Information design critique 2022

[venkatrajam]

For the first assignment, find examples of information design (schedules, signage/way finding, campaign/advocacy, product, space/architecture etc.) and learn from them.

Each of you should pick three examples, and write a short critique on them. Your post should contain:

Title of the example with one image (add url reference if it is online) Critique (How effective is it at what it aims to do? What works well, and what could be better?) Add ONE comment and put all 3 examples in the same comment (do not create separate comments for the examples, I want to see only one comment per student). You can edit or update your comment anytime.

[lakshrajpal18]

• The box of an Ink Bottle - It shows the quantity of ink inside the silhouette of the bottle shape that indicates a filled bottle.
• It also talks about the simple usage of how one can refill the ink in a pen.
• The exact shade of the ink is shown in a filled square on the white part of the box which is also the general color of the pages this ink is used on.

• M-seal (a product used for sealing, gripping, joining and insulating) is one of many necessities that come handy in every household and is hence sold at a very cheap price.
• The box shows instructions as to how the product is supposed to be used using pictures of the product being used by an actual person and not using any form of signage.
• The bottom of the packet has important information which is shown using only text and the highlight is done using the color blue which I feel does not give much importance to the information.

• The book blurb of Ikigai - It does the job of summarizing the point of the book.
• It is a venn diagram that is one of the most basic form of an infographic but it is drawn in a way that suits the Japanese ambience of the book thus doing a very neat job of capturing the whole vibe of the book.

[Riddhigado]

1) Metro Route Indicator This indicator has the yellow light turned on if that particular station is yet to arrive. As soon as the metro reaches that station, the light goes off. Also, not all metros stop at all the stations and hence these lights help the passenger to know where all the metro will stop. A very useful indicator that can be used and easily understood by a first-time traveler too.

2) Salt and pepper Shaker/Dispenser The tiny holes on the top clearly make it understandable that the content inside the container will come out from there. Also, the removable top makes it easier for the content to be filled in it in the first place. However, sometimes the salt or pepper might not come out of the dispenser because some of it is stuck in the holes. The surface of the container is the main information about this object. It is made up of glass makes it easier for the user to identify what is inside of it. It is made up of other materials too and in those cases, the number of holes differs or there is some difference in the surface of the container or they have written information about what is inside of it.

3) Washing Machine (top load) Display Everything can be managed as per the person's need who is using the machine. From the amount of water required to how many times you want to rinse the clothes, everything can be controlled. It is easy too because of the button being exactly below to what it is there for. Also, once everything is set, it also shows the time it will take to wash and rinse the clothes and hence the user does not have to check again and again if the clothes are washed.

[jishnuthewalker]

AC remote (LG brand)

PROS

• All the buttons are labelled.
• Small tactile indicator for the power button and the "H'COOL" button
• Temp up amd down control in the center of the remote

CONS

• Power buttons not given enough priority, user ends up pressing the wrong button often

• Button shapes are too similar. not ueer friendly

• The buttons for setting timer aren't intuitive

• No backlight in the screen

[satvikshri]

1) My Beard trimmer's plastic cap

As the mechanical plastic dial for length is rotated using thumb's grip from the front side along with index finger's grip from the backside, the cap of the trimmer is lifted up, with it being the functionality of increasing the gap between the blade and the surface, and simultaneously giving the user a feedback of increased length with cap being raised higher.

Visually, a user could identify a larger gap in length by looking at the cap's height, however for a preciser observation, the vertical lines of the dial's grip could have been of varying width's to give the user a more concrete visualisation with just the feel, without the need of looking at small numerics on the dial.

Apart from this, the clicking sound the dial makes at a stop, gives the feedback of the proper mechanical alignment of the cap when its functional. Without that, the cap could have been stuck at a misalignment, leading to a malfunction.

2) Stapler

A stapler makes a clicking sound when in action, however it doesn't when the pin tray is emptied. This missing of clicking sound gives the information about the lack of pins, so the user don't have to manually check if the pin was applied or not at the surface.

The attached stapler has an oval window at the sides of the pin tray, which shows if it's stacked up or not. However, the tray could have been of a different colour from that of the pin to create a contrast, and help make it more clear with a slight glance.

