Waiting game
April 6th
Funnily enough, I didn’t have to think long about this week’s title.
Today, I went to SDX to set up my shelf. Of course, I got the bottom shelf, which was to be expected as I was the one to arrive last (one classmate did it just minutes before I arrived which is a bit of a bummer), but I think the store assistants will be kind enough to rotate them around weekly with the rest of the shelves. It is a little unfortunate that right behind the top shelf there is a semi-naked mannequin torso, with pink underwear… But beggars can’t be choosers!
As I was setting things up and testing the light with the battery pack, I noticed that the battery switches off just after a few seconds. Which wasn’t ideal, so I had to write a note, saying “To see the lights, please press the button on the battery pack” with an arrow pointing down, with my horrible handwriting, that I decided to stick onto the faux rock, and placed that on top of the battery pack to hide it underneath the product which is sitting on the acrylic shelf. I did try the other battery pack which I favoor, but the same thing happened with it, and I would much rather leave the old 4000mAh one there. I don’t think it’s my fault – if I had my own store, I would make sure there is a way for a USB plug to be plugged into the mains socket, but I don’t have a choice. Also, the shelves are at the back of the store instead of at the front like we were told. Which is fine. I am grateful for the opportunity.
As I was leaving, I looked at the photos I took and was not satisfied with the brightness, so I went back for some more, and the lovely shop assistant who used to go to Napier but now works there was looking at my setup. She said she wasn’t sure what was actually for sale. And I realized that she was right – so I moved the decorations back a little, and got some black card and a white pen. I had to write, again, with my terrible handwriting, a tag with the price on it. I wrote “Waterfall diorama”, and in the next line “£93,-“, which is probably silly, as you either use the pound sign, or the “,-“. I cut the card out twice as large so I could fold it in half and rest it in front of the product.
This is when you really notice that this not something I have ever had to think about. And while I felt somewhat humiliated at the prospect of having my product, which I worked on for literally months, be on sale for nearly £100 (which, let’s be honest, is unlikely that anybody would pay for it), and for it not to be even visible (there were a lot of people in the store but I didn’t see anyone even looking at my shelf), hurts a little bit. Not to mention the 3 business cards, that if they were all gone, would mean there was no more for people to see, or to compare with the completed mini version of the sculpture, but if none of them were gone, would mean that people thought it’s just something else for sale, and were too intimidated or cared not at all to take one.
I think sharing something with the world that became so close to your heart at a shop that you do not own or have much say over is quite a humbling experience. It’s like I imagine it would feel like leaving your child or pet in the hands of a nanny or pet sitter. She’s a professional, but you don’t quite know if you can trust her yet.
April 8th - Happy Easter!
After some much-needed rest, I am ready to get back to work. Luckily, I don’t have a lot left to do – with some help from my lecturer I am now feeling more confident about what else I need to deliver for a good mark.
Looking back at the photos from two days ago, I do think it could have been a good idea to create a backdrop which completely isolates my shelf from the one behind it. The colours, the patterns, the whole vibe of that other seller does not fit with mine, but somehow, because there is no differentiation or gap between them, it looks like they belong together. From the photos I took at the very beginning of this project at SDX, most of the sellers do not have this issue. Either they stacked their shelves full of their own products on shelves, and boxes, or the shelf behind was filled up, so there was no bleed-through. If I went back anytime soon I would think about how I would achieve this in a visually pleasing way, but I don’t plan on going back unless I get my first two sales – the first one being sold, and the second being a commission.
Now that I think about it, the whole commission thing doesn’t make a lot of sense – if they do sell the only (final version) product I made, then how will people know what they are commissioning me for? And if I made another… the same thing would happen!
But honestly, I don’t think this is something I need to worry about. I love what I made, but it is difficult for me to feel confident enough to think somebody else would purchase it. However, while that would be an ideal outcome, it was not the main goal of this project.
My lecturer reminded me that I have not shown the product in its intended environment. I left the final version at the store of course, but I can try and do the same with the previous iteration.
It doesn’t look terrible, but kind of gets lost among all the colourful items around it. I do think it would stand out more if the light was turned on, but with this prototype that didn’t quite work out. I did plug it in and the soldering worked, but I think the layers were shifted enough that the light doesn’t come through the fibre optics. I don’t have any white shelves at home, but I think it would stand out more in a white background. I will try to PhotoShop it.
Something I didn’t quite consider is the black USB cable coming out of the back (on this prototype it was the side). There are not that many options in most people’s houses to plug in a relatively short USB cable and hide it on a shelf.
Perhaps a desk would be a better place for it…
The images I found on the internet are quite small and pixellated, and the photos I took were not from the right angle, but I think it definitely looks better on a desk.
reflect on the process from both design and business perspective. Have you learned anything new as a product designer? Taken business into consideration, what is it like working for real market? How will these help you get into fourth year?
Here are some reflective notes on my experience:
- I’ve learned about a multitude of machines and programs, as well as working with natural materials and electronics. All of this, along with finding my brand identity (one focused on environmentally conscious decisions, beautiful, handmade items, the reduction of the use of plastic, supporting charities) will help me to find the project I would like to work on in my final year at university. It will be a big decision, and I plan on spending a lot of my summer on it, but I definitely found some niche directions that will define it easier than if I haven’t had this whole process.
- With some personal revelations that came to light just yesterday, I now understand a little better my obsessive behaviour on finishing tasks to their absolute best, sacrificing sleep, social connections and overall health, just to perfect tiny little details which either will not be noticed by anybody or will even be replaced by further obsessive work later on. Because this was a project I personally chose, and was so close to my heart, this behavior was heightened. It allowed me to observe how I would work if I did this for a living, and there are certainly some steps I can take to help myself cope with this mentality.
- Related to this, I have a long way to go before I am completely comfortable with letting go of an idea or a product I created and not being “precious” about them. I have a lot of pride inside me, which warrs with my lack of self-esteem. It’s a spicy combination, one I hope with time and practice I can learn to manage and achieve my highest potential.
- From a business point of view, it working with the ladies at SDX was similar to when my lecturers aided me, but I felt more of a sense of freedom in expressing my own thoughts. It felt a little more grown-up, which would definitely come from the fact that it was a real-life project headed to a store shelf for all to see and purchase. When setting up said shelf, I noticed certain quirks that, with ample experience, would be much easier to navigate. Having such a limited time to discuss our weekly progress (due to the ladies being so busy with the store) gave me more free reign, but also a lot of chances to doubt myself and potentially spend a lot of time doing something that was never going to come to fruition.
Overall, it was a great experience to prepare me for a design-based work environment, and I feel immensely grateful to have had the chance to do it. Hopefully it will lead me to further product development, which I can create and sell, and not only gain an income but also a sense of professional achievement.