| What
the hell is going on? Combine six industrial designers in a room full
of Steelcase furniture, with HP/Compaq computers, PTC's latest software,
some 19" Wacom tablets and a fridge full of Red Bull... what
do you get? A powerful think-tank with more think juice than many
American Cities. This year the date was November 13th with unveiling
ceremony the following Saturday night. "I'll take a Red Bull
and EFFEN Vodka thank you..." What a great event and after ceremony
it was too. The event is closed and the party was a blast!
Who
Participated: "This year we chose mid to senior level
designers to participate in 48tofly. A sort of competition amongst
comrades yes but more like a think tank at the same time."
Says Bart Brejcha Design-engine.com
The Challenge: All designers work under the gun.
To get things done in record time is the standard request. “We
need it yesterday”. Designers hear it all the time. For this
event pushing designers to simply come up with multiple iterations
or designs in a short time frame is simply not challenging enough.
This time we wanted the participants to set up their own challenge
by brainstorming what an 18 year old will be like in 20 years. The
constants created their own problem by learning who this person
is (or will be) and creating words that would describe that hypothetical
person. What would they be like and consequently what products would
they require to be cool, trendy and accepted in their year of 2023?
Secondly, the contestants would have to describe with words a product
description of their designs for the futuristic 18 year old. Thirdly,
they would have to learn software (Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire and Pro/CONCEPT)
they have never used before. Then get along with each other and
do it all locked in the Design-engine.com space all in only 48 hours.
And if that is not enough, add that they have to team up in pairs,
get along and develop six products (models and renderings) each
team.
Define the Teen: to help us define problems associated
with the 2023 teen we brainstormed words that would that future
teen would identify with. These questions were generated by the
contestants to help define that target 18 year old.
What is personal space- Maintain sense of tribe and likeness- how
do I make my data failsafe - how do I write - love - and look cool-
how do I have fun- what is home - how do I feel safe - how do I
escape - How do I release aggression - How do I succeed - What is
my personal space - how do I find my place - How do I build self
esteem - how do I play - how do I keep in touch with my ancestry
- how do I keep in contact with my friends - how do I meet new people
hoe do I disconnect - how do I get high? - How do I protect myself
physically - how do I do something new - how do I tell time - how
do I now what is cool - how do I get my energy - how do I define
the Jones's, how do I self doctor - how do I learn - how do I educate
- how do I hone social skills - how do I hydrate - how do I get
around - how do I pay my bills - how do I spend money
Off
and running: after brainstorming, software demos and sketching,
the contestants sat down with Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire to start the
modeling phase. The stress level in the office was high at this
point but they are all professionals, none timid to this kind of
stress. All were eager to get on to learn Pro/ENGINEER. For the
next 24 hrs the participants modeled and rendered the amazing concepts.
Light
at the end of the tunnel: Any question posed from the participants
about the software was answered by Bill Taylor PLM of Surfacing
products for PTC and
Bart Brejcha who runs a 3d training school where this contest is
housed. http://www.surfacingtools.com
This is a test not only to the participants but to a unique training
style DESIGN-ENGINE|EDUCATION is known for that compares to real
world product design. There was extreme learning with just the right
amount of competition, stress, and urgency.
One person described the final hours as the “"climax
of the think tank...the moment of truth when the ideas rush out
to meet reality"” The rendering phase was mostly Bill
Taylor as he helped each contestant with their vision of the rendering.
Some of their time was spent searching the Internet for suitable
pictures to facilitate their renderings.
As
the deadline of 7pm grew near, people started poring into the hallway
lobby where the Design-engine.com offices are located.
The participants could hear people talking in the hallway and the
adjacent office where the ‘after party’ had already
started. The DJ was playing lounge music and cocktail waitress were
making Red Bull vodka. It was tough to concentrate for the participants
because of the of the anxiety and the fact that Design-engine.com
interns and friends all wanted to see what was going on inside the
Design-engine.com offices. It was difficult to
keep the product of 48tofly, design and excitement behind closed
doors as people came into the office bothering the contestants with
small talk and outside conversations. Everyone wanted to see what
they had created. People kept going in and out back and forth while
the contestants focused their attention like the professionals they
are. There were cute girls everywhere for the all male participants.
