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| Dr. Barbara Martinson, Dr. Beth E. Koch, Dr. Sauman Chu University of Minnesota School of Design Graduate Commencement, May 2012. |
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| University of Minnesota Duluth, Graphic Design faculty and MFA graduate students at commencement, May 2012. |
winter sun
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Long awaited commencements
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Observations and conjecture
What CAN'T the computer do. I sense something big is happening. People are relegating KNOWING ABOUT things to the computer. These days bigger and more complex processes, mathematical calculations, and massive amounts of data can be handled simply by pushing a button to execute a series of commands. We don't need to know how or understand why it happens.
Here's a great example: a music professor at Stanford (where else?) is turning iPads and mobile devices into instruments. He says, you don't need to know HOW to play an instrument with his aps, you just MAKE the music by tapping and interacting with the devices. (Who would want to spend years of their life learning to master the piano classics when jamming and creating something new is so much fun?)
Well that's it. My big observation. People won't need to know a thing. People will just DO and CREATE. Computers can't do or create by themselves.
What do you imagine the implications of that are?
Here's a great example: a music professor at Stanford (where else?) is turning iPads and mobile devices into instruments. He says, you don't need to know HOW to play an instrument with his aps, you just MAKE the music by tapping and interacting with the devices. (Who would want to spend years of their life learning to master the piano classics when jamming and creating something new is so much fun?)
Well that's it. My big observation. People won't need to know a thing. People will just DO and CREATE. Computers can't do or create by themselves.
What do you imagine the implications of that are?
Sunday, January 1, 2012
My results have been amazing...
January 1, 2012-- What do people really think about your product, packaging, or brand? I'm looking for a few good companies to join in my research about design and emotion and share in the benefits. Can you really afford not to know what people think? email bekoch@umn.edu for details
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Can design change the weather?
Ok, ok, Mother Nature--Please stop dropping your little love notes from the sky. They've piled up into four feet -- no, I'm serious -- four feet of frozen little nothings that together make a huge something, that prevents me from moving or playing or even working without trying to move them first.
I'm certain that someone's designed some shiny new pile mover that I've neglected to buy or perhaps it's just that I've neglected to pray enough for sunshine to melt the masses. Perhaps.
Perhaps the earth needs us all to design a change in the weather through a change in our actions. This year I've started turning off the water when I'm brushing my teeth. 365 x 2 gallons of water saved. Small. Powerful.
Oh yes, did I mention that I believe design is action?
I'm certain that someone's designed some shiny new pile mover that I've neglected to buy or perhaps it's just that I've neglected to pray enough for sunshine to melt the masses. Perhaps.
Perhaps the earth needs us all to design a change in the weather through a change in our actions. This year I've started turning off the water when I'm brushing my teeth. 365 x 2 gallons of water saved. Small. Powerful.
Oh yes, did I mention that I believe design is action?
Friday, April 9, 2010
Macro-Design
I have a problem. Interestingly, I think Design Thinking can solve it! I came to discover both the problem and the solution while thinking about another problem (of course).
I read with interest the proposal for a a new program in the college [edited to protect those involved]. This is the parallel of my EXACT difficulty of getting my "interdisciplinary" dissertation focused enough while producing a thorough record of the literature:
"Currently, graduate students wishing to specialize in [the major] must do so by taking a concentration of courses or a minor in Human Factors, and majoring in some other related discipline such as Psychology, Cognitive Science, Industrial Engineering, Kinesiology, or Design. While this works for some students, many have expressed great dissatisfaction with this arrangement, finding that all of these programs require too much concentration in areas outside their interest with insufficient time to focus on their real interest of [_].
A number of graduate students have become discouraged for all the reasons above, and failed to complete their degrees, while other perspective graduate students with a primary interest in [_] have failed to come to the [school], even when full financial support was offered, because of the lack of a [_] degree program (see letter below). Others choose other Universities in the region that do have [_] programs..."
I keep thinking about the connection of "design" with "humans" as being the bigger picture of my (dissertation) investigation.
The foregoing quote exemplifies that there is indeed a greater need than my own. It seems that ALL design areas need a section of courses that might be defined as "Human Studies in Design (and Design Research?)". Design needs to clearly differentiate all of the human psychosocial components (ie development, cognitive psychology, social, emotional, experiential design, learning, aesthetics, motivation, trust, etc) [in addition to all the specialties of practice].
