Solving Problems

Here's this month's assignment...
Given ultimate authority and an unlimited budget, what design problem would you fix? No field is too big or too small. If it gets to you, do something about it! Tell us what the problem is, why it is a problem and HOW you would suggest we deal with it. Remember, don't just sit there, do something.

Why is parts on products not designed useing as little amount of sections to like up.As it would cut down on manufacture and assembly. They can make sport car shells which are one peice so why not production cars it would make for a stronger boby and could be easyly relaced with a different style. You could have a different colour car or style every day. A sports car for the weekend and an executive car for the week, all useing the same chasie and engine.

derek - <mccolgna < a t > indigo.ie> - ireland -

I am looking for information in do-it-yourself attitute in industrial design. It may be any industrial design products, projects, research or thesis. I can only find DIY sites for repairs, house building, fixinng etc. I'll focus on products which make the user involve in setting the product. like plug-in products, buy from market and set up yourself and use it. Furniture, computers, toys, or any products that you can built in garage as an hobby.

I'll be happy if anyone can give me hand.

Mine Ertan - <mertan < a t > msu.edu.tr> - Istanbul Turkey -

First of all,...there is a definite legibility
problem for this page.
My problem has been solved for I have searched
far and wide for funitures that would match my
new G3 Mackintosh, when I stumbled upon a stack-
able "Juxta drawers "from Umbra which happen to
come in the shade of blue I needed. Perfect for
modern space and co-ordinates with my Mac work
stations. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE DESIGNER
WHO SOUGHT THIS....

Mida - < wee_mida < a t > hotmail.com> - Student -

My current design project is to redesign packaging
for a computer printer with environmental concerns
being the focus. I have looked at reducing the
packaging to just two cardboard cutout ends as well
as a reusable inflatable tube? I am curently having
a block....any ideas as to materials or ideas that
I should have a think about would be truly appreciated
and credited, thanks

ashley - <ajedworthy < a t > hotmail.com> - Sydney, Australia -

Has anyone come across a 3D modeling package that will simulate the properties of a sheet of stiff paper?
I want to be able to simulate the way a plane of paper distorts when it is folded along a curved crease.
I don't suppose there is a program that does this specifically(????) but maybe there is a technique that has been developed on something like LightWave Modeler

Geoff - <tennant < a t > rie.net.au> - Melbourne Australia -

Hey is there anybody withginformation on product semantics ,it woulld be much appreciated .EBI

Ebrahim Chothia - <ebi_chothia < a t > hotmail.com> - Middlesbrogh, England -

Hey is there anybody withginformation on product semantics ,it woulld be much appreciated .EBI

Ebrahim Chothia - <ebi_chothia < a t > hotmail.com> - Middlesbrogh, England -

I am thinking of investing in a company that
seems to be doing good. The problem I am having
is deciding if is a smart investment. The balance
sheet states that their current assets are
$3,500,000, but their current liabilities are
$3,600,000. I feel this is a problem and I'm
trying to derive a solution to this problem.

Eli Warren - <emilex < a t > prodigy.net> - Honolulu, Hawaii -

Is it possible to pursue a career in the design
field without a formal education? What about
freelance or consulting?

I am interested in ID as a new career choice. My
current job is production supervisor at an awards
manufacturer. At university, I had some physics,
political science, and film courses, but alas no
degree came of it. My skill highlights include
CAD/CAM on CNC engravers and various fabrication
techniques needed for building recumbent bikes.
I have designs for a few things, in various stages
of completion.

M. Jensen Didulo - <kat_n_jenNOCANNEDHAM < a t > bc.sympatico.ca> - Vancouver, BC -

hello there,
i'm looking for some interesting stuff & some good visual examles in this case,
& i wonder if somebody:
1. knows where can i find it on the web
2. has somthing to say & wants to discuss about that.
please contact me as soon as possible:
shilla gabsu
e-mail: xpress < a t > inter.net.il

shilla - <xpress < a t > inter.net.il> - tel aviv, israel -

I wanted know why is there power strugles between groups in a high shools. I want to know why is popularity so important, or why it is not?
I am doing a project on human and teen age, behavours. I need some help despretly. in Canada.

