Fusion 360 — Make A Ring with Patterns and unfold — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — Make A Ring with Patterns and unfold — Ask LarsLive
Make A Ring with Patterns and unfold is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/AhqZitmIwNw (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam https://ift.tt/2MWWZhh https://ift.tt/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Fusion 360 — NO MORE CAM Tool Marks — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — NO MORE CAM Tool Marks — Ask LarsLive
NO MORE CAM Tool Marks is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/AhqZitmIwNw (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam https://ift.tt/2MWWZhh https://ift.tt/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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How Industrial Designers Use Solidworks & Keyshot! | School Projects Year Part 3 by Jimmy Huynh

How Industrial Designers Use Solidworks & Keyshot! | School Projects Year Part 3
How Industrial Designers Use Soildworks & Keyshot! School Projects Year Part 3 Check out Year 1 and 2 Skills! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LSw68SSBeY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd6WZ_RQ-oU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjoLpNqf9So https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orv6ksx8aGc 3rd Year Skills - Part 1 and 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgMuZahOm9o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jivva-jEPRw My Portfolio https://ift.tt/2u820vK My Instagram https://ift.tt/2W4L31h Get The Pens Here: https://amzn.to/2GAA8sv https://amzn.to/2EgUg0c Metal Peg Board: https://amzn.to/2VyBBUj Peg Board Hooks: https://amzn.to/2SH85cY My Main Camera https://amzn.to/2GPaMrC My Microphones https://amzn.to/2Sqbcpv https://amzn.to/2CHqOjl https://amzn.to/2BQQXdM Microphone Setup Parts https://amzn.to/2ViLBAS https://amzn.to/2BQRix4 https://amzn.to/2VjFZq0 My Lights https://amzn.to/2Aq1DjE

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Fusion 360 — HELP FIX Black sketch plane — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — HELP FIX Black sketch plane — Ask LarsLive
HELP FIX Black sketch plane is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/AhqZitmIwNw (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam https://ift.tt/2MWWZhh https://ift.tt/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Fusion 360 — How To Design Mold Slider — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — How To Design Mold Slider — Ask LarsLive
How To Design Mold Slider is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/AhqZitmIwNw (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam https://ift.tt/2MWWZhh https://ift.tt/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Solutions for Dealing With Designer's Guilt by Rain Noe

This world has a lot of objects, many of them unnecessary. Since industrial designers play a key role in bringing objects into the world, it's natural for the conscientious among us to feel bad about it.

"I have to admit, I often feel guilty while designing," writes G.L., a product designer based in Sweden, on the Core77 Boards.

"There's no other reason why my design should exist in the sea of products other than [because] people would still buy it and the company makes more money, which goes to my salary. I know that people need products, but there's a difference between need and want another Yeezy. Especially when I go to the landfill, I felt disgusted with myself and our consumptive behavior.

"[A typical design brief from my company] says 'Make it look cool.' In other words, make consumers impulse-buy it. Toxic CMF, unrepairable, new model every year, et cetera.

"I'm thinking that in the future our [grandchildren] will think about how stupid their grandfather's generation was.

"Do you ever feel the same? Opinion? Advice?"

First off, G.L., congratulations: At the very least, you're not a psychopath. Psychopaths feel neither guilt nor remorse. They blame others for their own harmful actions, rationalize them, or deny them outright. So the fact that you feel guilt is a positive thing and demonstrates that you have empathy, an important quality for a designer.

Now the question is, what to do about this guilt? As someone who spent at least a dozen years of his ID career helping to create countless plastic objects and suffered guilt similar to yours, I wanted to share some thoughts on a plan of action--as well as organize the thoughtful, excellent advice of the many working designers who sounded off to answer G.L's query.

A Plan of Attack for Dealing With Designer's Guilt

1. Get Information.

Wipe the guilt away for a moment, and go into cold analytical mode. Look the ugliness in the face. What is the actual damage you're doing? What are the known environmental consequences of the products you help create? How long does the typical consumer hang on to those products? How easy or difficult is it to recycle those products?

A good designer is an informed designer, and you really need to do your own research--the deeper the better--to guide any future changes you'd like to make. For instance, you might encounter the fact that the U.S. only recycles 9% of its plastic. Further digging might lead you to discover that some types of plastic get recycled more than others; PET bottles and jars had a recycling rate of 29.9% in 2015, while HDPE bottles were at 30.3%. Why is this? What changes could be made? Assuming you work with plastics, would you like to equalize the percentages of the less-recycled plastics, or focus on further increasing the ones with the higher rates? Where do you stand the best chance of making a difference?

2. Identify Your Limitations

That plastics example above assumes that you are a designer with some influence in what your company makes. But what if you're a junior designer with little ability to enact change? Can you propose new initiatives to your boss? Do you have the patience to climb the ladder to reach a position where you can make changes?