[AditiChintey]

Contact Lens Container Box

1. Two separate containers attached together to keep two lens together.

2. Labelled on the left.

3. Caps to secure the box properly.

4. Ridges on the caps to make opening the container easier.

5. Distinctive design to make it easily identifiable, even by a layman, to be a lens box.

6. Labelling of just "L" isn't very easily understood, considering the user doesn't have good vision.

7. The concave inside curve makes it difficult to pick up the lens.

8. Can lead to cutting the lens by hand if not picked up properly.

9. The small height of container makes it relatively hard to open or shut, or to handle overall.

10. A little delicate.

Apple Airpods

1. Wireless concept is great and very user friendly.

2. Easy to connect and works great in the apple ecosystem.

3. Sleek, futuristic pod design.

4. Battery life gets worse with use.

5. No indication on the outside of the case to tell if it's charging or not.

6. No indication on the outside of the box to tell if it's connected.

7. Requires the case to be opened everytime to check if it's charged or connected. 5.The flap gets looser with use.

8. The inside of the case get dirty very easily and hence tends to get unhygienic if shared.

9. Might not sit well/fit with different ear sizes.

10. Gets painful after wearing it for too long.

11. One might be able to tell they are earphones in the first glance.

Curtain Blinds

1. Looks sleek and great for formal settings.

2. Variety in the amount of light you can adjust.

3. Different colours available.

4. Doesn't look very much like a curtain.

5. Tough to handle or adjust if there is no previous knowledge of it.

6. Can get damaged easily.

7. not kid safe, if fiddled with.

[2vaibhav]

1. 9V battery terminals

• Easily recognizable terminal.
• The connector fits well with a clicking sound.
• The two terminals are opposite in form (one has a male connector while the other has a female connector) so one terminal can easily fit into the other.

2. Sweet container lid

• Very difficult to open.
• When opening, the tab sometimes detaches from the metal lid.
• One has to be very careful while opening as the lid has sharp edges which can easily cut fingers or palm etc.

[AtharvaVa]

1. Product – Sa Re Ga Ma Caravan Portable music player

The shape is immediately reminiscent of an old radio, and the connection with music is established by large dials and speakers. The placing of the buttons and screen is aesthetically pleasing too.

But the designers seem to have given more importance to aesthetic form than function. The biggest flaw is with the dials. The user would think that the large dial is for changing volume (especially due to radio in cars), but rotating it changes the artist altogether! The volume dial is placed on the side, and requires some time to locate. The buttons to change the song are marked with the correct symbol, but are difficult to spot as they are on a black surface. More importance is given instead to the 3 buttons (that look like dials) titled ‘artistes’, ‘moods’ and ‘geetmala.’ It is not very clear what these are for, and the user is unsure while pressing them.

A good thing is the feedback provided on the digital screen, which makes navigating the product possible. It provides information about the artist, song and battery left. The product only works because of the content it provides- timeless Bollywood hits.

2. Product – Indian Currency Notes

Perhaps the most commonly used product in the country. The defining feature is the colour. All the notes have different colours and users identify the note by the colour.

To convey the official nature of the note, symbols of the state are placed. The image of Mahatma Gandhi is recognized throughout the country. The national emblem and logo of RBI are more symbols placed to tell the user that it is the official currency. Authenticity is confirmed by the invisible watermark that is seen when held against the light.
The denomination is written in numbers in English and Hindi on both sides of the note (total 5 times). Tactile information is given through marks on the edge for the blind. The back of the note also has an image of a national monument or animal. This establishes the connection with the State further. The denomination is also written in words in all 14 languages on the back. I think it is a functional design, that serves its purpose well.

[udaysomani]

1) Aquaguard Water Filter

The interface of the product features 3 LED lights and 3 toggleable buttons. All the buttons have lost the icon once displayed on them after constant usage. Thus the product requires prior experience to know how it is used, otherwise the user will be completely lost.

One of the buttons is to turn the machine on, one is to start the flow of water, and one is to play music while the water flows. They are arranged with the music button in the center, making it hard for someone to intuitively figure out which is which.

The music button allows the user to monitor the flow of water from another room in the house, using audio feedback.

The LED lights function like a traffic light, and serve little to no purpose as they flash in sequence before the water starts flowing.

2) Sunflame Oven

This product uses a very simple and straightforward interface, with all information cleanly presented around 3 separate dials, avoiding any overload or cluttering.

The dials control temperature, time, and direction of heat respectively. There are no advanced settings and everything must be customized by the user themselves.

The placement of the word "TEMPERATURE" is slightly confusing, and the dial does not specify whether it is using Celsius or Fahrenheit units, but overall it is a very easy product to understand.

