OCD-PROJECT

MY BOOK

2008-06-24T02:56:00.000-07:00

By Lil Yates

The above link takes you to Blurb which is the
platform i wrote my book on. It takes you
through the whole of my project.

DEGREE SHOW SETUP...

2008-06-12T11:43:00.001-07:00

Just a few photos from the degree show, as we're setting up!!

Also the Degree Show website:

http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/subj/ats/degreeshows/degree08/index.html

DEGREE SHOW BOARDS

2008-06-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

Here are my final boards that i made for the degree show.

Shiny Dice!

2008-06-02T15:20:00.000-07:00

So i decided to spray the Checking Dice a bronze/gold colour to tie in with the stamp thimbles, and also to stand out amongst the white table at the degree show!

They look pretty good!

The degree show boards are finished and will go up soon!

Final Images!

2008-05-31T06:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some final images of the charms and cards! Not quite finished, so theyre not perfect pictures, but they will be finished soon! Final hand in is on tuesday!

Finished Stamps!

2008-05-31T05:59:00.000-07:00

So these are some final images of my stamps! I used the images in the final presentation yesterday!...

Charms...

2008-05-23T05:23:00.000-07:00

I have been working on some more resin charms. This time they are the compass (again) and a small piece of a steel ruler. Look quite cool!

Ive also bought some keyrings which i liked the chains of, and cut them up so they fit the charms and make some nice keyrings!

They look quite good, still to really polish them so they look completely clear! Will be finished soon!

Only a week until the final presentations!!

Cards

2008-05-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

So, continued from the Cad Cards post earlier on, i have since CNC'd some rosewood, with spaces to fit in the spirit level and compass...

Will sand and varnish, should look quite nice!

Rosewood Stamp!

2008-05-23T05:17:00.001-07:00

Should have put this post in before the last postg, but i forgot!

Heres more updated pictures of the small stamp! (the rosewood one, not the kingswood one!)

Going to varnish this one as well so it will look tip top!

Ooooooh Kingswood!

2008-05-23T05:04:00.000-07:00

So ive almost finished the smaller stamp (Made out of rosewood!). Have began to make a new small one, out of kingswood this time. A very nice wood indeed! Heres some pictures of the initial process!

I'm hopefull this will be my final stamp, tho i may make another one out of this wood, just cause!

Charms...

2008-05-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

Heres one of my first finished charms. Decided to make the charms into keyrings because i feel theyre more gender unspecific, rather than a charm bracelet or the like.

Once smoothed and polished they look really good!...got some more setting overnight so should have some more finished ones by tomoro night!!

Hopefully!!

Smaller stamp...

2008-05-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

So along side the Big stamp ive been making a smaller one...as through feedback from Jon (lecturer) he thought a smaller one would be better.

Its quite a lot smaller than the first, though i like the two to compare!

Should get this one finished in the next few days, so watch this space for final pictures!

Finished!

2008-05-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

So here is my finished stamp, the first attempt!!

It has taken a while...but its finally finished!!

Have still to make a rubber stamp to attach to the bottom, but i will do that soon!

Ive coated the stamp in two layers of finishing oil, to really bring out the mahogony colouring!

Im making a smaller version this week, which should be my final piece!

I like the aesthetic of this big stamp, and it has a really smooth finish, so its quite a therapeutic object to touch.

Card CADS...

2008-05-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

These are some very quick rhino models ive thrown together to help me better visualise the cards in 3D.

The cards are a concept i thought of when reading through research, in particular the Questionnaire results which i gathered at the beginning of the project. One female in particular was having to arrange everything in a symmetrical way, obsessively.

OCD Survival!

2008-05-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

So ive also been working on another product - to go alongside my main stamp.

The idea behind this one is a "swiss arm knife" for Symmetry OCD sufferers...but not in the physical form of a swiss army knife....really a survival object for OCD sufferers!

(See survival kit post further down the page!)

Some ideas for this were; a charm bracelet with different charms for each type of Symmetry OCD related object...i.e. spirit level for checking levels, compass for north facing objects, a ruler for measuring distance between object and a small mirror to replica mirror images, so that objects can be propertly lined up.

The 'charms' would enable the OCD to be embraced or positively projected. To help 'celebrate' the OCD instead of hide it.

I tried setting some of these objects in resin to see if i could make them look like charms...

Spirit Level...worked!

Compass...didnt really work!

Another idea was a credit card idea, with a different object in a different card: see image below...

And below is just a wee collage of images i made to represent OCD being embraced in everyday life...A lipstick, eyeshadow set, button and bangle! Not an idea i will take any further, but makes for a nice image!