Take stock of your overall situation. Are you a single student about to graduate, who can move and take a job anywhere that they like? Are you an established designer with mouths to feed? Are you tied to a particular geographical region?

Most design projects start with limitations that you must create within. Your life, which is essentially a design project, is no different. Your limitations must be clearly defined, so that you can figure out where you can and can't make changes.

3. Understand Your Powers

A percentage of designers bring shitty, wasteful products into the world. Is this any worse than the programmers of reality TV? Fracking? Predatory lending? Producing weed killers that contain known carcinogens?

No. Design, as a profession, is benevolent. Corporate interests are not. Industrial design is by definition tied to mass manufacturing, which requires deep-pocketed corporations for funding, and that's where things can get shitty. But as a designer you will ultimately be attached to the part of that corporation where you have at least some say over what gets made, how it gets made or what goes into it.

If you decide the organization you're working for is untenable, or that you will never reach a position of influence within it, then you have some tough choices to make. But you're in a better position than most to make them. Your design training is to research, then use creativity to solve problems. If your problem is your employer, then you can design your way into a different situation.

4. Working Your Way Towards Guilt-Free (or Reduced-Guilt) Design

This is obviously going to vary wildly depending on what you've answered to some of the questions above, and where you're at in life. I'll break this down into some of the basic situations any given designer might find themselves in.

A. Get Any Job You Can

This is for the fresh-out-of-school industrial designer, particularly if you're under intense financial pressure to start clocking paychecks immediately. Let's say you want to work for an environmentally-conscious company designing your dream category of objects, but you can't get that job. And the only job you can get is for a soul-less corporation making disposable plastic junk.

Take the job. Show up, do the work, and learn every single goddamn thing you can about design. Yes, you are part of the problem now, but the idea is that you're playing the long game, quietly gaining design experience, learning how corporate cogs fit together, building up your portfolio and connections. And when you're ready, you're going to look for a new job, or create your own, where you can put your skills into service for something you believe in.

B. Stay at Your Job and Change What's Within Your Power

For the designer who can't switch jobs due to circumstance, or who must occasionally design things they'd rather not. Maryland-based designer Scott Snider hasn't indicated that he's in that position, but he does offer good advice on what you can do, within any design organization, that jives with good juju. Here's his response to G.L.'s guilt-driven query:

"Hang in there, I've struggled with that guilt as well (I consider it remorse, not guilt) but like you, I live in this same consumer-driven, materialistic, cost-abundant society so we don't turn down many projects. Because that's the case, I strive to accomplish the following every time I design something:

"1. I research the user extensively. If I can make sure the product fulfills the users' wants and needs and solves their frustrations, they will be more likely to use and keep it longer. If we can delay that dump into the landfill by even a year, we've done something good.

"2. I make every attempt to minimize waste, both in the packaging, the instructions, any accessories, etc. I designed a zero-waste package for a series of products that launched way back in 2005, they're still on the shelves today! Imagine how many pounds of waste we've saved.

"3. I make every attempt to insist on recycling icon communication for every part of a product. We know it doesn't take much: A simple piece of artwork, 20 minutes of CAD time and identification of contrasting part texture to make it stand out. I'm one of the few people who still disassemble products to recycle any part possible. I'm sure there are at least a few others like me out there, so every part that gets recycled is a small step in the right direction.

"We're not helpless in this cause to do better, and there are plenty of small steps we can take to instill a culture of responsibility in the companies we run or are employed within."

Netherlands-based designer Ralph Zoontjens has similar thoughts: "I do cut down on impacting the environment by researching new materials, processes and constructions, and taking note of what I buy and consume personally," he writes. "But mostly I like to focus on creating value for people and developing business."

C. Switch to a Different Design Job/Field

One option is to "switch to working for a company that makes durable goods," writes veteran industrial designer Michael DiTullo. "A co-worker of mine at frog [who is a] crazy talented designer took a job at a renewable resource company. The physical devices he is working are not sexy at all, but I bet he sleeps well."

Another option: "Get out of [physical] design," DiTullo continues. "I've heard a few digital designers say they went into app work and UX because they didn't want to make physical waste." However, DiTullo points out that this isn't guilt-free either: "As an app designer, your job is to keep people using their device as long as possible, which still wastes energy."

California-based industrial designer Francisco Hernandez acknowledges the choice a lot of conflicted designers have to make: "Which feels 'better' in terms of contributing to society? Easy, if I design a prosthetic or something that prevents somebody from getting hurt or sick, it would make me feel much better than designing a shiny black box. However, I definitely enjoy designing black boxes and those get the most clicks.

"I remember seeing a video of deaf patients being able to hear for the first time or kids getting their first prosthetic. Now that would be worthwhile and gratifying."

