Wikipedia Paper

I wrote my Wikipedia Article Assignment on American Collegiate Institute, my high school. Either search Wikipedia or click.

MC Sports

For my retail store evaluation I went to the MC Sports in Kalamazoo, a sports (and hobby) gear store. The store addresses a wide range of costumers. Anyone who wants to shop for almost any sport can go to MC Sports.The store contains gear for sale for hunting, fishing, snowboarding, skiing, canoeing, soccer, golf, basketball, football, track, tracking, etc. and also weight-lifting gear. They sell general sports items like thermal gear too. Therefore, they market to anyone who is interested in any sport.

From the outside, the store is not appealing. It has a industrial look with grayish colors and sharp edges. Also, the gates are not very user friendly. The entrance is through two layers of doors; two double-doors as the first layer and three double-doors as the second layer. Although the existence of more than one door, and all the doors being double widens and frees the space available for entrance, they are also disadvantageous. First, to enter the store, the costumer needs to go through two doors rather than one. Also, two of the doors in the inner layer are in the middle while one is on the left, and there is a huge canoe inside the store, in the middle of the middle doors and the door on the left. So it is almost as if the door on the left opens to another section of the store. This might cause confusion on the costumer. When the costumer goes through one of the doors in the middle, there are items on the way narrowing further movement into the store.

The display of the merchandise also fails in a few points. First of all, there is merchandise everywhere, the store is overcrowded. With the addition of lack of labeling and sings the it is very hard and tiring to find what one is looking for. There are some obvious sections in the store which are distinguishable like the hunting and the canoeing section, however, the others are not noticeable. Also, the footgear section is shoved all the way to the back, which is impossible to see from anywhere in the store because of the high shelving throughout the store. While I was looking for weight-lifting gloves to buy I was completely lost, so, I asked a staff member. He directed me to another staff member, who just directed me to a huge part of the store and told me that the gloves "should be somewhere there". Although MC Sports describes their staff as a "friendly knowledgeable staff " on their website, I have reason to disagree. On the other hand, there are helpful signs also, for instance, near the socks section, there is a informative board indicating the relationship between shoe and sock size, which extremely helpful for me while shopping.

After a nightmare of shopping, the cashier area relaxes the costumer a bit. There are not that many items blocking the path or limiting movement, but just enough. However, one always has to go through the troubling doors to leave.

Egg in a Bed of Balloons

My partner for the "Egg Drop" assignment was Mike Korn.Me and him were to build an container for a single egg so that the egg would survive a fall from a second (or a higher) floor. This is how we ended up with the Bed of Balloons as our container.
 
We brought our ideas together right ahead, just after we decided on being a group at the end of the class the project was assigned. I was thinking on a container that would have the egg covered in something soft inside, and on the outside I wanted to cover the container with material that would make the whole container bounce, thus reducing the impact of the fall. I even had it pictured on my head. After a few sentences with Mike, I realized how complicated my idea was. I still believe it would be a very nice container if we had weeks and access to different material for the project. However, we only had a week and we were in college. Mike had the idea of balloons. Wow! How I couldn't think of that? I had this complicated idea of a bouncing ball with the egg held in a separate container inside, but balloons never crossed my mind. I guess I was lost in excitement.I assured him I had access to balloons: my workplace had a few extra after the decorations for Homecoming. So I had the balloons... When I showed up for the second meeting Mike asked me where the balloons were, so, I showed him the non-inflated balloons. He was disappointed, apparently he had this idea of helium balloons; "c'mon Mike, how can you even think I would have access to helium balloons?" After a few laughs, while Mike was trying to come up with a new idea I proposed continuing with the materials we had. However only balloons and a card box did not seem enough, so, we went to our rooms, looking for anything we could use. I found this orange Kalamazoo bag and an airbag with three sections that was the container for the in-ear headphones I had ordered. We wrapped the airbag around the egg and taped it to stabilize. Then we half-filled the bag with semi-inflated balloons, put the airbag with the egg in the middle, the covered the rest of the bag with more balloons! Now we had this bag full of balloons with the egg in the middle. However, we were not satisfied, and we had some balloons left unused. So we fully inflated them and taped them around the bag for more protection. My aim of something bouncy and soft was accomplished. In addition, the outer circle of balloons made a huge vertical surface area that the air friction on the container was extremely high. This ended up in our container floating from a third story window and softly bouncing on the ground. It was so soft that it is hard to call the contact with the ground a 'hit'. We exchanged looks of accomplishment: Success! Fun times... =)

