Why do people accumulate stuff? Part 1: Questions and answers.

Assignment 4 asks us to pick a topics, formulate and conduct interviews of a few people about our chosen subject, write up our findings and offer our own opinions.


I decided to investigate why people accumulate stuff. To form a structure for my interview I first completed a mind map to fully explore my chosen question.

The above shows the different avenues of my interviews ranging from questions on the experience of shopping to the experiences of throwing away items in the home.

Here is a list of the questions I asked in the order in which I asked them...

1. Are you a person who accumulates stuff?
2. What type of thing do you accumulate? Is it a collection or things with no connection?
3. Do you have a use for the things you accumulate?
4. Where do you keep the things you accumulate?
5. Where do you keep the things you accumulate? Are they on show or stored out of sight?
6. Do you have an emotional attachment to the things you accumulate?
7. Do you by these things simply for want or need?
8. How do you feel when shopping?
9. On reflecting of buying these items how do you feel about them? Worth keeping them? Waste of money?
10. Could you live without them?
11. Would you stretch your budget or go out of pocket to purchase these items?
12. Is purchasing these products an addiction?
13. When you clear out your house do you throw any of these items away?
14. If you do, how do you feel about doing so? Relieved? Regret?
15. Are there any items which you keep because they have been passed down to you by a family member?
16. Are there any items you have accumulated you are keeping to pass down to another family member?

To give you some background on the interviewees, I have put together a character profile on each person

Interviewee 1

Age: Unknown.

Sex: Female.

Marital Status: Single.

Occupation: Design Student.

Dependants: One Daughter.

In charge of Household: Yes.

Interviewee 2

Age: 19.

Sex: Male.

Marital Status: In a Relationship.

Occupation: Accounts Student and Works in Super Market Part-Time.

Dependants: None.

In Charge of Household: No. Lives with mother and sister.

Interviewee 3

Age: Early Forties.

Sex: Female.

Marital Status: Married for over 20 years.

Occupation: N/A

Dependants: 3 Daughters.

In Charge of Household: Yes.

Notes from first interview:

She does accumulate stuff, particularly books, which she has a practical use for, and other items such as shells, for their sentimental value. The books she collects are on topics which interest her/ make her more knowledgeable on the subject rather than novels for reading pleasure. The books and mementos are on display around her home. She feels these items make the house her own and much more homely. She also keeps materials which she does not have a use for but refuses to throw them out in case they come in handy one day. She finds it hard to resist bargains and will collect many items from car boot sales. She has a hard time throwing away any work from school as she would like her daughter to be able to use them to aid her own studies. She has a habit of retrieving items her daughter bins, particularly old toys as she has an emotional attachment to them and hopes one day any grandchildren she has will make use of them. When clearing out she looses sight of her intention of throwing away unwanted items and often goes back through piles she has made of stuff to be thrown out, deciding to keep most of it. Her garage and attic are filled with various things as she has run out of room in her house. She mostly buys for need rather than want, feeling the need to justify any spending. She is attached to her personal belongings but not to the extent that she could not live without them. After initial disappointment, she would recover if any of these items were taken from her. She owns a bedding box which her father made and gave to her which she keeps. Apart from perhaps this item she has no particularly treasured items, she likes them all!

Notes from second interview:

The things he accumulates are related to his interests in film, music, computer gaming and comic books. He also accumulates issues of Rolling Stone magazine and has several issues at any one time. He has several hundred DVDs and many album CDs. Although he could simply download or borrow DVDs or CDs he has a need to own the physical item himself. In the case of the CDs this is simply for show as he only listens to music on his laptop or ipod. Comic book and records are items he collects and many have sentimental value to him. Records he feels he could live without and simply buys them for quality of sound. Games he is not so attached to as after playing them he has no problem trading them in for different games. When shopping for these items he feels excited and is usually very glad he purchased the items. He realises DVDs and CDs come down in price rapidly but feels he can not wait for them to do so and regularly pays full price for the satisfaction of owning them straight away. After attending music concerts he proudly displays the used tickets on his bedroom wall. He plans to keep his collection of Disney Pixar blu-rays as he believes they are classics. He hopes any children he has in the future will be able to appreciate them.

