Category: Design comment
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The Computer Desk Revolutionised
Before starting my BDes Design Internship, I was tasked with writing about my favourite design object. The Computer Desk Revolutionised In the world of modern design and creation, one object has always stood out to me. Daily, I find myself amazed at the functionality, form, and utility of an object designed by carpenter Herwig Danzer […]
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Designing communities for belonging
For years, I’ve been exploring ways to design with and for communities at the Open University (OU). A recent event showcasing student community projects highlighted a growing interest among staff and students in building and supporting these initiatives. Being part of a community or communities instils a sense of belonging. Belonging, a sense of connectedness […]
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Design for Planet Festival 2024
This article was written on 15th November 2024 On 6th November, I had the privilege of attending the Design Council’s Design for Planet Festival 2024 in Manchester, where designers, studios, and businesses came together with the aim of working towards a net-zero future. The event was opened by inspiring leaders including Andy Burnham, Mayor of […]
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Touching just makes sense: A New META Dimension of touch to enrich the user experience.
The Tactile Transformation of Digital Design (Lisa Bowers) For some time now, I have been designing experiences for users to extend and augment their senses within the realm of digital design. As designers, our focus often lies on visual aesthetics and intuitive interactions with products, services systems or place. However, there’s a powerful sense that […]
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Designing the Future: Creativity, Innovation, and Real-World Problem Solving at the Open University
We asked a few of our students about their design inspirations. Our student, Julia Davis, is completing her BSc in Engineering, specialising in environment and sustainability. Below is her blog on her what it means to do design at OU. Designing the Future: Creativity, Innovation, and Real-World Problem Solving at the Open University Design at […]
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Reflections on Yuval Noah Harari’s London Talk: Storytelling, Technology, and AI Ethics
A few weeks ago, I had a ticket to see Yuval Noah Harari, one of my favourite authors, live on stage in London. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it on the day due to feeling unwell. Thankfully, I received Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI, the book that Harari was promoting […]
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Reclaiming Narratives: The paradox of the camera as a tool for representation and agency
Recently, I co-edited a book that explores the role of the camera in times of crisis in Africa. Within this broad coverage, my contribution focuses on how cameras are used as tools for visual narratives, representation and agency during crises. Interestingly, some weeks ago, I saw the theme for this year’s black history month ‘reclaiming […]
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The Evolution of Barbie: A Design Icon Through the Decades by Tara Duncan
We asked a few of our students about their design inspirations. Our first student is Tara Duncan, who is studying for the OU Open Degree and has just started the third level design module T317, after successfully completing U101 and T217. She explored the design and style icon Barbie. —- The Evolution of Barbie: A […]
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Report on visit to V&A Museum of Childhood
On the 12th October 2024, seven U101 24B students (including two children) met up at the V&A Museum of Childhood at Bethnal Green in East London. The museum itself showcases a mix of displays of artefacts relating to childhood from a diversity of cultures around the world. Some artefacts date back to the 16th Century. […]
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1974 and all that……
I am writing this blog on the 1st October 2024. For me, this is an odd sort of anniversary, for it was on 1st October 1974 (i.e. exactly 50 years ago) that I formally joined the Open University. I know there are others still present in our Design Group who preceded me (Robin Roy, Dave […]