Design Development Report - Assignment Example

?Design development report Summary This report demonstrates an understanding of the design process as utilized in developing design solution for the conversion of Mill Lane and redesign of the entrance of De Montfort University adopting sustainable design. Sustainable design addresses various issues with regards to user, function, community, well-being of human kind, and the global community in general with consideration of environmental policy specifically adopted by De Montfort University. Definitions of design. Basically, design in visual sense is a plan for the achievement of a certain goal or requirement that considers the user, environment, and other factors that guides or restricts the agent called the designer (Ralph and Wand, 2009). Design philosophies guide designers from various fields to adopt universally accepted principles that bridge different schools of thought. It guides design goals in order to meet the least significant detail or challenge up to the most important requirement for a more holistic result. Choices are guided by these principles for costs, economics, functionality, ergonomics, re-design methods or changes to meet goals such as elegant, modern, or stylish looks (Holm, 2006). Design approaches include user-centred which focuses on the requirement and limitations of the user, use-centred which is guided by the function of the artefact, the TIMTOWDI approach or “there is more than one way to do it” approach that follows multiple approaches, and keep it simple or KISS approach that minimises process and content without sacrificing aesthetics (Holm, 2006). Methods used in the design process may apply the following: Exploration of possibilities that encompass definition of problem and research. This may be used for existing facilities, products or services or even for creating new ones. This process also includes brainstorming where all stakeholders involved contribute to the goals and outcomes. Redefinition is the development and improvement of traditional specifications and guidelines to arrive at better options, solutions, and goals applicable n many fields of design. Management is the process of a continues approach to defining, exploring and creating new designs Prototyping is the production of possible products that improves traditional or existing designs Trend-spotting is the approach towards development of emerging or new products in order to achieve innovation (Getlein, 2008). Design in business has occupied a major role from a previously minor one. There was a time when industrialists hire designers to develop appearances of products or incorporate aesthetics on functional and already existing products. Today, even enterprises need to be designed in such a way as achieve a desired structure and external, visible properties as influenced by the environment and relationships (Giachetti, 2010) Translation of the design brief into an outcome The design development process adopts fitting systems that meet the goals of the stakeholders. The design development involves defined scope of activities, understands the user and user needs, adopts ways to meet user needs, evaluates the solution, and finally implement the design. In a more streamlined approach, it involves: Identification of need Brief-building Concept generation Concept development Concept presentation Prototyping and testing Manufacturing (Presentation). Under the concept generation and development, solution centred approach is adopted where various factors meet on the centre. These include the various aspects of the design with consideration to target audience or market, final outcome of the materials, moral responsibility, the design, legislation, and raw materials. Each of these aspects encompass a wider concept that contributes to the whole: the audience are influenced to become aware of the brand and value of the product; the outcome needs to address functionality, safety, durability and longevity; under the moral responsibility is the firm’s commitment to its workers and the community of users; legislation needs to meet local, national and international standards and regulations; raw materials need to be properly researched and developed with sustainability in mind where product should be energy efficient and environment-friendly, prior to the manufacturing which considers time and cost; and finally the design that needs to meet identity enhancement, legibility, safe, friendly and environment aesthetics that incorporate the overall expectations as indicated (Presentation). Introduction to brief-building and the design process The design brief guides the users with detailed instructions crafted to address stakeholder groups’ requirement. De Montfort University De Montfort University is located in the centre of Leicester, England composed of two campuses: the Leicester City and the Charles Frears. Its faculties are composed of Art and Design, Business and Law, Health and Life Sciences, Humanities, Technology, and the Institute of Creative Technologies. De Montfort University has the second highest number of National Teacher Fellows in all United Kingdom universities. The University is currently redeveloping the campus with the addition of the Performance Arts Centre for Excellence or PACE and the Faculty of Business and Law or Hugh Aston building encompassing the Magazine Square in its middle (De Monfort University, 2010). More developments are underway that hopes to meet sustainability through excellence, innovation and well-planned estates. DMU’s built environment adopts an environmental management that incorporates sustainability and sustainable development with the commitment to minimise environmental impact of its activities at the local, regional, national and global levels. This is achieved through commitments to the environment through the Environment Policy (DMU, 2010), addressing environmental issues through travel planning, recycling and energy-saving activities. Its Environmental Management System is structured to identify and manage the activities with significant impact on the environment and addressed by the Sustainable Development Task Force for improvement of its environmental performance (DMU, 2010). In re-designing De Montfort University entrance and Mill Lane, considerations are given to users, use of the lane and the entrance, as well as sustainability efforts and future design plans of DMU. To achieve sustainability, it