3) Indian Rupee Symbol

The Indian Rupee symbol is cleverly designed to be recognizable by both English and Hindi speaking users, as it mimics the shape of the letter "R" and "र".

The bar shape passing through the glyph informs the user that it is a symbol for a currency, as this is a common trait in other currency symbols.

Old currency symbols like the dollar ($) and the pound (£) do not need to rely on resemblance to an alphabet since they have long established their meaning semantically in the minds of the users. Newer currency symbols like the euro (€), the yen (¥), the won (₩), the peso (₱) do have to rely on resemblance to their alphabets in order to be easily recognizable.

Some other currencies such as the afghani (؋), the shekel (₪), and the ruble (₽) resemble alphabets from their native scripts, but are difficult for international users to recognize.

Hence the Indian rupee does a brilliant job of conveying this information to both domestic and international users.

[Anshika1105]

TV Remote:

Television remote is a good example of an information graphics design. The design is minimal, clear, concise, and easy to understand. Television remote uses bold graphics and simple layouts to help the viewer understand the how each button corresponds on the TV screen. With just a few colors, icons, simple shapes and text, the functions of the remote is easily conveyed. The information becomes easy to understand and engage with. Cons: Too much information in a very small space which may complicate the design.

Barcode:

Barcode is an example of an information graphics. It is a form of semiology that encodes information such as a product’s location, inventory, description, and price. It is a pattern of lines and symbols used by machines to read data. Information graphics use barcode as a framework to display information in a clear, organized and manageable way and in a very small space. The only problem is that you can't read it without a barcode reader machine.

[manukrishnan3345]

1) Information object : Interior of a car door (Honda amaze 2020) It accommodates a smooth mechanical lock system right above the door handle and also a centre lock system that the driver can control. There’s a texture finishing, which gives a premium feel. Automatic windows is another feature, a switch is provided to open and close the window with ease. There’s a depression on the door that makes it easier to open and close the door from the inside. Below that we are provided with bottle holders. Down below we can see a speaker. The door is also equipped with a child lock setting.

2) Information object : Mi band 5 (‘Phantom’ watch face) The watch face displays time in 12 hour clock system. On the top panel is the charge left in the device (the band), the symbol of Bluetooth showing the device is connected to a smartphone, a lock symbol denoting the smartphone is locked and a ‘do not disturb’ icon showing the status of the smartphone. The background gives camouflage elements. The panel below shows the weather, temperature, day and date. Down below is total steps covered, heartbeats per minute and calories burned.

[AdithyaKrishnaBS]

Information product- CLOCK • The hands and background of the clock are of different tones of red making it a simple design • But the numbers in the clock are debossed and it has the same color of the background making it hard for the user to tell time. • The clock doesn't have lights or radium, which makes it hard to use in a dark room or at night. Infographic Design • The infographic uses a 3d pie to represent the data. • Different colors have been used to differentiate data. • However, the angle of the 3D pie does not completely help the reader understand the data because the pie in front of it obscures some of the data behind it.

[avanibhagdi]

Information Object: Foot Operated Sink/ Sanitizer Systems

Pros:

Upon viewing the base of the system, the location, material, and form intuitively guide the user towards its intended function.

Sink: The tap is made of metal and is circular in shape, and so is the (pump? button?). Hence, the user is able to relate the two as having a similar purpose. It is inclined in an upwards direction, which serves as a visual cue for the stepping action that is performed by the user. If it were not at such an angle, it would not only be difficult to operate, but it would also be easily perceived as being a non-interactive element.

Sanitizer/Soap: The mechanism of the sanitizer system is not hidden in any way and thus the user can easily understand how to use it, despite it being a relatively new and unfamiliar object.

Cons:

Sink: The user does not notice the new system in place at first and will attempt to use the tap before becoming aware of the change in design. The visual cues need to be more obvious to prevent this from happening.

Sanitizer/Soap: After usage, it becomes increasingly difficult to see the quantity present in the container despite it being transparent.

-

Information Object: Hot Water Bottle

Pros It is extremely tactile to use, as one can feel the change in temperature as it starts heating up. Visually, it swells up and increases in size. There is a small light present on the plug that glows red when it is plugged in. The plug point is easily distinguishable from the rest of the bottle due to the difference in material and texture. The indented shape also helps the user make this connection.

Cons There is no way of knowing how much time will actually be required for the bottle to heat up completely. There is no temperature indicator either. Additionally, it may be difficult for users to identify the plug point at first, if it is covered by the white plastic.