If I was to evaluate our container I would first say that it was a success in behavioral design. In addition to the proper functioning it is cheap, fast and easy to make. On the other hand, it would fall behind the container made by Claire and Shelbi in the visceral aspect. Ours was not ugly or repelling but it was not that pretty either. I thought of how we could make it an visceral success. The first thing that came to my mind was that the tape on holding the outer circle of balloons was unattractive. We could have used an subtler material to attach those balloons to the bag. Or maybe, we could just not have them, why not? As long as we could stabilize the airbag with the egg in the center of the bag, I believe our bag would still be functional. Furthermore, our container touched the reflective aspect of design in the sense that it reflected the K spirit, since  the bag was a K-College Bag! Go Hornets!!

Also, I was fascinated by the idea of freezing the egg in ice. I doubt it was Keaton's aim to make the egg so hard that it would not break at all, but it worked, didn't it? Although, it does feel like cheating, if the egg can still be edible after defrosting, it will the best idea of all.

Overall, it was the best assignment I had in K so far, I'm glad I picked (and found a spot in) this seminar.

Shopping

The following questions are answered in accordance to "The Science of Shopping" by Malcolm Gladwell.

1. What points from this article do you feel are most important?
   
   To start with, I was quite fascinated that there is actually a job that observes and keeps data on people shopping. This is a significant point also. The shops are doing their best to make us buy stuff. Like advertising tricks, the way a shop is built and decorated has an effect on how people shop. We should be like "Fulfilleds" and be aware of the trick being played on us. They want us to buy, and do everything they can to accomplish this. I believe, a costumer needs to be aware of this before buying and always ask himself "Do I really need to buy this?". I also found it interesting and important to know how many details there are that affect shopping, for instance; "a women's product that requires extensive examination should never be placed in a narrow aisle". It is very interesting that how detailed and how subtle but effective design can be. It is also important that men and women are and should be addressed differently. Over years of observation, there were a few interesting points that are akin to Paco's observations that I have discovered. In Turkey, almost all clothing shops have the women's wear in the first floor — if the shop is more than one story — or out in the front of the shop — if the shop is a single floor. Especially the shops in downtown. I had believed that it was because mostly women would wander around downtown and the displayed clothing was to draw their attention. It is not very often that a men would see a store display and be attracted and say "oh, I should check that out". It is also because men are mostly busy when they walk downtown. Men mostly shop after going out with the purpose of shopping. Of course there are retail stores that displays men wear, but less in number. Another good point in the article is that how alike clothing like socks and shoes should be arranged to be near one another in the store. This way, when one buys a shoe, one is reminded that one needs socks to go along with a shoe also.
    
2. How much do you personally feel you are influenced by a store's design?
   
   I believe I am not influenced much by a store's design, because I mostly go shopping with the purpose of shopping. I buy what I need most of the time. However, the arrangement of alike items put together might be affecting me. Sometimes I buy a t-shirt and see a jacket that will go with it and I am attracted to the jacked. I am not saying I just buy it, but it is true that I am attracted. And mostly my mother does my shopping, she has good taste.
   
3. Make a check list you could use to analyze a retail store like Paco Underhill does.
   
   I believe every point Paco has makes sense. My top points on my list would be that arrangement of alike clothing together and the separation of clothing of different genders.

Mustard and Gum

This blog post will again answer three questions, this time however, on two articles; "Isn't it Iconic?" by Stacey King Gordon and  "The Power of The Box" by Tuija Seipell.

