B1.2 Showcase Pleun Heeres
Growth
competencies graphically compared to each other
Activities: Creative Programming, SToSP, Bugged 2.0, SDL-lightart
Within my two projects, the assignment Creative Programming and by making a lightart I learned how to solder, learned the basics of HTML-, Arduino- and Processing-language and explored the hardware side of technology also. With these basic skills I am now able to make my designs interactive and bring ideas and concepts to life.
Although I learned a lot, I am not fully confident within this competency. This because this competency consists of so many aspects to be learned. Also, I noticed that it takes me longer than others to understand the digital aspect of technologies. It would be good for me to focus on this more explicit and give it more time than others. Also I have to make sure that I claim and work on this competency more on my own within projects.
If I keep on exploring and learning about technologies I hope to be able to communicate with others on the subject and maybe even teach others what I learned.
Integrating Technology
Being able to design and communicate with others by using technology
 Integrating Technologyworking on (arty) lightart |
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 DIY SynthesizerDIY synthesizer built during the SDL-weeks |
 Componentscomponents used in B1.1 project Bugged |
 Final prototype Bugged 2.0 |
 Getikt hardware |
 Sensors Snake Gamesensors used to control snake game Creative Programming |
 Aruino cirquitcirquit for Creative Programming |
Activities: Modelling-Assignment, USE-Assignment, SToSP, Bugged 2.0, TU/ecomotive
This year I have been doing a lot of teamwork within projects and bachelor college courses. I got to know what it is like to work with a group that I didn’t chose myself. I think I have learned the most of the teamwork that didn’t go well. Getting everyone together and overcoming hick-ups were good lessons.
Within the SToSP project we had a weekly schedule of the project tasks –group leader, planner, note taker- where we circulated with. I think this was a good way to learn how to work at different tasks. It also helped us with keeping up the pace within the projects process.
Next year I want to try this approach again as I think it really worked well and it will help others to overcome their fears or give them les predominance.
Also I want to keep on working in the multi disciplenary team of TU/ecomotive, and will work with groups for the Design Basic Course and USE-learning line.
Teamwork
Cooperating and collaborating with others to achieve collective goals
 Team B1.2 | Movin'Movin' presenting @ international Triple-Jump-Event |
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 Projectgroup B1.1 |
 Movin' @ InnosportLab |
 INVICTImy rowing team |
Descriptive & Mathematical Modeling
Getting more grip on complexity that designers encounter, by using modeling
Activities: Creative Programming, Basic Course Modeling, Basic Course Physics, Basic Course Calculus, Co-Creation Assignment
The core activities this year that focussed on the mathematical part of this competency were Modeling, Physics, Calculus. In the assignments Creative Programming and Co-creation the focus laid more of the descriptive part.
With the basic courses I have gained enough theory to be able to make a model that is close to reality.
Creative Programming showed how to construct a model and really use it.
Co-Creation addressed the descriptive model by means of a basic flow-chart modeling kit & concept mapping. I have already used these tools for other purposes within for example OptiField and mapping my thoughts.
In the future I will have to keep on expanding my knowledge about modeling and thinking in systems. Next semester I am also going to pass Calculus. I am also confident that I will pass Modeling.
 Modelling reality |
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 descriptive modela descriptive model for the assignment of Modelling |
 C-map toolbasic tool for mapping and linking concepts |
Activities: Project SToSP, Project Bugged 2.0
This competency is one of the big reasons why I chose the SToSP project. I wanted to design more user-centred since that wasn’t the focus of the project Bugged 2.0 –we did do a usertest-. We did succeed in making the project user-centred. We did this by observing, research and most of all mapping the interests of potential users. We did this by observing at PSV training sessions and by co-design sessions with trainers and technical staff of PSV. This made it more clear for whom and what purpose we were designing.
A usertest was done to prove the visibility of our final prototype. Though I would have like more usertesting earlier on and throughout the process. This wasn’t possible because of the planning, but I want to do this in the next project.
Usertesting is a way to make a concept better, by means of new inputs, but more important, generating hard evidence.
In order to really improve upon this competency I will have to follow an assignment on the matter. Though I think that with Design basic course and USE this competency will be developed too.
User Focus & Perspective
Empathizing with people and involving them in the design process; Acknowledging that designing can cause societal change.
 observing end-usersobserving @ training of PSV |
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 meeting experts PSVa meeting with the technical staff of PSV |
 uset-test InnosportLab |
 User-test @ InnosportLaba usertest to test the visibility of OptiField |
Socio-Cultural Awareness
Being aware that culture effects design & design effects culture and gaining knowledge about culture
Activities: Use Basics, Project SToSP, DG000, DG590 DBP, Milano Design Week, Dutch Design Week, Glow
I have been keeping up to date with trends within all the mentioned activities. Watching trends however is an ongoing process. As a designer I will have to come up with trends, so next semester I want to look what makes a trend.
I have also experienced cultural differences by traveling and visiting exhibitions. This is something I liked but didn’t do with a real purpose.