Notes from third interview:

She accumulates stuff she has a use for and has a purpose around the house. She buys for practicality. Very few sentimental items are displayed around the house and any belongings are tidied away. She shops mostly for need and only occasionally for want. The items she buys often last for years as she chooses classic items she thinks will not date or go out of fashion and takes care of her belongings. Looking back on such items she still thinks they are a worth while purchase.She is very pleased and feels successful when she finds what she is looking for in a shop often bragging about her find. She is frustrated when she cant find exactly what she needs. She is very ruthless when having a clear out and when something has for filled it's purpose and no longer has a use she has no difficulty parting with it. She tends not to keep things in the hope she one day might need it. On the other hand she recently refused to throw out chopsticks as she feels they have a practical use when redecorating the house as they can be used for stirring paint... She doesn't plan to redecorate anytime soon. For a short while she is relieved to be rid of stuff but often finds a use for something once it has been thrown out and then regrets getting rid of it. 

Studio Update!

It’s about time I filled everyone in on my current project! It’s a big one but thankfully we’ve been given an extension so I can just about manage to squeeze in a blog or two...

So, our brief for semester two is to come up with a solution for a Business Hub to be used by SEPA. SEPA, or The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, is an organisation in charge of regulating, protecting and improving Scotland’s environment. They strive to make businesses aware of their environmental responsibilities and have the power to enforce legislation to ensure everyone complies.

The hypothetical site given for this business hub is a warehouse currently used by DC Painters and Joiners situated on the corner of Tannadice Street and Neish Road, Dundee. The building is owned by Dundee United Football Club and overlooks the stadium.

Although we are not allowed to propose many changes to the original structure of the building, we are free to use the space pretty much how we like!

The requirements being:  

•   An entrance and reception
•   Waiting area
•   Office space for 24 staff
•   A CEO’s office
•   4 Managers offices
•   A cafeteria
•   Toilets
•   2 meeting rooms
•   Research Labs to house 4 members of staff
•   A library with quiet space
•   Storage

Each with their own minimum space requirements!

Quite a hefty project as you can see...

It’s also very important that the finished building be as environmentally friendly as possible.

So where on earth did I start? Well after research into what is involved in eco design, as discussed in an earlier blog, I had a look at current office design.

One of my favourite designs was by a company called HASSELL who won the 2010 World Architecture Festival’s Interior and Fit out of the Year Award for the AZA Centre in Melbourne.

As you can see from the above pictures, all offices centre around a hub on the ground level at the heart of the building. This space is visible from almost every room in the building and includes cafes, a visitor centre and often displays public art. It is this particular feature of the building which drew me to this design. I liked the idea of a building having a centre space where the social areas were all grouped together at an equal distance from all the work areas. I also appreciated that all the work areas looked down onto this space where lots could be going on, creating a positive atmosphere throughout the building. This void of space between offices, along with the lack of dividing walls, gives an open feel and detracts from any claustrophobic feelings typically associated with a typical work space. This creates a less stressful environment, with higher productivity across the organisation due to an increase in staff morale.

From these pictures you can see the use of various different seating arrangements around tables or desks providing multi-purpose break-out spaces for staff. Personally I feel this is a very important feature in any office environment as it allows alternative working arrangements and flexible meeting spaces. A flexible and adaptable space is vital in keeping up with the needs of employees which can change on a daily basis.

I’ll be sure to write up another blog soon to keep you updated on my final proposal!

Fundraising for the degree show...

The big problem of fundraising is stressing out many students in IED at the moment...

Every year the responsibility of raising money for the current 4^th years degree show is given to the 2^nd years and after raising some money as a year group, it was decided that due to the hectic projects it would be easier if each person had a target of £60ish to raise each. 

As many of you will be aware, at the beginning of the year we held a class bake sale once a week outside the Cantina. While this was successful at first, in the New Year business slowed down with people claiming to be dieting as a resolution! Personally I enjoyed making (and eating) the cakes but came to the conclusion that if I were to continue the selling of cakes myself it was unlikely to be successful for one of three reasons...