1. To what extent is packaging important in marketing a product? Give an example of how a package influenced your decision to buy (or not buy) something.
   
   I believe the packaging is pretty important since it is the first impression of the product on the costumer. It might either draw or repel the costumer. However this mostly applies in extreme conditions. If a packaging is very appealing it might even be bought just for the packaging, or else if the packaging is extremely distasteful it might not be bought just because of the repelling packaging. If the situation, the packaging, is not extreme it will only be the second factor that comes after the quality of what is inside the package.
   I think people don't just go and buy products, but do research on what to buy first (at least I do). In this case the packaging does not play a big role because the buyer first asks what to buy to a person with knowledge on the that type of product. Advice plays a great role in peoples decisions in shopping; it might overrule a very ugly packaging. I doubt that people will buy a repellingly packaged product without an advise or previous experience.
   If these conditions do not apply and a person is about to buy a product of a type for the first time, packaging is a significant criteria. And the effect of each package on each person varies. Children will be attracted to childish, colored and fancy packaging (although they may lack behavioral design success). On the other hand, an adult might just look for a decent and professional looking packaging. A women will be drawn to a packaging while a men is drawn to another one... In other words, each package has a different impact on different people.
   For me, when my father asked me to buy mustard, it was my only choice to buy only through looking at the packaging. Glass or plastic? Bold yellow or fancy colored? Full of text or plain? In the end, I bought the professional looking glass packaging painted simply with just enough text as explanation
    
2. What other products have iconic packaging?
   
   The drink Caprisun has an iconic packaging, to me at least. I used to drink and love this juice when I was young, and since I was not very familiar with reading and writing — also I have been bad with remembering the names — I would distinguish this delicious product by its unique packaging. This packaging fits all five points/requirements pronounced by Stacey King Gordon: It is simple; uses basic and bold colors; is different, appealing and easily distinguishable but does not stand out more than it should; is still nice after being subject to adjustments over years; lastly, it contains an extraordinarily delicious product. Also, the feel of packaging is a success; it takes ones grasps shape when being used.
    
3. What usability issues exist for packaging? Give examples of particularly good or bad packaging from a usability perspective.
   
   Usability is very important in packaging. A fragile product packaged in a soft container, a product that one plans on carrying in ones pocket packaged in a big container... These will fend off the consumer. When buying gum — and I do this frequently — the usability of the package plays a great role in my decision. Will it fit my pocket? Will its weight annoy me? Does it have sharp edges that will hurt me? Is it hard enough so that the gum will not be squashed? Will the box open and set the gum free into my pocket? After these questions, I always pick this over this (too big) or this (the box opens by itself in my pocket).

Wikipedia

The following questions and citations are in reference to"Know it All" by Stacy Schiff.

1. What do you think are the author's main points in this article?
   
   One of the main points is that, although very young (especially, when compared to Encyclopedia Britannica), Wikipedia has hundreds of thousands entries. And the number of entries is increasing each day. It is not a formal encyclopedia where almost only academic subjects are found. Since it has a non-solid database, there is almost no limit to its size. Thus, it covers a variety of subjects of information; "how to"s, academic entries, places, everyday things... Also, it is edited constantly. Finally, through the constant editing and easy renewal/access it keeps up with the ever-changing world.
   
   
2. An important part of credible writing is selecting good supporting evidence. Select a passage from this article that illustrates the effective use of supporting detail. Explain why you think it is particularly effective.
   
   
   "Wikipedia remains a lumpy work in progress. The entries can read as though they had been written by a seventh grader: clarity and concision are lacking; the facts may be sturdy, but the connective tissue is either anemic or absent; and citation is hit or miss."

   Use of reference to other publications or supporting evidence will make the article more reliable in the readers mind. Most Wikipedia articles lack this, because everyone can write on Wikipedia and citation is not mandatory for an article to be published. Although,  the people in charge of running Wikipedia constantly check the articles and mark them for improvement or purge some text, it is not enough. The are many more users than organizers. As it is said here, people don't put much effort into making Wikipedia
   articles meet some standards like citation, clarity, non-sturdy etc. Therefore the Wikipedia articles don't seem reliable.
   