Carol Valintine - <Sexy_heaven < a t > hotmail.com> - Toronto,Ontario,Canada -

I finish my graduate work in next January.
I make a electronic wood measuring device.
Can enybody know some other manufacturers or
good examples such devices? Please send e-mail.

MASSER OY/Finland/Nordic Europe
LAMBACHER/Austria/Middle Europe
PAV/Lichtestein/Middle Europe

Thanks.

Petri Kivela - <pkivela < a t > levi.urova.fi> - University of Lapland/Industrial Design Department/Rovaniemi, Finland -

I have a major design problem!!!
I have the talent, the skills, the initiative- but no design job
I will travel world wide to get one- just point me towards the lead
and I will excel. I also have good Mac!!
Tim Morton.RXUK < a t > eur.xerox.com

Tim J. Morton - <Tim Morton.RXUK < a t > EUR.Xerox.com> - London, UK -

Does anyone know an independent clay modeler
in Belgium, Holland or Germany who can do
modeling for the interior of a car?

Jurgen Oskamp - <achilles.associate < a t > tornado.be> - Belgium -

If anyone has suggestions on how to make a vehicle that travels over 50 ft. using the weight of water contained in a two liter bottle please e-mail me as soon as possible.

Ed - <colflegh < a t > udmercy.edu> - USA -

If anyone has suggestions on how to make a vehicle that travels over 50 ft. using the weight of water contained in a two liter bottle?

Ed - <colflegh < a t > udmercy.edu> - USA -

I would like someone to tell me how we can have
our 2004 olimpics with our current money deficis

Dennis Gonzalez - <coqui < a t > SJ3.caribe.net> - Puerto Rico (please mail me directly) -

I would like any info you guys have
on the phsycological effects
of colour and shape on human behavour.
It is for a project due next week 96-10-15.
Thanx

Rob - <mroach < a t > sunbeach.net> - Barbados -

For Pros and Students alike:

I cannot decide on a 3D package for my MAC. I've tried the old Alias Sketch, Scult, Infini-D 3, Form Z.
If I had to plunk down some money what would it be?
I definitly want something that ray-traces at superior speed, and the quality of images come close to Alias/Designer.
One feature I want is an intuitive interface that allowes for easy development of objects.
An animation feature is secondary, but most packages include them.
So what is mostly used in your design studio or school?
What do you recommend.

Yani - <axia < a t > ottawa.com> - Ottawa, Canada -

Problem
I am working on a design of some cooling unit.
One special part requires a superior isolating
quality (like a Dewar flask).
A. In what newsgroup could I ask questions about
scientific aspects (thermo-dynamics) of this
product.
B. In what newsgroup could I ask questions about
how this part can technically (mass) produced?

I wouldn't mind if you E-Mail me directly
Thanks,
Hans Strijbos

H.J. Strijbos - <sbos < a t > xs4all.nl> - Holland -

First of all, the labels for the entry fields in the form
into which I'm typing right now are below the fields, I hope
the Webmaster < a t > Core realises this and corrects it ...

Secondly, Can someone devise a way by which the cord in Headphones/
earphones doesn't lose continuity... You know I've gotta twist it in all
knds of directions to be able to hear the music in both ears ...

I know that cordless phones are a perfect solution , but you gotta
keep in mind the difference in cost between corded and cordless phones
and hence the difference in the no of phones of each kind out there
in the market/household..

Of course , if someone could come up with an equally cheap cordless
headphone ... That would be GREAT !!

Vinu Yamunan - <vinu < a t > nether.net> - Binghamton, NY -

Problem: my job situation

Why: my job is situated at a company that has yet to hire me

Solution: send me any leads, contacts, info, etc. on design jobs in LA

Conclusion: thanks

felix - <daiseng < a t > ix.netcom.com> - los angelees -

Oops, forgot the address.

David Ogle - <d.ogle < a t > student.qut.edu.au> - Australia -

Does anyone know of a dental chair that is lightwieght, and portable? It will need to be put into the back of cars, boats, helicopters, and carried by people. I have seen some 1970's U.S products but they are too bulky and far too expensive.

David Ogle - -

I just went to chuch today with my parents and as i
sitting down and looking at the alters and plat form
that the "fathers preach" on..I discover that it was
poorly design..and also ugly to look at..If more church
were to give some new looking features to these places of
faith like maybe giving a star treking look to..maybe
more intrest would apear? JUST AN IDEA

Eric

Eric Nathan Welch - <bwelch < a t > mint.net> - Maine -

I would like to see someone design a new city. A model
that future designers can work from and implement.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could somehow travel about
on one big giagantic conveyer belt. How about a solar
powered city!

