Today's exercise would help you with 'Writing skills'. Last year CEED exam included this kind of question; probably to test candidates story framing and writing ability. This exercise has been designed so that would cultivate the habit of creative thinking and creative writing.
Carefully observe the below scenario (picture) and frame a story that would fit to the given situation. Write your story in not less than 250 words.
The above tips would give you some clues on how to frame a story from a given situation with much ease.
I would recommend you to practice one more writing exercise - although this type of question
Being a citizen of the nation, you got motivated with other's social activities by going through this motivational website -
and so decided to write an letter/essay about your views/suggestions on any one or all of the following issues
You are required to write the letter/essay in not less than 250 words. Hope you will enjoy "the power of writing !"
Design a Graphical User Interface for a a smartphone (mobile phone) of a online shopping company for selecting a mobile device as well as allow for purchasing the same with all the payment process included.
Present your UI designs in the form of screen shots. Draw minimum of ten screen shots that depicts all the process - from home page, phone selection to final purchase confirmation.
As said above, you may check the above link for tips and tricks to handle such design problems.
Today, we will do some exercise on sketching. Although, having design ideas is the first most concern for any designer, sketching stands second and hence play a crucial role in any design process. Sketching is the mode of conveying your ideas. So, you are expected to have at least '
' skill as a beginner. Here is a jackpot to you !
You've given freedom at your school (or office) to enjoy comfort conditions/environment by taking your own requirements and fulfilling that. In this regard, the administration has asked you to give your necessities (with design demonstration) especially in regard to your work/study place. Design your own class-room/office desk (sitting and working table) that meets your own necessities and requirements as per your convenience, showing all the accessories and inclusions that you wish wish would help you, compared to the present table design.You may choose any shape, include any attachment and so on.
Please understand the common mistakes to avoid, and also learn how to be productive while sketching by going through this video.
Day 5
Well, today we shall practice making of
posters.
India is one of the fastest developing country, next only to China (in economy). There's tremendous improvement in almost all sectors of operations, but still poverty prevails ! reason why ?
Like the country is growing fastly, it's
population is also increasing massively, I can say double than that of the other growths ! currently it's near
1.2 billions out of 7.2 billions of the world ! (nearly 17% in a single country ?)
The big difference between China and India is, Chinese citizens took great steps in reducing their population growth, may be people realized or may be their government took measures with awareness campaigns or so. That didn't happened earlier in India. Citizens are yet to get aware of the outcomes of the rapid population growth. Say when a family has 3 to 4 children without having a family plan of 1-2 children, then that family suffers in all ways. The family leader feels difficulty in feeding all those children, can't provide education to many, can't look for their nutrition provision and so on. The final result - that family ends in poverty !
If the same family took steps and ended up with 1-2 children, then all the expenses are reduced - costs, educations, food, etc, So ultimately that deters their poverty level. If the same thing happens in every family, then .......... holla............ poverty gone in India with better economy and prosperity.
Okay, here is the deal, you are an official government representative and was asked to make an eye catching poster that would bring an awareness of population growth to citizens (especially for rural and urban slum residents); you may cover opt to cover any or all of the above ideas. Hope this interest you !
Day 6
Today, we will practice on Product Design question.
You are working in a company delivery products specifically related to electronics or gadgets. Your company wants to design and release a mp3 music player with display included for volume controls, track/genre selections and other operation as a competition for the Apple's famous
iPod Nano. You are a part of the design team and your team leader asked each one of you to come up with separate designs to select the best out of many or to mix different ideas in a single product.
Now, design your own mp3 model that is
- Slim
- Unique in terms of design looks, feel, operation - menu's, buttons etc
- Select proper material that is - light weight, durable, aesthetic feeling and low cost (plastic is banned in your company)
- Comfort and simple for carrying
The below pictures are included for your reference or idea, covering all the generations of iPod.
Day 7
Okay, we will start again our daily design exercises as usual ! Here's two exercise's for today
Design Exercise
You probably might have come across '
Electric bicycles' that is famous in developing countries like China. Indian Government decided to launch public owned bicycles that would run manually as well as on electricity (whenever required - but not always !). You are assigned the job of designing the bike, such that the bike is
- User friendly
- easy to handle with less arrangements
- Less energy usage (renewable type)
- Cost effective etc
You are required to identify 6 (six) distinct factors in designing the bicycle, identify the need for such bicycles in cities (explain that in written) and also come up with not less than three distinct design ideas. You should present your final design with necessary rough sketches.