The distraction of people coming into the office only added to the
participants’ experience. There was now another challenge.
To perform the last two hours while there were so many distractions.
Words to describe this event: Collaboration, Think
Tank, Extreme Learning, Thought provoking, challenging, innovation.
Collaboration: The contestants get to help each other by
first brainstorming then in learning the software together. Together
as one group. They even helped each other until the last 24 hours.
Think Tank: because of the opportunity to put these creative
designers and thinkers all in the same room for 48 hrs and challenge
them on multiple levels creates a true thinktank.
The goal was to challenge them to get in the head of the 2023 18
year old. We generated words that would describe that inevitable
late teen 20 years from now. A fun exercise.
Extreme Learning: DESIGN-ENGINE|EDUCATION teaches product
design. They don’t just teach the application Pro/ENGINEER,
they teach the for example how to prove form using an application
such as Pro/ENGINEER. This kind of event serves as a testing ground
for learning how to teach in new ways.
Thought
provoking: The conversation was stimulating and inspiring as
one could imagine. The comments from the brainstorm sessions were
simply amazing. It helped us understand the 18-year-old consumer.
Challenging: This is a good word to describe the competition.
Anything red bull is behind is going to be challenging like racing
mountain bikes down ski slopes or freestyle motocross. Like extreme
sports, this event is extreme for designers.
Think Tank: because of the opportunity to put these creative
designers and thinkers all in the same room for 48 hrs and challenge
them on multiple levels creates a true thinktank.
The goal was to challenge them to get in the head of the 2023 18
year old. We generated words that would describe that inevitable
late teen 20 years from now. A fun exercise.
The
Software: Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire More specific details:
ISDX -Part mode Assembly mode - PhotoLux - Pro/CONCEPT Special thanks
to Bill Taylor of PTC for helping bring this event together.
The
afterparty: If you had a magnum of fine champagnes who
would you invite if you could only invite 10 people who would you
share with. That was the questions poised by Rebecca McQuillen one
of the event planers and publicist for 48 to fly. Things ran smoothly
because she is always on top of every detail. In fact it was largely
her idea for such an event.
Special thanks: To Red Bull for letting an event
like this take place. Thanks to Rebecca McQuillen who organized
so much with such great aspersions for pulling off an event like
this with grace and style. Thanks to PTC for supplying so many seats
of the Pro/CONCEPT and Wildfire software and to HP for the machines
and to Wacom for the 19" tablets. Thanks to Aero Product International,
Inc. for providing mattresses to the contestant. Thanks to Steelcase
for providing furniture including Bix
Lounge. And also to EFFEN Vodka for supplying Vodka for the
afterevent. Yes EFFEN is Chicago based. Thanks to Dave Ditzler for
supplying the web cast and photography. Victorganic spun the lounge
tunes for the evening.. not to mention he is a PHP programmer. Thanks
to the participants and their families for letting them out of the
house to play like we did for 48 hours. Thanks to Sushi Wabi, S&S
Restaurant, Wishbone, Perez and Giordano’s Pizza for great
food and to Design-engine.com interns for all the sweat efforts.
Below are the product descriptions and images the team members created.
Remember none of the participants have ever used Wildfire, Pro/CONCEPT,
or ISDX before this 48 hrs thinktank.
Team
A
- Team A won best overall and a years supply of Red Bull
Mission: Address physical and mental health, increase family interaction,
and define disconnection.
Products:
1. The Home: Adaptable living for the family.
2.
Health Monitor: Power through heart rate.
3. Learning Center: A lifetime adaptable, learning business center.
4. Phone Chip: Communications.
5. Physical Health System: Interactive entertainment system providing
physical and mental benefits.
6. Tranquility: An egress from all external stimuli.
Team
Members: Jason & Suhail WINNING TEAM and precipitants of a years
supply of Red Bull
Team
B
Our question- How do I escape?