I dare anyone (rich) to try!

Nadia Ghanny - <yu111746 < a t > yorku.ca> - Canada -

I WOULD FIX MEXICO'S DESIGN...
economics, politics, social, industrial,
MAYBE I WOULD ONLY LEFT AS IT IS THE CULTURAL FACT.

Ricardo Sosa - <rsm < a t > hp9000a1.uam.mx> - MEXICO -

The problem I would love solved is sustainable design
education. What's the problem? Well, few people
practice it, fewer teach it. I would have every design
program (not only industrial design) implement a special
section directed at teaching what our responsibilities to the
environment are and how we can contribute in positive manner.
I'm tired of the huge game "how much junk can you crank
out in a year".

leah - <leahl < a t > linknet.net> - southwestern LA -

A typical car is a 2000 lb object with a .040" skin enveloping it. A small encounter with a Hydrant can cost several hundred dollars to deal with. Who came up with this logic!? Let's see some cars that are like those Little Tyke toys. Big, blowmolded forms that bounce off things, kind of like the cabs in New York already do.

Matthew - <nexus9 < a t > quicklink.com> - Human Factors Industrial Design - NYC -

Alot of BS to comment. You have to understand
that Sathers is use to marketing to the 3-5 year
old age bracket and I think that is the problem
with understanding their thinking. I should know
, I work for them!!!!

tim - -

I would fix this lame topic.

eric - <ludlum < a t > core77.com> - brooklyn -

I'd like to know the way to built a electric generator
Its have to be all manual, no batteries or something
like that.Is it possible, thank you for your help.

adam duhamel - <adamd < a t > cam.org> - carignan -

I'd like to know the way to built a electric generator
Its have to be all manual, no batteries or something
like that.Is it possible, thank you for your help.

adam duhamel - <adamd < a t > cam.org> - -

Out of Office work.

Don't you think that working inside four walls is a
contradiction to the creative process we are
supposed to be a part of. The lack of
stimulation can't help too much to our problem
solving abilities. Even though there has been
talk of the home office, it is not really wide
spread.

Maybe we need to change people's attitudes to
work outside the office. Do we really need some-
one to look over out shoulder to make sure we are
working efficiently ?

A better mobile communications system would be
required. More powerful weatherproof portable
computers. Heaps of upcoming technology is moving
towards this. So now the hard part to change -
society.

Andrew Cheung - <acheung < a t > apple.tchk.com> - Hong Kong -

we need to know the best way to build a ping pong ball launcher with the smallest budget. it must be able to fly between 1 and 35 feet. help in any way will be appreciated

Aaron Von Lehmden - <arv0145 < a t > acs.tamu.edu> - college station -

Wouldn't it be great if you could save and
import all documents and graphics in one format
an all your graphics programs no matter
who's program, what computer brand,or get this-
even just within ADOBE/Aldus products, and be able to
work on them however you please-as a template or
as an alterable file?
When you pick up a pen don't you just want it to write?
Perhaps the solution must start with
Computer programmers that have design backgrounds,
or programmers that consider the user and the Total picture.

finedesign - Boston, MA -

The problem: tidal shifts
Why it is a problem: tides dictate how and when sea-faring commerce is conducted.
Solution to the problem: send left over cold-war nuclear missiles into orbit and blow up the moon. The debris would eventually spred evenly around the earth and tides would no longer be a problem.

Alex Koch - <roksta < a t > borzon.net.au> - middle of nowhere -

Not that this is that big of a problem- it still bugs me though- The eject lever on Syquest drives is so poorly placed.
I know that moving it would probably mean radically altering their technology but it has to be done. Could it be moved to the top of the disk
slot so when you eject a syquest the cartridge does not push your fingers off the lever?
Why not have it eject automatically like the zip? Since I don't have an unlimited budget or a zip drive I have made a little fix to my syquest on my own.
I have a piece of string from a cat food bag tied around the little lever, so I can pull the lever out without interfering with the exit of the cartridge.

Elizabeth - <eliza < a t > procomm.net> - Florida -