Product Semantics
The designed use of Artifacts
The designed use of Artifacts
This two-month course was geared around developing and understanding user interface, instinct, and communication. The development of good product semantics is key to relevant design. Product semantics is not a theory nor does it occur intuitively, it takes key insight and development along with an understanding of intended use of a product. Product semantics is the development of a relationship between the user and an artifact that creates intuitive and natural interaction.
The goal of this project focuses in on driving user interaction. Subtle design cues can have profound effects on the desired interaction of a user. The problem for this assignment was as follows: by creating textures, perceived distances, and forms create a cube like object that insticntually drives the user to rub it, squeeze it, and turn it over.
The Intercube creates an interactive solution to entice the user to experiment with all of its aspects. The large textured nubs on the corners are recessed enticing one to touch and rub them. The marble in the track that snakes its way around the cube, coupled with the offset sides entices turning. The odd gap created by the spacing drives the user to squeeze.
Creating metaophors within design can create suggestions of use, symbolic meanings, associations of special meanings through form, alteration of understood perceptions and breakdown of barriers. Fun is a concpet that is sometimes overlooked. The forms that objects take do not always have to be so drastic and definite, everone likes to live a little.
Lea, a vessel for the steeping and serving of tea. Inspired by the flowing and relaxed forms of nature and a desire to improve the enjoyment of life. A beautiful and inspiring piece designed to enhance the experience of steeping and serving tea. The natural shapes and flowing form create an added calm and enjoyement from the ritual that is tea.
Semantics entails a thorough understanding of primary interaction. The task was to define a key interaction desired form an alarm clock, and develope the interaction. Developing an alarm clock with intuitive interaction and ease of snooze became the primary goal.
The rise alarm clock creates an intuitive snooze engagement through actual movement of the display face. As the alarm sounds the display rises up. The snooze is engaged simply by pressing it down. The large knob on the front allows for simple volume control. The red knob provides a “pop” which indicates the alarm setting, the off button is also incorporated into the knob to help eliminate any accidental cessation of the alarm. The hour and minute buttons are small and out of the way, yet easily noticed. An intuitive and sleek answer to the alarm clock.
User instincts are cued through product form and development, which create a certain manner of interaction with the artifact. Repeated patterns, shapes, and textures help to create spacial and textural based associations with intended use and function. Cultural stereotypes and patterns offer an advantage to creating successful user interaction through exploitation.
The strong feeling and fluid shape provide subtle yet intuitive cues as to grip patterns and activation of areas. Material and color breaks create an attraction to interaction points. With simple open touch operation of all interaction points there is little need of explanation of use. When held, the form guides the user’s hand into the correct position and the transition to the back of the body entices the user to turn the shaver in order to interact with the trimmer. Cleaning is achieved through the touch of one small light grey button on the cleaning/charging base.. By repeatedly pressing the button the user can advance through the four different intensities of cleaning, until the desired level is reached. Simple red, yellow, and green indicators for battery life provide simple understandable levels of charge. No frills, just simple sleek, intuitive interaction. The edge in shaving.