D. Focus on a Field with More Influence Than Design

"I think the [designer's guilt question] has kept most of us up at least a few nights," DiTullo writes. "In those moments I think about quitting design all together and working as a policy aide to a political candidate or something. If you want to change the world that seems like a more direct route."

Along those lines, the ballsiest example I've found is that of Austrian designer Bernhard Lenger. On a visit to the International Criminal Court--the worldwide body that prosecutes for genocide, war crimes, threats of aggression and crimes against humanity--Lenger asked if they prosecute environmental crimes. Their answer was "No."

"That's very strange," Lenger recounted during 2017 Dutch Design Week. "One of the biggest courts in the world doesn't deal with [something that] can kill a lot of people but just takes a longer time." Lenger then researched the history of the ICC, and discovered that ecocide--the extreme destruction of the environment--was actually one of the crimes listed on the ICC's original charter. However, it was removed due to lobbying from four countries (thanks U.S.A, Great Britain, France and Holland! Assholes).

Lenger subsequently tracked down Polly Higgins, the lawyer who drafted the ecocide rules, and partnered with her to create This is Ecocide, "a public awareness campaign about introducing ecocide as the fifth crime against peace." (Sadly, Higgins died earlier this year, age 50, of terminal cancer. She did not live to see ecocide being taken up by the ICC.)

Lenger's thinking in attacking the problem from a legal angle is smart. If the CEO of a company making environmentally-harmful products had any fear of being prosecuted by the same body that prosecutes for war crimes, it's safe to say shit would change pretty fast.

E. Start Your Own Business

Call your own shots. Starting your own firm can take years and isn't easy, but we have ample stories of people who pulled it off. Michael DiTullo's story of how he built up to his own design firm will probably be the example closest to the average Core77 reader's heart. Dan Hellman and Eric Chang took a crazy long journey to get their furniture design/build firm off of the ground. Tom Sullivan started a bamboo products company by undergoing one of the most tumultuous career paths we've ever heard. Austin Roberts couldn't find a job, so designed a useful new tool and launched a new company to manufacture it exactly the way he wanted it.

All of their stories and backgrounds are very different, but the common thread among all of them is hard work, patience, smart decisions--and, of course, the freedom to make things the way you want, or not make them at all.

F. Volunteer for Design That Matters

If none of the options above are currently possible for you, there's still another way to use your design skills to better the planet. It's sort of an industrial design version of volunteering at a soup kitchen, with far more impact than doling out single meals.

Tim Prestero is the CEO and founder of Design That Matters, an NGO with an unassailable cause: Designing and producing medical devices that save babies' lives in developing nations. To conduct their work, Prestero relies on ID-savvy volunteers--so far 850 and counting--to help them complete various design tasks from afar. The impact of your work here would literally affect millions.

"We are setting the standard for best practice in design for poor communities in the developing world," DTM writes. "We are pushing the limits of technology in rapid prototyping and low-volume manufacturing to bring great design to communities currently missed by commercial markets. Our goal is to deliver a better quality of service, and a better quality of life, to millions of beneficiaries through products designed for our partner social enterprises."

If you've got time and design skills to spare, contact Design That Matters here.

G. Stop Trying to be Famous

I don't want to call people out by name, but I think we've all seen a lot of young designers on Instagram trying to make a name for themselves--and to me, they seem more interested in seeking fame than in producing good or useful design.

To them I would say: Stop designing bottle openers, bookends, paperweights, salt-and-pepper shakers and goofy chairs. The world has enough of that shit. If you want to get famous on Instagram, get abs and learn to play the violin while riding a unicycle and spouting extreme political beliefs--I guarantee you'll get your 15 minutes.

Designers should realize that good design is often invisible, its heroes unsung. "We were acquired three years ago by a Fortune 300 company," writes Core77-er IAB, who goes on to explain:

"The other business units make treatment devices. We make prevention devices. Their videos typically highlight a single person whose life was saved by the device. If we do our job right, the patient never becomes a patient. Our video shows nothing."

___________

Thanks, as always, to the many Core77 Discussion Boards contributors who made this post possible!

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Fusion 360 — Go Pro Mount on Iron Man's Helmet — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — Go Pro Mount on Iron Man's Helmet — Ask LarsLive
Go Pro Mount on Iron Man's Helmet is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/AhqZitmIwNw (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam https://ift.tt/2MWWZhh https://ift.tt/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Fusion 360 — 3D Sweep for Bike Frame — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — 3D Sweep for Bike Frame — Ask LarsLive
3D Sweep for Bike Frame is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/AhqZitmIwNw (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Fusion 360 — Create A (Maybe) Hyperboloid — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — Create A (Maybe) Hyperboloid — Ask LarsLive
Create A (Maybe) Hyperboloid is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/AhqZitmIwNw (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Ask LarsLive Fusion 360 — Sunday Edition — Episode 8 by Lars Christensen

