Design

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 18 apr 2013

What is 'Millennial Generation' and what are their sensibilities, habits and values? What are the things that appeal to them when it comes to searching for their living spaces and environment in big cities? They are the young 20 something, well educated and well travelled, seeking work-life balance, highly independent and environmentally conscious. They look for well designed urban housing and green environment with expanded sidewalks, cafe's and informal interactive spaces. They appreciate art and culture that is not confined within the bounds of museums and institutions. Understanding them and incorporating their aspirations in the planning and design of urban and suburban spaces would be important for better future of the cities. As the 'Millenials' start to earn and spend, their influence would increase. Read on...

The Global and Mail: Why the cities of the future belong to the millennial generation
Author: Lisa Rochon

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 15 apr 2013

'Synthetic Biology' is the science of applying engineering principles to biological systems. The research in this area focuses on the design and construction of new biological parts and devices, or redesign of the existing ones. The possible applications include creation of organisms for cleaning biofuels, drug delivery and drug studies. Has the field reached the stage to mass produce biological components or a lot more research and experimentation is required? Read on...

Evolution News: Design by Any Other Name
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 14 apr 2013

'Office Design' is an important element of today's companies to provide an environment of creativity, productivity, focus and meaningful social interactions for their employees. The design can promote sense of belonging for employees and help create a company specific identity that indicates its brand and culture. Companies provide technology enabled flexibile workspaces and informal hangout zones to promote collaboration and togetherness for employees. It helps in attracting and retaining talent. Ergonomics plays an important role in office design and assists in building a comfortable environment to increase employee happiness. Read on...

The Economic Times: How design enhances work life within the offices of the future
Author: Shagufta Anurag

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 13 apr 2013

Zen principles of 'Shibumi' can provide designers a unique perspective while approaching their design projects. It encourages designers to achieve simplicity with extraordinary impact. The seven principles are- Koko (Austerity- include by necessity), Kanso (Simplicity- eliminate excessiveness), Shizen (Naturalness- incorporate nature), Yugen (Sublety- leave something to imagination), Fukinsei (Imperfection, Asymmetry- leave room for others to cocreate, open innovation), Datsuzoku (Break From Routine- creativity can emerge from broken pattern), Seijaku (Stillness, Tranquility- nothingness or meditation breaks). Read on...

Fast Company: 7 Design Principles, Inspired By Zen Wisdom
Author: Matthew E. May

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 13 apr 2013

'3D Technology' is transforming the way various industries like designing, manufacturing, entertainment, healthcare etc work. Its making the processes for designing and manufacturing products more versatile, less restrictive and less time consuming. Earlier stage has been the designing with 3D CAD and now with '3D Printing', prototyping and modeling has become efficient. The latest shift is towards the use of 3D printing in manufacturing and production. Workable products can be directly printed from a computer, thus reducing the chain of processes that are currently involved in manufacturing. This new method is termed as DDM (Direct Digital Manufacturing). Mass production would now evolve to 'Mass Customization'. With these technologies, the probability of a new phase of industrial revolution just got higher. Read on...

Design World: The Future of 3D Technology From This Day, Forward
Author: David Reis

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 11 apr 2013

Framework of successful methods and processes that the designers have used to find a solution in a particular system can also be used and replicated in other systems. It is important that the basic framework and concept is adapted to the new system and differences are properly incorporated. In the present example a design expert defines the design framework that he used to encourage responsible fish harvesting. The initial phase included understanding and exploring the system by finding out current issues and their remedies and also by using anthropology experts to observe the system. This lead to identification of 'transactions' between people as the important segment to consider and finally four mindset groups were obtained. The design principles were created considering these groups. After the initial prototyping a new idea emerged leading to a creation of a business accelerator with a group of entrepreneurs and existing fishing companies, each focused and targeting a specific issue or problem in the supply chain that was identified by research. At the execution phase, the critical challenge was 'people collaboration', bringing the conflicting views and interests on a same 'people platform'. This phase required convincing people not only to think about their narrow self interests but also about greater good for society as a whole. A little shift in thinking and behavior to converge individual interests with the interests of the society will go a long way in creating responsible businesses. Design principles can help achieve successful collaborations for common goods. Read on...

Core77: What the future of fish can teach us about designing systems, by Cheryl Dahle
Author: Cheryl Dahle

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 11 apr 2013

Design based methods and processes can be an important tool for better delivery of public services and improved strategic policy making. 'Design Thinking' is an integrated process of evolving better solutions by understanding and anticipating needs, involving users in the process, iterative testing with small scale and low cost prototypes to ascertain viability and finally providing solutions with reduced waste of resources. Incremental innovations are not enough and it is suggested that design thinking is essential to provide large scale personalized public services with affordabe cost. Read on...

the guardian: Design - much more than just an add-on for public services
Author: Bel Reed

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 08 apr 2013

Architects are again realizing the importance of wood in building structures due to steel's adverse effects on climate. Wood is a material that stores carbon throughout its life. But the challenge would be to make sure that the adoption of wood as a popular building material doesn't lead to deforestation and ecosystem degradation. Moreover fire resistance capabilities of such wooden buildings might be a cause of concern and proper measures have to be taken in this regard. Cost might be another hinderance in wood's widescale use as a building material. Read on...

Architect: Is Wood the New Steel?
Author: Blaine Brownell

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 31 mar 2013

How important is the process in design? For some designing is individual's creativity that doesn't need any process or framework. According to them, it just happens when the creative person sits to do his design work. But others consider design process and framework as an important tool to create their designs. A design expert defines five phases in his design process- 'Examine, Understand, Ideate, Experiment, Distill'. He explains that this framework or any other one that suits a particular designer, help them to process and think better. Moreover it also assists in communicating and explaining efficiently the happening of the design and the steps that went into it. Read on...

Fast Company: 7 Design Principles, Inspired By Zen Wisdom
Author: Matthew May

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 30 mar 2013

Professor John Wood of Goldsmiths, University of London, provides perspective on UCD (User Centered Design) and how the concept is not sufficient if the designers are concerned about the future of the world. Although UCD provide designers focus to cater to the needs of the user or consumer for whom the product is directed, in an individualized manner, but it also in some ways ignores the ecosystem or environment of which the user is part of. It misses the bigger picture. The expert suggests a new approach to designing that incorporates multiple aspects into the design process that includes user, his environment, etc. It is termed as 'metadesigning'. Read on...

Core77: Why user-centered design is not enough, by John Wood
Author: John Wood

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