Exploring functional design

Use your journal for this exercise. Upload the last three entries of the journal, along with the answers of this exercise.

1. Pick two objects, one human-made, one natural.
2. Close your eyes and explore the object. Notice as much as possible about the object. Note: Don’t try to say what it is but what you perceive using adjectives
3. For each adjective, try to determine the possible function

Example:

Answer:

• How being blindfolded change how you experienced the objects?
• What differences were there in your experience between the human-made vs. the natural object?
• Do you think eyes always get in the way of being able to experience an object as though it were something new?

1. Now explore the natural object but using only your eyes.
2. Draw the natural object. Find a portion of the object that you want to study in detail.
3. Try to draw every detail you see

Answer:

• Did you become aware of anything about the object while drawing that you didn’t notice when you first looked at it?
• Does drawing the object help you see it differently?
• Does drawing the object help you forget what you think you already know about the object?