[SamarthDhanuka]

1) Bangalore Metro Map ( https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/0e/54/a1/25/namma-metro-route-map.jpg )

• The map is quite informative with clear text.
• The current image has text in english, while the map placed above the opposite door has text in Kannada.
• It has information about not just the current metro line, but also the entirety of the connected metro line.
• Generally the center line (purple here) indicates the current metro line while the zig-zagged one (green) represents the connected one. This kind of analysis is however not something that is mentioned and has to be just realised by an individual. This was later replaced by a map that showed stops only of the current line and a slant line crossing the connecting station mentioning the end stops only.
• These maps do not have any light indicators to show the current or next stoppage. There is a seperate screen at quite some distance that displays the current and next stop, but these screens display images and information about the metro or tourist sites in Karnataka, etc so you have to wait until they announce the next station or display it.

2) Marshall Aux Cable

• It has a mic and multipurpose button built-in which work even when the headphone is out of power. The mic is placed at a convenient position if the aux is attached in the right direction.
• It has the coiled telephone cord so the aux is not excessively long but it can extend when needed and does not tug hard on the headphone when extended either. This also poses a con that sometimes the wire may get tangled amidst the coil.
• One side of the aux has 2 rings while the other side has 3 rings. For those who know what these rings are for, this would not really create much of an issue, but those who don't know might have some trouble. The side with 3 rings is supposed to go into the phone as the extra contact point (parts between the rings) is for the mic. This kind of information is usually not directed in the user manual, or is buried in the manual.
• The bend at the phone-end is mostly useful because when the phone is kept in the pocket, the wire can easily come out. It also eases the grip on the phone while using the phone in landscape mode. It also enables the wire to come directly towards us when attached to a laptop. Since it is naturally bent, it avoids the wire to be bent forcefully which usually causes cutting/breaking of the wire.
• The ends of the aux (before the tips) has grips for easily pulling the aux out. People generally tend to tug on the wire because the part right after the tip is generally smooth and small. Tugging directly on the wire causes it to cut/break.

3) Marshall Headphone

• Single button control for all.
• single indicator, breathing light

[BharatBanslaa]

1. Paper Cutter

• Sleek look, with serrated sides for grip
• The distinct black color of the thumb-sized gimmick helps understand function
• Simple, easy to understand functioning
• Requires little to no instructions
• Can fit and be carried around like a pen
• The detachable pocket hook becomes a blade remover; complicated and requires prior knowledge
• Drawbacks Dangerous in wrong hands; blade removing requires experience and skill to execute safely

2, Measuring Tape

• Bright contrasting colors for easy readability
• 2 scales of inches and centimeters
• Metal strip to keep the head straight and taut
• Self-explanatory and straight to the point
• Tough, crease-resistant material for easy use

[MukulMahajan1324]

Bluetooth Headphones The headphone is labeled ‘L’ on the left earcup and there is nothing marked on the right earcup. On the left earcup, it has 3 buttons

• Center button gives information about pause and play. It clearly conveys the info using appropriate symbols. But it gives no information about start and stop function of this button
• Left button has’ + ‘ sign over, which conveys information of increased volume. It does not convey the information of play next
• Right button has a’ - ’ sign over it that tells us that it helps us in decreasing volume. It does not convey information about playing previous songs.

The center button is slightly projected out so that we know which button we are going to press. Even the + symbol is projected out so that we know which button to press. Apart from this

• There is a red LED indicating when it is on charging.

• Blue LED when the Bluetooth is on

• Red light blinking when the battery is low. But sometimes this is not conveyed properly
  Swiggy Website interface

• This website is really well designed

• Top bar has all the 5 buttons which are mostly mapping buttons named search, offer, help, sign in and cart. These all are written down there with signage on their left.

• In the center. We can see the shop name, its rating delivery time as well as cost of the dish that we are viewing.

• There is a list of classification of dishes that we want to order. This really makes the search easier for us.

• There is an option given there named veg only. I think they have put veg only because most of their customers are non-veg. So they have kept non-veg dishes by default.

• There is an option named favorites for those who order food most often so they don't need to search for dishes every time.

• Also they have highlighted the offers with a white box to capture the attention of the viewer.

[abhishekshirsagar]

The handles are made of different sizes for an ergonomic design. The size of the handles intuitively tells us where to put our thumb and the rest of the fingers.

