Date of Award

Spring 5-30-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Industrial Design

Department

Industrial Design

First Advisor

Paolo Cardini

Second Advisor

Ayako Takase

Third Advisor

Ilona Gaynor

Abstract

Taking the notion of obsessions as the starting point for my thesis, I decided to investigate the daily rituals undertaken by a select group of people. I engaged myself in others’ idiosyncrasies, and found myself empathizing with their needs and desires. I found it fascinating how our obsessions vary so considerably. Yet, at the same time, I realized that each of the obsessions I explored was comparable in that the qualities that defined each obsession were essentially the same.

My thesis uses the obsession of Squeegee Girl as an example with which to demonstrate my personal concept of design. For me, designing is focused on individual needs, and a designer takes on the role of a storyteller. These two ideas are at the center of my thesis, and I use them to explore the case studies featured, as well as the design profession at large. Designing for a user’s individual needs is the practice of empathizing with users and treating them as a unique person rather than a general public. I believe that it is a designer’s job is to make our clients feel as though they are being carefully listened to and, ultimately, very satisfied.

Thinking about the designer as storyteller is an idea that I developed during the process of researching case studies. I realized that, depending on what I am designing, and for whom, the narratives around a product are often far more important, and compelling, than the product itself. My thesis makes an argument for this notion. The products became irrelevant the moment I finished my thesis. However, the story behind each object was established at the moment I started investigating the user’s interest in it, and that story became stronger and more enticing as the tangible object was separated from the object’s narrative.

Like the people I interviewed for my project, I am very particular about things, understanding what it is like to become fixated with desiring a certain quality or experience or aesthetic. The clients I am interested to design for are those like me, who value the same properties in an object or are clear about requiring a specific kind of experience. Through my designs, I want to celebrate the feeling of desiring something very strongly. To me, obsessions make our lives happy and fulfilling.

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