1. It would be time consuming both baking and selling2. I’d end up making a loss as baking can be expensive and I’d have to make a fair few to  make any profit
 
And
 
3.The cakes would go off after a day or two so I’d have to sell them instantly or I’d be left with them to eat all by myself (tempting I’ll admit!)

So, what could I sell with very little output on my part, which was quick and easy to make and could last long enough for me to sell a number of them?

MIX-UPS!

Everyone loves sweets right?

In the end it cost me just £15 to buy the sweets, an hour to make 80 bags and, after sitting on my desk for just 10 days, with little advertising on my part, I made a profit of £60!

Pretty SWEET deal if you ask me! (Sorry. It had to be done...)

Design Safari

Ethnography.

The Ethnography Primer describes ethnography as a research method based on observing people in their natural environment rather than in a formal research setting.

This method is commonly used in design as it creates a deeper understanding of people. It can be used to make sense of different cultures, understand norms and communicate information in ways that are easily comprehendible to people.

Understanding clients or potential markets are key in creating a successful product.

The Importance of Rules.

Bourdieu gives a good example of how people avoid situations, which could make them uncomfortable, as they are not familiar with the social codes or “rules” associated with that particular situation. He states that galleries and museums are places that ‘ordinary’ people are put of going to as they feel there is a stereotypical type of person who attends such places and they themselves do not fit in that category. Although ‘ordinary’ people could go to such places, they assume they would not fit in or know how to act.

Observe and Record.

To test both Ethnography and Bourdieu’s theory, we were asked to put ourselves in a situation we were not used to, identify any “rules” and assess how we feel. We were also asked to visit places such as supermarkets to observe people going about their daily business…

Primary Site: The Casino.

Preconceptions:

Having never been to a casino before I was expecting a very busy and loud atmosphere, Las Vegas style! I anticipated that there would be a very strict dress code and that almost all of the people attending would be fairly wealthy. I expected to feel very out of place being a young student and didn't imagine anyone of similar age to myself would be there. I pictured the casino to be a very grand place and that I would have to behave in a very formal fashion.

How I felt:

Once inside the casino I initially felt very intimidated when becoming a member. I felt embarrassed being so young when I handed over my ID and was concerned about being judged. I felt particularly awkward when posing for a photograph by myself.
Once up the stairs I was surprised by the way what other people were wearing and suddenly felt a little over dressed! People were dressed smart but not as extravagantly as I was lead to believe.
I was also surprised by the relaxed atmosphere around the bar area where I decided to stand, not having a clue about gambling... I'm sure I easily stood out as a new comer!

Observations:


After attempting to read people, I put together a quick mind map of my findings...

Conclusion:

After spending a few hours in the casino I began to pick up on the common accepted "rules" and noticed a pattern in how people generally conducted themselves. For example,  it was frowned upon when people reached a level which was considered to intoxicated to stay on the premisses. I witnessed one girl being asked to leave, not noticing myself that she was particularly drunk. It was obvious impeccable behaviour was expected and people were not impressed when others did not conduct themselves in the correct way. Another thing I picked up on was that the "hard core" gamblers were easily recognisable and could be set apart from the "casual" gamblers quickly. Casual gamblers would head straight to the bar in small groups and perhaps played on the slot machines for quite sometime. They appeared relaxed. The more serious gamblers appeared t be in a very intense and focused "bubble" choosing not to socialise too much. When playing the casual gamblers would be talking amongst themselves where as the serious gamblers would be quiet, leaning towards the table appearing very frustrated and slightly aggressive when they lost money, very involved with the game.

Secondary Site: Tesco.

Observations:


I applied the same observations to a supermarket environment...