All the information regarding fuel, engine oil, speed, time, modes, trip length, trip time, navigation, indicators and headlight orientation are given on the dash which can be easily seen while riding the scooter.

[akashdas58]

1. Haldiram Bhujia Packet

• The seal for the Haldiram Bhujia packet has an open and close mechanism through which it can be sealed and opened and again be sealed many times. But many people doesn't see there is a seal and just like a normal plastic packet they cut it open with the scissors and the seal mechanism is lost and useless. The problem is with the information which the product is giving to the users, that is the seal mechanism font mentioned on the packet. The font size of the seal mechanism is too small to read and many may skip or cannot read because of eye power(especially old aged people). Due to this many people ignore to read and cut open the packet does losing the functionality of the seal. Also the font colour, that is silver blends with the glossy plastic packet.

2. Matchbox

• These matchboxes are very simple and easy to understand who are familiar with product but those who have not seen matchbox can be confused with the functionality of the product and can derive wrong usage for the product. The box only have the company branding on the front and back, and nothing else. It does have the product name(i.e. matchbox/matchsticks) ,doesn't even have any tutorial for using it and does not have the number of matchsticks. If the backside had useful information then it could have been useful for the people who haven't even saw a matchstick/matchbox in their life. Also the side part, that is the striking surface cannot be understood and its usage.

3. An electric kettle (Bajaj)

• Easy to understand the purpose and usage of the kettle as it has a switch, plug and jar shaped body indicating water boiling using electricity.
• One single switch for its usage that is heating up the water makes its user friendly for all ages as no complicated features buttons are added.
• Metallic body made of reflective aluminium, which thus have reflective properties and acts as a barrier to light and oxygen. As a result, the metal body reflects the thermal energy back to the hot water inside maintaining the warmth. Thus trapping the heat inside. The metallic body also helps in a sturdy design.
• The switch has on and off embossed on both sides to help feel the switch if its on/off without seeing. Also tactile sound is provide with the switch.
• Red LED light indicator lights up in black colour background makes it visible from distance, that the kettle is boiling water and also giving the status that it is ON.
• Curve handles and sturdy grip(has grip pattern) helps it to hold with the water inside easily.
• Easy to open as grip is provided on top.
• Has auto cut off, makes the design more safe and hazard proof.

Drawbacks

• The lid of jar is unsecure as it is loose and when hot water is poured it could slid and fall off thus large amount of hot boiling water can burn the user.
• The metallic body makes it difficult to hold and only can be hold using its handle as it becomes extremely hot, and if the user is not careful, it can burn his/her hands.
• There is transparent part from where how much vol. of water is poured could be seen and no volume markings for accurate reading.
• The large plug and high watt makes it not possible to use in every room or location.
• The vapour from the hot water escapes through top hole which reduces the heat retention.

4. Earphones (Boat)

• Flat cable design for tangle free experience and does not get knots.
• Grips added at the buds for easy holding and insertion of buds into the ear.
• Rubber ear cups makes comfortable in ears.
• Metallic joining of the two wires coming out from the ear buds at the middle makes it sturdy and tough to damage when the wires are put on tension and stress.
• Left(L) and Right(R) written to understand the left earbud and the right earbud.
• Rubber earcups makes passive noise cancellation.
• The bent at the jack region makes it easy to access and doesn't get damages as happen in normal straight jack earphones.
• The microphone is put a little above to have clear audio while speaking.

Drawbacks

• The metallic joining at the middle makes it heavy and the earphone falls off from the ears.
• The earcups are not designed properly as the earbuds doesn't tightly fit and comes off. The the earbuds have to inserted into the ear forcefully to tightly fit into the ear, which can damage the ears.
• The earcups many times get detached from the earbuds and falls off, which can get lost and thus earphones cannot be used as it not be possible, without the earbuds to attach into the ear.
• The left and right earbuds cannot be known without seeing as it is just written and cannot be felt.
• The microphone placed above can sometimes be irritating while working.

[Harshal59]

Laptop Bag

• The laptop bag has a lid styled zip cover. • The lid design provides better protection and handling of the laptop inside. • But at the same time, it is a little difficult to open and close the zip as it has perpendicular ends.

Talcum Powder Bottle

• Over all the bottle has a better design. • The wavy design provides better grip and also, aesthetics to the product. • Only the lid doesn’t properly show the opening and closing of the pores. • The words ‘Open’ and ‘Close’ are protruding but in the same colour as the bottle and since the colour is white it’s hard to know whether its open or close. • The rotating lid is also very loose so it opens on its own.

