Jorge Diego Etienne Ortega Parsons the New School for Design Summer Intensive Studies 2007 Product Design Professor: Robert Rabinovitz Teaching Assistant: Eddie Chiu

1. ON/OFF
Parsons the New School for Design
Summer Intensive Studies 2007
Product Design
Professor: Robert Rabinovitz
Assistant: Eddie Chiu

2. “You call it madness, but I call it love.”
-Don Byas

3. ON/OFF

4. ON/OFF research
Humans beings are complicated creatures, and
personal relationships are even more. One of the
things that makes it even worst for couples is when
their private matters become some how public to the
people around them. Fighting and making up, on
and off, is just part of the cycle in a relationship and
no one should interfere with this.

5. What do we do when we have a fight with our loved one?
Avoid the situation Talk with friends Drink
That is, of course, until you make up and everything
is great again.
Jorge Diego Etienne Ortega Parsons the New School for Design Summer Intensive Studies 2007 Product Design Profesor Robert Rabinovitz

6. ON/OFF research
But what happens when this on/off repeats itself more times?
Your friends get more in- This leads to creating an They only know about They try to help you by When someone is un-
volved since you always environment where they your sife of the situation, giving you their opinion der stress, they usually
end up talking about it feel capable of talking so a negative opinion and some advise. want to “let it out” and
with them, or by simply about your problems. begins to form in them talk about it. This means
seeing you being upset, about your loved one. they want to be listen,
angry, or sad. not to listen to advice or
opinions.

7. Brainstorming
The continuing struggle within a couple shouldn’t be
affected by outsiders, no matter how close; friends,
or family. This project will seek a solution that avoids
the uncomfortable and annoying input and opin-
ions given by others, and finish with the intruding in
private matters.
Jorge Diego Etienne Ortega Parsons the New School for Design Summer Intensive Studies 2007 Product Design Profesor Robert Rabinovitz

8. ON/OFF research
Mike
Mike has been together One day after getting out Mike goes to his friends’ This really annoys Mike His fight with Cindy has
with Cindy for 2 years of work late, he forgot house and tells them since he doesn’t want to a solution, but the fact is
now. They’ve had a about his plan to take about his problems. break up with Cindy, but that every time he has
couple of fights because Cindy to the movies. They see him really up- he can’t keep his friends problems in his relation-
of his long work hours. This makes her really set and start to tell him a from minding his bussi- ship, his friends feel
angry and they fight. negative opinion about ness. free to talk about it is
Cindy. something he wants to
change.

9. Jenny
Jenny has been wth After a party at Jenny’s The next day she goes Jenny doesn’t wan’t The next day she gets
John for only a couple of best friend’s house, to get coffee with her to break up, she likes back together with John
months. She often fights John gets jealous and friends, and they all be- him very much and she but her friends keep tell-
with him because he’s they fight. Jenny leaves gin to tell her to break up thinks it’s something that ing her what to do about
ver jealous, but she is him at the party because with John. can be worked out. Her their isues.
very much in love with she doesn’t want to ar- friends’ comments make
him. gue infront of people. her more upset about
the situation.
Jorge Diego Etienne Ortega Parsons the New School for Design Summer Intensive Studies 2007 Product Design Profesor Robert Rabinovitz

10. ON/OFF research
Telling friends you don’t Blocking people from Being alone.
want to talk about it. IM and not answering
calls.
Pros: Keeps everyone out of No one bothers you.
Clear message
your problem.
Cons: You have to bring up the Limited to electronic Being alone can make
conversation. devices. you feel worst.

11. Do not disturb sign Mood rings T-shirts
Pros: Clear Message Changes with your You can wear them and
mood. people can read your
message.
Cons: Works only in a door. Not visible, hard to Not fashionable, has to
understand. be customized.
Jorge Diego Etienne Ortega Parsons the New School for Design Summer Intensive Studies 2007 Product Design Profesor Robert Rabinovitz

12. ON/OFF criteria
The continuing struggle within a couple shouldn’t be
affected by outsiders, no matter how close; friends,
or family. This design will give a solution that avoids
the uncomfortable and annoying input and opin-
ions given by others, and finish with the intruding in
private matters.

13. Communicate in a simple way for everyone to
understand.
Visible.
Make a direct reference to you current relationship
status
Provide an effective way to avoid intrusion from
others.
Available for men and women.
Easy to use.
Helps to release stress and tension.
Helps every relationship.
Jorge Diego Etienne Ortega Parsons the New School for Design Summer Intensive Studies 2007 Product Design Profesor Robert Rabinovitz

14. ON/OFF concepts

15. Jorge Diego Etienne Ortega Parsons the New School for Design Summer Intensive Studies 2007 Product Design Profesor Robert Rabinovitz

16. ON/OFF concepts

17. Jorge Diego Etienne Ortega Parsons the New School for Design Summer Intensive Studies 2007 Product Design Profesor Robert Rabinovitz

18. ON/OFF concepts

19. Jorge Diego Etienne Ortega Parsons the New School for Design Summer Intensive Studies 2007 Product Design Profesor Robert Rabinovitz

20. ON/OFF concepts

21. Jorge Diego Etienne Ortega Parsons the New School for Design Summer Intensive Studies 2007 Product Design Profesor Robert Rabinovitz

22. ON/OFF design direction

23. Broken Heart Do Break Vase Frustration Vase of Phases Human Heart
Tjep for Droog Dror Benshetrit
for Rosenthal
Jorge Diego Etienne Ortega Parsons the New School for Design Summer Intensive Studies 2007 Product Design Profesor Robert Rabinovitz

24. ON/OFF design direction

25. Fights won’t stop, but at least you can deal with
them on your own.
Jorge Diego Etienne Ortega Parsons the New School for Design Summer Intensive Studies 2007 Product Design Profesor Robert Rabinovitz