USE basics has shown me how to take a harder look upon ethics in design. Now I know how to make an ethical analysis, I have to keep this knowledge in mind and apply it to further projects.
 Ethics in Technologythe book of USE-basics |
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Communication
Communicating through different media
Activities: Project SToSP, Project Bugged 2.0, Modelling, USE-basics, TU/ecomotive, MatCie, DBP, Co-creation, Creative Programming, Getikt
This competency coveres a wide range of skills.
A few focus on the communication within workgroups as face-to-face, virtual communication with Skype, and sharing logging files online on drive and dropbox. Movin' also did make a facebook group for all the members of SToSP to share thoughts and ideas.
Other skills focus on presenting and conveying thoughts by means of presentations, videos, sketching, posters and prototyping.
A skill that I want to develop next semester is branding myself, as I noticed at the Milano Design Week when I was asked for a business card I could give one which was disappointing sometimes.
Also I want to improve my sketching since I didn't reach that goal of this semester. I want to do the Assignment Exploratory Sketching. Also with TU/ecomotive I will improve upon this competency.
 presenting at Midterm |
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 OptiField Logo |
 presenting for TenCate & Greenfields |
 Movin' Logo |
 presenting for Ten Cate & Greenfield |
 Moodboard |
 final demo day stand B1.1 |
 greenfields photoshopconveying thoughts by images |
Activities: Project SToSP, DBP assignment, Co-Creation, USE-Basics
This year I learned how to create, analyse and use business processes within the SToSP project by using the knowledge of the assignments I had followed. This resulted in a allround conceptt that had more ground to stand on.
Also the professional business approach of the SToSP project has shown me what it takes to work with a real client and gave good learning opportunitities to work in collaboration with big partners as Ten Cate. This has given me a more professional attitude and is something I want to keep implementing in further projects.
Designing Business Processes
Creating, analyzing and using business processes to make meaningful product-service systems that contribute to a business performance product
 Businessmodel OptiField |
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Movin'professional approach |
 Businessmodel S.S.A.S.businessmodel of final deliverable Co-Creation |
Activities: project SToSP, project Bugged 2.0, Getikt,
In my opinion this competency is in essence shaping materials in such a way that it excites the senses.
Within the projects I mainly focussed on the aesthetics and how things feel. And had a basic level of illustrator.
It would be nice to focus on other senses, like taste and sound.
As I am going to projects outside ID I want to develop this competency a lot. I want to make my projects more aesthetic but also I want to show my work more professionally. This in means of improving my sketching, after effects, animation and rendering.
I know I should narrow down to concrete goals what to learn but I will decide upon this after the summer.
Form & Senses
Realizing that our senses affect the way we react to objects, spaces and the physical world we inhabit
 fiber light/feeling test |
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 lasercut logo Trigger |
 trying out different looks of Getikt |
 final prototype OptiField |
Activities: project SToSP, project Bugged 2.0, Getikt, USE-basics, TU/ecomotive
I have now gone through three whole design processes. Reflecting on them they went as hoped and according to planning. Though I would like to change the process a little by switching faster between ideation and prototyping. This will help me gain more feedback and will prevent me from getting stuck in the process. Implementing a clear start with a direction of the whole group will make the process more clear.
With USE-basics and SToSP I developed upon doing research efficiently by looking for existing technologies and research within forerunners. The methods I used to do this will show their value later on.
Design & Research Processes
Using, grasping, adapting and inventing design & research processes
 technical research |
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Activities: SToSP, Bugged 2.0, Getikt, Co-Creation, DDW, Milano Design Week, GLOW
I have tried already a lot of different ways to generate ideas. More extreme ones in Bugged 2.0 and for example observing within SToSP.
Using all these different ways has helped me in getting to know the techniques and will help me to chose a technique that will fit setting the best.
I found out that a hands-on and applying theorem approach suits me. Now I want to also be able to generate ideas from solely theoretical approaches.
Also I want to improve on showing my ideas more by improving on sketching and movies. See Form&Senses.
Ideas & Concepts
Generating, selecting and refining ideas into well-developed concepts
 conceptualizationfinal four concepts B1.2 |
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 brainstorming |
 brainstorm B1.1 |
Self Directed & Continious Learning
Taking responsibility for and giving direction to your own personal development
Activities: ALL
I think this competency was the toughest for me the last semester. I struggled with choosing a direction, and not knowing what I want was really confusing at some points. I have come to the conclusion that keeping on thinking what consequences decisions can have is also not the good way to enhance continuous learning. I have to face that I can't always know where I am heading and therefor I shouldn't worry too much.
An extra difficulty is that in the last semester we didn't have an really leading coaching which forced us to become more self-directed. I think we did well in this and think we pushed eachother really well.
I have also taken matters in own hands for my planning. I attended a workshop Getting Things Done and I had planned meetings with the StudyAdvisor in order to discuss my planning and development within Industrial Design.
For next semester it will be really nice to make concise goals however these goals will always change and therefor I have to keep on updating them.
Also I have to become more insecure and stand out for myself more. This will help me to be taken serious more.
 Self Directed & Continuous Learning |
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 Planning |