π·Document + Share
Documentation tells the story of why your product is interesting and gives others something to share further. In this section, designer and maker Andrew Sleigh joins us to share his knowledge.
Contents
In Distributed Design, your documentation may be the first thing someone sees when they encounter your project. If you want your work to be replicated, improved and adapted to new contexts, you need to consider how to invite people in; how to tell the story of your design; and what technical information you need to provide to help them distribute it.
In pandemic conditions, this work is both more urgent, and more challenging. With Andrew, we look at some ways to get started.
π· Inspiration
Who is Andrew Sleigh?
Andrew Sleigh is a designer and maker working in Brighton, UK. He is passionate about sharing your work; without sharing, your project just exists on a desk in your studio.
He advocates building the documentation process into the design process as a form of reflective design process.
His top tip: write notes, and take photos and videos as you work so you have all the assets you need when you want to share it.
Purpose
Documentation tells the story of why your product is interesting and gives others something to share further.
In traditional product or industrial design, the documentation is often left to others, for instance, the manufacturer. In Distributed Design, it is important that these assets are owned by the designer.
We want consumers/ citizens to choose Distributed Designs over mass-produced products. Great photography and clear and easy-to-follow instructions enhance this desirability.
The purpose of this section of the toolkit is
To understand why documentation is so important in Distributed Design
To learn some tools and tips for creating great documentation
To apply them to a project of your own
To Do
Read this section top to bottom first
Watch the three videos
Create your own documentation!
βActivity: Product Photography
Part 1
In groups research the key words in this Miro board. Be prepared to teach your peers about the terms.
Part 2
These three videos are designed to provide an introduction to product photography for absolute beginners. By experimenting with household items, we find ways of staging and lighting products to get pretty good results without spending any money.
There are also some ideas on how to take your lighting to the next level. Once you've mastered the basics, you'll be in a much better position to know where to invest money, or what you need to focus on to improve.
πΈ Platforms for sharing your work.
π Some nice documentation examples
Jacob Stanton This is a great example that shows technical development of a project prototype. GIFs (or short looping films) See the Jacob Stanton page above for great examples β scroll about β down the page
Mighty Yohm Soldering is Easy, a comic book that will teach anyone the basics of soldering:
How Ikeas assembly instructions chapion universal design End-user instructions (if youβre making a product for user assembly, customisation, or distributed manufacture)
Kickstarter Creator Handbook: Storytelling (integrating different media to communicate a design proposition)
Show your work manifesto This short, fun read is a manifesto for why you should document your work, and a non-technical guide on how.
Andrew's Plotter Project
This pen plotter was designed to be a replicable project, distributed through DIY maker communities. By documenting the project in a variety of ways, from technical (BOMs, 3D CAD files) to non-technical (videos, motivations) Andrew was able to realise more value from the project and have greater impact than working alone. Watch the video > here
π Making and Prototyping Resources for Designers
How can design students (in my case, product design students) make their work without access to university facilities such as workshops, fablabs, simulation suites, computer labs and technical support.
We want them to make artefacts to test assumptions, validate with users, and communicate ideas, but they now have very limited access to the facilities, teaching formats and technical support they would normally get.
Here is a list of useful resources, approaches, case studies, tools, methodologies, tutorials, software, etc. e.g.
Free (to students) software for design, prototyping, simulation and visualisation
Prototyping methodologies and links to tutorials, videos, online learning where these things are demonstrated - e.g. paper prototyping UIs
Creative use of media to share or test ideas
Case studies to show this being done well
Great examples of project documentation, lo-fi prototypes, design films etc.
Headings of topics to cover, or links to specific resources are all useful.
Software
2D CAD
Adobe Creative Cloud
Free for studentsβ own computers up to May 31st
https://helpx.adobe.com/enterprise/kb/covid-19-education-labs.html
**Inkscape - **A truly free equivalent to Adobe Illustrator (vector graphics editor)
**Affinity Designer **(vector drawing) Not free, but it is cheap - Update: Free for 90 days during pandemic
https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/designer/
**Gimp - **Photoshop equivalent
Ipad drawing sketching
**Procreate **- painting and creating visuals
Sketches - sketching app / diagrams etc
3D CAD
**Fusion 360 - **Free for students and staff (make sure you select the education licence)
https://www.autodesk.co.uk/products/fusion-360/students-teachers-educators
**Solidworks 2019 **(for staff and students) Windows only. If you are on Mac, we recommend Fusion. Note that this new licence does not have the simulation, so if you want to use that then keep the old version if you still have it and it works.
Fill out this form: https://www.solidworks.com/sw/education/SDL_form.html
SDK-ID (SDK = Student Design Kit) β 9SDK2019 (use this code in the form)
Select the latest version (2019-20)
You will be taken to a new page to download the media and sent an email with the serial number for the license. Note you should uninstall the previous version before installing the new one.
