(just one sec)
Alejandro Z
The plan was to build a portfolio site but somehow it turned into a series of illustrated conversations about design inspired by the Socratic method. Thank you.
Hey, is this gonna be a chat? seriously?
Dude, I told you.
fig 1.1
Alright, so what’s up?
Visual
What sort of stuff are you into?
fig 1.2
Hmmm, prototyping, exploration, technology, thinking, making things, visuals, sounds
What’s you goal?
fig 1.3.
Make strange, happy things happen
Strange like what?
fig 1.4
Happy accidents, new flavors, new colors, new senses?
(games, wearables, exhibition pieces, hardware, software…)
fig 1.5
That’s a lot, how are you going to get that done?
Asking for help? I’m looking for friendships, partnerships, users, players…
business models…
fig 1.6
How do you work?
I have attention-deficit problems, so I need to try different things all the time
fig 1.7
My mom says that if you know what you are doing then you should be able to explain it clearly.
Well, not necessarily
fig 1.8
so your work is kind of experimental?
Hmm no, well, I try to be technology-agnostic,
fig 1.9
Everything is experimental, everything is changing all the time, so it’s not like there’s a choice
fig 1.9.1
What do you think?
Yeah, i don’t know, i think i’m confused/
Are the things we wear part of us? and what happens when those things become interactive? Is this a fad? Is everything a fad?
Wearables?
The way I imagine it is like soft hardware. You know, like textiles, skin-friendly, meaningful, non-smartphonish,
fig 2.1
Are you thinking of some outrageous, garish wearables?
Better garish than boring (I've worked on boring and fun wearables) I’m shooting for expresive
Expressive
fig 2.2
Expressive?
(btw, this background works better)
Yeah, people express themselves with fashion, no?
fig 2.3
That’s your direction?
Part of it, yes, it’s about how things that are close to you, physically or otherwise, become… You
fig 2.4
And also the idea that wearables could be like helpful agents or spirits…
like demons and and angels whispering things into your ears?
Yeah, sort of.
Everything is play, play is in everything… almost. Ubiquitous, universal, human, why is it important? Estimated reading time: 1.5 min.
You mean, like playing games?
No, it's more basic than that… Play is an essential, sometimes subconscious influence… Play always finds a way, though
fig 3.1
Is it about having fun? making people feel that?
Hmm, no, fun is good when it happens, but it’s not something I deliberately chase, it’s more about creating bonds
fig 3.2
Bonding what?
Bonds between people, mainly… Play is a tool to make emotional and personal connections…
So it’s not so subconscious after all, huh?
fig 3.3
I guess what I’m saying is that play is really important as part of the design process, and also play as an outcome can be very powerful!
Dude, what’s with all the monsters/
fig 3.4
They are tools for play, signifiers for play, i.e toys
Yeah, but it’s not just objects or toys, right?
Yeah, not only that (toys can be imaginary, also), Play is both form and function… and soul!
Because humans are attracted to screens like flies to lightbulbs? In this chapter: pixels, fingers, eyeballs, user experience and inexperience.
“Pixels” sounds very 2000’s
fig 4.1
Yeah, these days you need to think more about systems and flows but pixels are always there
I thought you were being retro, so you are more into UX planning?
fig 4.2
Sometimes is hard to separate the visual strategy from the interaction strategy…
So you do a little bit of everything?
fig 4.3
No, not everything, but I like be on top of things, see how all the parts, hmm, interact
I need to see how everything works together
fig 4.4
Sounds inefficient.
Sometimes, but for me it’s about owning what you do.
Yeah, but you don’t have to do everything yourself.
fig 4.5
True. But you need to know how everything fits together.
(Hey, don’t get mad!) Is it true that you strongly dislike the term “UX”?
fig 4.6
I hate a lot of words, but I’m not saying which ones
‘Experience’ is really abused, though. Kind of arrogant… now, experiment, that’s an interesting word
In which the author and the other guy discuss increasingly nebulous interaction design matters (ok, we are obviously running out of things to say).
Is there some kind of overarching design philosophy?
I’m not super articulate for this kind of thing… I have a strong
fig 5.1
Subconscious mind which shapes a lot of my work. It’s a kind of primal, primitive thing
Hmm, yeah but can you control it?
fig 5.2
No, well, sometimes, (see these moving backgrounds?)
(yeah, is that your subconscious? so annoying!) What is the role of research in your process?
fig 5.3
It’s impossible not to do research, it’s happening all the time,
I mean, there’s a natural impulse that makes you question everything constantly
fig 5.4
I see what you mean but how do you engage in that constant research?
Drawing, sketching, making, observing
fig 5.5
I rely a lot on my physicality and what can be gathered through the senses…
fig 5.6
Senses > sensors.
(Senses & nonsense)
Yeah, this is a bunch of completely different projects but everything connects somehow. Made by the author with help from lots of really talented people.