Evaluation criteria
- Practicalness - reality in design
- Application oriented design
- Rough sketches and construction
- Identifying the factors and need
Exercise - 2
Check the below messy picture and
write a story related to the situation depicted in not less than 200 words.
Day 8
Once a wild dog happened to meet a pet dog. Both were having conversation about their life. The wild dog wept out and told the pet dog - how forests are being encroached because of human interventions, and what lead the forest wild animals to migrate to cities and near by villages, ultimately making them fell into human traps. It told the pet dog, that pet dog's life is appreciable as they don't have any issues with humans. Now, hearing this, the pet dog started laughing at her and told how even the pet dogs are getting troubles from humans. It said that life in cities (and especially in connection with human) is miserable and it's turning out worse day by day.
Now, your task is to frame the above story and depict the same in the form of
comic strip, in not less than three frames.
Day 9
We have covered almost all parts of CEED design questions, but just remember guys, sketching has to be practised simultaneously. It's equally important in exams. So, today I will include an exercise on sketching through imagination. I'm also including links for some of the sketch practice sections that I hid from this blog long back. If you are interested in practising by copying those questions, I recommend you to save those pictures to your system, because I will hide these links again by this weekend.
Sketch the view of a person sitting in a sofa in a room (home) and watching a TV.
Sketch examples
Those who want to practice sketching are advised to save these pictures, because I will hide these links again
by this week end.
Hope that helps.
Day 10
Creativity Exercise
Ice Cream packages comes in different sizes - ranging from candy to family packs. Family pack ice creams are usually packed in a large bowl like boxes as shown below.
Materials used for packaging range from paper or disposable card rolls to plastic. Now your job is make
creative uses of these boxes - to identify alternative uses of used ice cream boxes (of any shape or size) for day to day or regular use.
UI Design Exercise - 1
Current mobile devices runs mostly on any one of the platforms : iOS, Android, Windows, Firefox and some other minor operating systems (OS). You are working in a company developing a new mobile OS software.
Design a
User Interface system, that is different from the current top OS. Show the screen shots of top 10 functionalities like start screen, menu, notification bar, widgets design and placing, settings, picture gallery or any other function. Also choose an app to display in your UI system.
Day 11
Modern Indian toilets trend has been shifting from traditional
pour flush type to cistern flush type (western toilets) as shown in the below picture; owing to rapid urbanization. In all those types of western toilets, flush buttons were attached to the water holder (as shown in the picture) behind the sitting posture. So whenever the user thinks of flushing while at use, he need to turn back and press the button (hands get twisted), and it's really painful with hands folded as if doing yoga. This might be not a problem for everyone, but for elder people, they feel bit inconvenient. Your job is to
- State the problems with the current cistern flush design,
- State the necessity for new design
- Identify a minimum of five factors to be considered while designing a new system
- Make three distinct concepts and show them in rough sketches.
- Show your final concept with all the details in proper views through clear sketches.
Day 12
Exercise - 1
Bulbs have usually less life and after they get exhausted, they are helplessly thrown. Now find five creative uses of bulb (as shown in the below picture) and show the ideas with appropriate sketches.
Exercise - 2
Design a multi purpose brief case that is probably meant to carry important documents and of course cash and cheques. The briefcase should be designed to let the owner use it with full security and with additional things. Something like theft and missing intimation through electronic way (may be by app inclusion in mobiles) and any other features. Show the rough sketches of different concepts and finally come up with a design with neat sketches.
Day 13
Exercise - 1
The below picture shows a typical Indian small-scale tea shop in rural villages. The owner of that shop decided to spend and re-construct his small tea shop to make it a hotel with all food provision. Now, that entrepreneur approached you to suggest him with the changes to be made, and what are the facilities to be added to make his customers loyal and regular.
Your job is to identify the customers (village residents) behaviour and design a new hotel for that location.