**Blender 2.8 - **Free, cross platform. Much better UI, less complex learning curve than previous versions
**Sketchup - **Free online cloud based CAD https://www.sketchup.com/plans-and-pricing#for-personal
Simulation tools
Simscale - free browser / cloud based simulation tool
Ansys student - free student access to a range of simulation tools
More free tools here
Good tools for rendering, visualisation
**Sketchfab - **https://sketchfab.com/
**Blender 2.8 - **https://www.blender.org/
Animation
**Animation Desk - **Ipad Animation https://www.kdanmobile.com/en/animation-desk
**Animaker - **https://www.animaker.com/
Pencil2D - https://www.pencil2d.org/
3D models
Github: Embeddable 3D models that a viewer can rotate, zoom, pan
https://help.github.com/en/github/managing-files-in-a-repository/3d-file-viewer
Animations and assemblies β show how parts interact or move
Lynda.com course: Animations and assemblies in Fusion360
https://www.lynda.com/Fusion-360-tutorials/Welcome/740362/755869-4.html
Tinkercad - Kidβs site but useful for basic electronics
2. Prototyping
Lo-fi 3D Prototyping and model making
Design modelling with card and hot glue
http://www.judepullen.com/designmodelling/techniques/
Product Tank β** Very good** YouTube videos that deal with Prototyping and Model Making
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWk6br5Ngkc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oee8VfjR1CE
Lottie Smith: https://www.lottiesmith.com/discovery-museum-fabricating-histor
Lo-fi prototyping YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrVST-V-y9OSfmeY0tf0_Tj12h8IITKd-
Materials
What materials are accessible to students outside a workshop?
Card and hot glue or masking tape
Scrap wood
Modelling foam (or waste insulation boards)
Modroc/plaster of paris
Sources
Skip diving for building waste
The Woodstore
Hobbycraft for lots of craft materials
Screwfix
Ebay for cheap electronics
UI / App / Website Prototyping
Figma - free for basic use
Figma tutorial videos:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQsVmhSa4X-G3lHlUtejzLA
http://balsamiq.com for wire frames and paper prototypes
InVison - useful for low and high fidelity prototyping - 1 free prototype on the free plan
Marvel - similar to InVision - 1 account and 1 prototype on the free plan
**Proto-io **
Service design prototyping
thisisservicedesigndoing.com/methods
Free guide from Frog Design
Interactive/ Electronics Prototyping
Arduino
Jeremy Blum Arduino Video tutorials - great series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCxzA9_kg6s&list=PLA567CE235D39FA84
Adafruit Guides
These guides will help you get started with the wonderful world of Arduino.
https://learn.adafruit.com/category/learn-arduino
Start here: https://learn.adafruit.com/ladyadas-learn-arduino-lesson-number-0
Microbit
The simplest way to prototype a simple device that responds to input
This is a great tutorial series:
https://learn.adafruit.com/micro-bit-lesson-1-using-the-built-in-sensors
Basic electronics/Microbit materials and suppliers
If you can spend a little money, itβs easy to get electronics prototyping materials online:
Microbit
Microbit authorised retailers: https://microbit.org/buy/?country=GB (I recommend Pimoroni). Or look for cheap ones on eBay β Β£7-15
Microbit plus some simple electronics in a kit
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/processor-microcontroller-development-kits/1877030 β Β£32
https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/micro-bit-complete-starter-kit β Β£38
https://www.kitronik.co.uk/5618-bbc-microbit-with-inventors-kit-and-accessories.html β Β£40
Microbit plus separate electronics kit (Microbit not included)
https://coolcomponents.co.uk/products/elecfreaks-tinker-kit-for-bbc-micro-bit-micro-bit-not-included β Β£38
https://www.kitronik.co.uk/c5603-inventors-kit-for-the-bbc-microbit.html β Β£25
Arduino Uno (clone, board only, Β£10)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ELEGOO-Board-ATmega328P-ATMEGA16U2-Cable/dp/B01EWOE0UU/
Arduino Uno Small Kit (clone, Β£14)
Arduino Uno Larger Kit (clone, Β£28, includes many more inputs and outputs)
Online simulators
Free (but I only recommend as a last resort, as your projects will be very limited (and itβs not as much fun!)
Microbit
Arduino
Video-prototyping
https://www.lilianarodriguez.co.uk/video
3. Communication
Diagrams, instructions, production drawings
Figma - free for basic use
https://www.draw.io/ - for making flowcharts and other diagrams (free)
Media for storytelling, communication
GIFs (or short looping films)
These are great examples that show key mechanisms β scroll about β down the page: http://www.jacobstanton.com/3d-printed-hand-screw-clamp/
Technical Journal / showing WiP
Jacob Stanton, 3D Printed Hand-Screw Clamp.
http://www.jacobstanton.com/3d-printed-hand-screw-clamp/
This whole page is a great example that shows technical development of a project prototype.
