Hi everyone, I’m new to the forums, currently a junior at SCAD, and I’m doing a bit of research for a project and I thought who better to ask than the pros The project is a traveling toolkit for designers, if anyone can answer these questions I would really appreciate it, should only take a minute! Thanks, hope to be around the forums in the future.
What do you think is the most valuable tool for Industrial design:
a. Hand Rendering tools, i.e. pencils, markers…
b. Modeling tools, i.e hand tools, xacto, hammers, etc.
c. Computer Tools 3D modeling
2. Is there a tool in particular that you forget a lot?
3. If you had a toolkit to travel with, would you prefer a bag (eg a backpack type) or hardcase?
a. hard
b. soft
4. What’s a downside of tool cases you own now?
5. What are 5 tools that you could not live without for designing.
although I suppose if these ‘5 tools’ are to go in a case, I would be better off saying: my notebook, my pencil, my calculator, my ruler, and my protractor…that is a bit better.
1- Tablet PC to sketch on, build 3D CAD and communicate
2- Pilot Razor Point and Sharpie.
3- Good bag to carry all your stuff…
4- Good small speaker set
What do you think is the most valuable tool for Industrial design:
a. Hand Rendering tools, i.e. pencils, markers…
b. Modeling tools, i.e hand tools, xacto, hammers, etc.
c. Computer Tools 3D modeling
I would actually go with (d) field assessment and ideation tools… Small high res Digital camera (invaluable for catching things on the street… wish my Black Berry had a camera to eliminate the need of lugging this around…) Calipers, Tape measurer, a small triangle (mine has a circle template and mm markings so its great) 8x6 spiral notebook, pens, mechanical pencil, sharpie… If I had it all (something I hear is not possible) I would just go with a small tablet PC for sketching and tech drawings.
2. Is there a tool in particular that you forget a lot? Camera
3. If you had a toolkit to travel with, would you prefer a bag (eg a backpack type) or hardcase?
b. soft (but with some padding because I am always slinging stuff around)
4. What’s a downside of tool cases you own now?
Either too big or too small, not enough medium size pockets (lots of big and small ones), not cool looking.
5. What are 5 tools that you could not live without for designing.
Small high res Digital camera (invaluable for catching things on the street… wish my Black Berry had a camera to eliminate the need of lugging this around…)
Calipers, Tape measurer, a small triangle (mine has a circle template and mm markings so its great)
8x6 spiral notebook,
pens, mechanical pencil, sharpie…
I also always carry a 6 inch ruler that has a huge relief sculpt of the character Rocko from the old cartoon Rocko’s Modern World… I’ve had it for about 12 years and I love that thing, makes me smile when I sketch.
Overall I agree with YO- more of a reporter’s fieldkit.
My fieldkit in a backpack or armbag (sometimes a pelican case)
camera, extra batteries, SD cards,
cellphone, international calling cards.
pen (doesn’t matter what kind, steal one from the hotel.)
paper- not needed- grab whatever is around.
(OK, maybe a right-in-the-rain-notebook, or a moleskine, or a bookfactory lab book.)
measuring stick, tape measure. (something to show scale in the photos)
pocketknife.
USB drive.
Good luck- self referential projects can be difficult, and there is a lot of highly-developed stuff out there. Also, designers are extremely picky and may not want a kit. Could you find a niche that few have explored before?
Here’s what I travel with… I consider it pretty ideal:
Tiny digital camera with video capability for ethnography (Canon SD20.)
Moleskine notebook for same.
Bic ballpoint pens (black.)
Sportcoat (for all the pockets!)
Tablet PC for formal design work, research, communication.
iGo universal charger.
iPod.
Mobile phone.
PDA.
Soft, small leather briefcase to hold it all.
I try and keep a small footprint when doing ethnography–I don’t like the idea of carrying around a bag. Minimum I’d keep my camera and PDA in my sportcoat. I usually carry my Moleskine. At the hotel I set up a more formal workspace surronding my TabletPC.