Ask LarsLive Fusion 360 — Sunday Edition — Episode 8
The Ask LarsLive is my way of trying to providing as much value as possible. I take the questions from my email inbox and trying to answer them the best I can. (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) Download 3D Gauge: https://a360.co/2nFlkx4 My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Fusion 360 — Abandon Bottom Up Completly — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — Abandon Bottom Up Completly — Ask LarsLive
Abandon Bottom Up Completly is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/z9dKseFjIvE (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Fusion 360 — BROKEN OBJ File for 3D Printing — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — BROKEN OBJ File for 3D Printing — Ask LarsLive
BROKEN OBJ File for 3D Printing is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/z9dKseFjIvE (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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A Design Strategist's "Six Rules of Thumb for Design Research" by Rain Noe

With nearly two decades of experience in a variety of industrial design sub-fields, Justin Coble understands the importance of research. "Throughout my years of working in consumer-centered design, my favorite part of the process has been getting out in the world to learn and understand how people live their lives," he writes. "I have always been fascinated with the stories, the differences in people, and most of all the moments of pure emotion that come out when you truly connect with someone."

"Learning about people, their problems and absorbing all the unarticulated insights are key to Design Research. And while personally fulfilling, it is also a critical element of product development, regardless of whether digital or physical. As I have learned and applied design research principles across various industries in my career, I have created 6 rules of thumb that I always introduce with my new teams so I thought it would be great to share here too."

Photo by William Iven on Unsplash

Justin has graciously allowed us to reprint his 6 Rules of Thumb for Design Research here. Enjoy!

____________________

Photo by Helloquence on Unsplash

Frame the Challenge

Assumptions are the number one cause of failure in consumer centered work. Teams come in thinking they know what the consumer wants, and a lot of times have a hard time breaking away from these assumptions. I believe that these assumptions need to be put on the table before going into the field. Without putting them out there, everyone will walk into the study with their own agendas, which will greatly jeopardize the study. Before beginning any research, I organize teams to first frame the challenge. We gather knowledge, challenge our assumptions and agree on an ambition. We then design the proper research paths to gather the best possible insights.

Build Rapport with the Interviewee

It is very important to make the interviewee feel as comfortable as possible and create a sense of trust with the interviewer. Remember multiple strangers have just entered their home or inserted themselves into their day-to-day lives. You have to immediately make them feel comfortable. Start by explaining why you are there, but then move on to making them forget you are a stranger. Complement them on their home or ask about their family. Find a hook that is going to get them talking. This doesn't have to be about the topic you are researching. Once talking they will continue to open up. Along with making them feel comfortable, prompt people to tell stories. Stories are more than facts. They reveal how people arrange and approach the world. Ask the respondent to give an example or share a personal experience, rather than sticking to scripted questions.

While telling their stories, never correct their answers. It doesn't matter if they are technically inaccurate because they are behaving as if it is accurate. Correcting them, can cause embarrassment, or confusion which may derail the interview or cause them to shut down.

Listen with Your Eyes, Nose, Ears…& Heart

Empathy is NOT listening to the consumer. This is the biggest misconception in consumer research. Empathy is being able to feel how consumers feels. Some of the best insights are discovered through observation of the environment which is gathered through what you see, smell, and overall feel for the consumer. When leading research teams, I always make sure the team is recording their initial observations when walking into a consumer's environment.

Don't just listen to what people say, but also observe what they do, how they live, observe their environment, and how they may behave. Look for barriers and workarounds. Probe thoroughly to understand what and how obstacles prevent success. Look for systems or processes that they may have invented to get the job done? These could be physical repurposed objects or an abandonment and restructuring of a task or process. Take note of the compensating behavior and how it effects their lives.

Prototypes Are a Discussion Tool

Consumers cannot always articulate what they are thinking. Bringing physical objects to the study for them to react to is a great way to help them connect the dot. This could be image cards, competitor product, or prototypes to drive conversation. A simple image sort can tell you a lot about how a person views the world around them. You can have them categorize food imagery to have a conversation around segmentations, attitudes towards products, and so on. The imagery gives them something to react to allowing them to structure their thoughts. Product prototypes can also be pushed to the extremes to stimulate discussion with the consumer to get great learning on the boundaries and challenges. These are NOT intended for design feedback but rather quickly identify benefits that resonated more or less with consumers and use their reactions to develop insights.

Synthesize Soon & Often

We have all done an amazing consumer study, only to get together at a workshop and have all your respondents feedback start to run together. You can't remember the key insights of what Joe said over Rachel, and Sean. You remember big "Aha's" but you have forgotten the nuances. I always put synthesis tools together and insist that teams do immediate downloads. Spending 30 minutes at a coffee shop after every interview and doing a group synthesis is key to pulling out meaningful insights. The team records their initial thoughts, their key "aha's" and the slight environmental nuances they saw to make sure the information is not lost. This is also a perfect opportunity to make sure the team is aligned. After a long day of research everything will start to run together. Waiting until the research workshop is not the time to be sorting out your thoughts.