is imperative to minimise energy use and environment impact adhering to the EMS provisions of DMU. The Mill Lane is therefore proposed to have its road closed to motor vehicles and instead replaced with a friendly walkway and bicycle lanes on opposing sides. LED lighting will be installed in bollards, and information signs will also be focused through lighting (Presentation). From its present state which is lacking of greenery, the lane will be lined with trees and shrubs on both sides to encourage individual and group use of the walkway. The presence of bicycle lanes will also inspire exercise thereby reducing immobility and increasing physical activity in and out of the campus. Purpose of form and aesthetic in the design outcome. Aesthetic in design performs various roles in order to address design goals. Hierarchy sets the priorities in design by addressing what is the most important thing such as visual or lay-out. It sets the first and last goals to be achieved. Focus emphasises visual expression so that attention is given on the most important using size, position, value or colour. Contrast in design provides the tool and support for emphasis and focus, setting hierarchy and creating drama. Tension through manipulation of position, contrast, or visual weights assists in achieving design aesthetics. Balance provides gravitational axis and symmetry using opposition of dense detail against open space, light elements against heavy, asymmetric or athletic approaches. Rhythm provides variety and pattern in the design process that helps relieve the eyes, provide sense, and create pacing for the whole design. The flow guides the eye across the whole through a desired sequence. Depth is a contradictory illusion which makes design compelling. Scale provides an illusion of size. Movement creates optical effects such as linear repetition or visual vortexes to suggest motion to add impact on viewer. Unity provides a cohesive role to put together the whole imagery (Philip, 2004). As indicated above, the proposed re-design of the entrance of De Montfort University and Mill Lane conversion strives to meet the Environmental Management System requirement of DMU. Energy use and environmental impact are addressed so that reduction is achieved. At the same time, the redesign uses design aesthetics to achieve focus on the walkway using LED lights, symmetry and balance with the use of the bicycle lanes, and rhythms using greenery. Legislation Sustainability has become the focus of design with the advent of environmental degradation and the fast approaching destruction of the planet due to consumerism and factors supporting human kind. Pollution, deforestation, global warming, habitat-destruction and resource depletion were the effects of human activities. Governments and international agencies have acknowledged the problem and have committed to address the issues through policy and legislations that encourage adherence to regulations from the international cooperation level down to individual actions through activation of local governing bodies. “The principles of sustainability aim to address the problems of environmental degradation and lack of human equality and quality of life, by supporting development that is sustainable in economic and social terms and is capable of retaining the benefits of a healthy stable environment in the long term,” Sassi (2006, p 3) has emphasized. In the UK, the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 makes provision to promote sustainability of local communities for connected purposes. Social or environmental well-being is promoted with “social well-being” encouraging the participation in civic and political activity. The Secretary of State is mandated to assist local authorities to promote sustainability of local communities in the ways specified by the Act. Design performs a vital role in the process so that even DMU has adopted its own Environmental Policy committed to lessen the effects its activities have on the environment at local, regional, national and global level. It has its own Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development promoting best environmental practice, sustainability and continuous improvement in all of its activities (DMU, 2010). It has committed the University to comply with all relevant UK environmental legislation and approved Codes of Practice and hopes to exceed standards and objectives by:    Promoting and integrating environmental management policies and practices at every level in all Faculties and Departments. Promoting its green transport plan that is produced in consultation with the Leicester City Council. The Green Travel Plan is designed to discourage the use of cars, reduce the total number of journeys that are made, minimise single occupancy car journeys, encourage the use of public transport and actively promote cycling and walking. Operating waste management and recycling procedures to minimise waste and increase recycling Managing the consumption of materials, promoting re-use where practical and the use of recycled materials where possible. Promoting its energy policy which is committed to reducing the use of fossil fuels and water by continuous improvement to its infrastructure and asset base and the use of renewable energy sources wherever practicable Ensuring that where practicable all developments take into account sustainable construction principles and avoid the use of environmentally damaging substances, materials and processes Promoting environmental awareness and responsibility amongst staff and students and provide appropriate staff development to raise awareness. Engaging with the City Council, other universities and the community at large to promote environmental initiatives and best practice. Promoting a purchasing policy that will take account of the sustainability of products and services in order to reduce harm to the environment (DMU 2, 2010, P 1-4). Responsible design development There are traditional design processes: rational model prescribes to optimize design to address constraints and objectives making it plan-driven and follows a discrete sequence; technical-problem-solving, the reason-centric perspective, reflection in action and the action-centric perspective (Newell and Simon, 1972). Sustainable design has been adopted not only to conform to current standards, trends and demand but also to address globally favourable long-term solutions over short-term individual gains