Coat_Hook_Concept

 Gary Hustwit's documentary: Objectified

My thoughts and ideas:

I wholeheartedly agree with Dieter Rams and the other speakers in this documentary. Frequently, I come across designs that only encompass some of what they should and can provide to their users. For example, in my home, I have radiator covers made of metal with sharp edges that are also difficult to disassemble, making them difficult to clean. It often feels like everything is driven solely by money (which most of the time it is) and that is unfortunate.

The concept of users having emotional and symbolic connections with objects, was something I had never deeply considered before, but it now makes a lot of sense to me. In addition, their concept of a sort of circular design. When something gets out of hand, they return to old concepts and remarket them. Previously, I had only really thought of this in terms of fashion trends, but it is indeed true for most everything.

~HOOK CONCEPTS~

Function: The main function, as we all know, should be to hold up a coat or jacket in some way shape or form. However, I also started thinking about its use in my life and realized that I don't really use coat hooks (cue my coat pile monstrosity...I'm joking, mostly). So, I think I'd like to go for something that can hang on a door or elsewhere. Someone mentioned that in class and I think it's a cool idea.

Form: I think I'd like to try and work screws into my design aesthetically... somehow. I've also latched onto the idea of making it look like and/or represent something; the main two ideas I've grown emotionally attached to are making it look like a rubber duck or a peacock.

User Experience: The main thing that comes to mind when I think of a negative user experience is the coat slipping off. Secondly, the fabric can sometimes become deformed or damaged on pointy hooks. I'd like to try my best to avoid those factors.

3d printability: My first set of concepts would require a lot of support material, and would take a long time to print due to having many details. At a small size, they may be better suited to hold purses (which would allow for their aesthetic qualities to be shown off) or hats. The second set of designs would require less support material, if any, and would be printed in separate parts.

Main Concepts

Dieter Rams- what makes a good design? Thoughts:

Aesthetic:  The main thing they have going for them is aesthetics. However, they are not something everyone would want, these designs cater more to a specific audience that likes unique/obnoxious pieces. It would be interesting to play with the transparency of the lightbulb when choosing a material; and to make it an actual light, maybe something semi-translatable with LEDs inside ( I feel like this could be a fire hazard though).

Understandable: They may be difficult to understand for someone first encountering them because they resemble wall decor more than something functional. 

More concepts

Dieter Rams- what makes a good design? Thoughts continued:

The four designs above have a different focus...

Innovative: I tried to think of a design that serves its intended function even better and in a way I had not seen before.

Environmentally friendly: These designs can be smaller(because they are less detailed) therefore using less materials. They are simple enough mechanisms that they can just be crafted with wood or metal and some screws, which are biodegradable, recyclable or reusable for the most part (Except for the accordion one, which has to be crafted from some bendy and strong material).

Packaging:

- With their simplistic design, there wouldn't have to be any special packaging constructed

- Smaller= less packaging, more shipped at the same time

Useful: I thought about the part in the documentary where they said they design for extremes. It had me thinking about coat hooks for wheelchair users or other people who may need access to lower hooks. When they are placed lower they become useless to people who use higher hooks. So, something like the accordion-looking coat hook could make it functional as both.

Understandable: I think anyone could understand their purpose as they don't resemble wall decor like the first set of designs.

Unobtrusive: These are all designed in such a way to be placed in a low-trafficked area or they can be or to be moved in a way that makes them stick out less.

Bonus:

Spike from MLP coat hook ( The coat would hang from the biggest spike on his head):

Studies of some pre-existing coat hooks:

Lastly, some rough sketches. The messy sketches below typically provide me with enough information to move forward. However, since someone else will be viewing them, I’ve also included more elaborate sketches (found above).