Sometimes the outside world can be too much for some people. having the ability to just tune out the people and things around you is sometimes to have peace and be with yourself. The knops earplugs combat this problem. Traditional earplugs only allow for one level of noise cancelation which doesn’t work for everyone. sometimes you want to have loud higher end noises canceled but still be able to hear things closer to you. this is where the knops feature of an adjustable dial comes into play. this allows for variation of noise cancelation allowing you to allow more noise when you are talking to someone close and completely shutting out sound when you want to be by yourself. this is an effective design as it combats the struggles faced with traditional earplugs and revamps the design and gives it a sleeker and more elegant look.

https://www.designboom.com/technology/knops-sound-cancelling-earplugs-let-you-turn-the-volume-down-on-life-11-04-2018/

Modern-day phones have drifted away from their original intent and function, to make phone calls. Whilst this may benefit the user some people want the plain basics and nothing more. In 2016 Punkt release the ‘Dumb Phone’ which was simply a phone that made calls and sent texts. The design was a hit and sold out quickly. Recently the Japanese company Kyocera release a simpler concept for a phone. The phone has a minimalistic look and appearance to it. Whilst it may have more functions than the ‘Dumb Phone’ the once feature that draws consumers to this phone is the fact it is only the size of a credit card. this makes the phone compact and easily stored when not in use unlike the mammoth sized phones of nowadays. This design is an interesting concept and is a welcome change to the newer smartphones of the modern day.

https://www.core77.com/posts/80479/Kyoceras-Tiny-Minimalist-Credit-Card-Sized-Cell-Phone

Autonomy is one of the hot topics in the technology world at the moment. from robots to self-driving cars the user experience is becoming easier and easier due to things being done for the user by computers. The Japanese company Muji have developed a shuttle bus that has been designed for the climate of Finland. The shuttle bus was designed with the intent of being able to run in all weather conditions as Finland is known for having harsh weather conditions such as hard winter and heavy rain. One of the drawbacks of having the autonomous aspect of the bus is the fact that the technology used in the cameras and sensors do not fare well in the heavy rain and fog. the bus itself has a sleek, friendly and inviting look to it inviting the user to use it. The concept of this design is interesting and intriguing and with further development may be a very effective and efficient design that can heavily benefit the users.

https://www.dezeen.com/2018/11/02/muji-sensible-4-gacha-autonomous-shuttle-bus-finland-driverless-design/

The world is facing a waste problem. The waste created by people is being shipped to landfills where it takes years to decompose. Some people have tried to combat this problem by finding new ways to reuse these objects. Artist Cyrus Kabiru found a different and unique way of putting this rubbish to use. Growing up in the slums of Nairobi Kabiru was surrounded by waste but rather than accepting this and going about her daily life she decided to use this waste in unique and interesting ways. Kabiru stated making eyewear from a young age as she was told by her father that they were too poor to afford a pair and that she should think about designing her own. Her designs have an African royalty influence almost like the ones seen in the recent Black Panther movie. The designs are grand and elegant which contrast the idea that they are made of waste and things people don’t want. there’s an irony that these desirable designs are made from undesirable objects. Overall I enjoyed this design and love the concept of using the waste of others to create these elegant pieces.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2018/nov/03/the-artist-putting-rubbish-to-visionary-use-in-pictures

The concept of a modular society is one I am keen on. Having the ability to change aspects of life and substitute them for other things that can benefit the user and give the objects a more personal feel to the user is a great asset. This wall is an amazing example of how modular design can be used to create individualism. This wall can be used in spaces that privacy and separation may be needed but can also be opened up to create a larger space and open up space to other uses. the way the wall works also allows for beautiful designs to be made and for the wall to almost become an art installation. overall the design is a brilliant combination of art and spacial design that could open a space up to more possibilities.

https://www.dezeen.com/2018/11/02/brixels-modular-blocks-breakfast-moving-walls-installation/

The recent tragic shooting in Pittsburgh has sparked the debate in America about gun control and the biased arguments made by the pro-gun lobbyists. to show his opinion on the matter designer Yves Behar has created posters and pieces of graphic design to illustrate his opinion on the matter.  The designs are clean and simple and only use 3 colours: black, white and red. The red stands out in the designs and provokes a sense of danger and has connotations of the blood shed by the victims of this tragedy. the designer has also used the rule of 3 throughout the whole of the design series, this has been done to draw the viewers eye to the design and make it more appealing. overall the designs are effective in conveying the feeling felt by the designer and the message they want to send.

https://www.dezeen.com/2018/10/29/pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting-lies-cost-lives-graphic-yves-behar/

The main problem with the issue with climate change is conveying a physical example of how it is changing things in the present rather than how it may affect the future. This design helps to give the user a visual reference and make people stop and think about how they could be affecting the nature around them. By choosing the shape of a leaf the natural element of the design is clearly shown and it is made from paper which has biodegradable properties which means that it doesn’t cause as much harm to the environment as using materials such as plastics may have. I like this design as it gets the user to think about how certain aspects of their life may affect the environment such as what may be the effects that putting on the heating and how that might change the thermostat and the possible impact it may have on the environment.

https://www.core77.com/posts/80178/This-Leaf-Shaped-Thermometer-Changes-Color-With-the-Temperature

Living in student accommodation has its pros and cons. living close to the university is a major benefit for waking up later for lectures but the space available in the rooms is a major con especially the desk space. When trying to draw and design on the desk the room is lackluster. pens and pencils laying about everywhere and cables coiling around the desk like snakes. This design is the design I need to conquer these cons. By having the sockets on the side of the design the cables aren’t laying all over the table getting in the way. The shelf provides storage for the drawings, books, and references that are usually clustering on my desk. the one main problem with the layout of the desk at the accommodation is the light. when designing a good light source is needed to see the page clearly but the light used at the accommodation casts shadows on the page that can make the page harder to interpret. By including a light in the design and the shelf this issue is overcome and the page is easier to see. Overall this design is an interesting concept and could be very useful to every student living in accommodation or people living in an area with limited space.