through understanding of complex interconnecting networks (Sassi, 2006). In addition, quality of life is an end-goal in the design process although economic and human-well-being has been included as well. This is the rationale for proposing the Mill Lane conversion and De Montfort University entrance redesign. By focussing on the end-user, the environment, and the functionality of the product, the designer has come up with solutions that address development and improvement of the said areas or spaces in accordance with existing plans and university policy on environment. Materials used in designing built environment have evolved over time to consider source of raw materials used: were they ethically sourced with the least environment impact? Were workers treated fairly and safely? Is the transport and relocation of materials from source to end-users done in a manner that has the least environment impact? These are only few of the questions that need to be answered in a positive manner in the design process. Consequently, the builders and their designers need to incorporate these ethical standards in their design process in order to minimise negative consequences to the environment, and in fact, design in order to help promote the human condition with regards to his well-being and the environment (McKenzie, 1997). This is achieved through the use of products in their most natural state, sourced with the least transport requirement, with the least negative if not having positive impact on the environment and even the community as a whole, and reaching the consumer in the most ethical manners that encompass well-paid and properly treated sales staff and packaged in up-cycled or recycled materials. The designer should consider in the design process the minimal ecological footprint if not contribute to the social and physical environment they inhabit by providing solutions that enhance the surrounding environment aside from the psychological and physical well-being of their clients (Sassi, 2006). The following are suggested to address in the design process for built environment: impact of building beyond their outline towards sustainable design focussed on land use and choice of site impact on community encompassing way of life of individuals and all members of a given community from the local to the international level impact on health and well-being not only of humans but all flora and fauna and even the inanimate natural environment impact of materials used worldwide energy use as buildings contribute to 30% of global carbon dioxide emissions (Sassi, 2010) impact on water use (Sassi, 2006) Overall the mentioned aspects of the design process are addressed in the presentation redesigning the DM entrance and conversion of Mill Lane. It hopes to employ recycled materials for the building, minimise energy use, and engage users in activities that promote well-being at the same time improvement of health as well as provide a sustainable community of learners and educators with improved quality of life. The walkway in Mill Lane may utilise bricks or permeable pavement of porous material that helps infiltrate rainfall and water to the soil below it. This will reduce pollution by filtering the water through and store it on-site to minimise polluting the nearest body of water. It will also help irrigate nearby vegetation contributing to the natural cycle. Use of LED or Light Emitting Diode lighting will help improve night visibility to enhance safety of users. It also consumes less electricity as compared to regular street lights. LED is a semiconductor device that converts electricity into light created using a blue indium gallium chip to produce white light. It uses about ten milliamps to operate at about a tenth of a watt with plug-in transformers running on 120 volt alternating current with power loss at fifteen to twenty percent. Installation of bicycle lanes on both sides of the walk way of the lane provides an alternative mobility option for university users and pedestrians. Biking is an exercise that helps combat weight gain, burn calories, and keep the body fit and free from chronic diseases. It also encourages socialisation since moderate biking may encourage companionship and grouping as well as formation of biking groups to explore other accessible areas of the city. In addition, this enhances community and quality of life. The addition of greeneries on both sides of the lane will help clean and improve the quality of air, add rhythm and balance on the overall design of the lane, and cool the lane through green shades. The proposed gate at Mill Lane is re-designed with two entrances framed with rectangular archways may utilise salvaged or reclaimed materials from wood to concrete moulds, natural and locally available stones or rocks. Finances Porous pavement can cost about ?1.5 to ?2 per square foot. LED lighting initial cost is about ?16 to ?38. Cost of installing bike lanes is estimated at ?1997 or more per kilometre. Cost of landscaping may vary from ?380 or more per kilometre. Cost of building the archway may be around ?1800 or more. Overall, there may be seen an immediate wide gap between using sustainable materials and design as compared to traditional built environment materials. However, long-term costs will soon prove that sustainable materials and design addresses the needs and function as well as environment impact in a more positive and cost-effective manner. Conclusion The design process has today evolved to become one of the most important aspects of human activity from economic, business, social to political levels. It has permeated international leadership and organisational consciousness and acceptance so that today, designers occupy more respected positions in all aspects of governance and enterprises. In re-designing the De Montfort University entrance and converting the Mill Lane, a sustainable design approach was adopted. It addressed a holistic solution to improve the environment, the community, as well as users and function whilst employing traditional design methodologies and aesthetics. This has been done not only due to the necessity of sustainable design but also to comply with growing concerns and immediate needs of users, the environment, and the community as a whole. In the end, design should strive to make all stakeholders winner and this includes the environment which improvement benefits mankind. 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