Design In Our Lives

So for our third field trip, my art class and I went to the MoMa again to explore the architecture and design galleries. Our assignment was to determine the Ergonomics or Functionality of each design presented in the gallery. Many designs have both high functionality and low functionality.

 The Mine Kafon Wind Powered Deminer was designed by Massoud Hassani. It's purpose is to sweep any open fields to detect land mines and detonate them before any war soldiers proceed to infiltrate. I believe that the functionality is high because instead of soldiers risking their lives for a perimeter sweep, the Deminer makes everything a lot easier and safer. It saves a lot of time, walking, and most importantly the lives of others. It is easily assembled with bamboo and biodegradable plastics so it was reusable and easy to travel with.

The Bell-47D1, designed by Arthur Young, is the first helicopter certified for civilian use in 1946. It is two bladed, has a single engine, was produced by Bell Helicopter over 3000 times and was sold in 40 different country. This has a high functionality because the helicopter can be generally used as a method of transportation for passengers, and is still used to this day by news reports and police officers. Through the enhancements over time of course.

This may look like a simple table to our eyes, but the significance of the structure is that it is designed to withstand earthquakes. It can hold up to 1 ton in mass with out being destroyed. Though it has a meaningful design, the functionality isn't to high because the occurring of earthquakes are not to often as they once were. But the table would still make a nice office desk.

Another design with low functionality with a nice purpose would be the Basic House. It is used as a homeless shelter and can be pocket sized when put away. But the reason that it is low functioned is because it doesn't protect civilians from anything other than the rain.












The ergonomics of each design and prototype have their similarities and differences. The similarities between the high functioned designs is that the products are proven useful and are used every day but many people of to today's world. And of course the similarities between the low functioned are that they are less likely to be used if used at all by others. But the art and design were created by others for a purpose.


Artworks:

Massoud Hassani
Mine Kafon Wind Powered Deminer
Bamboo and biodegradable plastics
2011

Athur Young
Bell-47D1 Helicopter
Bent laminated birch plywood and metal
1946

Ido Bruno & Arthur Brutter
Earthquake Proof Table
Steel and birch plywood
2010

Martin Ruiz De Azua
Basic House
Polyester
1999