Up-to-date way of problem solving

Six Thinking Hats - Edward de Bono

White - Neutral/Objective

Red - Emotional/Intuitive

Black - Negative/Weaknesses

Yellow - Positive/Optimistic

Green - Creativity/Ideas

Blue - Control/Process

For around 2300 years we have used argument, in all it's glory, as the main component when it comes to problem solving. Edward de Bono, English Physician, has developed a new method which brings problem solving into the 21st century. His Six Thinking Hats method has proven to be more efficient and productive than it's predecessor, arguing, in all it's applications. This ranges from 4 year old lessons to some of the largest corporations in the world.

The idea is to mould everyone into a system of thinking which generates more co-operation and reduces ego-driven input into a problem. The method uses the six mind sets (listed above) allowing everyone to put forward their opinion with confidence. The hats act as guidelines to promote a thorough way of thinking about problems. It ensures that everyone is thinking in the same direction and makes sure everyone is happy with the solution.

This book is insightful into how we solve problems as designers. Sometimes a designer may get attached to a project which could possibly hinder the process and thus the outcome. Through the language of Six Thinking Hats this means the designer has been thinking too much through his/her red hat. It's a good idea to use all of the six hats in order to get the best perspective on an idea, as suggested by Edward de Bono. It's an interesting method and one I imagine could work well if understood properly. The Six Thinking Hats seem stupid at first but the visuals and colours make them easy to understand and remember, when applied to teaching, as well as referring to the term thinking caps.

Flying Barn?

Source

Now I don't know how practical this is or whether it is actually in use but the thought of a flying barn is entertaining to me.  The idea that such a big bulky structure could be floating in the air somewhere makes the space, air, so much more accessible in terms of possibilities.  Maybe this is a similar feeling to what people had before the first large ferries and planes were produced.  

Aside from this I just liked this photo.  The simple fact that this is suspended a few feet off the ground in a precarious manner makes it stand out.  Their is a sense of things could go wrong, or that shouldn't be possible according o what we understand.

Illustration within design

This interests me greatly due to fact that when compared to other forms of design, such as photography, you mostly have to use what is available to you or hope you find a moment in time to fit your idea.  With illustration the boundaries are less defined and it's more to do with how far your imagination takes you and your skill with a pen.

No one needs to know what you did last night

If you are skilled enough and you know your idea through and through, there is a chance to create an original, stylized, solution, where it is displayed exactly how you intended.  No interruptions or accidents.  Just 100 percent idea with only a pen limiting your thoughts.

Image received from this website

4 Elements through music

Photo by Myriam Santos-Kayda for 

Moat Anticipated of 2007 issue of AP.

This band gained my interest due to their concept albums they have recently created.  They are a two-part, duo of albums, called the alchemy index.  It basically is a band, called thrice, that have attached their music to elements.  They have 4 sets of about 5 to 6 tracks which are centered around either fire, water, earth or air.  It sparked my interest to see a band taking a different approach to creating an album.  They set out a mood and tried to create music which matched this mood.  Not only is their music centered around this theme but their whole advertisement of the album.  The photography matches the elemental theme and the concept itself is refreshing to see.

It allows the band to create acoustic, electronic, heavy rock and calm-atmospheric music in the four separate chapters.  It's an amazing variety of approaches and altogether an amazing look at this bands talent.  The whole idea of combining music to elements makes this an exciting project from the off and I recommend listening to the end product.  Very satisfying...

The website also mirrors this concept and is pleasant to scan.  It can be found here.

Memory and Humanity - Album Art

Funeral for a friend

Art as a form of advertisement.  It takes the title of the album and seems to convey it in a form of art.  The visual itself is a clever interpretation which uses the title and adds depth to the words.  It allows the viewer to think the words relate to the image and therefore makes you explore their meanings in correlation with the composition.  Or it allows you to think "ooh, that's a pretty picture".  That's the beauty with some pictures.  It satisfies the deep thinkers and the easily pleased alike.

(19-Nov-2008)

When I actually bought this album I was pleasantly surprised with the way it was presented.  The case was in the form of a book, not the usual plastic cases you find!  It combined the CD case within the book which made it stand out compared to the shelves of clear plastic copies.  It is something I haven't seen before and I commend the company for such a different approach.  The book has the exact dimensions of a CD case, is hardback and holds the CDs in each cover with the accompanying booklet infused into the books pages.  This is a new medium to store the contents which I like due to it relating the CD to a book.  Very unique indeed...

Gorillaz animate

Gorillaz have managed to do something truly original in the music industry. Creating a band that is comprised of 2D characters and using them to make, not just music videos, but the live gigs, come to life. Not only this but as another form of promotion they have created short clips which allow the fans to get to know the characters more indepth and how they interact with one another which enhances the fairytale experience.

Gorillaz - Jump The Gut

The animations the Gorillaz have created are stylised in the fact they use 2D, 3D and real footage to form unique environments. I really like how 2D characters are implemented into 3D environments which helps to allow fans to relate...it's as if these characters are actually alive somewhere in the world. They have broken down a certain barrier and a part of us kind of believes they're real, or atleast wants to, which works in terms of this 2D bands' success I imagine (it also has a lot to do with their talent in the music world obviously).

What makes good design enjoyable?

Good design seems to be found by changing our perspective of something. Getting something we are used to seeing every day and changing it so we view it differently.

Buy one here if you want :)

I think it works well as we notice a depth to the work that is usually not apparent in lesser design. We know just by looking at a piece of work that a lot of thought has gone in to it. We respect that the artist has taken the time to turn away from the norm and strive for the new. I think we also like it because it teaches us something in a way. It becomes a simple message showing us a more interesting side of an object that we thought to be plain and unmoving. Thus opening our eyes for a second and allowing us to crawl out of the midset we are in day-in, day-out. An original piece of design becomes something that expands the viewers mindset, shows them a new perspective, allows them to be impressed, and for a second, makes them think they know a little bit more about the world.

Still, it's not an easy thing to achieve...

Does unoriginal play a part in the creation of original?

Is creating something original simply as easy as combining two ideas together? Tom Sloan at Levitate Architects came up with a neat solution to a storage problem in this London Victorian apartment:

Story

The combination of a bookshelf and a staircase created this hybrid-sort of design, the library staircase. If you have a problem the design solution is usually found using inspiration from other existing ideas. As a designer I naturally take inspiration from things around me and apply my perspective to come up with a solution. Realising this may improve the way I approach problems and come up with answers. The challange to come up with a unique idea may be overcome in this way. By using unoriginal ideas to create something original.

(This also relates to what Roland Barthes was researching. The idea that original writing may never be achieved due to the material used being unoriginal.)