My initial object is a ‘scotch tape’. One thing I really like in this object would be the combination of two actions into one!! In order to use a scotch tape, along with the tape we generally need another object (a scissors) performing two different actions/ hand movements– pulling the tape from the tape roll and cutting it using a scissor. This particular creation is a condensed version of those actions together which I think is amazing.
This basically happens with 2 things. 1 is the circular motion of the tape and the other is the ’wonder blade’, which has just the right amount of sharpness to do its job.
When I started to work on this assignment, I wanted to modify this object in a way that visually still gives an illusion of a tape but when we actually use it, that is when the user realizes it to be different. I was looking out for options to replace the tape and I came up with – “ Sticky Notes”. The reason behind choosing sticky notes – I was trying to look for something contrast to a tape which is generally used to stick two pieces together where as a sticky note is used to stick onto something. Though the content of them is the same, the purpose and function of it is totally opposite.
Replacing the tape with sticky notes had made the object look like a tape visually but it has lost its function. It is no more used to stick two things together. We are still using the circular motion of the object but the blade has lost its purpose and is now being used to support the notes. The main intention of making this object is to deceive the person using it as well as making use of the scotch tape mechanism for another purpose (Re- Purposing).
When I showed this object to my friends, most of them thought it to be a “colored tape” and one of them actually went ahead to use it but later realized it to be a sticky note. The purpose of my move was accomplished- both creating a visual illusion as well as repurposing it for another function.