Second topic, impact of gender on design practice

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

In this post I will be discussing how gender impacts design practice. How gender influence aesthetic features of product and marketing decisions. 

In figure 1 we can see Dyson DC56H model developed by Dyson before DC58 in figure 2. Dyson decided to change few details in DC58 model, but the most noticeable change is cyclone redesign. Dyson decided to include more cyclones as well make them smaller, which as well gives more feminine feel. When looking and comparing both products, its clear that Dyson decided to make DC58 more elegant and more feminine. Other people might argue this is due to increased number of cyclones. In my opinion Dyson just decided to add feminine feel to product, because they know most majority of users are females. DC56H has masculine shape , all shapes compliment each other and make overal design look firm and strong. It looks like in DC58, Dyson decided to include aesthetic features to make product look more appealing to woman too as too man. When looking and comparing both products we can see that nothing much changed except cyclone design.

When looking and comparing both products, we can see

major redesign done by Dyson for cyclones and joining like between handle and dust tank. Joining line redesigned comparing to Dyson DC56H, its thinner and more elegant. While looking at Dyson DC56H, its easy to imagine that its more like holding something heavier and more masculine. 

When looking at adverts, specificity videos used on internet or television. There are many different adverts which might offend females or males. A good example of advert which might offend females is Dr. Pepper advert, about new diet coke which is only for men (The Highlight Reel ! 2011). The video montaged by Dr. Pepper to attract attention of man rather than woman, because diet coke marketed towards men. 

A good example of advert which is less sexiest and targeted towards woman is advert of diet Coca Cola (v CJ c 2009). In advert its shown how woman pinches mens lower part of back side and how its fun to see men confused. The best advert which is not sexiest and aimed towards men and woman is by Coca Cola (alitwotimes 2009). In advert it shown how people enjoy Coca Cola, both females and males. 

When creating adverts business knew more or less what reaction will be of viewers and they decided to do such adverts on purpose. For example, Dr. Pepper decided to advertise diet coke with slogan "Just for men". Dr. Pepper knew that females might get offended and it might be good for Dr. Pepper. Females who hate advert might go and buy it, just to prove that Dr. Pepper coke is not just for men.

By looking and comparing these three adverts its visible how they designed for specific gender or for both genders. In Dr. Pepper diet advert shown what most males like to watch. In advert for Diet Coca Cola main actor is woman who enjoys life inside house and outside with smile. In third video people enjoy their time with Coca Cola sign which represents bottle of Coca Cola.

Bibliography

Figure 1. Dyson (n.d) White Dyson DC56H. [Online image] Available from: http://www.dyson.co.uk/vacuum-cleaners/handheld/dc56h/dc56h.aspx [Accessed 28/13/2014]

Figure 2. Dyson (n.d) Grey with purple Dyson DC58. [Online image] Available from: http://www.dyson.co.uk/vacuum-cleaners/handheld/dc58/dc58-animal-complete.aspx [Accessed 28/13/2014]

The Highlight Reel ! (2011) Dr. Pepper 10 Commercial. [Online film] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c4iaetOC54 [Acessed 28/07/13]

v CJ c (2009) Diet Coke Advert - Coca Cola Commercial Alphabeat. [Online film] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d__vYP6srFI [Accessed 28/11/2014] 

alitwotimes (2009) Living with Coke ad 2009. [Online film] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvPTT-m5w1I [Accessed 28/11/2014]

First topic, reducing environment impact on manufacture and use of skateboards

Click on image to enlarge

Image by Abiholt via designabi.

When mentioned about skateboards many of us think just about use of skateboard. We also need need to think about; from where materials sourced, how they extracted for manufacture. This important, because it effect our environment. 

 I will explain what users and manufacturers could be doing to reduce environment impact. I will be discussing different strategies and materials bellow. To find more information about classic skateboard which as well known as generic, you can watch this Youtube video.

As you can see in whole system system map bellow:

Click on image to enlarge

We can see that after use skateboards end up in landfill but, yet some parts could upcycled or downcycled. Parts such as bearings which made out of steel and might as well contain nylon. Trucks of skateboards as well could recycled, because they made out of aluminium. Different nuts and bolts could upcycled or downcycled too, because they  made out of low grade steel in most cases. 

Usually users throw away skateboard and recyclable parts to landfill, because its easiest thing to do. To motivate users of skateboards recycle like me and maybe even you. Retailers could follow scheme developed by company called Satori Wheels. Satori Wheels developed  scheme called "ReLife". User bring their skateboard wheels to retailers which take part in this scheme and gets their wheels renewed. They use old wheels as core for new wheels so there is less impact on environment rather than manufacturing new wheels. Manufacturer make wheels out of polyurethane which is expensive and hard to recycle.

Materials causing less environment impact are available for skateboards components which are rarely used. For wheels instead of polyurethane, manufactures could use soy. Company called "Sector 9" is selling soy wheels for few years now and have great feedback about their product. For more information about Sector 9 soy wheels you can read newsletter by Biobased Solutions.

For grip tape manufacturer use five main materials, which are; paper, silicon carbide or aluminium oxide, acrylic resin, PVC film sheet and adhesive film. To replace grip tape which is hard to recycle due to adhesive,  users could be using different grip tape. For example users could be using grip tape made out of hemp which would help to reduce carbon footprint. Company called "Ramshackel" is already selling kit for making your own hemp skateboard grip tape. To get better understanding of how make your own grip tape with their kit, look at this video

.

Manufacturers could produce boards from different materials, instead of using adhesive and wood. Boards with adhesive and wood can only downcycled into particle board. Company called "Bureo" had kickstarter project. In this proejct which they were collecting money for manufacturing boards from nets which are not in use anymore.


Conclusion is that everything is already available to us and we can reduce carbon footprint. Different materials are available to which can used for skateboards but they might be more expensive. This is good investment, because its towards less polluted environment and better lives for us all.

About blog

This blog is part of an assessment for the DESP2075 Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Culture module at De Montfort University, Leicester.