Conclusion:


There weren't too many surprises when I wandered around Tesco. I was slightly more aware however of how people acted depending on wether or not they were alone, in a group of friends or if they were a family shopping. 
Generally, people by themselves appeared to be very focused with no distractions. In some cases, people appeared deliberately focused suggesting perhaps they did not enjoy being alone, throwing themselves into the task to distract from the fact they were by themselves. These people seemed to go around the shop in a hurry, obviously limiting the time they were alone. Another explanation for peoples hurried manor could be that they were simply in a rush and chose to go alone for quickness. They could also be shopping quickly to avoid a social interaction which would make them feel uncomfortable, perhaps bumping into someone they knew but did not wish to speak to.
People with young families often appeared stressed having children in public for any length of time with their unpredictable behaviour. Some parents also seemed embarrassed when this unpredictable behaviour took a turn for the worse. Other customers tended to avoid aisles where a parents body language suggested they were angry with their child and did not want to be involved. Some parents could be overly defensive if someone looked at them while they were giving their children a row. Perhaps putting on a front so they did not give away their embarrassment.
Young people in groups of friends on the other hand were much more relaxed and tended to wander around the shop without appearing to have anything in particular to buy. I noticed this laid back approach to shopping could annoy customers who were perhaps in a hurry and needed those around them to speed up!
Shopping can obviously be a very different experience for various people. Some people treating the experience as a chore and others as a more sociable event.

Service Design Tools

 The website “servicedesigntools.org” provides a comprehensive list of many tools which are useful within the design process. Although the tools stated are given in the context of service design they can be related and used in various other disciplines.

 The “Storyboard Tool” page offers a collection of case studies showing how this tool can be applied in service design research.

A storyboard is used within service design to map touch points and their relationship between them and users in the given experience.

One case study, The Handy Man Shop, François Jégou, Ezio Manzini (Sustainable everyday project), demonstrates how a storyboard can be used to portray different scenarios within a shop and proposed solutions.

Note: The above example uses a clever and simple orange barrier to separate each scene!

This technique could be directly applied to the Interiors design process. Storyboards are a great way of communicating how a space is occupied or for example, how a person would move through a space. The storyboard tool could be used in both the research and final proposal stages of creating a space. They could show the current uses of the existing space during a renovation project at the new proposed use of the space at the end of a project. The use of storyboards at the final proposal stage would be arguably the most relevant as it is essential to portray to clients how users will enter a space, which rooms they arrive at first and the general layout of the building in context.

I once used this technique in a commemorative space project in first year. I used simple line drawings in sequence to demonstrate how the monument was viewed from different positions around the site.

The tool would definitely be useful in my current project, designing a business hub, as in particular I am looking at the way users move through the building and what areas need to be linked to one another. The order in which people enter each space in this project could be clearly shown through the use of a simple tool such as a storyboard! 

Bone Appetit!

When doing research on Celebration, Florida - the master-planned community created by the Disney company - after the lecture on Disneyfication, I decided to look at what businesses were in the town. Aside from your average restaurants, Starbucks, art shops and clothing stores, etc, I stumbled upon this:

While, after looking further into the company, it becomes clear that it's not just yet another average pet shop, in the vein of Pets at Home, and it also has probably one of the best names for a company, I've ever heard, for a pet food company or otherwise!


You could say it probably specialises in making more appealing dog treats than you'd get in an average supermarket, with its website saying it makes "hand-made, gourmet dog treats... baked using fresh, wholesome ingredients," which would probably make it popular among people who would wish their dogs to be eating more healthily. So popular, in fact, that in Florida alone, there's 15 Woof Gang Bakery franchises, with two in North Carolina, one in Texas and one in Georgia. 

Another happy customer...

If you ever want the chance to run your own Woof Gang Bakery (me and Darren laughed at the name and website for nearly 15 minutes), here's your chance! Woof Gang Bakery - Franchise Q and A! 

With the store in Celebration looking like more of a dining room than a shop due to the minimal shelf space used, plates of treats being instead placed on top of an elaborate table, and with the store lit by two chandeliers that wouldn't look out of place in a grand hotel lobby, the store immediately sets itself apart from its competitors that are often designed very much like a supermarket. See below for a typical design of a Pets at Home store:

Note the heavy use of artificial light in the large space, with a heavy focus on shelving, which is tailored towards functionality as opposed to aesthetics.

There's an International Development page as well that's under construction, so you never know, you might not need to go to America to pick up some fancy dog treats! You know, it's food for thought...