Press Release
The DoorBell Project

Product Design graduate, Mike Skene will exhibit his latest work at this years Degree Show at the University of Dundee from the 22nd of May until the 6th June

Taking initial inspiration from percussion, the action of striking of one body against another and a persons ability to interact with their surroundings through their sense of touch, “Doorbell” is an original take on a well known device providing a unique, evocative user experience that is sure to bring a smile to your face when heard for the first time.

Made up of 13 hand tuned aluminium chimes housed in a sycamore frame, the Doorbells contemporary design and appealing sound is a welcome change to the standard functions of a doorbell.

Using an application such as iTunes users can even download new ring tones in seconds straight to their Doorbell. As well as this the chimes themselves are interchangeable and can be ordered both individually or in octave sets.

Following the Degree Show, “DoorBell” will also be on show at the New Designers Exhibition in London from the 16th to the 19th July.

Name: Mike Skene
Contact Details: Tel: 07903 835638, e-mail: mikeskene@hotmail.co.uk,
Course: BSc Innovative Product Design, University of Dundee
Age: 23
Home Town: Aberdeen, Scotland

Visit the “DoorBell” Project website at

www.mikeskenedesign.com

Inspiration
Before arriving the idea of designing a doorbell, my initial research was focused around rumble strips at the side of motorways and the possibility of developing a similar warning system for pavements to warn the visually impaired they are to near the roadside.

During a conversation with Richard Banks, an interaction designer with Microsoft, about this and another couple of ideas, I was introduced to the concept of Haptics, the science of applying tactile sensation to human interaction with computers.

Could “haptics” be applied to our natural and surrounding environments? if so how? I began looking for examples of touch or tactile interactions within the environment and came a cross ”The Musical Fence”, a piece of public art by New York artist and inventor Paul Matisse. The musical fence is piece of sculpture consisting of a series of Aluminium bars set into a concrete base and when you run a wooden stick across them they play a tuneful melody. Initially I used this insight for exploring the rumble strip idea and for this made my own miniature version of the “Musical Fence” out of copper pipe. However it was decided the rumble strip idea was going to be complicated for the time scale and resources I had and as a result began looking at other possible project ideas, but still using the insights I had gathered up until now.

Then seeing the musical fence model lying on my desk a day or so later, I though the way the pipes were arranged could look good mounted on the wall or better still on someone’s door. The idea being you could play the series of chimes to let who ever was inside know you were there. This is concept I based the DoorBell Project on.

Process.
The process used during the project was split into 4 sections: FIND, PLAY, MAKE and TALK.

FIND - Initial research and ideas generation.

PLAY - Playing around with ideas, experimenting with technology, rough proto-typing and testing.

MAKE - Based on the findings of Find and Play deciding on a final Idea and making it!

TALK - Talking to people about the product, user testing, marketing, branding, website design.

Where do you see your product ending up? In a domestic environment, could also be found in an office or even a hotel suite.

Who will purchase the product? ‘Doorbell’ is aimed at people who have an interest in contemporary design and are looking for something a bit different for their home or office.

mikeskenedesign
Press release and images
							Press Release The DoorBell Project Product Design graduate, Mike Skene will exhibit his latest work at this years Degree Show at the University of Dundee from the 22nd of May until the 6th June Taking initial inspiration from percussion, the action of striking of one body against another and a persons ability to interact with their surroundings through their sense of touch, “Doorbell” is an original take on a well known device providing a unique, evocative user experience that is sure to bring a smile to your face when heard for the first time. Made up of 13 hand tuned aluminium chimes housed in a sycamore frame, the Doorbells contemporary design and appealing sound is a welcome change to the standard functions of a doorbell. Using an application such as iTunes users can even download new ring tones in seconds straight to their Doorbell. As well as this the chimes themselves are interchangeable and can be ordered both individually or in octave sets. Following the Degree Show, “DoorBell” will also be on show at the New Designers Exhibition in London from the 16th to the 19th July. Name: Mike Skene Contact Details: Tel: 07903 835638, e-mail: mikeskene@hotmail.co.uk, Course: BSc Innovative Product Design, University of Dundee Age: 23 Home Town: Aberdeen, Scotland Visit the “DoorBell” Project website at www.mikeskenedesign.com Inspiration Before arriving the idea of designing a doorbell, my initial research was focused around rumble strips at the side of motorways and the possibility of developing a similar warning system for pavements to warn the visually impaired they are to near the roadside. During a conversation with Richard Banks, an interaction designer with Microsoft, about this and another couple of ideas, I was introduced to the concept of Haptics, the science of applying tactile sensation to human interaction with computers. Could “haptics” be applied to our natural and surrounding environments? if so how? I began looking for examples of touch or tactile interactions within the environment and came a cross ”The Musical Fence”, a piece of public art by New York artist and inventor Paul Matisse. The musical fence is piece of sculpture consisting of a series of Aluminium bars set into a concrete base and when you run a wooden stick across them they play a tuneful melody. Initially I used this insight for exploring the rumble strip idea and for this made my own miniature version of the “Musical Fence” out of copper pipe. However it was decided the rumble strip idea was going to be complicated for the time scale and resources I had and as a result began looking at other possible project ideas, but still using the insights I had gathered up until now. Then seeing the musical fence model lying on my desk a day or so later, I though the way the pipes were arranged could look good mounted on the wall or better still on someone’s door. The idea being you could play the series of chimes to let who ever was inside know you were there. This is concept I based the DoorBell Project on. Process. The process used during the project was split into 4 sections: FIND, PLAY, MAKE and TALK. FIND - Initial research and ideas generation. PLAY - Playing around with ideas, experimenting with technology, rough proto-typing and testing. MAKE - Based on the findings of Find and Play deciding on a final Idea and making it! TALK - Talking to people about the product, user testing, marketing, branding, website design. Where do you see your product ending up? In a domestic environment, could also be found in an office or even a hotel suite. Who will purchase the product? ‘Doorbell’ is aimed at people who have an interest in contemporary design and are looking for something a bit different for their home or office.

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