- Identify the problems with the present situation
- State the factors or inclusions that has to be made to change that situation
- State the facilities to be provided for the concerned population
- Show the owner your plans with sketches and explanations
Remember that the shop is to be opened in the same area (rural area) and so plan accordingly, although the owner is willing to expand his business, but he cannot afford for something like high-cost furnitures, aesthetically pleasing interiors and ore. That has nothing to do in such areas, right ? Remember both the user's preferences and location cum situation are very important while designing. So, do come up with this idea and make your sketches.
Exercise - 2
Now, consider the case where the above same village is now famous for international tourist and there's a huge population of travellers from around the world visiting that village. Now, imagine the same owner willing to develop a hotel, this time to the outers and he is ready to invest much greater than the earlier case. For this case, do the above all factors and analysis and come up with sketches for the proposed design.
Day 14
Design a poster for an awareness campaign to educate citizens of India, about the importance of saving electricity/power. The poster should also depict various methods or recommendations to reduce power wastage as well as effectively utilize them for sustainable future. If possible make separate posters for rural people, urban people and for school children's.
Picture Composition and design guide
Some of our friends came forward to help you with picture composition (framing story) and other design solutions I received their works and I'm now sharing with you. Please go through the below links and get some ideas.
Example of framing a story (Picture composition)
Solutions for Everyday Design works from Sameer Sapre
Day 15
Exercise 1 :
Make different designs of electric bulb (CFL, or any other bulbs). Designs that cover past, present and future. Go for different design shapes and creative your own design of a unique bulb design.
Exercise 2 :
Design a carrier/lunch box for kids that would also allow to carry liquid energy drinks like juice, milk etc. preferably in a glass or narrow jar type. There should be a minimum of two layers of boxes and the design should be unique and should also accommodate rest of the lunch box.
NOTE : I have included some more design exercises for the coming days in advance.
Day 16
This question is a bit time consuming but worth trying as this kind of design questions helps you with portfolio. Government of India decided to offer some battery-powered electric tricycles to the owners of the current human powered rickshaws, in order to support their economic growth with reduced prices and loan basis.
You are required to submit a design that seems efficient, easy-use, cost-effective, comfort-travel conditions and more. The rickshaws are meant to operate in different Indian terrains (road conditions). Below shows an example for your reference.
Day 17
In the usual tricycle auto rickshaw design, designers considered placing of single wheel in the front, and two wheels in the back/rear. Why not reverse ? I mean two wheels in the front and one wheel in the rear ?
State your design views, also compare both designs by bringing advantages and disadvantages with your final selection/choice.
Tips : Consider some vehicle stability design requirements like steering control, traction, front face area for wind, load and other stability factors.
Essence of Designing - 1
When you are designing any thing -
- What factors do you consider in mind, state the factors ?
- What are the essential and optional factors in any design ?
- What is the requirement for any design in real life ?
- Why multiple choices/designs are required ? In other words, why designs usually gets upgraded ?
- What are the deciding factors to justify that your designed product/service is better than the previous similar design ?
- What are some common tools for getting design ideas ?
- What tools we usually use to communicate our designs ?
- Are designs required in all fields/sectors ? When designs are required ?
Essence of Designing - 2
Any new design should probably be for meeting any faults in the previous work. The new design should be simple and easy to use, understand, cost effective/economical, special future's, either multi purpose or single use. Also the current climatic situations demands the designs to be sustainable - environmental friendly materials, long life, efficient functionality and so on.
Design is not always required in every field. The reason or necessity or requirements are the main driving forces to look for new designs. Now a days customer complaints plays a crucial role in looking for better designs, so understand the needs and/or requirements in any design, be it is for CEED exam or for real life designs. How better your design performs depends on what advantages your design offers compared to others, or if starting from scratch, then whether that idea is feasible or practical. Designing without a reason is just considered as hobby or passion, and if that is practical and useful to at least one user, then it's useful, else it would just remain as a passionate idea !
Design ideas comes when you feel the need, when somebody suggests you, when you go through some other ideas.
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Thus ....... I end this years everyday design practice !
If you are further interested in practising exercises, then do check the previous years everyday design question and practice them. There's some good number of practical questions, check the below link
Everyday Design practice questions with some solutions