Model Making #2

2008-05-10T05:03:00.000-07:00

More model making...

Model making...

2008-05-02T05:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of the model making process....

Two pieces of mahogany

Draw dimensions onto wood.

and onto the side of the wood...

mill out the middle and the stem insides...

Scrap wood to fill the holes - so they stay secure when turning on the lathe

Join two halfs together...

Turn on the lathe

Split

Shape stem...

Not completely finished as yet, need to extend the clicker rod, cut a window and fit a magnifying glass/plastic strip. Extend the clicker turner and assemble to stamp base!

Check back for updates...

Sketches...

2008-05-02T04:41:00.000-07:00

Have been working on stamp sketches, dimensional drawings etc. Trying to fit the clicker counter inside the wood, and get the right angle so that it clicks when pressed...

New Designers

2008-04-17T05:52:00.000-07:00

These are just two images i created for the New Designers Publicity form we had to fill in.

OCD Dice

2008-03-25T05:20:00.001-07:00

Decision Dice

2008-03-25T04:23:00.001-07:00

Just another quick post to show examples of decision dice i found on Flickr!

OCD Dice

2008-03-25T03:51:00.000-07:00

Self Control or Object Control??

Have produced some 'OCD Dice' on the CNC machine in the workshop...

The idea behind them is; I am trying to introduce a level of control over sufferers OCD.

Which got me thinking about control in general and the ways we can be controlled... Self control, second person control, object control.

...Which then got me thinking about the book 'The Dice Man' which involves a man who will not make a decision in life without rolling a dice. Therefor the dice decides for him.

So...the idea behind these dice is that the dice decides for the sufferer. (Object control)

Does this help control or reduce control? You decide!!

(Ive also made two number dice..one for even numbers and one for odd numbers. Just to enhance the OCD message slightly!)

The dice add an element of control...but also an element of complete chance. Maybe dice with the same thing written on them on each side...would better represent control.

Counter Stamp Images

2008-03-25T03:46:00.001-07:00

Some more images of the stamp...Upside-down but you get the idea!

OCD Checking Stamp

2008-03-25T03:33:00.000-07:00

Some photos of a prototype i made last week of my 'stamp' idea.

The idea behind it is the OCD sufferer would stamp everytime he/she checks something...and the amount of times is displayed on the clicker counter.

Hopefully the number would then act as a deterant. Allowing the sufferer to control their OCD.

Cooooool

2008-03-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

Also seen this wee guy! pretty cool, i want one!!

An OCD action figure, with own mask AND sanitiser!! :D

OCD Self Help Kit

2008-03-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

...No posts for a while, ive been working on some concepts..they will be put up soon.

Meanwhile...whilst browsing Flickr for OCD pictures, came across these images posted by someone. Not sure if they're her own work or something she found but they're pretty cool!!

Pretty self explanatory

Sticky Dials...

2008-02-29T02:35:00.000-08:00

So for the mini project, to design something for a specific OCD sufferer, i came up with the concept of sticky dials.

They would allow an 'even' or 'odd' numbered OCD sufferer to customize dials around the home and car. For example, washing machine, toaster, oven, microwave...etc.

I didnt want to create a new 'OCD friendly kettle' or toaster, but allow an OCD sufferer to customize existing products to suit their personal rituals. And because dials are so universal, or round, they would be easily customize-able!!

They would come in coloured rings, which would be sticky on one side and magnetic on the other. You would then stick the ring around the dial (where the pre-printed dial numbers are) and then use the magnetic numbers to customize the dial.

These could also be used by 'normal' people, for example i only ever use one setting on the washing machine...so they could be used to cover all the other options, which would allow me to only see the option that i use!

picture below...

I will maybe make some mock ups of these and haul the photos up at some point...

Day in the life...Even numbers

2008-02-27T04:02:00.000-08:00

Here is just a visual board I've made to represent 'a day in the life' of an even number OCD-er...

Mini project...even numbers...

2008-02-26T05:43:00.000-08:00

Taken a bit of a turn around...for the mini project ive changed it (after sue telling me to)...to re-look at my questionnaire results which i gathered in semseter one!

So ive chose the 8 key responses (in my opinion)...(shown below)

Then i chose the one which i found gave the most information to work from, that i found interesting and different... she is an ocd sufferer who has a 'thing' about even numbers.

So now that ive chose her, ive to produce two boards, one which shows her OCD and celebrates it, and one which shows my designed product in place...Ive done a draft board already shown below...

