Wan,
Hong Kong

T (852) 2805 1107
F (852) 3582 4900

» info@emotivestudio.com

Hong Kong Awards for Industries

Hong Kong Awards for Industries

The Hong Kong Awards for Industries was officially launched in 2005 by merging the former Hong Kong Awards for Industry and Hong Kong Awards for Services, established in 1989 and 1997 respectively, to rationalise and update the two awards. The merged Awards continues to recognise the outstanding achievements of Hong Kong enterprises in their move towards higher technology and higher value-added activities. The Awards covers seven categories.

Industrial designers society of Hong Kong

Welcome to Industrial designers society of Hong Kong

ndustrial Designers Society of Hong Kong (IDSHK) was founded in 2002. IDSHK aims to promote higher levels of professionalism and status of Hong Kong's industrial designs. In 2004, IDSHK has issued and published the "Professional Practice & Contract Template for Hong Kong Industrial Designers" (Chinese/English CD format). IDSHK has worked to foster public interests to the value of industrial design (I.D.).

IDSHK has regularly organized I.D. seminars, knowledge-sharing forums, mentor workshops and trips to the international I.D. Expo & Forum of China. IDSHK has actively established collaborations and strategic alliance partnership with industrial bodies and education institutes.

InnoSphere Product Design & Development

InnoSphere Product Design & Development

With over 10 years of design and development experience, we are specialized in consumer electronics and household appliances. Our creativity ensures your product gives a great impact to your target consumer!

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:
- Design: Consumer electronics, household appliances and premiums
- New product line build up and development
- Brand building and market positioning
- Prototype and mold making
- Production and project management

Awarded collaboration projects:
- Hong Kong Award for Industries 2005
- Hong Kong Original Gifts & Household Products Design Competition 2005

Address : Unit 231, 2/F, InnoCentre,
72 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, H.K.
地址: 九龍塘達之路72號創新中心二樓231室
Tel : (852) 3586 0896
Email : info@innosphere.hk
Web Site : www.innosphere.hk

Golden Sun Housewares Manufacturing Ltd

Company Profile

Golden Sun Housewares Manufacturing Ltd. is a Hong Kong based sole proprietorship founded by Mr. Kwok Kang-sang in 1967 specialising in stainless steel and plastic houseware production. In 1986, Mr. Kwok moved the manufacturing base to He Ao, Heng Gang of Shenzhen in China to further develop his business. Over the past 11 years, Golden Sun has evolved into one of the largest houseware manufacturers and exporters in Hong Kong with average sales over US$ 16.5 million annually.

Our phenomenal success is attributed to our persistence in producing the best kitchen utensils. To do so, we have employed 950 full-time staff, each and all of them are expertise in their own specialized field. Their distinguished professionalism has ensured our products, from design, craftmanship to quality, are always among the finest.

The tremendous success of Golden Sun is attributed to the efforts of Mr. Kwok and devoted services from our employees. We shall strive to maintain our leading position and dedicate ourselves in making the finest houseware of the world.

mindblog.com

Google Image Result for http://mindblog.dk/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/cultural-probe-data-425x283.jpg

cultural probe created by Robert James Djaelani

Google Image Result for http://nicolegoestoschool.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/2313083644_0f32303166.jpg

A cultural probe is a carefully measured, planned inquiry into the preferences, experiences, and desires of an audience.

kit of interactive objects that were designed easily facilitate conversation and participation.

Community Chest

ILD - community chest

Do Not Disturb Project - Cultural Probe

I have designed a pack that will allow one to find out the who, what, when and where of a particular anti social behaviour. The pack contains a box in which 4 cards are stored. On each card there is a different task for the participant to carry out. They are first asked to write down an anti social behaviour that affects them the most. Then they are asked to either draw or stick thing to the silhouette provided, in order to see who the perpetrator of there anti social act is. The next card allows the participant to show on a map exactly where the behaviour takes place. The final card allows the participants to show what time of day the anti social act takes place, by setting the time on the clock provided.
http://imd.dundee.ac.uk/degshows/2007/jennyk/final%20cultural%20probe.html

Flickr Clock

Google Image Result for http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2182/2012431840_8252527320.jpg

There’s something really wonderful about using the flickr clock interface to browse through people’s moments from around the world. The clock displays only video content and lets you lean back and just click to view another short clip which someone uploaded somewhere around the world.

cultural probe - Robert James Djaelani example

Google Image Result for http://www.ilikedesign.co.uk/images/smartpalette.jpg

A cultural probe is a qualitative research tool that allows a researching to carry out a rapid form of ethnography on a user without the researcher being present . The results are very subjective which combined with quantitative research creates a very strong method of understanding a users existing personality.

cultural probe kit

A completed Cultural Probe.

I am interested in the distinction between product and research tool and many of the items in a cultural probe's context were, i believe, both products and tools for research.