Comic Strips, graphic novel techniques
Soldering is Easy, a comic book that will teach anyone the basics of soldering:
https://mightyohm.com/blog/2011/04/soldering-is-easy-comic-book/
End-user instructions
(if youβre making a product for user assembly, customisation, or distributed manufacture)
How Ikeaβs Assembly Instructions Champion Universal Design: https://magenta.as/how-ikeas-assembly-instructions-champion-universal-design-fe2710ab5c36
Storytelling (integrating different media to communicate a design proposition)
Kickstarter Creator Handbook: https://www.kickstarter.com/help/handbook/your_story?ref=handbook_index
Design Short Films
Beryl Laserlight Core
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO4Hy23sezI
Aly Orady - _Tonal _(Consumer Fitness Product)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1RdHmefjmI
Studio Swine - _Hair Highway_
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvu1LtDrhHY
Sputniko - _Menstruation Machine _(Speculative Design Project)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnb-rdGbm6s
Product photography
Pack shots, in-situ, WIPβ¦
Documenting a Project:
https://www.instructables.com/lesson/Documenting-a-Project/
4. Inspiration
Studios and Designers for inspiration
The list below have been selected as they do a really good job of communicating their work online. They have also been chosen to show designers at various stages of their careers.
Product Designers - https://www.industrialfacility.co.uk/
Product Designers - https://www.studiodeform.com/
Product Designers - https://teenage.engineering/
Product Designers - http://konstantin-grcic.com/
Product Designers - http://mapprojectoffice.com/
Product and Makers - http://harrythaler.it/portfolio/pressed-bike/
Designer/makers - http://www.raw-edges.com/
Designer/maker - http://www.davidamar.co.uk/
Designer/makers - https://www.silostudio.net/
Designer/maker - https://www.maxfrommeld.com/
Designer/maker - http://maxlamb.org/
Designer/maker - http://www.studio-ilio.com/
Websites
Dezeen - https://www.dezeen.com/
Arch Daily - https://www.archdaily.com/
Designboom - https://www.designboom.com/
Core77 - https://www.core77.com/
Documentaries
Box of Broadcasts / Netflix playlists - https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand/playlists/255398
Podcasts
Material Matters
https://podcasts.apple.com/sa/podcast/material-matters-with-grant-gibson/id1450375359
Grant Gibson is editor of the Crafts Council magazine, so a strong materials and making slant.
**The Observatory - Design Observer **
https://designobserver.com/podcast-the-observatory.php
Very good; news and discussion based, with a graphic design slant.
99% Invisible - https://99percentinvisible.org/
Roman Mars and team talking with guest about design and architecture.
Email Newsletters / Blogs / RSS Feeds
The Prepared - βThe Prepared is a newsletter, podcast, and network for people working on real problems in the physical world.β - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Benedict Evans - βI write a weekly email newsletter about whatβs happening in tech that actually matters, and what it means. I pick out the news and ideas you donβt want to miss in all the noise, and give them context and analysis.β
Stratechery - βStratechery provides analysis of the strategy and business side of technology and media, and the impact of technology on society.β
Hacker Newsletter - βSince 2010, we've put out a weekly newsletter of the best articles on startups, technology, programming, and more. All links are curated by hand from Hacker News.β
Swissmiss - βSwissmiss is a design blog run by Tina Roth Eisenbergβ
Brain Pickings - βBrain Pickings has a free Sunday digest of the week's most interesting and inspiring articles across art, science, philosophy, creativity, children's books, and other strands of our search for truth, beauty, and meaning.β
Deb Chachra: Metafoundry - βI write about the intersection of technology and culture, from the shapes of medieval pies to appreciating the sociotechnical systems that underpin modern society. My newsletter, Metafoundry, was described in WIRED magazine as a βmust-follow feedβ and as βbeing plugged Oculus-style into her brain while she meditates on science and cultureβ.β
Crafts Council - several different newsletters.
Kneeling Bus - βDrew Austin lives in New York City. He writes about cities, technology, and culture: how physical and digital spaces are evolving together and how they interact.β
Kickstarter: The Creative Independent - βThe Creative Independent (TCI) is a growing resource of emotional and practical guidance for creative people, published ad-free by Kickstarter, a public-benefit corporation. We produce interviews, wisdom, and guides that illuminate the trials and tribulations of living a creative life, as told by working artistsβincluding writers, musicians, designers, visual artists, and others.β
UX Collective - βWe believe designers are thinkers as much as they are makers. Curated stories on UX, Visual & Product Design.β
Books
Richard Sennet: The Craftsman
Cory Doctorow: Makers
Exploratorium: The Art of Tinkering
Many more to add here
Videos/Youtubers
You can google these...
Tom Sachs 10 Bullets
Adam Savage
Simone Giertz
Laura Kampf
(early) Casey Neistat
Tutorials
**Blender **
Start with the doughnut tutorial - all of Blender Guruβs videos are excellent.
Processing / P5
**Daniel Shiffman - Coding Train - **HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Programming for artists, visual effects, also AI and some Python.
Amazing high-energy videos and great books too.
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