Spread the Empathy

The best consumer studies are ones that energize teams to spread what they have learned with each other and through the business. Immersing a cross-functional team in observations is absolutely key to building wide spread empathy. Too many times design and innovation programs have fallen victim to a small group going out into the field and talking with consumers and then coming back to "debrief" the team. The issue with this is that the whole team has not developed empathy for the consumer. This means that they haven't created true consumer connections therefor they can't truly feel the struggles of the consumer. This can lead to debate over research findings, questioning of methodologies, and disengagement. I encourage all functions, R&D, Sales, Marketing, Finance, etc…, to attend the research, broadening their perspective on the challenge and bringing different functional expertise to the insight translation process. This not only makes the insights more robust, it also strengthens team engagement by giving everyone ownership over the insights. The intention is to get them immersed into the consumer's need, but also to enable them to spread that empathy into the organization. Nothing is more exciting than witnessing a finance team member get very excited over what they saw in the field and telling consumer stories. It blows their mind!

I hope this inspires you to get out and to engage with and learn from your consumers. As I always love to learn, please share your favorite techniques of gathering true empathetic insight.

_______________

Need more pro tips? Check out Core77's discussion boards, which are chock full of practical information from working industrial designers.

Thanks Justin!

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Fusion 360 — Where To Do 3D Printing Tolerances — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — Where To Do 3D Printing Tolerances — Ask LarsLive
Where To Do 3D Printing Tolerances is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/z9dKseFjIvE (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Bringing design ideas to life with marker pens by product designer maker

New video by product designer maker: Bringing design ideas to life with marker pens https://youtu.be/71r8nG3Udv8

What is the Optimal Amount of Choice Designers Should Provide? by Christie Nicholson

Designers create choices.

The working designers among you often create multiple options that non-designers must make a decision on. You present concept sketches or renderings for a client to choose between. If you work for a consumer goods company, you may be designing multiple iterations of a product, and consumers are meant to pick one of them to purchase. Tropicana offers 15 variations of orange juice; Colgate offers 47 types of toothpaste. In modern society, choice seemingly provides freedom, individualism, and ultimately, happiness.

But in actuality, having too many choices can leave people with a taste in their mouths worse than, well, orange juice and toothpaste.

End Chooser

Having choices can backfire. The 14th Century French philosopher Jean Buridan likened this to a donkey that is equally hungry and thirsty, placed equidistant from a pile of hay and a pail of water. Unable to make a rational decision to choose between the two, he stands there until he expires from lack of both. Studies show that the same paralysis hits us when faced with an overwhelming amount of choice, or having to choose between complex items, or choice that has no stark differentiators, such as the donkey's hay and water.

Still, we stubbornly demand the option to choose. Your client's never going to be happy with just one rendering and no options, and customers may not want Object X if it only comes in red. So what is it that really goes on inside people's heads?

A fintech startup working on a marketplace for credit cards witnessed an interesting phenomenon during their early research. They developed a platform that guides customers to the credit card that's "perfect" for them, by matching them with their interests or spending habits. And customers love it--up until it is time to make their final choice.

In early testing, experimental users loved it when the application automatically narrowed their choice from 25 cards to eight cards, and then to five cards. But when the app provided the single best match, customers became suddenly anxious. "Is there only one?" they remarked. "Could you show me a few more like this?" So they reverted back to wanting more choice, but as they said, "Not too much!" We are left with a paradox, where users were both attracted to and repelled by choice. And it begs the question: What is the optimal amount of choice and why?

We're in a Jam

Consider a study from Columbia University psychologist Sheena Iyengar. Supermarket shoppers encountered two tasting stations of jam, one that had 24 flavors, the other six. While the 24-flavor station attracted the most shoppers, the smaller selection led to more sales – 30 percent of shoppers purchased jams from the smaller stand. In contrast, the 24-flavor station had a conversion rate of only three percent. Many studies since have proven that when you narrow choice, sales increase. But it is a bit more complicated that this simple conclusion, and Iyengar's study received debate in recent years.

There is a more nuanced point: Iyengar's study also found that shoppers were happier with their purchase when they had to decide from six options. Those who bought from the 24 choices walked away anxious, most likely because they had many more reference points with which to compare.

It turns out that when you increase the number of variations, you increase the potential that your customer will regret their choice.

This idea was further explained by behavioral economists Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman, who discovered that people regretted loss from an action they made, but did not regret a similar loss from inaction. This links back to the donkey and its inaction. We sometimes fall back on a decision to not choose, to do nothing at all, because we are terrified of regret, also known as loss aversion.

