benarent.co.uk

Ben Arent
Product Designer
info@benarent.co.uk


ben arents design process diagram

My Process

Welcome to my process, on most design and business lead innovation website's they make the whole process as a mystical thing that only the rare few know. The reality is that the process that I undertake for any design project is deceptively simple.  In fact anyone can undertake and understand the process and if you follow the basic of what I outline here, I believe that you can't go that far wrong.

If you have any comments on any area of my process, or would like to know how this works in the 'real world' Then please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Knowing my customer, client and target audience.

Anthropologist

An Anthropologist is a person who studies humanity, studying human beings from all times and all dimensions of humanity. 

My role as Product Design Anthropologist is to understand my users, to gain insight into the reasons behind what my users want, need and desire.  As a young British white male, I like to thing of myself as a Christopher Columbus, always seeking new and interesting people.  I love to experience all that is good, but embrace enjoying the 'bad' more.  Every human is unique, and I don't believe that most humans are even aware of most of there habits and understanding of the world. 

As an anthologist I look with new eyes every day and seek out the areas of live that could be change for people, weather it be by Product, Experience or Service.


A day in the life of.

A day in the life of.

.nia brushing her teeth


Direct Observation

A Direct observation example is a studying into how someone brush's there teeth, a deceptively simple task. Requiring both scientific and more 'human' based analysis I discovered not only what was going on with the brush but also that brushing was different at different times of the day. 


Observations might otherwise seem pointless to the traditional product designer. The insight gained by seeing the deeper emotional and cognitive way tasks are complete opens my eyes to a multitude of design solutions to improve brushing and the experience of keeping good dental hygiene.  nia brushing her teeth

Cultural Immersion

I try to travel and experience as many different cultures and people, yet this doesn't' mean traveling to all 'trendy' areas of the world. But, exploring the 'boring and mundane' I have a better understanding of real people and real experiences.

I try to keep my opinions and stereotypes of people down to a minimum, allowing for better anthropology work.
cultural imersion

Group Lead Design.

I try to travel and experience as many different cultures and people, yet this doesn't' mean traveling to all 'trendy' areas of the world. But, exploring the 'boring and mundane' I have a better understanding of real people and real experiences.

I try to keep my opinions and stereotypes of people down to a minimum, allowing for better anthropology work.
group based design - piss taka shaka

Group Design.

I try to travel and experience as many different cultures and people, yet this doesn't' mean traveling to all 'trendy' areas of the world. But, exploring the 'boring and mundane' I have a better understanding of real people and real experiences.

I try to keep my opinions and stereotypes of people down to a minimum, allowing for better anthropology work.

 

"Real" Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the scientific work into the study of how a subject interacts with its environment. The text book example of Ergonomics is how office based workers interact with there computer based environment. There will be a study of Anthropocentric where measurements of the human body will be taken.

drawing on foot

"Emotional" Ergonomics

Emotional Ergonomics is a new field that isn't broadly defined. I recognize emotional ergonomics as the study of perceived comfort or convince. Often consumers perceive an object to be emotionally better even if your body or society doesn't. An example is slouching. This is prevalent in everyone's sitting at some part in the day, we know its not good for posture yet its emotionally satisfying .

Trend Spotting

Emotional Ergonomics is a new field that isn't broadly defined. I recognize emotional ergonomics as the study of perceived comfort or convince. Often consumers perceive an object to be emotionally better even if your body or society doesn't. An example is slouching. This is prevalent in everyone's sitting at some part in the day, we know its not good for posture yet its emotionally satisfying . trend spotting london

Emphasizing with my users.

Emotional Ergonomics is a new field that isn't broadly defined. I recognize emotional ergonomics as the study of perceived comfort or convince. Often consumers perceive an object to be emotionally better even if your body or society doesn't. An example is slouching. This is prevalent in everyone's sitting at some part in the day, we know its not good for posture yet its emotionally satisfying . trend spotting london

Understanding the 'real' context.

Emotional Ergonomics is a new field that isn't broadly defined. I recognize emotional ergonomics as the study of perceived comfort or convince. Often consumers perceive an object to be emotionally better even if your body or society doesn't. An example is slouching. This is prevalent in everyone's sitting at some part in the day, we know its not good for posture yet its emotionally satisfying . trend spotting london

 

Idea Process

If you have any comments on any area of my process, or would like to know how this works in the 'real world' Then please don't hesitate to get in touch.

idea process

Cross-pollinate

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<

Inspired from the users. (Cultural Probes)

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<

cultural probes

From thoughtless acts.

tete
thoughtless acts

Technical and Material Inspired.

tete
thoughtless acts

Brain Storming.

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<brain_storming

Imprint + Ignite + Incite.

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<brain_storming

Product Sketching.

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<brain_storming

3D Modeling.

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<brain_storming

 

 

 

Prototype   

If you have any comments on any area of my process, or would like to know how this works in the 'real world' Then please don't hesitate to get in touch.
a whole load of protypes for dezac

Soft Prototype

So Its the question that always asked and is what everyone is talking about in business. In this short introduction to my blog i will explore to what design has been, where its going, and what it is to me as a undergraduate designer. Soft Prototype of Potential ATB

Hard Prototype

So Its the question that always asked and is what everyone is talking about in business. In this short introduction to my blog i will explore to what design has been, where its going, and what it is to me as a undergraduate designer. hard protype for potentail atb

Iteration.

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<stealth lamp prototyping

Cardboard + Cello tape Prototypes.

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<

zcorp_prototypes

Z-Corp.

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<

zcorp_prototypes

Blue Foam Physical Experience.

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<

zcorp_prototypes

Technical .

fdsfsdfdsfsffdsafdsafsdfsafdsafsdfasdfasfsaa test board setup for a USB connection for the Rio Chamellion project

Phidgets.

fdsfsdfdsfsffdsafdsafsdfsafdsafsdfasdfasfsaPhidget Magnetic Sensors

 

Refinement of Concepts

Pier Review

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<pier review

Design Methods (IDEO methods)

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on << ideo method in pratice

Improv.

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<

Sketch

>> Show Desac Chamelion as an example <<

Real World

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<

Video

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<

Development of Product

Hacking.

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<hacking

Blue Foam (+)

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<blue foam plus

Experience Prototype.

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<

product design video editing

Technical and Material Inspired.

fdsfsdfdsfs

Business Lead.

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<

Highest Fidelity Prototype.

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<jive a high experiance prototype

 

Sale and Market

remembering that I'm still a Student, I have already been to present my ideas to a CEO and board of directors of the Dezac Corporation.  We had to present the project that we had been working with Des the CEO of  the company, but the presentation was to the fellow board of directors.  This was a great experience to have and require as much skill as BA Drama and Acting Degree.

I don't just design... I sell my products.

Dezac Rio Design Presentation f

Professional Pitches

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<

talking about my design work

International Exhibiting

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<

exhibiting the energy tree

Business Knowledge

>> After getting lots of Hits, this content is being worked on <<