Answer- "Vagabond," the worlds first substance game!
premise- 18 yr olds of the future will have similar challenges and
questions that we all faced at 18. In a world surrounded by false
summits and hollow victories, our game addresses desires for unique
experiences and challenges, with tangible, real rewards/prizes.
A participant purchases a PDA-like device, which contains clues,
information, and ports for additional tools. When the person uses
this tool to solve and interact with other participants. These devices
lead the user to locations in greater and greater distances. Along
this organic path, better equipment is obtained(via check-points),
challenges increase in complexity, and the rarity/usefulness of
the objects increase. The path is non-linear, regional as well as
global, and not time based.
Team Members: Tim Connelly Kevin Crandal
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| This
team made a logo in Pro/CONCEPT |
Pro/ENGINEER
and Photolux |
Pro/ENGINEER
and Photolux |
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| Pro/ENGINEER
and Photolux |
Pro/ENGINEER
and rendered with PhotoLux |
Pro/CONCEPT |
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| Pro/CONCEPT |
Pro/CONCEPT |
|
Team
C
Team C - Tech. Neutralizer - Item 1
Due to the abundance of excessive non- personal communication and
Assault in the year 2023, a small personal device will be available
that provides a small communications free zone. This device cancels
out functionality of communication devices (phones, advertisements)
of an electronic nature within a designated radius.
This device provides sanctuary from the infiltration of personal
space.
Team C - Olfactory Player/Communicator - Item 2
This is small palm sized device that replicates scents from a cartridge
of basic smell components much the way a printer builds a spectrum
of colors from 4 basic tints. Memorized, samples and programmed
scents can be stored or sent to your Olfactory Player or to that
of a friend.
Due to the advanced state of marketing through advocacy and placement
many of the players and services would be branded or available for
free in exchange for advertisements or prominent Logo placement.
Friends may listen to their favorite music or watch a video and
experience smells that are programmed to coincide with the content
of the media. Small olfactory commercials may introduce or follow
a performance as adverts for a fragrance company or products such
as Keebler cookies.
Our new device could be powered by reclaiming the power from ambient
wave signals ( radio, Phone, wireless) much the way that a doctor
will use radio waves to recharge the batteries of a pace maker.
Team C - F.Y.I. Shoes - Item 3
An otherwise unassuming pair of loafers, provides the user with
practical information regarding directions, crime rate, positioning,
speed, distance and online tracking.
The functions would be valuable when traveling through unfamiliar
places, finding lost children, or the nearest 7-11. In addition,
it could also monitor aerobic exercise.
Team C - Mood Ring Clothing / Evolutionary Fashion - Item 4
Don't like what you have on ? Get mad, or change your mind, and
guess what ? A new pair of clothes ( or so it looks ) - new patterns,
color or texture can be selected or directed to react to temperature,
mood, and a host of other stimuli. One Gap shirt 10 looks or maybe
even 1000 if you can download them all to your shirt.
Collaborative Music Device - Item 5
Drawing from a collection or shared collection of audio resources,
one or more individuals may direct the device to compose music based
upon adjustable parameters that direct beat, style, voice, and other
compositional factors.
There are standard sets of available beats tracks and voices. Additional
sets may be authored, licensed or purchased, opening the range of
combination possibilities
Team C - Contextual Filter / Connotational Dilator - Item 6
Did you ever misinterpret someone’s comment? Not sure if they
were dissin' you? The contextual filter solves this problem of ever-changing
slang, dialect, diction and language. It relays the other individual's
intended meaning into you own vernacular and culture.
Team
Members: Dan Streng and David Sagan from Artic Zone
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| Dan
Streng modeled this using ISDX in only 3 hrs. Image was rendered
in Alias because we messed up the license file trying to get
Photolux installed. Dan Learned the software in minutes. |
Modeled
in Wildfire |
Modeled
in wildfire and rendered in Alias |
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|
Pro/ENGINEER
-
best idea and a years supply of Red Bull |
Modeled
and rendered using Photolux |
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