ThE
RANDOM
DESIGN
Things happened by reasons, not random. We use the word "random" to simplify those complicated systems, in order to easier understanding our world.
Designs are made for reasons. There are many factors that will influence the outcome of a design. Can we use the word "random" to simplify the complicated relationship of those factors, in order to easier designing a product?
My
thesis
topic
is
random
-
At the very very beginning, I have no specific idea about what I am going to do for my thesis project. I only have very little knowledge, no theory, no methodology, no idea about the real outside world. The only thing I know is I love industrial design and I want to make something "useful".
So，where to start?
I looked through all the project I made before： the jellyfish floating humidifier，the belly frier， the ballon garden，the needle cutlery, 100 steps pictures... and my daily drawing，all these were just random silly thoughts，came into my mind， naturally，unconsciously， with no mind map， no design methodology，even not much "researches". However, the outcome of those random ideas worked pretty well, at least in my mind.
I enjoy my design process. Though it is random, works well: based on my experience, the brain randomly picks up elements for me. I just need to take a shower, get a silly idea, and then make it.
Therefore, in theory, if I have experienced a lot, read a lot, learned a lot，I will have enough elements in my head to finally generate some good ideas.
Sounds good.
So I started from here -- The random idea generator.
My
research
process
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01_The random idea generator
In order to make this random idea generator. Each of the three keywords here requires deeper researches.
Random
The first thing is to understand: What is random?
According to WIKI, if the thing is lacks of pattern or predictability, we call it random.
Today, people use the word "random" in many conditions, however, most of the things which we call it random are actually not random. For example, the coin toss- if we have the ability to calculate all the factors that will influence the coin, we can predict the result before it happens. In our daily live real random things is rare ( Ramsey theory ). A lot of time we say random, is because of the lackness of our knowledge and technology, which impede us to see the pattern and sequence behind that thing. Sometimes, even if we have the ability to give a predictive result, it is so difficult that we still say it random to simplify the complicated causal, so that we can have an easier way to understand things. For this reason, many scientific fields are concerned with randomness. In the physical, in mathematics, in biology...
Idea
Think about this idea in product design. If we can know all the factors related to a described scenario, we can actually make the perfect design for that scenario. Yes, people already working on this for a long time. That's why we need a lot of researches during the design process. But the problem here
Generator
The library of babel
In ancient history, the concepts of chance and randomness were intertwined with that of fate.
The Chinese were perhaps the earliest people to formalize odds and chance 3,000 years ago. The Greek philosophers discussed randomness at length, but only in non-quantitative forms. It was only in the sixteenth century that Italian mathematicians began to formalize the odds associated with various games of chance. The invention of modern calculus had a positive impact on the formal study of randomness. In the 19th century, the concept of entropy was introduced in physics.
Random in biology
Evolution of a product vs Evolution of a creature
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Possibility of Product‘s generation
"The Library of Babel" is a short story by Argentine author and librarian Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986), conceiving of a universe in the form of a vast library containing all possible 410-page books of a certain format and character set.
The library of babel （website）
Random idea generator - quick test
Rule: Use random.org to generate a random number( 1-400) as the page, and another random number(1-40) as the order to locate a random word. Find 2 random words and combine them as one concept.
Testing Result:
1. palatable cart/
2. rocker oral/
3. urgent engrave blood/
4. heat defog sextant/
5. immature firebox/
6. awe canvas/
7. folder gosling/
8. dig lousy modern/
9. graphic jollity/
10. low vessel/
every product generator
Rule: Use random.org to generate a random number( 1-400) as the page, and another random number(1-40) as the order to locate a random word. Find 2 random words and combine them as one concept.
Testing Result:
1. palatable cart/
2. rocker oral/
3. urgent engrave blood/
4. heat defog sextant/
5. immature firebox/
6. awe canvas/
7. folder gosling/
8. dig lousy modern/
9. graphic jollity/
10. low vessel/
The language
Rule: Use random.org to generate a random number( 1-400) as the page, and another random number(1-40) as the order to locate a random word. Find 2 random words and combine them as one concept.
3d Galton Board
Rule: Use random.org to generate a random number( 1-400) as the page, and another random number(1-40) as the order to locate a random word. Find 2 random words and combine them as one concept.
02_3d Galton board
In order to make this random idea generator. Each of the three keywords here requires deeper researches.
Random
The first thing is to understand: What is random?
According to WIKI, if the thing is lacks of pattern or predictability, we call it random.
Today, people use the word "random" in many conditions, however, most of the things which we call it random are actually not random. For example, the coin toss- if we have the ability to calculate all the factors that will influence the coin, we can predict the result before it happens. In our daily live real random things is rare ( Ramsey theory ). A lot of time we say random, is because of the lackness of our knowledge and technology, which impede us to see the pattern and sequence behind that thing. Sometimes, even if we have the ability to give a predictive result, it is so difficult that we still say it random to simplify the complicated causal, so that we can have an easier way to understand things. For this reason, many scientific fields are concerned with randomness. In the physical, in mathematics, in biology...
Idea
Think about this idea in product design. If we can know all the factors related to a described scenario, we can actually make the perfect design for that scenario. Yes, people already working on this for a long time. That's why we need a lot of researches during the design process. But the problem here
Generator
The library of babel
03_3d Galton board
In order to make this random idea generator. Each of the three keywords here requires deeper researches.
Random
The first thing is to understand: What is random?
According to WIKI, if the thing is lacks of pattern or predictability, we call it random.
Today, people use the word "random" in many conditions, however, most of the things which we call it random are actually not random. For example, the coin toss- if we have the ability to calculate all the factors that will influence the coin, we can predict the result before it happens. In our daily live real random things is rare ( Ramsey theory ). A lot of time we say random, is because of the lackness of our knowledge and technology, which impede us to see the pattern and sequence behind that thing. Sometimes, even if we have the ability to give a predictive result, it is so difficult that we still say it random to simplify the complicated causal, so that we can have an easier way to understand things. For this reason, many scientific fields are concerned with randomness. In the physical, in mathematics, in biology...
Idea
Think about this idea in product design. If we can know all the factors related to a described scenario, we can actually make the perfect design for that scenario. Yes, people already working on this for a long time. That's why we need a lot of researches during the design process. But the problem here
Generator
The library of babel
My
Thesis
Outcome
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