Live Three or Die Hard

Too much or too little choice leave users uncomfortable; the right amount of choice makes it easier for them to decide--and, importantly for brands, has them feeling great about their choice, post-decision. So what is the "Goldilocks" amount of choice? Studies show that we are able to choose effectively from no more than five options at any one time--and that three may be the magic number.

Why three? Because three provides a middle, and there is a lot of research supporting the idea that the middle item is usually the one that people pick.

When people are asked to pick a number between two numbers, they generally tend to choose a number close to the middle. And when faced with the choice of four bathroom stalls, people choose the middle two twice as often as they choose one of the outer two. Or if you offer people the choice of three highlighters, they will more than likely choose the middle one. In a row of three chairs, people will more often than not choose the middle one. And similarly in business, customers will tend to choose the mid-priced item. This is why e-commerce sites often have three pricing options—it provides a stronger prediction of what consumers will choose, and, you guessed it, it's the middle option that is most often bought. Our attraction to the middle affects our daily decisions, our purchases, our driving routes and all kinds of other actions we make somewhat unconsciously. The phenomenon is well known to social psychologists and it has a name: The 'center stage effect.'

Enter the Center

This center stage effect happens for physical as well as social reasons. First, physiologically, we are programmed to look at the middle first. Even when scanning a busy scene, a room, a painting, a computer screen, and presumably an industrial design rendering, we first focus on the middle or center before moving around the edges of that scene. So we tend to have a bias for the middle right away simply because we notice it more and attend to it for longer, and because of this we are already biased to choose the middle or center item.

Second, we have social norms that bias us to view the center as better. In one study, students were asked where they would sit in order for the professor to notice them and they picked center and up front. They were also asked where they would sit if they wanted to go unnoticed—and they picked the edges. We seemingly just know this, but in fact we have become socialized to think this way. Company leaders sit in the middle, at the head of a table. On teams, the last picks are usually from the edges of the group, and the least popular products are positioned on the top or bottom shelf, further out of reach. Of course there are functional reasons for this positioning, but the point is that it influences our decisions elsewhere, as in when we choose products or services.

Nothing about this process is rational; it is purely about balancing the irrational nature of decisions and respecting your clients' or customers' emotions.

This last point is important for all businesses to get right. Successful entrepreneurs tend to notice the things that others miss. They care about how their users feel at every step of the purchase journey. You never want to leave a customer or client feeling uncomfortable, baffled or anxious. Ultimately, understanding the irrational motivation of your end users, whoever they are, can go a long way towards determining the success of your product.

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Fusion 360 — How To Label Wall Cross Section — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — How To Label Wall Cross Section — Ask LarsLive
How To Label Wall Cross Section is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/z9dKseFjIvE (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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"#RealDesignersShip Is Not a Put-Down. It Is an Aspiration" by Michael DiTullo

According to IDSA "Industrial designers not only focus on the appearance of a product, but also on how it functions, is manufactured and ultimately the value and experience it provides for users." But when I look on social media, this is not what I see representing industrial design. What I see is largely speculative work in the form of beautiful sketches, renderings, and sometimes models that present an idealized version of specific moments in the process.

I am just as guilty—maybe more so—of this creep toward idealization. Back in 2017 I decided to post a non-project related concept sketch a day for an entire year. I took notice of how a fun sketch of a product took up the same visual real estate as a photo of a production product on my phone. Often the sketch would get double or triple the amount of likes while only taking 45 minutes to create while the photo of the production product might have taken 12 – 24 months of that designer's time. I realized I wasn't exactly helping the cause.

Images clockwise from upper left: Jason Mayden for Super Heroic, Peter Ragonetti for Earos, Don Lehman for Starry, John Sahs for Nissan, Chris Addamick for Martin Bratturd, Natalie Candrian for Alps & Meters

This brought me back to 2008 when I interviewed at frog design. I didn't bring a PowerPoint or many sketches. What I brought was a duffel bag full of production products and factory prototypes. One of the creative directors who interviewed me, Howard Nuk (Howard went on to be VP of design at Ammunition and Samsung and is one of the founders of the PALM reboot) looked at my table full of products, smiled and said, "real designers ship". I never forgot that simple summation of what our focus is as industrial designers.

Howard and I shared the same mentor at frog, Executive Creative Director Paul Bradley, who sadly passed away much too young. Paul would often say "there are no innovative ideas, only innovative products". I interpreted the meaning behind both Paul and Howard's comments as the primary focus for industrial designers should be getting ideas to production. If we have to do a fancy sketch or hot render to get us one step closer to production or get us the project then so be it, but let's keep our eye on the prize.

We want to make things for people to use and enjoy.

