Design is Exploration:
Tactile Tennis Surface

There is an all too common saying that goes something along the lines of “it’s not about how fast you get there, it’s the journey.” Although that phrase is often reserved for the latest sedan, product design takes a similar approach to understanding the value of the process and how to make it part of the complete experience. As professional designers, it is not often that we have the time to explore the infinite possibilities of solutions with the resources available. However, finding projects that are sustainable over a period of time is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy creative mindset.

Through pursuing conceptual products for the sake of the pursuit, it is often that I find a much more gratifying experience when happening upon unexpected solutions beyond the scope of the original project. On a more personal level, opening a channel of constructive criticism between my peers also allows me to become more efficient in utilizing outside feedback.

Through this experimental design process creating a tactile surface from tennis balls no longer in service, I was able to facilitate an interactive surface that invited a spirit of play and exploration. Although the final realization was resolved through its integration in a handcrafted sling chair, the spirit of the creation process continues through my ideation routine.