Week 5 Collaboration

"This week completed a group exercise acknowledging differences.

Task 1 - Crossing the Line

We all stand on a line, and the lecture reads statements about a person, for example, cross the line if you have cried this year. We then cross the line if the statements applies to us, In this exercise we can see how people in the group are all different, sometimes in an unexpected way.

People are different and we should respect this.

A number of questions we put to us, my response is outline below.

1. I felt very comfortable with sharing information as I believe people are who they are and I'm comfortable with myself. I was surprised to see some answers and it was nice to know I was not alone in some answers that I gave. I was also surprised when I was the only person to cross the room, but again I'm comfortable with my decisions so I'm happy to stand by them as it were. For example, when I was the only XXX supporter in the room, I felt a little awkward, but since I stand by this I'm fine to disclose my preference in class, I might be more discreet in public, depending on who I was talking with.

2. I think other people were comfortable to share in the most part, sometimes they may have felt a little uncomfortable when the question was very personal, for example "do you feel attractive?"

3. This exercise helps us to understand that people are different and in ways that we would not expect. It also shows us that others students are the same, again in ways we would not expect. The insight into peoples life, or the further understanding of what people are about helps us to accept their differences as we also see our own difference. Sometimes we are different together, so we are the same. For example, when there was a question of XX in families it was comforting to see others in the same group, it helps me to understand those people more. When I saw a difference it also helped me to understand the possible needs of those people. Knowing that we are different and the same in so many ways helps me to relate more to the class.

Task 2 - Discretion and Judgement

Discretion is when we make a judgement on which parts of information we should share with others.
Judgement is when you form an opinion.

"Professional discretion and judgement may relate to:

• assessing when to keep quiet 
• being aware of and responding to different personality types 
• knowing when it is appropriate or inappropriate to share information 
• knowing with whom information should be shared " R001
  
• knowing when to stay in a conversation or situation and when to leave
• respecting others relationships and loyalties

Examples:

• Keep quiet when people are gossiping
• Knowing what joke or language is appropriate for your audience, footy game vs class room
• In the work place confidentiality is very important, if a staff member tells you in private why they have not been at work you then don't share that with others
• If your house is broken into you might not share this with young children as it would be too frightening for them 
• As a manager you might choose to leave a party early before staff are inappropriate
• It would not be a good idea to complain to your co-worker about the boss if the boss was his wife

You use discretion and judgement in a work place so as not to offend others and to respect each person. You also use it to stay out of trouble.

Task details;
"1. Add 2 items to the list above
2. Give a REAL example from your own experience to illustrate all 6 points
3. What is the difference between “discretion” and “judgement” in your own words?
4. Why do you use these two things in a professional setting?
(explain by using examples) " R001

Featured in this video is some advise on a situation where we all need a bit of discretion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dkXpFYCi3Q

3D Design Project - Helmet Cover

Real Expert - Spotlight

When in doubt it's always a good idea to ask an expert, with this in mind I visited Spotlight.
I asked about material that might be suitable for our project. Lucky for me the person I asked had worked in New Zealand in a bike accessory design company and they had designed helmet covers.

What I learnt:

• Lycra and Spandex are the same material, Lycra is a brand name, Spandex is the non-branded version of that material
• It would be better to use a Nylon Spandex mix rather than an Polyester spandex mix as it is easier to apply colours to Nylon and it is a longer lasting product.
• Nylon/ Spandex is a 80/20 mix
• Nylon/ Spandex comes in a variety of colours as seen in the photo below
• Nylon/ Spandex $25 per meter (150 width)

Colour of Nylon/ Spandex

Tag info of material $25 per m

Real Expert - MooGully

I then went to MooGully, a local printing firm and found that there are two printing processes that might work, I would need to deliver a sample for them to test.

The first process is Digital Vapour Infusion (DVI), this is where the colour pigment is set into the material. It is best that the material is white to accommodate the colours.

DVI process result

The second method of printing is called Digitex, this is where a plastic sticker styled item is heated to the material. The material can be any colour as the sticker is not transparent.

Digitex result

DVI requires three times the heat when compared to Digitex, there may be a problem with the material at this heat. I have left a white nylon/ spandex sample for them to test, I also left a sample logo and design so I could test the colours at the same time.

Cost Structure:
1          item  - $30 each
2-4       items - $23 each
5 - 9     items - $20 each
10 - 25 items - $15 each
26 - 50 items - $12 each
51 - 99 items - $10 each
100+    items - 8 each

All material must be supplied and laid flat.

MooGully in Winnellie

Real Expert - Irene is a sewing/ pattern expert

What we learnt:

• Make the pattern from paper by tracing from the centre of the helmet around the helmet, following the curves as you go, this will give you less seems. You can add 2-3 cm here for your hems or you can add 2-3cm to your material when you cut.
• When creating the pattern, lay the paper down the centre ridge of the helmet and mark at each quarter point. This will give you the shape and length from the centre to the bottom
• When creating a pro type use cheap material to start with, try this to test the pattern.
• Make sure the fabric just fits so the final result is not too big with stretchy material
• Material stretches differently, as we would like the contents of the pocket not to stretch the helmet cover we would need the stretch to go from front to back as apposed to top down
• Use an overlocker for the edges
• Use Velcro on the pocket to keep content secure
• Reverse pocket to hide seems
• Maybe create a pocket on each side to aesthetically balance the cover
• Trial different elastics, try non-rolling flat elastic, thinner elastic with hold better, wider elastic will sit better
• Make pro type with elastic being optional so you can trail different elastics

Research results:

One challenge we thought we would have is printing onto the material we chose, a Nylon/Spandex mix. When we initially called the printing company they said they had had problems in the past printing on the nylon/ spandex material we chose, the high heats sometimes ruin the material. With this in mind we took a sample of the material to the printers to test, this would determine our future design constraints.
Luckily, both the Digitex and Digital Vapour Infusion methods worked well. The DVI colours vary from what is in illustrator, so in the design process I would say that your colour choice will have to be approximate rather than an exact match.

original image for print

Digitex on the left and DVI on the right

You can also see the flares did not work, however they might be able to do this in the final print.

References:
R001: Class Notes Week 5 Collaboration, Certificate IV Design, Charles Darwin University