Watch this space for a Mood board/'Day in the life of' board...

OCD checking...

2008-02-19T03:14:00.000-08:00

Composed this little picture to represent how OCD sufferers who 'check' a lot, might check all the E's...to find the F's.

There are three in there...can you find them??

My Interim Exhibition 08

2008-02-19T02:43:00.001-08:00

Some more detailed pictures of my own interim exhibition. I used objects that were typically 'OCD' un-friendly and put a twist on them....with UV pen i wrote words which represented how OCD sufferers feel when they see the items, and tried to represent dirt and germs...some look quite cool...others didnt quite work!!...

Door Knob...

Tap

Tea Towel

Fire Alarm
Plug

Interim Exhibition Feb 08

2008-02-19T02:26:00.000-08:00

Just thought id add some pictures of our classes interim exhibition in the foyer of Grays School of Art... (Click on images to make them larger)

Dunc Ledingham - Theft

Fraser Reid - Trust in brands

Nicola Palmer - Too Fat Too Thin

Me - OCD

Kirsten Innes - Design for everyday living

John Fisher - Flexible Space

John O'Mahony - Home Safety

Nick Ross - Natural Design

Seans still to come...

A week in the life of...

2008-02-17T07:14:00.000-08:00

Here is a flow diagram ive made to represent a typical day of a 'normal' person compared to an ocd sufferer. Quite effectively shows how many more tasks there are in the day. And how much more complex the day seems. This is onle based on one day, so it cahanges for every person and every day.

MR X'S DIARY

2008-02-08T03:49:00.000-08:00

Below is an excert of MR X's diary. I have section highlighted it, and there is a key provided as a reference.
Found monday particularly interesting. A lot more information was given on monday, but throughout the week there are little gems of info that i will be using to design a product specific to him.

(The mini project given to me was to pick one person and design a product specific to their individual needs and routines).

OCD collage

2008-02-07T04:24:00.000-08:00

Just a quick pic i made, a collage of my questionnaire results...responses to the question 'Can you list three words you would use to describe someone with OCD'?

Straight talking objects...

2008-02-03T04:46:00.000-08:00

Whilst preparing my Interim Exhibition, i have been thinking about objects and what they say to us.

For example... Mr X (See post below)... and many other ocd sufferers i have spoken to, have problems with Tea Towels... The micro-organisms on them are perhaps 'scary', and the thought of touching something unclean is insane.

What if tea towels were produced to LOOK dirty. With stains already on them. That way, maybe the mind would process the 'brand new' tea towel as dirty anyway. And the sufferer would become accustomed to the 'dirt'?

Or another one...toilet seats with stains pre-placed on them...maybe not eh?

Maybe it would work...maybe it wouldn't! Just a thought!!

OCD Job Listings...

2008-02-03T04:37:00.000-08:00

After reading the guy i met on dailystrength.com's (i shall call him mr x)...diary...he states that he found his OCD to be helpful through life. Which i have not really heard before. His was in relation to his work life. Being extra careful with his work all the time, earned him respect and rises.

Have been thinking about this a lot. What if job applications specifically asked for OCD sufferers? If in Mr X's case, it was beneficial, maybe for others it would be too!

Checking and re-checking of facts and figures, Neat and tidy desks and working environments...surely sounds like the perfect candidate!?

OCD Mood Board

2008-02-03T04:31:00.000-08:00

Ive been speaking with a guy i met through DailyStrength.com, and he's given me a diary of his week which ive been examining. Very interesting reading.

Through his diary and his general chat with him, i have made a rough mood board about him.

Some of it will be self explanatory, some would need explaining. (Just trying to keep some level of privacy!)

More stuff to come on the diary...

2008-01-20T07:41:00.000-08:00

Just tried replacing the numbers in the previous blogs chart...to colours.

Quite interesting, seems that numbers are more representitative of repetition, but colours represent more the feelings or emotions concerned with the routines.

i.e i have tried to use black for the '5' times and lighter, or calmer colours for '1' time.
Slightly confusing though, if you dont know what it is you're looking at!!

OCD Charts - Diaries

2008-01-20T07:07:00.000-08:00

Found this little bit on keeping an ocd diary. Quite a good method, though not quite sure it would be so effective. But its interesting that "seeing" your ocd in front of you on paper, by numbers or colours could be an aid!

I shall look into this further!

"Keeping an OCD diary

One of the ways to start fighting back is to measure how
much OCD is interfering in your life. You can do this by
keeping a diary, for example noting down each time
OCD makes you wash your hands. Once you know how
`big' your OCD is, you can start cutting back.