Pocket Knife

• The knife is very handy and feels good on hands because of its metallic and smooth design. • The point of the knife can be helpful in cutting things. • But at the same time, it can be harmful if kept open. • The joint is very stiff so its hard to close it, which can result in injury.

[RaghavSamodia1]

A door bolt

A knob-like shape in the handle-something akin to a joystick- suggests it is meant to be held and can be moved in every direction. Aside from this there is a lack of information being imparted such as how to lock or unlock. While the motion is four way the up-down motion is more significant than the right left but the shape of knob is radially symmetric

Router

All ports and interaction happen on the back of the router accepting that those are used rarely and often by experts. The segmentation of different types of port using colour is a very efficient way to communicate the difference. The reset button being only accessible by a pin prevents costly accidents The different shape of both button allow them to be operated without seeing with is helpful especially when they are at back

The lights in the front help inform the power and status of the router but symbols are hard to decipher and make no sense to the uninitiated.

[tilakananad03]

1) Toxicity Labels Pros: • Bright and easily visible colour • Easily Identifiable • Makes it apparent that the substance is toxic, even if the person does not know the precise convention used. Cons: • A few symbols use colours that do not necessarily translate to "danger" (Eg: Green, which we usually associate with "Go") unless given the context of the shape and the text. • The symbol binds the label of "Caution", but the label itself is shrunk down to such small sizes that the text might not be visible easily to nearsighted people.

2) Fan Regulator • Has a very simple and plain design. • The flat white surface allows ease of identification. • The only protrusion is a cylindrical dial, being the only obvious interactable part. • The markings make it apparent where the divisions are and how to actually interact with the object.

[MehulSChaudhari]

1. These signages are placed one after another on the same same corridor in hostel. The problem with these every signage speaks only about the wings at that particular point where the signage is mounted. None of them talks about what wings are ahead. So if someone is searching for say 2nd wing, they won't know if it is in the same corridor or somewhere else, while standing at the starting point of the corridor. Also it starts from 3rd wing which makes it even more difficult to understand the structure of the hostel.

2. The user interface of Casio keyboard

• It is very easy to understand and operate.
• Every basic function can be accessed and controlled just by having a look at the interface.
• Only some miscellaneous functions, such as record, octave shift etc. are not very easy and intuitive to access. In order to access these, we need to read the user manual.
• The digital display is very helpful to understand what settings we have at the moment.
• The songs and rhythms lists are included in the interface itself so that we don't need to open the manual every time.
• For volume, a knob is given instead of arrow buttons which makes it easy and more user-friendly to use.

3. The tapes stuck on the plugs indicate that they are not to be operated. This is the simplest, cheapest and effective way to indicate this purpose.

[hari-krs]

Staedtler Textsurfer Highlighter Marker

• It is very easily identifiable to be a highlighter.
• the colour of the highlighter ink is depicted by the colour of the body

text is used to convey information about the product

• on one side there is the product name and branding, it also states that it can be used on inkjet printouts (inkjet safe), and also that the product is manufactured in germany
• the other side shows the barcode and serial no. of the product, along with information that it is refillable and the various mediums it can be used on.
• the cap has a clip to attach to pockets, it is tactile to identify the right side up, it also has information on how it should be opened which could be hard to read in low lighting.

Danger sign

• it is a danger sign warning a person against touching or entering the area with the electric equipment
• it says in bold text DANGER and the voltage of the equipment
• there is the skull and bones symbolising danger
• the word danger is also written in seven other languages around it for easier understanding given the diverse population of the area
• all text is in red which is easily readable from afar
• the sign could have been slightly bigger still

[tanmaypathak1999]

1. Interactive weather infographic on Google Search

http://www.google.com/search?q=weather

CRITIQUE:

• The weather icon and temperature is on the top and clearly visible.
• The location of the weather is also shown on the top right.
• The weather icons in the bottom row, quickly give an overview of the weather conditions over the next few days.
• The precipitation, humidity & wind metrics for the day are not visible properly. They can be represented by icons to avoid making users read the text.
• The times of the day align too well with the row of days below them, making the temperature graph seem to be representing the temperature of the days. A line can be used to separate the two sections.
• The precipitation & wind graphs can also be overlaid on the temperature graph to avoid using tabs.
• Some colors can be used to make reading the information faster.

