College for Creative Studies: Product Design Department

Week #7

3/23 – 3/30

During this week of practicum, the entire week was an at home session I didn’t report in because of our spring break coming up, I plan on working the entire day. The college students will be out soon for the rest of the year. So I have to work hard with Mr. Schock to get work done.

 I am checking in with Victor again in regards to my final design and process sketches for my Minecraft gaming console. He provided excellent insight that really influenced my design choices for my controller. The idea of a Minecraft console is extremely universal, it attracts two different age groups young and of middle age. Creativity and abstractly reminding the users of Minecraft was the idea.

 I decide the shape of my console would resemble the Minecraft diamond. The Minecraft diamond is the most precious and rare item that is found, because the item is so valuable and can be used to create the most efficient tools for mining and building within the game I used it as my focused inspiration. Collaboratively my mentor and I came up with the idea of designing a successful one handed minimalistic controller that complements the simplicity of the console exterior. I have developed my final question for my essay series and talked to my practicum adult partner about it and it was greatly approved.

College for Creative Studies: Product Design Department

Week #6

3/17 – 3/23

This week at my practicum I finally was able to meet and talk with my college mentor, Victor Pereira. He provided excellent insight that really influenced my design choices for my controller. The idea of a Minecraft console is extremely universal, it attracts two different age groups young and of middle age. Creativity and abstractly reminding the users of Minecraft was the idea.

 I decide the shape of my console would resemble the Minecraft diamond. The Minecraft diamond is the most precious and rare item that is found, because the item is so valuable and can be used to create the most efficient tools for mining and building within the game I used it as my focused inspiration. Collaboratively my mentor and I came up with the idea of designing a successful one handed minimalistic controller that complements the simplicity of the console exterior.

I used the objective of the Wii Controller and the Power Glove as inspiration for this portion. The controller has been narrowed down to two different themes, a pick axe that resembles the in-game tools used for mining and a one handed controller that becomes almost an extension of your hand. This controller focuses on touchpad technology. I learned a lot this week and gained some great insight and ideated on some potential materials to use for the mock up and final. Hopefully at this rate I will be able to work on a second project.

           

 

College for Creative Studies: Product Design Department

Week #4

3/3 – 3/9

 Week four of my internship I took the ACT. I did not earn any hours this week because of the intensity and stress from the ACT. I studied for the ACT for months and took a few classes in preparation, though I feel confident about my scores, I am positive that this will not be the last time I will take the ACT. Therefore I plan on attending a summer class that will better prepare me to improve my score.

However, I did meet briefly with my practicum mentor, a college student of their junior year studying product design – Victor Pereira. We discussed what homework I needed to do for the week, this included sketching and coming up with a finalized look for my gaming console, in addition designing the physical armor for the user.

I brainstormed and contacted Victor for further questions because Professor Schock was out of town with product design students who were apart of the Warrior Studio. They visited Boston to tour the headquarters for new design inspirations and for a chance to connect with Warrior professionals. Since I have finalized my plans, the theme for my console is a projection based console that displays the environment of the game onto the environment, images over the room the user is in changes according to your movements and gestures.

 

College for Creative Studies: Product Design Department

Week #3

2/23 – 3/1

The third week of my internship was distant; this time most of the work required me to complete it alone. This week I worked with Brian Baker and Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies’ Mustang Ambassadors, in a live art performance. Member of the product design class, banned together to draw and sketch the live events happening during the Black History: Sankofa Jubilee Event.

I spoke with professor Schock about our upcoming classes and no class fro next week because of ACT testing. In addition, I learned that we wouldn’t meet for the rest of this week because of the multiple college trips this week. Mr. Schock took his Product Design Class, with the Warrior sponsored workshop to Boston Massachusetts, to meet some important people at a conference with Warrior. Next session I hope to learn more about the experience and present my finalized draft sketches for my Minecraft themed game console.

College for Creative Studies: Product Design Department

Week #2

2/16 – 2/23

 

The second week of my internship was also a slow experience. I was greeted by Mr. Schock, where we sat in the college office and discussed ultimately what product I wanted to work on. I decided to design something I was both passionate about and could relate back to my second career choice. We discussed how I could design a game console and how detailed of a product I would make. Mr. Schock thought the idea was excellent but pushed me to think outside of the box, and instead of trying to create yet another game console, think more along the lines of how I can redesign the entire gaming experience.

Then, Mr. Schock took me to look at the student work. He further discussed the class he was teaching in the mornings (Warrior Sponsored Studio). He took me to see some of the work from the previous show I wasn’t able to attend. I saw some work from two of my friends I met from the College for Creative Studies’ Pre College Summer Experience 2012. It was inspiring to see the work of my previous colleagues.

Mr. Schock found an office area where I could work until I was ready to move on to a more physical product. He also offered an opportunity to meet and work with a college student assigning them as a mentor. A schedule and update on that is still in the works. Moreover, I am having an excellent time at my internship we have narrowed down my requirement on my product and I’m currently in my research phase.

College for Creative Studies: Product Design Department

Week #0 and 1

2/2- 2/9 and 2/10-2/17

The first week of my internship was a slow experience. I was greeted by Mr. Schock, where we sat in the college office and discussed my goals for the practicum placement, what the placement was for, and what I ultimately wanted to learn from the experience. I worked with Steve Schock to define what my final product would be and what questions would help set the goal of my experience. We discussed what Senior Defense was, and how my practicum placement would significantly impact my success rate.

Then, Mr. Schock took me to look at the student work. He discussed the class he was teaching in the mornings. He is teaching a Warrior Inspired Studio, of which I can sit in on and work with students at any time. The Warrior Studio is a class where students are working with designers straight from the studio to design apparel for the different sports they focus on, specifically hockey. I was invited to a mini exhibition on Friday, but couldn’t attend because of the snow-day and a lack of transportation.

I met students and spoke to one student who was designing a bench for outside usage; his concept was to an attractive piece of artwork that could be functional piece of furniture as well. His design was simple, sleek, and clean. It reminded me of mid-century modern designs I had done summers before when I studied product design.