Example of a diary form:

OCD loves to keep you busy doing all the things
it wants you to do. Use this table to keep a record of
how many times you do things for OCD."

Task/Activity: handwashing

OCD Diaries

2008-01-20T06:55:00.000-08:00

I am asking some people with OCD to write diaries for me, should have some of them soon.

Meanwhile i've been looking for video diaries of people with OCD.

This video isnt so much as a diary, than an insight into one guys life.

Thought it was quite interestng, seeing as im trying to look at the more personal side of OCD.

(It was suggested at the course feedback that i look at the more personal side of things)

My OCD Diary - Click here for the funniest movie of the week

OCD designs

2007-12-04T06:16:00.000-08:00

Some designs for OCD by Marc Owens...found on the MTeriors blog, Very interesting designs which would aid OCD sufferers.

A light switch which counts the nuber or times it is switched...typical OCD trait

A Frame which encorporates a spirit level...to get that "just right" feeling...

A scrubbinh brush which uses a magnifying glass to achieve that perfect clean!

OCD forums

2007-11-08T06:06:00.001-08:00

I am now members of three OCD forums, Have had a number of responses to my request for help/info. Now in contact (via email) with three people who are sharing their experiences of OCD and helping me with research!

The forums are...

Some interesting hygiene facts

2007-11-06T04:14:00.000-08:00

One of the most germ ridden places in public is the ground floor button of a lift.
30% of womens handbags contain 100million particles of faecal matter per square inch (from placing on toilet cubicle floor)
26,000 microbes are on every square inch of a mobile handset
Womens toilets are more contaminated than mens - with teh middle cubicle being the most infected.
Swimming pools are laced with Sweat, Urine, Mucus, Saliva, Hair, Faecal Matter, Dead Skin
85% of public toilets are cleaner than average kitchen worktop in britain.
Toilet bowls contain 49 bacteria per square inch - compared to 20,961 per square inch in an office.

Section from my project proposal

2007-11-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

Personal Statement/ Philosophy

I am interested in all aspects of design and being a designer, however I am particularly interested in design for function (how design can make everyday/mundane tasks become easier and sometimes more enjoyable) and I strongly believe that form should follow function. I am especially interested in design for public spaces and how users interact with these spaces. I am inspired by designs which are so simple yet incredibly effective; for example those which aim to change the users lifestyle routines for the better. One particular designers style which I aspire to is Yves Behar, I think his designs are incredibly stylish, modern, and very unique.

My ambition is to produce a really strong project for my honours year and graduate with a grade which reflects this. I hope after university I can find employment in a design based company, working within a team of designers, perhaps in the medical field.

Project Aims and Outlines

For my Honours project I have decided to look into Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), A neurotic disorder in which the person displays and/or complains of either obsessions or compulsions (or both) to a degree that affects his or her everyday functioning or causes him or her distress. In particular i will look at how design can help sufferers of the mental illness. The reason why I chose this particular subject is because I didn’t know very much about the illness and its effects, and I wanted a project where I had no preconceived ideas about the final design from the outset.

The final outcome should aim to alleviate any stress that sufferers of OCD experience (More than two thirds of OCD patients suffer from depression (Montgomery, Zohar, 1999)) and act as an aid to the routines which many sufferers perform hundreds of times a day.

I shall begin by undertaking primary research, contacting Aberdeen’s OCD sufferers support group, Posting out questionnaires and also contacting the two major online OCD charities directly.
Secondary research will consist of reading key texts from the library, this being books and journals and also making use of the internet to explore past research about OCD.
Concept development will begin when I have some high-quality research material, both primary and secondary, and when a specific problem area within OCD has been located.

Project so far...

2007-11-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

Just a recap on all the things i have explored since the beginning of the project...

OCD and what its about - What is it? Who suffers from it? Why people suffer from it?
Can it be cured? How can it be cured?

I have looked at case studies from books/internet/press

I have also looked into Anxiety, Stress, Depression, Panic attacks. - Are they related to OCD? Why?

I posted a questionnaire to Occupational therapy students and Nursing students- 32 replies, very useful information within the results.

I have since focused in on the Hygiene and Cleanliness side of OCD, in particular compulsive hand washing.

Other things i have looked into...Theory of abjection, When does normal stop and ocd start? Ocd and animals, Ocd and genetics, Famous people with ocd, History of public health, Colour symbology and association with products, Products for ocd sufferers.

Video of OCD

2007-11-04T15:36:00.000-08:00

OCD portrayed as a man in a tutu...Interesting?