A MODEST PROPOSAL _ Concept Design.
Design Concept: in need of redesign a generic desktop clock alarm, the main goal on this assignment was to explore Semantic on Product Design by the mean of employ creative tools in linguistics to recreate a design concept, in order to refresh the image of a consumer product from Industrial Design point of view. Stated at the concept design stage, in this case, a "Rethoric Image" was used as a theoretical premise due to configurate a new visual presence for that initial clock. As a tool used to reinterpretate the overall layout and appearance of this generic device (at the moment, consisting in a mechanic clock), a linguistic analogy on stone wheel with time measurement was used to come up with a redesign proposal, altering components and technology available but also enhance on ergonomy and relocation of controls and elements conforming the user interface for better allowances of interaction and so create a new discourse on a clock had would be seen.
Metaphors enhance the process of representation, invention or interpretations. This is a premise that authors like Charles Pierce and Humberto Eco had been working on, applied to fields of knowledge such as Semiotics. Metaphors can play an important in the generation of sense and new knowledge. In this Design exercise, a linguistic analogy is impplied with a re-interpretation of a common device used and found in our house, a battery clock to come up with a visual essay of meaning piece of decoration.
The Key idea generator was to employ Mental reference of an ancient 'STONE WHEEL' to link with associations on Time Measurement concept and come up with a clock itself. Why? The stoneWheel as an invention on THE WHEEL, is one of the first tools adapted and customized by human beings in look of control, comfort and simplification of our daily life activities In fields such as construction, agronomy, pottery was very handy and usefull mean, and a hito achieved by first civilizations. Our lives were not been the same without the invention/developing of the wheel and axle. So by with TIME, as a mental concept created.
Following that pattern, we adressed the link in Time ideal passing by the Wheel invention reference, in purposes. Same mental construction was gained within using as concept of the external appearance of that rustic wheel to shape a new decorative clock, with simple functions. On this link, the "Metonimia" was applied, to propose a new concept for clock alarm, the rethoric figure consists on interchange ...
Here, the device proposed is based in visual representation of a wheel stacked in ground. Contrast in controls such as alarm clearly indexing function with association to the representation of sunrise.
"Before the wheel showed up around 3500BC, we were very limited in how much and how far we could travel with products. Adding a wheel to a cart allows for easily carrying large amounts, opening the idea for trade centers, not to mention improving the lives of any laborer. Add it onto a cart and you now have transportation. Add it to the car and you can travel almost anywhere". (extracted from http://www.unprofessionalengineering.com)
A modest proposal on this desktop clock went on this. Inverting the overal shape from initial clock, an injected round case with cracked texture simulation is grabbing a raised acrylic/glass panel with a lcd display. The time hour is displayed with graphic representation of a analogical clock. An upper main button allows the user reset the alarm.