2. Extension board with adjustable wire length

CRITIQUE:

• The wire can be rolled inside by rotating the inner part of the extension.
• The rotation mechanism should be separate from the sockets as it makes adjusting the length of the wire impossible if something is plugged into the extension board.
• The sockets should be placed well apart as once something is plugged into the middle socket the other two sockets become unusable.
• The switch should be placed farther apart as things plugged into the sockets interfere with the proper functioning of the switch..
• The feet given to make the extension stand upright are useless as the weight of the plugs attached makes the extension unbalanced.

3. Infographic - Where are people fleeing to?(Russia - Ukraine War)

www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2022/2/28/russia-ukraine-crisis-in-maps-and-charts-live-news-interactiver

CRITIQUE:

• Clearly shows the number of people fleeing to each country.
• The indication of the regions under Russian control shows how the people are primarily moving towards the opposite side of the conflict.
• Color overlays with different opacities can be used on the countries to make comparing the number of people easier.
• Circles with radii corresponding to the number of people in each country can be used to give a visual representation to the difference in the numbers.
• The arrows can be removed as the title states “people fleeing” so the direction of flow is known.
• The topology overlay is not adding much information. The map should have solid colors to make the information easier to read.

[anniket02]

Mumbai Local train map

• With excellent lettering, the map is highly informative.
• Every stop is clearly labeled and different routes have different colours.

Keyboard

• Universal placement of keys which makes it easy to use.
• Every key is individually labeled.
• Simple yet has everything to give a command to a computer.

Wrist watch

• Compact in size.
• Easy to change the length of the strap.
• Easy to set time.
• Some variants have extra information like day and date.

[dataram21u130017]

1. Cup look is good

2. Design of cup is not so good base is little more smaller as compare to the top part.

3. The edges of cup is good it makes drinking easy specially hot liquids. It redusces the direct contact of liquid and mouth so chances of burning will be less.
   

4. The look of lock is good because of grip pattern looks so stronge.

5. The edge of curve lock metal have iner space for hold lock but this makes it very weak.

1. Upper side of mouse with good grip
2. But disadvantage is small size in uncomfortable

[ANOOF-PK]

Power Press Pushup Board

• This Board is easy to follow the different position (color) of pushup like shoulder, hand,, chest , etc..

Washing Machine Control Panel

• These buttons are useful because we can setup timing of sweeping, dryer and sink.
• Regulator in this machine can be used for setting different type of sweeping

[AhmadTHL]

The Sofa

It is a product where the user will immediately recognize that it is made for sitting The shape and the appearance will depict how the sofa is,( Like how sturdy or soft it is) The user rests his arms on the armrest even subconsciously Slanting the back of the sofa makes sitting comfortable

download The Sofa

It is a product where the user will immediately recognize that it is made for sitting The shape and the appearance will depict how the sofa is,( Like how sturdy or soft it is) The user rests his arms on the armrest even subconsciously Slanting the back of the sofa makes sitting comfortable download (1) The Danger Symbol

The High Contrast created by the yellow and black colour makes the sign stand out from everything The skull and the bones are intelligently used to symbolize great danger Thus the message of danger is conveyed very quickly

[UjjwallVerma]

Fan speed regulator

1. Numbers are clearly written indicating the speed of a fan and the arrow on the circular regulator clearly tells us the current speed status which is very easy to understand and use.
2. Numbering is in such order that to increase we have to rotate the regulator in a clockwise direction because the clockwise direction gives us the sense of increasing, forwarding, or adding.
3. Circular regulator should have a better grip.

Water bottle

1. The radius of the bottle in middle is slightly less which increases the holding grip.
2. The opening of the bottle has a smaller radius because it gives better control in pouring water.
3. The bottle cap has a very smooth texture and it is very difficult to open with an oily hand, It should have some texture to increase grip.

Shampoo bottle

1. Cap of the bottle has a flip-open mechanism which is easy to use with a slippery hand
2. The base of the bottle is comparatively smaller which decreases its stability.

[arijeet2001]

Mi TV 4A remote

1. The overall dimension of the remote is very ergonomic, and the size communicates nicely that you should hold it in your palm. The curved edges on top and bottom make the product more comfortable to grip. The rubber buttons also increase the grip while pressing them.

2. A limited number of buttons that carry out all the functions makes the product look minimal and appear user-friendly, unlike the old remotes.

3. Pushing the buttons on one side of the remote with the power button (which has a bright and prominent icon) on the top communicates which direction the remote should face while operating.

