Malvika's Ramblings

Mock Situation Test 2 for NIFT entrance exam

View complete NIFT info at http://blog.malvikajain.com/nift-admission/

Tanushree Kaul wrote to me -

“dis mobile stand which i have designed has dual functions.

1. its a mobile stand

2.its a key holder.

I've given the name to my design i.e DAILY WORKOUT..

because using a mobile phone is a daily workout n using keys is also a daily task ....plus i have set up a scene of early morning showing a rising sun n two silver men which are used as key holders ,shown in a jogging position....

functions:

2 men; key holders

all the silver things are of neon light n will glow at night ,so that its easier to locate it at night.

rising sun (gold) ;is an object to sense a wave n will glow just before the cellphone rings..!!!

please comment on it and tell me my mistakes.......!!!!”

And here is the feedback. Its a quick review, my first thoughts jotted down. ---

Ok, I am glad your mobile stand has a thought behind it – morning needs and DAILY WORKOUT.

Your write-up would impress the judges.

However the whole design is quite bulky. I don’t think the whole sun-thing is required. I personally associate mobiles with clean deisgn etc. If you break the rules, break them better! Would you be interested in buying this mobile stand?

Think

Why would you need a mobile stand?

Where would you place it?

There are so many routes and thoughts. I am taking one of the routes that’s coming to my mind quick. I think you would need a mobile stand to charge your phone with a battery or something when electric points are not available. The mobile phone stand should actually be an option that you prefer to throwing the phone on your desk or in your bag.

A mobile phone would be used in a car. It would hold the phone face-up on the dash board for the driver to see whose calls are coming in while he drives, without using his hands to look for the phone. This stand would stick to the dashboard perhaps. A mobile phone stand could be used similarly at a guy’s desk.. So that he can just see whose calls are coming in. Maybe for him to be able to see it from far, the stand could have the option of a lens that magnifies the screen of the phone showing whose call in coming in LARGE and CLEAR. This lens can be optional.

Keystand is not enough of a function in my opinion. The problem is that a keystand is a totally different function unrelated to mobiles. Charging a phone or having music speakers in the stand to connect the mobile phone would be functions related to the phone. Think of mobile type function – Music, Camera.

Another Angle-

Your phone stand looks like it could be for a person who likes luxury. Someone like Veronica Lodge. Or the new Om in Om Shanti Om. A pretty cushion bed for his dog. Furry slippers. So the mobile phone of the person could lie in a large stand, Why not? Then you will have to push that luxury angle. Maybe give the stand a monogram, the owner’s initials in stylized font. Then the keystand will have to go – such a luxurious person would have a chauffeur not car keys to take care of. Sexy speakers could come in again – integrated in the design, not standing separately. The mobile stand could also be such that it holds up the mobile when the owner wishes to take her own photos and has no one to hold the camera for her. I am imagining this phone stand as a definite personal phone stand.

Don’t mix functions so arbitrarily as to just add a keystand to it, or pencil holder. Though a pen holder with a paper pad might be good as people may have to take down numbers or information a person gives them over their mobile. I know you can take it down in the mobile phone itself but a lot of people prefer to scribble the info without interrupting the talking on the phone.

I am unable to figure out that the two silver guys are jogging. They look like spoons.

Finally a mobile stand would be required either in a situation where things are shaking (as in a vehicle, can you think of other options?) or next to the bed while one sleeps or on the desk while a person sits and works.

The silver edges you have given on green.. I would rather have a clean simple fold. Why all the elaborate stuff? In the green shape, I like the curve that makes the phone face upwards. I understand you have the vertical green face at the bottom of the phone to keep it from slipping, but its too large. It blocks the view of a person from the eye-level. You just need a tiny groove or jutting out piece to keep the phone from slipping.

What if we increased the mobility & visibility of the phone by making a stand that places the phone vertically. A stand that gets stuck on the table (and unstuck by option). And the phone could rotate on a vertical axis. So that if I am sitting at a desk and I go and sit on the other side I can just rotate the face of the phone.

Instead of using the silver edges as the source of light, you could just place a neat square silver patch under the phone. Don't you think? Its easier to locate the phone placed on a neat square of light.

The green block is too wide for just one phone. I could fit in two phones there.

 

Arbit Suggestion: Stick to geometric, angular shapes.. or make it all round and curvy. Don't mix the two. For example, Look at the WagonR, its a boxy car and then look at Matiz, its a round car from the body of the car to the headlights.

Here is an example of 2 thought pools for shape:

 

If you were to attempt a phone stand in the NIFT situation test, I suggest you make and place a mock phone to show how the stand works. Make a quick phone. DOnt spend time over the phone. There would be no marks for the mobile itself.

So, Best of luck.. I can say you are definitely on the right track of thought for the situation test! I love your ‘Will Glow at night and therefore easy to locate’ idea. I'm glad you gave it a name.. it really helped to define the identity of your design very boldy and clearly. DAILY WORKOUT.

 

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