Solution :The Jetty experience and the alternative river space.

This post starts with  visual of what its like to use the jetty, and what it is like presently.

The second sketch sheet is an exploration of the ergonomics that different shapes have to offer. This results in a surprisingly simple solution, which then also works better for rowers while docking- which is to have a 90 degree change in the direction of the boat.  The solution is to have a long jetty that is perpendicular to the river length, so the only thing that decides the number of boats that can be docked on it is its length. These sketches also explore another possibility- that a section of the jetty is motor able. This can be detached and run with an engine, so that it can be taken to a different point on the river from where a race could be starting.

The third sketch is an alternative river space that I've thought out.This is a layout of the solution to the jetty and the space around it.  The sketch of the motorized section will come in a later post.   This incorporates the ergonomics and alignment of the jetty. I still have to work on the material to be used.

Stakeholder analysis

The below is a mind map of what Rowers have to face while placing, lifting, rowing and carrying the Shells . This is slightly de-focused from the design process problem of the jetty. Its a general human experience.

20th May: At this point i would like to add that even the judges that are on the river the day of the races are stakeholders in the jetty design. More about this in the more recent posts.

Researchomania

And so the research begins.

I begin to research, going into naval Dockyard design. this leads me onto various boat handling systems that i hadn't heard of before. I'll be elaborating on the working of these systems below. 

Its also interesting to note that Naval Dockyards have traditionally been centers of technical excellence and a hub of engineering. Ports are also hugely sensitive areas which have restricted airpace and have a lot of safety measures in place. 

Here's the link to a mind map i made regarding my research.

https://www.mindmeister.com/684361987?t=6jZlX37uN7

Sketch Series 2

The preparatory mind map of jetties for the design process

The below link takes you to the preparatory mind map I have made for the jetty design process 

https://www.mindmeister.com/685803968/jettys

Its an incredible world they are making :D

My research on Marinas lead me to the Woods Baggot website . They are doing some really fascinating projects. whats even more interesting are the places and things they take inspiration from . below  is one such link.

Marina Da Gloria , a marina in Rio De Janeiro designed by Woods Baggot

http://www.woodsbagot.com/project/marina-da-gloria

http://www.woodsbagot.com/project/shijiazhuang-international-exhibition-and-convention-centre

http://www.woodsbagot.com/project/mh-60r

http://www.woodsbagot.com/project/warner-music-uk-hq-london-uk

http://www.woodsbagot.com/project/folded-home (At 1150hrs 14th April)

http://www.woodsbagot.com/project/parashelter (At 1152 hrs 14th April)

http://www.woodsbagot.com/project/emergency-shelter-cocoon (At 1154 hrs 14th April) The lighting in this design is very interestingly done. 

Possibilities !

This is a brainstorm of ideas on everything the jetty could be, before going into reasearch.
This goes beyond just the needs, but explores everthing the jetty could be used for . As a product by itself and the space around it .

27/04/2016 , 21:34 New note:

This competitive season , preparing for the state championships, the boat club experienced excessive Hysynth near the jetty. This resulted in the cancellation of some practice sessions as the boats could not be rowed out the Hysynth as it was so thick. So this becomes another issue that the jetty has to address . One idea is to have jets of water from under the jetty that can be used to push the the plants away.

Sketch series 1

Here are some sketches I made while ideating ( before research)

Some side explorations and questions

This is an exploration of jetties in different scenarios, weather conditions and different boats.
Along with it are questions that come up, such as, ' could one design for a polluted river?'
Could you design a jetty that stays stable in choppy waters. What if it was based off gyroscope technologies to maintain a steady state?

Putting our jetty into context

This is the first phase of my design process in which I square in on the environment and use of the jetty

Needs from a jetty

This focuses on the primary needs of a jetty. This phase is less about innovation and more about identifying the basic issues of the jetty.

Creating a design process

Creating a design process :

I'm still not very sure how different a design process is from lots of other kinds of processes , or even that it's unique to the design field . To me, any well thought out process is the same as a design process . Or perhaps that's inherent in that design necessarily means that one has to think deeply and thoroughly.

So here's a summary to the design process I intend to employ for a new Jetty design .

1.     Firstly , know your area area of work, in this case the jetty. 

2.     Contextualize the problem . Something like a jetty can have multiple uses and multiple arenas of use  - different kinds of boats , weather conditions, water currents, pollution levels etc. The key then is to decide which context is to be focused on. In my case it was the jetty design of the MIT Boat Club in the Rajbaug campus . 

3.     At this point one reaches a two way junction in my design process. Two things have to be looked at . One is to think about the immediate requirements of  the jetty design. In other words, what does the jetty need to be ? The other is to explore everything it could be . The latter requires you to imagine and re imagine the scenario at hand . 

4.     Naturally with these two thought processes in mind you begin to ideate and come up with possible solutions. Your ideas can guide the research you decide to undertake. It needs to be expansive  research that looks in to engineering processes (Panama Canal ), materials , sci fi films , indigenous design etc, or it could be serendipitous . 

5.     After having done some research one can now look at what other solutions come to mind , or if the earlier solutions still hold. The ideation process continues . 

6.     At this point you may have a solution, which could be prototyped. Trials and testing, essentially 

7.     Completion of the testing and carrying out your solution. If it doesn't work out , you start over , get a new perspective.