Images clockwise from upper left: Dom Montante and David Green for Umbra, Zane Hoekstra for Nutrilite, Gabe Grant for Hemper Co, Walmen Dumaliang for Ember, Ricky Biddle with Eliott Copier and Stefaan Van Den Broecke for Sharpie, Joshua Hoffeld for Shot Tracker

With this in mind I started the #realdesignersship hashtag and @real_designers_ship account on Instagram. #realdesignersship is not meant to be a put down or even a challenge—it can take a long time to ship your first product. I'm hoping that it will be seen as a goal and an aspiration. It is a sign that you have unlocked a new level, that you have achieved something that deserves to be celebrated.

Images clockwise from upper left: Sam Hagger for Cole & Mason, James Connors for Kitchenaid, Farberware and Reo while at Lifetime Brands, Gabriel Jose Puerto for Purdy, Tim Swiss for Zeiss, Michael DiTullo and Ken Chae for Polk, Quan Li for Cook Duo

I'm not expecting designers to stop posting hot sketches and renderings. I plan to keep posting them as well. This isn't meant to be an admonishment of having fun with speculative work, flexing some skills, exploring new product types, or showing off some process deliverables. The purpose of #realdesignersship is to offer a balance to the conversation and a sightline to a destination. So keep having fun and keep posting. When something you worked on does make it through the process all the way to production, be sure to post and tag it with #realdesignersship!

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Fusion 360 — CAM Selection for Toothed Belt — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — CAM Selection for Toothed Belt — Ask LarsLive
CAM Selection for Toothed Belt is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/z9dKseFjIvE (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Fusion 360 — How To BETTER Constrain Hole Location — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — How To BETTER Constrain Hole Location — Ask LarsLive
How To BETTER Constrain Hole Location is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/z9dKseFjIvE (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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New Book: The ABC's of Latin American Industrial Design by Alexandra Alexa

Finally, a comprehensive study of Latin American design is available in one book. Pablo Diaz's recently released ABC del Diseño Industrial Latinoamericano (ABC's of Latin American Industrial Design) gathers the best design projects from over 14 countries in one, easy-to-read and picture-filled tome perfect for students and anyone seeking inspiration.

The idea for the book first occurred to Diaz in 2011, when he realized the story of Latin American design still wasn't being communicated adequately. "Although Argentina has a huge and cosmopolitan editorial culture, in terms of Latin American industrial design there is very little, and what there is is concentrated in pure and simple theory," he explains. "I felt the need to get rid of all that academicism and that centrality that is published on industrial design in the United States, Europe, and Japan, mainly."

In 620 pages, the book presents one hundred emblematic projects, across transportation design, furniture, household appliances, and more. The approachable study covers the first decades of the 20th Century to the present day. You'll find big names like Lina Bo Bardi, but plenty of lesser-known figures as well. "I include the heroes, but we put them on an equal footing with other designers, design offices, products, and companies, surely more anonymous, but vital."

ABC del Diseño Industrial Latinoamericano is currently available through Caligrama Editorial. The first edition is only available in Spanish, but fingers-crossed an English translation will be coming soon.

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Ask LarsLive Fusion 360 — Sunday Edition — Episode 7 by Lars Christensen

Ask LarsLive Fusion 360 — Sunday Edition — Episode 7
The Ask LarsLive is my way of trying to providing as much value as possible. I take the questions from my email inbox and trying to answer them the best I can. (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) Download 3D Gauge: https://a360.co/2nFlkx4 My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Fusion 360 — Align Edges and Faces on a Pyramid — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — Align Edges and Faces on a Pyramid — Ask LarsLive
Align Edges and Faces on a Pyramid is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/TnJrfqBzpww (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Industrial Design Form Study!! 3rd Year Design School Part 2 by Jimmy Huynh

Industrial Design Form Study!! 3rd Year Design School Part 2
Industrial design Form Study Class, Third Year skills. Check out Year 1 and 2 Skills! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LSw68SSBeY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd6WZ_RQ-oU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjoLpNqf9So https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orv6ksx8aGc 3rd Year Skills - Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgMuZahOm9o My Portfolio http://bit.ly/2K4wGb6 My Instagram http://bit.ly/2MBlBjT Get The Pens Here: https://amzn.to/2GAA8sv https://amzn.to/2EgUg0c Metal Peg Board: https://amzn.to/2VyBBUj Peg Board Hooks: https://amzn.to/2SH85cY My Main Camera https://amzn.to/2GPaMrC My Microphones https://amzn.to/2Sqbcpv https://amzn.to/2CHqOjl https://amzn.to/2BQQXdM Microphone Setup Parts https://amzn.to/2ViLBAS https://amzn.to/2BQRix4 https://amzn.to/2VjFZq0 My Lights https://amzn.to/2Aq1DjE

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Fusion 360 — How To Mill Thin Walls — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — How To Mill Thin Walls — Ask LarsLive
How To Mill Thin Walls is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/TnJrfqBzpww (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Fusion 360 — A BETTER Light Reflector — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — A BETTER Light Reflector — Ask LarsLive
A BETTER Light Reflector is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/TnJrfqBzpww (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Here Are Your Consumer Technology Honorees for the 2019 Core77 Design Awards by Core77 Design Awards

Consumer Technology: A consumer software or hardware product for the home or personal use that is screen-based, tech-enabled, or Internet-connected.

