We began this class by discussing everything we spoke about in the previous classes. The conclusion was that the theme of the previous classes was sensitization – where we were figuring out what are we doing, why are we doing it, who are we doing it for, etc.
When we ask ourselves these questions, we are plotting our target audience and requirements of the product we are designing – this in turn will help us great a more efficient product. Just to get started off, Sir gave us an assignment where we had to sketch hand held objects in 30 seconds. This exercise opened up my wrist and helped me draw in a flow.
In the second half of the lecture, we spoke about materials and their properties in detail. Materials can be classified into :
- Bio-materials
- Metals
- Ceramics
- Polymers
- Semiconductors
- Composites
Whereas their properties are –
- Mechanical
- Thermal
- Optical
- Chemical
- Radiological
- Magnetic
- Electric
Next sir gave us a thought experiment to do. There was a last pair of goat- 1 female 1 male and a last pair of Dandelion. The goat eats Dandelion to survive. If any one of the goat dies, they become extinct and if either the female or male dandelion is eaten, Dandelions become extinct and so the goats would also eventually die. We had to think of a solution to save both.
After a while of brain storming, sir told us that there is no solution to this since it is a case of Dichotoy. Dichotomy is the co-existence of two opposing phenomena or ideas at the same time.
The second thought experiment was that there is a cat in a box with a poisonous gas and a radioactive item which triggers the poisonous gas. We have to figure out if the cat is dead or alive without opening the box. In this case, the cat is dead and alive at the same time. But if we observe the cat to be alive, it will be alive. But if we think it to be dead, it will be dead. This experiment introduced me to the concept of ambiguity. The more ambiguity we experience, the more solutions we can come up with when we are designing which will lead to a better end product.
We then came back to the topic of materials and the process of discovering them.
Removal- it consists of filing, hammering, drilling, milling. There are more than 600 methods of removal.
Shaping – it consists of 3-D printing, forging, and ceramics/ Terracotta.
Molding or phase changing process – it is casting, metal casting and for plastics. In this process, we change the form of the material.
Deposition – it consists of crystallization, electrochemical process and welding.
Class ended here.
DISHA KALYANI 