First thing’s first, a smartphone: An ethnographic Vignette
Last night, our family friends from Iran came over to stay with my family for a couple of days. After not having seen this couple for the past fourteen years, I came home from class to find the women on the deck, drinking whisky and crying in joy as they discussed stories they were not able to discuss for the past almost decade and a half, and the men in the living room, doing the same just minus the crying. It was the most heart warming scene I have seen in a while. The people who I practically see as my second parents were finally sitting in front of my eyes. I can’t even describe the joy I felt when I saw them all interacting in this fashion again. This was my childhood- raw, pure, and emotion-filled.
At dinner, we started discussing the steps they must take next as they make their transition to living in the states full time. Between the discussion of finding a job, and finding an affordable place to live, the discussion of purchasing phones came up. My mom insisted “oh you can’t live here without a smartphone…well you can, but it would not be too easy.” I was a little surprised by this response. I like to think that we live in a society where we can very easily function without the use of a smartphone. But we’re not. Screenwork is a part of every day…no, our every second life. Lost in the city and not sure if you’re walking in the right direction? No problem, turn on your phone, and start walking with the map. Just remembered your bill is due by midnight and don’t have access to a computer? That’s fine, pay through your mobile app. Life is that much easier when we can take out our smartphones and handle our business on the spot. Thinking about all of the scenarios where my mother’s suggestions held true, I realized she was right.
In the world of design, having a smartphone helps in many ways as well. You can jot down design ideas on the spot (even use your fingers or a stylus to make a quick sketch), you can type ideas, take photos, record a video, search for inspiration on different applications or on the web, etc. Adobe even went as far as creating the Creative Cloud, which allows designers to save their work in their online account, and access those files on their phones and tablets anytime they want. This leaves a copious amount of room for creativity, as it allows the designer to design when inspiration strikes. In his research “Integrating Mobile Device Applications into Designers’ Workflow” Tom Page of Loughborough University concludes that:
“despite the majority of designers owning a smart phone, none are using it as a tool to assist in their design process with the exception of standard admin tasks such as emailing and browsing the internet. It could be assumed that smart phones are not favourable for use in traditional design activities because of the small screen” (202).
As this study took place in 2012, he goes on to explain that tablets are much more favorable for designers, and that researchers predict by the year 2015, there will be an increased presence of design apps specifically for tablets.
In conclusion, while smartphones may not be the most important tool in the 21st century designer’s toolbox, it certainly helps with the discovery phase of the design process as Page mentions in his paper. As part of my research, I will be taking a look at this minor detail in the design journey as well.