   
3. Throughout the article, the author compares Wikipedia to the Encyclopedia Britannica, but not specifically on design. How would you compare the two encyclopedias from a design perspective?
   
   The best advantage of Wikipedia is that it is web-based, so, people can access the information on it through any internet connection (from computers, smart-phones, even normal cell phones with internet access). This easy accessibility makes Wikipedia far more user friendly than Encyclopedia Britannica. And in a world where the internet is more popular each day, and where people are getting lazier, easy access goes a long way. However, Wikipedia lacks the physical feel. Some people like the smell and the feel of books, thus Encyclopedia Britannica is better in this sense. Another user friendly aspect of Wikipedia is the computer based search. Unlike  it is with Encyclopedia Britannica where the user needs to go through the pages to find an entry, in Wikipedia the user just types the topic and hits Search. The computer based search also by the "did you mean this..." response, where it leads the user to the desired article. 

The following questions and answers are in reference to the web article "Organization and Preparation Tips" by Garr Reynolds.

1. What do you think are the author's three most important points?
   
   I believe the points numbered 2, 4 and 7 are the three most important points made by the author. Point 2 is "Know your audience as well as possible". This point is very significant in the sense that according to the audience the presentation is presented the way of presentation, and even the content, will vary. A subject can be presented in a thousand ways to a thousand different audience. The audiences level of knowledge on the topic, level of education (one cannot use the advanced level language of a presentation made to university graduates in a presentation for elementary school kids), culture (both not to commit any faux pas and to be able to use examples/ways of presenting familiar to the culture), interests... Any knowledge on the audience will be of help when preparing and presenting the presentation as it will help set guidelines for the presenter. Point 4 emphasizes simplicity while not being stupid. This I believe is a very fine line. Complication in presenting will cause the attention of the audience to slowly fade, therefore the presentation should be simple, but not stupid. And for it not to be stupid but simple the presenter should know the audience as in stated in point 2. Also point 7 is crucial. A smart audience will always evaluate and try to make sense of what they here, therefore answering the possible "so what?"s is very important. Also, a clever presentation will amaze the audience and return in an increase in attention.
    
2. How might you apply this advice to your own presentation?
   
   Prior to preparing our presentation I will try to evaluate our seminar group (which will be the audience) and prepare the presentation accordingly. Although not very much, I have a rough idea formed on the group through the earlier discussions. Also before the presentation, I plan on doing a brainstorming exercise with my partner to figure out to flow and the content. This will help in making the presentation fill, and not go over, the required 5 minutes. Passing the elevator test and the doing the exercise given in point 4 will also be my aim. Furthermore, while picking the topic of our discussion, which will be a product, the
   ten points made by Garr Reynolds will be helpful.
   
3. What do you think presentation preparation has in common with product design?
     While designing a product it is very important to know the audience of the product to meet their needs as it is in presentation preparation. Also, simplicity is a common goal, as pointed out by Garr Reynolds for presentations in his web article and as strongly emphasized by Donald Norman for design products in his books cited in the previous posts. Moreover, the 7th point "so what?" by Reynolds is similar to the Behavioral Design concept by Norman. A product should have a needed function, the use must appeal to the costumer. The costumer should not say "so what?"after learning the function of a product. Similar to the elevator test a products use should be learned in a few minutes (except very complex products like computers).

*Briefly discuss the areas of design you would be most interested in exploring. 

I would like to learn how a product is created; the process it undergoes from beginning as a thought to being physically formed, with the job descriptions of which person does what. Who starts the idea of a product? Does the designer draw the product? Does an engineer or a designer create the first prototype? and questions alike... The reason for my curiosity is that I am yet to decide on what I want to be, and I believe the knowledge of this detailed process will help me decide.