4. The big round navigation button gives sufficient space for finger movement. However, since the buttons underneath are placed precisely on the ( up, down, left, right ) but the rubber button covers them completely in whole, it often results in pressing a non-functional part of the button between any adjacent buttons underneath.

5. The distance between the power button and the google assistant button could have been a little more, as often, the google assistant button gets pressed while pressing the power button.

6. The information and signs printed on the remote body are not at all visible or readable.

7. Also, it gets a little bit difficult to find and press the correct button while watching television in a dark room.

Cockroach Repellent

1. The form of the bottle is very handy, and the diameter of the cylinder communicates you to hold it.

2. The long thin nozzle does inform that it can go into narrow spaces with ease.

3. The graphic printed on the bottle also conveys that it is a cockroach repellent. On the other side, instructions about using the product have been displayed using images, which could have been a little bit bigger so that it was easier to understand.

4. The caution sign goes overlooked for its placement on the back. Also, an essential piece of information, "Keep out of children's reach," is printed so small that it gets overlooked as well.

5. While looking at the bottle from the side, the portion to keep your thumb gets unnoticed until one picks it up and looks at it from the top.

Prestige Induction Cooktop (Touch)

1. At first glance, it gets a little difficult to identify it as a cooking appliance. However, just after looking at the control panel, words like 'cooking,' 'food,' and 'kitchen' come to mind.

2. The big circular sign does convey to keep something with a circular bottom on it. (i.e utensils)

3. The control panel on the bottom does tell us to orient the cooktop with the panel towards us.

4. Proper icons with text communicate the purpose of the touch-sensitive buttons. Also, the red indicators with sound enabled and the digital display in the center of the control panel make it more interactive and user-friendly.

5. The positioning of the buttons feels to be in an odd manner. The button used first (i.e power button) is on the extreme right and the one which will be needed after that is on the left. Thus, it follows the right to left order, which asks for unconventional eye movement for users living in India.

6. Also, the caution text lacks the quality to be more visible than other information mentioned on the product.

[anujambhore]

Anuj Ambhore

1. Hostel Window

   • The window has quite a unique design as it has joints in the middle.
   • The joints in the middle doesn't let the window open to its full capacity. The joints at the corners would've been a better choice.
   • The newly thick paint doesn't let the window close fully which is quite troublesome as there isn't a wired mesh, many insects at night gets attracted in the room due to light.

2. The melting clock

   • The clock has a very interesting form which makes it looks like its melting like a liquid.
   • It looks very interesting to look at but as its function is to show time it works different form different angles
   • For example when we look at it from front it shows time pretty accurately but as we watch it from different angles from right or left the time can be slightly different than the actual accurate time.
   • SOLUTIOIN! - we could change the front glass into a plane glass so that the image wont bend when looked from a different angles.

3. Laptop bag Lid

   • The laptop bag lid is pretty well designed as for storing the extra materials inside of the bag.
   • But it has one flaw which is when we open the lid and if the zip is open the materials inside will fall outside
   • it would have been a better design if the zip would've be in the inside (near the joint) of the bag so that when open the zip the materials wont fall.

[Dhairoba]

Sign Board at Metro Station Andheri

1. The sign board for women que was as given in the picture above and it was informative, readable and legible font.
2. Although for the public place the board didn’t had any symbol indicating women, hence for illiterates it would be hard to decipher.
3. It lacked direction, hence created confusion if women were supposed to turn left or right (Personally saw a group of 6 women turning left than right and heading towards men que)

Sipper

1. The design is handy, the bottle is light weight and easy to carry. Compatible in small bags due to it’s elongated design.
2. Ergonomic design for the grip to hold the bottle tightly, especially while shaking.
3. The cap is tight and has a ergonomic design for the thumb to fit in so that it could be pressed tightly while shaking.
4. The bottle mouth is quiet narrow, and the distance between the small cap and the bottle mouth is small hence it frequently hurts the nose while drinking.

~Dhairyasheel Pawar 21u130037

[tarun-sindhu]

1. The ability to remove the battery warrants a cheaper and easier user experience in replacing them.
2. The device will end up turning off everytime the memory or sim card(s) is/are removed due to placement of their respective holders relative to the battery.
3. Both sim cards has to be removed solely through friction and the smaller contact area in the lower card makes it even harder.

1. The metal chain prevents the mug from getting lost.
2. -though it gets caught up in the magnet everytime you try to get the mug filled since they both are placed on the same side.
3. The metal build throughout and a constant exposure to water inevitably causes rusting.