EVOLUTION OF THE OBJECT (JO)

Another day started with another task(3). This time we were required to do an in-depth study about the object, dive in the ocean of information and create a timeline.

Below is the information that we collected from various sources to dig deeper in the history of Paper clip using the 5W1H tool.

Miro link: here

After collecting the information and answering most of the questions, we created a horizontal timeline.

Below was the basic layout of the timeline.

This is the timeline that we created in the end.

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READINGS:

We saw a video which beautifully explained the evolution of design. It made me realize that design is not just about creating something for the future but also looking back in time in order to connect the past, present and the future. "Design shapes culture and we are also shaped by it" is one of the learnings that I derived from this project.

Not only this, there was also a presentation on how we as humans evolved with the increasing needs. It traced back the time when hunter gatherers used to make according to their own needs to today's man who create for someone else.

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LEARNING OUTCOME:

History has always fascinated me and as someone who loves to explore something's origin, this task was very exciting and full of learning. Who could know that a tiny paper clip whose mere purpose is to bind papers could also be a symbol of resistance? That, it could be the very basic need of the most important event in history, INDUSTRIALISATION?

The task reminded me of a very famous quote by Isaac Newton, "What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean" and all I wanna do is dive in that ocean.

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REFERENCES:

Miro link: here

Miro link: here

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CULMINATION:

(A) FACTORS FOR THE CHANGES:

Individual work:

• Preservation

• Charcoal based iron

• Iron Age

• Bessemer process

• Industrially produced steel

• Industrialization

• More paperwork

• exploring designs

• Convenience

• electroplating

• Advanced Technology

Group work:

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(C) REFLECTION AND INSIGHTS:

1. Revised list of factors:

• Preservation

• Charcoal based iron

• Iron Age

• Bessemer process

• Industrially produced steel

• Industrialization

• More paperwork

• Exploring designs

• Convenience

• Development in science

• Advanced Technology

• Efficiency

• Health and safety concerns

• Availability of raw materials

• Mass production

• Eco-friendly

• Management

• Affordability

2. Reflecting Writing

a) Design as a socio-cultural phenomenon:

A socio-cultural phenomena is created by the society and cultures unlike something that occurs naturally. Design has also become a part of this. Starting from a pin to a ship, today everything is about how its design affects people.

I believe that the changes that have occurred over a period of time leading to an object's design are a continuously evolving product of different people's lifestyles. For example, In the case of a paper clip, its design was changed several times in order to make it more convenient and user friendly. Each culture places distinct importance on various elements of design, just as they do in their community. Their perception about it is also different due to cultural influences.

We need to understand that "Design has to be woven around people and not people around design". The design of the binder clip would have been a failure if Baltzley had created a more complex form which did not fulfil any need.

Overall the way we design and present the content affects how people from different cultures process the information on it. It might be challenging because the influence is not always constant and thus builds a string need for cross-cultural awareness in design.

We cannot deny the fact that design is something far more pervasive and profound. Steve Jobs rightly said, “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” It might be the navigating point of our evolving societies.

b) Insights:

While studying the about the evolution of a simple paper clip, there were some interesting insights that I drew out.

(Miro link: here)

This whole task made me realize that as man transformed from being a hunter-gatherer to modern day Homo Sapiens, the need was also increasingly transforming. With every new invention, came a new possibility and thus the concept of 'possibilism' was becoming more certain.

I understood how major events in history like Industrial Revolution influenced people's lifestyle. There's a correlation between the lifestyles of people and the invention of new technology. Sometimes, the lifestyle of people led to the creation of the object due to its need and sometimes an unintentional invention changed the lifestyle of the people.

The mankind is still evolving and changing as a result of evolution in science and technology. What will happen in the next 30 or 50 years might not be known to us today but the bottom line is that "Change is coming".

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