Vido:reflection-the story of stuff

The story of stuff is an excellent film about the effects of products on the environment and the people. It is extremely interesting to know the steps that go into ever product from conception to disposal. She puts the ideas into simple, easy to understand language and visual imagery. And the main focus of the film is to inform about the things most people don’t know about their products of to put it into perspective for them.

 The Story of Stuff explores consumerism and the consequences it is having on our lives, our planet and our future. It looks at the production cycle of products that are: Extraction -Production - Distribution - Consumption - Disposal

Leonard claims that “Extraction is a fancy word for natural resource exploitation, which is a fancy word for trashing the planet” Basically this is chopping up trees, destroying mountains to extract materials. Sending the message that we need to change the world we live in, in order to sustain our current lifestyles. Production is the manufacturing of goods, this stage in the system puts toxics in and toxics out. Leonard claims that “We don’t know the full health impact of the synergetic chemicals we put into our everyday products and our bodies”, for example BFRS which are Brominated Flame Retardants are a neuron toxin (toxic for the brain) which we actually cover (some) pillows in and then sleep on every night. Distribution is where goods get shipped to “big buy marks” and the goal is to keep the prices down, keep the people buying and keep the inventory moving. Consumption is the next stage in the cycle. Americans are known as a nation of consumers, Americans consume only 1% of the products that are produced which means that 99% of all products are trashed within the first 6 months of its manufacture advertising is the main reason for this consumption and waste in America and cannot continue.

The Story of Stuff reveals the ugly nature of consumer products and as an aspiring Industrial Designer; I believe that we all need to be aware these consequences in the design, manufacture and purchasing of consumer products

Sketches

My Career

I changed a lot dreams since I was young. A policewoman, an artist, or even the first female premier. As other children, I learnt much stuff, like drawing, dancing, playing guitar, flute and so on. But none of them I had learnt for a long time. Since then, I know I am a person who does not like repeating some things again and again. I like drawing. I used to make clothes for my bobby. I used shells to make artwork. I like using things around me to create new things to make my life more interesting and fun. Once I drew a design dress in an afternoon when I was 11, when I finished the drawing I feel quite satisfied and excited. Since then, I begin to enjoy the progress to create something especially when I made out something successfully. I love to make creative gift for my family and friends. It is a happy thing to make people around me to be surprise and happy by my intelligence. Therefore, for me, design and make new things out is a way to make me happy and also a way I can make people who I love to be happy. While I growing up and getting mature, I want to use my creativity to design things that can make people feel happy and enjoy their life with my design. It may be the happiest thing for me. So, yes, I want to be a designer who can design happiness for people.

I finally decided to study design after I came to Australia. At the beginning, like other Chinese oversea students, I chose to study business administration and then I can go back to China to help with my father’s business. However, after a few special experiences, I started to consider whether it is a real life I want to have in my future. I doubt it. Then I found I can apply design course in uni in Australia (only art students can apply for design course in China). I relight my design dream again. While the most import element can approve me to get here are my parents. They never asked me to follow their desires. They always saying choose what you like. With strong backing supports from my parents, I chose to begin a design career which I really love.

I always want to have a good beginning for everything. For my design career, I decided to start it from UNSW. Firstly, UNSW has high educational reputation. Secondly, this course industrial design in UNSW is not only include design basic course also contain courses cover other areas such as technology, marketing and math. It is not like fine arts design course in COFA or SCA. And this is what I want that can learn some other useful stuff for design career.  

I do not care people will know my name or not. But I hope people like my products and enjoy using them. In my future, I would like to be a sample intern in a design company. Trying to learn the whole design and produce progresses as much as I can. Then go back to realize my father’s desire. He is a creative and talented person who also has a design dream. We would like to hold a design studio with designers who enjoy designing and open a small factory to make everything we design to be real products. No matter how much we will learn, we will get happiness and dreams come true.

Poster-Design Confusion

Poster-Design excellent

An ingeniously developed distribution board with self-adhesiv deco stickers to make it fit interior wall and furniture design.
It is easy to install in more than 70 countries with different electrical traditions.
With its great design, this complex electrical product seems more suitable for daily life.
It could be a good example as a perfect combination by design and technology.