What do you think is the most valuable tool for Industrial design:
questions
2. Is there a tool in particular that you forget a lot?
throw-away cameras -digi cams are never ready when you need 'em
If you had a toolkit to travel with, would you prefer a bag (eg a backpack type) or hardcase?
b. soft backpack with hard case for tools, exterior pockets for cams and padding for a laptop
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What’s a downside of tool cases you own now?
you can’t put them on your back and ride a bicycle with them -they are for a discreet activity rather than a combination of activities -travel, research, design etc
5. What are 5 tools that you could not live without for designing.
sharpies
photoshop
bandsaw
french curve or sweep
internet
Thanks for the responses everyone! I really appreciate your feedback and I’ll take most of them…
“Black mock turtleneck
black eyeglasses (no prescription)
Latest issue of Dwell
Kleenex for that stray tear”
into consideration! I’ll let you all know how the final design turns out, if anyone else wants to add anything that would be great I’m not even close to making a design so I’m still very open to opinions
Good luck- self referential projects can be difficult, and there is a lot of highly-developed stuff out there. Also, designers are extremely picky and may not want a kit. Could you find a niche that few have explored before?
Luckily this project is more for practice in research, and human factors, but aiming it at a certain niche is probably a very good idea especially if the market is as crowded as you say. I see most people using tackle boxes to carry tools, so whatever the high developed stuff is, it’s not catching on, at least with students.
Luckily this project is more for practice in research, and human factors,
I think the innovation opportunities are in the unique behaviors of Industrial Designers. Don’t think of a way to carry all that stuff, think of a way to make that stuff help the design accomplish their unique goals.
Some examples:
When doing field research, I don’t want to stop to put something down. I want to be invisible–a fly on a wall–so I don’t want to be conspicuous. I want to quickly snap a photo, record a video or write or sketch without missing a beat–all while standing.
When I’m at work, but not at my desk (say in a meeting) I have a different set of needs. I don’t want to fumble around grabbing random stuff off my desk to take the the meeting–I want a ready-kit. I also don’t want to be conspicuous–no one takes bags into meetings.
When I’m “hoteling” at a desk that isn’t mine (either at another office, or literally in a hotel) I want an instant desktop, with everything I need ready to go, and ready to pack up in a moments notice.
Each of those three scenarios has unique and breakthrough design opportunities written all over them. Embrace the niche!
What do you think is the most valuable tool for Industrial design:
pen and paper
Is there a tool in particular that you forget a lot? Nope, I am anally retentive and keep a list which I check off when I travel.
If you had a toolkit to travel with, would you prefer a bag (eg a backpack type) or hardcase?
Either a backpack or a wheeled case (to save my poor back)
What’s a downside of tool cases you own now?
They are never designed for my unque needs. The cool ones never have wheels - my kit is heavy.
What are 5 tools that you could not live without for designing.
Laptop,pens paper, pantone books,internet access.
Just to add: I can’t live without the crackberry, 3G data card for laptop or skype - my business partner rarely travels with me - these tools enable us to continue working as a team even when we are on opposite sides of the world.
My entire kit to run my business is really very small, I can work out of a travel bag for weeks on end,no problem. I rarely print things off anymore (save the trees!), so I dont have loads of paper files to store. I back up on dvd instead. I am moving onto a boat to live (and work) the end of the month - to do this would be impossible without modern wireless and digital technology.
Now it’s no problem at all.
What do you think is the most valuable tool for Industrial design:
a. Hand Rendering tools, i.e. pencils, markers…
b. Modeling tools, i.e hand tools, xacto, hammers, etc.
c. Computer Tools 3D modeling
A tablet has been useful here. Also, a moleskin, pens, mech pencil, file folders, ipod 40 gig video (hard disk/music) and metal ruler with both inch and mm.
2. Is there a tool in particular that you forget a lot?
extra battery
If you had a toolkit to travel with, would you prefer a bag (eg a backpack type) or hardcase?
b. soft
4. What’s a downside of tool cases you own now?
I have to use a separate soft case for my tablet. It would be nice if it could be used stand-alone with extra pockets and a shoulder sling.
What are 5 tools that you could not live without for designing.
Moleskin, pen/pencil, Tablet PC, camera and questions.
11x14 sketchbook (paper is somewhere between regular cartridge paper and smooth marker stuff)
2H and HB 0.5mm mechanical pencils
one 0.3 Pigma micron
one dark blue (dunno the width) rapidograph, regular black india ink
old beat-up aluminum parker ballpoint pen that I love to death
occasionally a few markers (not so much unless I know I’m going to be presenting the stuff)
30-60-90 triangle, about 6-8 inches (I like clear acrylic much better than a metal ruler, and the extra material means you can hold the edge touching the page, at an angle, without rubbing it all over the pencil or india ink)
Electronica:
laptop
Logitech V400 cordless dual-laser etc etc mouse (brand new, got it for half price cause it was mislabeled )
The project is a traveling toolkit for designers, if anyone can answer these questions I would really appreciate it, should only take a minute! Thanks, hope to be around the forums in the future.
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