"Selected volunteers are given probe packs. The participants use the items in the pack over a period of a few weeks and then return the pack. The items in the pack depend on the circimstances, but are all designed to stimulate thought as well as capture experiences.

Once we consider systems beyond the traditional office PC, especially those involving personal experience, design needs to establish new methods of study. Other researchers have used diary studies asking participants to note particular kinds of incidents. Another group asked parents to give them lists they kept (shopping lists, to do lists). Role play has also been used to get people to act out aspects of their life that they might not wish to be observed." www.equator.org

Cultural probes - explained

Cultural probes (also known as diary studies) provide a way of gathering information about people and their activities. Unlike direct observation (like usability testing or traditional field studies), the technique allows users to self-report. Information gathered from cultural probes is particularly useful early in the design process.
When are Cultural Probes appropriate?

Cultural probes are appropriate when you need to gather information from users with minimal influence on their actions, or when the process or event you’re exploring takes place intermittently or over a long period. For example, you could use cultural probes to explore how patients feel over the weeks or months following a surgical procedure, or how travelling salespeople manage their work.
How are Cultural Probes conducted?

Selected participants are briefed, given a kit of materials, and briefed about the requirement to record or note specific events, feelings or interactions over a specified period. Typically, a follow-up interview is conducted at some point after the briefing session. This helps ensure that participants are actively engaged, and are collecting the required information. At the end of the specified period, the materials are collected and analysed. A de-briefing session is also typically conducted, in order to supplement, validate and otherwise explore the information gathered by the participants. Information gathered is then analysed, and documented in some fashion.
What’s in a Cultural Probe Kit?

The contents of the kit depend on what type of information you want to gather, and on the materials with which participants are familiar. Most kits contain a diary for recording comments or impressions. The kit may also contain a scrapbook, or this may be combined with the diary. Other contents may include a camera with printing capability (an instant camera or digital camera with printer). It may also contain items such as a voice recorder, pens, post-it notes, staplers and the like – anything that can help the user gather and record information. People respond positively to attractive kits, so using good quality materials is worthwhile.
Recruitment

Recruiting is particularly important with cultural probes, since they rely on a large investment of participants’ time. Participants in cultural probes are expected to spend at least several hours during the course of the activity, so they are likely to require remuneration that is more significant than that for, say, usability testing. In addition, they usually cannot be monitored closely, so problems may not be picked up during the course of the activity. Therefore, it’s particularly important to ensure that you recruit the right participants, and that you monitor and support them as well as possible throughout the process.
The Right Data

You can help participants gather the right information by briefing them carefully, and by providing kits that prompt them for the types of information you want. However, you also need to take care not to unduly restrict the information they gather, in case you miss out on important insights. Providing a contact phone number that they can feel free to call for assistance or advice throughout the data-gathering period is a good idea.
Analysis and Documentation

Use affinity diagramming to analyse the data gathered. The data is also likely to be useful in creating personas, and this provides a good communication medium. Making participants’ notes and photos available to project team members also provides a good way to communicate findings.

Google Image Result for http://www.iamas.ac.jp/isp/probe_pack.jpg

Cultural probes / diary studies

Also observations can tell you about what people do, but less about what they feel. What is really important to them and what just mundane? Cultural probes are one way to access environments that are difficult to observe directly and also to capture more of this 'felt life'.

Cultural probes (also known as diary studies) provide a way of gathering information about people and their activities.
Unlike direct observation (like usability testing or traditional field studies), the technique allows users to self-report.

Google Image Result for http://www.iamas.ac.jp/isp/probe_pack.jpg

PolyU Design is one of the World’s 30 Best Design Schools

PolyU Design is one of the World’s 30 Best Design Schools « Hong Kong PolyU Design Blog
BusinessWeek announced the 2009 World’s Best Design Schools list and PolyU Design was one of the 30 chosen schools. Click to see its Special Report on Design Thinking

Hong Kong Design Centre

Hong Kong Design Centre - About Us

The Hong Kong Design Centre is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping local designers and businesses realise their full potential. We take a leadership role engaging in a proactive dialogue that preaches to government, industry, business partners, educational institutions and private organisations about design as a strategic, value-enhancing constituent of business. Towards the wider public audience we tirelessly seek to inculcate a greater appreciation of the ways design contributes to a better quality of life.

The Hong Kong Federation of Design Associations established the Hong Kong Design Centre in 2001. The founding members of the Federation, including Hong Kong Designers Association, Interior Design Association Hong Kong, Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association, and the Chartered Society of Designer, founded the Hong Kong Design Centre to consolidate efforts for a better means of improving Hong Kong design. The Hong Kong Design Centre was and remains to be the only organisation in Hong Kong dedicated to encouraging, inspiring, supporting, and facilitating the best use of design as an instrument for the sustainable competitiveness, economic prosperity and overall well-being of society.