This year's Consumer Technology team was led by Jordan Nollman, CEO & Principal at Sprout Studios. Joining him on the panel were Bill Valls, designer, Matt Day, Industrial Designer at Google[x], Michel Alvarez, Global Design Manager at Drinkfinity, and Monique Chatterjee, Principal Industrial Designer at Xbox.

The Core77 Design Awards Consumer Technology Honorees are as follows:

Consumer Technology Award Honorees

• 
  Winner

  Xbox Adaptive Controller

  By Microsoft Device Design Team

• 
  Runner Up

  Helm

  By NewDealDesign

• 
  Runner Up

  Oculus Go

  By AR/VR Industrial Design Team

• 
  Notable

  Nighthawk AX12

  By Enlisted Design

• 
  Notable

  Nest Thermostat E

  By Nest Labs Inc

• 
  Notable

  Google Chromecast

  By Google LLC

• 
  Notable

  Google Home Hub

  By Google LLC

• 
  Notable

  Phyn Plus

  By Ritual Creative

• 
  Student Winner

  hplus. Personal health monitoring devices

  By Matt Canham

• 
  Student Runner Up

  Xenophone: Bone-Conductive Speaker Mask

  By Manako Tamura

• 
  Student Notable

  Nurture 

  By Yin Wang

• 
  Student Notable

  VOICE BLOX

  By Yang Gao

• 
  Student Notable

  Relief - alleviating noise sensitivity 

  By James Skeggs

Jury Team Announcement Video

In this video, the Consumer Technology jury team goes into more detail about this year's honorees:

A massive thank you from everyone at Core77 for the stellar efforts of our judges, and the incredible work submitted by our honorees!

Check out all the 2019 awards winners here

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Fusion 360 — Using Mill as a Lathe — Ask LarsLive by Lars Christensen

Fusion 360 — Using Mill as a Lathe — Ask LarsLive
Using Mill as a Lathe is a snippet of Sunday's Ask LarsLive. You Can watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/TnJrfqBzpww (The advice in my videos are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my wife, children or employer) My email: lars.christensen@autodesk.com Want to learn more about Fusion 360? Check out this link: http://autode.sk/2rXApL2 Free CNC Handbook: http://bit.ly/2c2ivku LET'S CONNECT: https://twitter.com/Lars_cadcam http://bit.ly/2J3nP9k http://bit.ly/2jSQ3I3 MY BLOG, cadcamstuff.com: http://cadcamstuff.com/

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Here Are Your Home & Living Honorees for the 2019 Core77 Design Awards by Core77 Design Awards

Home & Living: Consumer products or services designed for personal use in a domestic setting. Examples include appliances, electronics, home product / security systems, home accessories, domestic consumer tech products, etc.

This year's Home & Living team was led by Jordan Nollman, CEO & Principal at Sprout Studios. Joining him on the panel were Bill Valls, designer, Matt Day, Industrial Designer at Google[x], Michel Alvarez, Global Design Manager at Drinkfinity, and Monique Chatterjee, Principal Industrial Designer at Xbox.

The Core77 Design Awards Home & Living Honorees are as follows:

Home & Living Award Honorees

• 
  Winner

  Wellness Kitchen

  By GE Appliances Industrial Design

• 
  Runner Up

  Yield - Worm Composting Bin

  By Maven Design

• 
  Runner Up

  Scout - Become Transparent Before We See Through You

  By Uniform

• 
  Notable

  PR/01

  By Fabien Nauroy

• 
  Notable

  Chef'n Countertop Sprouter

  By Chef'n

• 
  Notable

  Lodge Cast Iron Cook-It-All

  By Lodge Cast Iron

• 
  Notable

  June Oven

  By Ammunition

• 
  Student Winner

  Cable Cradle

  By Andrew Ferrier

• 
  Student Runner Up

  AMBA

  By George Croissant

• 
  Student Runner Up

  Pencil Sharpener

  By Di Lu

• 
  Student Notable

   SPLIT Lamp

  By Russel Budnik

• 
  Student Notable

  VOICE BLOX

  By Yang Gao

• 
  Student Notable

  Pickle Nest

  By Meizhu Li

• 
  Student Notable

  Trace

  By Jiahuan Cheng

• 
  Student Notable

  Fit Lighting

  By Clay Simonson

Jury Team Announcement Video

In this video, the Home & Living jury team goes into more detail about this year's honorees:

A massive thank you from everyone at Core77 for the stellar efforts of our judges, and the incredible work submitted by our honorees!

Check out all the 2019 awards winners here

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