Week 9: Origination

The Laws of Simplicity

Chapter 8: Trust

R01

1. Provide an example of a situation where you have to have trust – in the same vein as the author in his swimming lesson example. What made you trust in this situation and how did you feel?

Currently my fiancé and I are deciding on the location for our wedding next year.

Whilst we are fairly certain where we would like to have it, neither of us has been there. We have done lots of research and spoken to people there and also other people who have been to this location. We cannot visit until early next year, however we will need to book it before then and make a considerable deposit (which we will not get back if we cancel). Despite feeling slightly hesitant, we have to put our trust into our research and into the people we have spoken to and hope that this location will be as good as we think it will be for our big day! 

This TED Talk by Jonathan Zittrain claims that the internet is "made up of millions of disinterested acts of kindness, curiosity and trust" R02. As an example of how internet addressing and routing works, he likens it to a fog-filled room of people. Each individual cannot see how many people are in the whole room, so instead, each person tells the person on their right what they see on the left and so on until they have a general overall understanding. This system is based on kindness and trust.

2. Where in our exhibition do we need to instill trust? Give examples. How are we going to achieve this?

We have to show that we are capable and know what we are doing not only in the set up and smooth execution of the week-long exhibition, but also in our individual works, presenting ideas with professionalism.

We need to have trust in each other as we have to work as a team and complete our respective and assigned jobs to a certain standard. Trust allows us to feel confident. For example, we can achieve this on our opening night in particular by offering visitors/guests food and drinks as a gesture of hospitality.

3. What strategies are used to instill trust? Examples? Where do we need to employ this in uphere? How are we going to do this?

Employing the strategies that Maeda suggests in Chapter 8, we can execute the following for our exhibition:

Relax. Lean Back – make sure everything is organized, well signed, well presented and professional for guests to be able to arrive, relax and just take it all in.

Trust The Master – show them that you are capable and confident in not only organizing and hosting the exhibition, but also in our individual works. The guests are trusting us to put on a quality exhibition which they will enjoy.

Just Undo It – by trial and error, we can correct things that come up along the way. For example if something doesn’t work well on one night, we can change the process/display, etc for the remainder of the exhibition. Nothing is permanent and it is good to explore your options.

Trust Me – knowing your work and your classmates work will allow you to have greater control in your overall presentation of professionalism and skills.

4. If you could “undo” any aspect of the preparation for the exhibition to-date, what would you “undo”? With this in mind, what would you change now in your preparation strategy to overcome having to “undo” anything?

I would like to “undo” some of the hesitant and unsure feelings from people at the beginning of the organisational process. It was time which could have been utilized much better had we had some more clear direction from people who had organized an exhibition before. I think a lot of students felt like they were being ‘thrown in the deep end.’ With the future preparation in mind, I think we need to adhere to deadlines and be as productive as we can with the time we have.

5. Homework: How are you using the laws in relation to your contribution to The uphere exhibition? Provide a short explanation and example for each of the laws so far. Use your work towards and your examples. 

Law 1: Reduce

“The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction” R02 and this can be done using methods such as SHE (shrink, hide & embody).

Lanterns are my contribution to the exhibition and I am working on the premise that less is more. I am experimenting with simple shapes (tetrahedral) and am trying out some simple yet effective patterns/designs to put on them.

Law 2: Organise

Maeda discusses ideas like SLIP (sort, label, integrate & prioritise) to help organize anything that needs organising. He also suggests that the quick path to simplicity is by using computer shortcuts (such as TAB) and knowing your way around your computer. This efficiency is important when I am designing my lantern patterns to reduce clutter/chaos, maximize use of space and increase visual appeal.

Law 3: Time

Designers can integrate time into their designs in various ways, such as progress bars, giving up the option of choice and hiding time.

In relation to my exhibition contribution, time relates to the above law, organize. By saving time (using shortcuts, etc), it can translate into more time I can spend assembling and experimenting with the physical lantern. Also I can save time in the set up and storage of the lanterns for people if it is a simple and durable design.

Law 4: Learn

Metaphors are useful in transferring large amounts of information from one context to another in an easy and relatable manner. Concepts like BRAIN (basics, repeat, avoid desperation, inspire, never forget) are applicable to the designs I am creating which I have learnt to do in programs such as Illustrator. Last semester, we learnt the basics and had to repeat them often in assignments. When there were times I was confused or something wasn’t working for me, there was always someone to ask and inspiration was always a click away with works of great designers at our fingertips. I have been repeating these skills constantly ever since learning them!

Law 5: Differences

Simplicity and complexity need each other – without one, we could not recognize the other when we see it. We need the contrast to help us identify the qualities we desire. Maeda likens the relationship between simplicity and complexity to a beat/rhythm and it is about achieving balance between the two.

In relation to my lanterns, I was thinking it would be effective if I had a complex pattern on a simple lantern, or vice versa to try and achieve this balance.

Law 6: Context

Contextualising is knowing what’s around you and applying it to what’s in front of you – this helps us determine its priority by putting it into perspective. This is different to focus, as focus is just concentrating on what is at hand – sacrificing everything in the background for the sake of attending the all-important foreground.

I would like to put my lanterns into the context of everyday life. I want them to be usable and re-usable. So I have to consider what materials I can use to integrate them into people’s daily lives easily, ie a lampshade or a string of lanterns on fairy lights (as opposed to singly hanging from a ceiling, etc).

Law 7: Emotion

“Everything starts from being sensitive to your own feelings” R03 so in relation to my contribution to the exhibition, I need to appeal to visitors’ feelings and emotions in my work. Etiquette, presentation and aichaku will all help to inspire respect and affection for my work. Also if my work empathizes with the surrounding environment, it becomes more relatable to the viewer.

Law 8: Trust

Some of the strategies that Maeda suggests to encourage trust from others are; Lean back. Relax; Trust the Master; Just Undo It; and Trust Me. In relation to my works, I need to demonstrate that I am professional and organised, that I have adequate skills and am confident in my abilities.

R01: www.savagechickens.com
R02: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jonathan_zittrain_the_web_is_a_random_act_of_kindness.html

R03: The Laws of Simplicity, John Maeda, pg1

R04: The Laws of Simplicity, John Maeda, pg64