“V for Vase” presents the processes and results of a workshop collaboration between Hans Tan Studio and the National University of Singapore Industrial Design Programme.

The “imaginative thinking” workshop directed by Hans Tan consists of a series of progressive exercises aimed at unraveling one’s imaginal thoughts and developing one’s lateral thinking abilities. “Vase” was chosen as the subject for the workshop where each of the 24 final year industrial design students apply aptitudes harnessed from the workshop to reconceptualize the notion of a ‘vase’ and develop a design proposition in the form of an object or an installation.

The exhibition reveals 24 conceptual vases and documents more than a hundred unique vase definitions developed during the workshop, which would prove more telling than that found in the dictionary – “An open container, usually used for holding flowers or for ornamentation.”

For more information about Hans Tan Studio, please visit: http://www.hanstan.net/

Visitor Information

Venue
Old City Hall Level 3 Courtroom 17
3 Saint Andrew’s Road
Singapore 178958

Opening hours
21 November Saturday to 29 November Sunday
11am – 7pm daily

Opening party
21 November Saturday
7pm – 9pm

Free Admission

The Old City Hall is located within a five minute walk from either Clarke Quay or City Hall MRT station.

28 October 2009 (Wednesday), 4pm at LR426
located on Level 4 of SDE 3, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore

Abstract:

Usability runs complementary to the activities of the interaction designer. Interaction design may be defined as the discipline of defining the behavior of products and systems as a result of the engagement of a user. The practice is typically centered on complex technology systems such as web sites, software, mobile devices, and other personal electronics.

Today, electronic mediated applications have been constrained to the ‘mouse, keyboard, screen’ paradigm. However, with the emergence of multimodal, multisensory, and multiuser interactions a new set of issues has emerged for the UX practitioner. These issues are compounded by changes in user expectations and faster levels of technology adoption by consumers.

Professor Stone will discuss how these gradual paradigm shifts are redefining and reshaping how we live and interact with information. He will outline some of the emerging issues of concern for the UX, Usability, and Interaction and Industrial Design practitioner, and propose ways that we develop a proactive position in the development of new knowledge, usability standards, and interaction paradigms. In other words, how do we get to next?

About Speaker:

Professor R. Brian Stone teaches Visual Communication in the Department of Industrial, Interior and Visual Communication Design at The Ohio State University. A practicing designer, his poster design was selected for the AIGA Philadelphia’s “Mixed Messages” juried exhibition and was displayed at The Shops at Liberty Place in Philadelphia. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and universities, with presentations given at AIGA activities in Cincinnati and Philadelphia, and he presented the keynote address at Drexel University’s Nesbitt School of Design senior portfolio review. Professor Stone also has given lectures at the University of the Arts, University of London, University of Tampere in Finland, Beijing University of Aeronautics, University of Tennessee, Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech), Arizona State University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VA Tech), San Jose State University, University of Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, and the Organization of Black Designers National Conference. Recent publications include a chronicle of the career of America’s first African American automobile designer, McKinley Thompson, in Innovation magazine (winter 1999) and an article about the future of design education in the OBD’s national newsletter’s premiere issue (spring 1999). Most recently, Apple Computer has recognized Stone as one of the top educational technology leaders in the country with the Apple Distinguished Educator award (ADE). He is also a recipient of the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining the faculty at OSU, he taught for six years at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts. He has also held staff positions at Surgical Laser Technologies, Orthovita, Noel Mayo Associates (Philadelphia), and the Bailey Design Group.

Presently, Professor Stone serves as Graduate Studies Chair in the Department of Design and holds a MA+MFA in Design from The Ohio State University and a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of the Arts.

Design thinking brings creative techniques to business. The only problem? No one can agree on how to teach its methods
A founder of innovation firm IDEO, David Kelley also co-founded the d.school program at Stanford University. He discusses how design thinking can benefit business students and businesses.
For more information, please visit business week’s website