Design has yet to establish its own body of knowledge in regard to its related disciplines. What I mean is: How do all of these specialty areas, e.g. psychology, etc., apply in a "design" framework--how should designers consider these factors and what do they mean to designers? Were a selection of courses developed, these could be incorporated into existing programs or begin to be substituted as a minor emphasis college-wide. Or, these issues could formulate a fantastic opportunity for an applied research lab, where students could get credit for participating in conducting design research studies.
I read with interest the proposal for a a new program in the college [edited to protect those involved]. This is the parallel of my EXACT difficulty of getting my "interdisciplinary" dissertation focused enough while producing a thorough record of the literature:
"Currently, graduate students wishing to specialize in [the major] must do so by taking a concentration of courses or a minor in Human Factors, and majoring in some other related discipline such as Psychology, Cognitive Science, Industrial Engineering, Kinesiology, or Design. While this works for some students, many have expressed great dissatisfaction with this arrangement, finding that all of these programs require too much concentration in areas outside their interest with insufficient time to focus on their real interest of [_].
A number of graduate students have become discouraged for all the reasons above, and failed to complete their degrees, while other perspective graduate students with a primary interest in [_] have failed to come to the [school], even when full financial support was offered, because of the lack of a [_] degree program (see letter below). Others choose other Universities in the region that do have [_] programs..."
I keep thinking about the connection of "design" with "humans" as being the bigger picture of my (dissertation) investigation.
The foregoing quote exemplifies that there is indeed a greater need than my own. It seems that ALL design areas need a section of courses that might be defined as "Human Studies in Design (and Design Research?)". Design needs to clearly differentiate all of the human psychosocial components (ie development, cognitive psychology, social, emotional, experiential design, learning, aesthetics, motivation, trust, etc) [in addition to all the specialties of practice].
Design has yet to establish its own body of knowledge in regard to its related disciplines. What I mean is: How do all of these specialty areas, e.g. psychology, etc., apply in a "design" framework--how should designers consider these factors and what do they mean to designers? Were a selection of courses developed, these could be incorporated into existing programs or begin to be substituted as a minor emphasis college-wide. Or, these issues could formulate a fantastic opportunity for an applied research lab, where students could get credit for participating in conducting design research studies.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Here Comes Peter Cottontail!
Not much time left to order the best Easter eggs you have ever imagined, all gift boxed! My sister Jayne, the Master Chocolatier at J. Evelyn Confections makes them all by hand. You WILL NOT be disappointed--I promise! Order online at http://www.jevelynconfections.com/!
Drowning in the sea of nothing
There's a serious problem in the world today. We all know it and we shrug it off. It is so important to spend time thinking. It seems like you are doing nothing, but man is your brain firing when you are doing nothing. The big problems are resolved with elegant simple solutions.
Simplicity doesn't happen instantly, it evolves as a matter of design editing. Simple solutions are carefully distilled down to the bare essence--and they are powerful.
I spent some time in conversation with a dear friend this weekend. As I struggle with my dissertation, beginning again and again, he reminds me that I will laugh when I stumble upon the essence, the solution. And it will be ...simple. and I ...still... flail around in the sea and scream into the wind, "I need to know NOW!!!" But the seas and the winds howl and obscure my small protest.
I keep waiting for my life to come together, you know, for the problems to resolve and the sun to come out and for happiness to light on my shoulder like a little songbird. It seems that thinkers and dreamers are destined to flail against the world in trying to make it a better place. Note the difference between forcing and creating--one crushes everything good into a box, the other springs joyfully from the confines of the box and spreads to others.
If you have an idea about something that needs a solution, please leave a post here. thnx.
Simplicity doesn't happen instantly, it evolves as a matter of design editing. Simple solutions are carefully distilled down to the bare essence--and they are powerful.
I spent some time in conversation with a dear friend this weekend. As I struggle with my dissertation, beginning again and again, he reminds me that I will laugh when I stumble upon the essence, the solution. And it will be ...simple. and I ...still... flail around in the sea and scream into the wind, "I need to know NOW!!!" But the seas and the winds howl and obscure my small protest.
I keep waiting for my life to come together, you know, for the problems to resolve and the sun to come out and for happiness to light on my shoulder like a little songbird. It seems that thinkers and dreamers are destined to flail against the world in trying to make it a better place. Note the difference between forcing and creating--one crushes everything good into a box, the other springs joyfully from the confines of the box and spreads to others.
If you have an idea about something that needs a solution, please leave a post here. thnx.
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