Henry Franks - Design and Dyslexia PDP

In my quest to further understand my dyslexia and dyspraxia i stumbled upon an article in the daily mail online, it was titled 'Dyslexic designer Henry Franks remodels range household objects reflect topsy turvy world'. 

it can be very difficult to explain how dyslexia impacts on everyday life, right now for instance to produce this very sentence i have gone through my usual process of first writing it down on a sticky note then typing it up and spell checking it, uploading it and still not being sure if it even makes sense.
 Henry franks simple expressive designs perfectly encapsulate how a dyslexic mind works, many dyslexics share common problems such as letters inverting. Franks took this trait and applied it to everyday object like the simple coffee mug, creating a more stable, less likely to be knocked over, keeps your coffee warmer for longer version. 

"Henry Franks redesigned household objects to explain how his mind works"

In this way Franks has taken his disability and used it to create something that not only visually expresses the problems dyslexics face, by forcing the user to engage with objects in an unfamiliar way, but in many ways improves on the original designs.

"The aim was to improve the objects through the addition of dyslexia"

Franks noticed that if he gave an object a "higher emotional function" he would be more likely to engage with it, thus remembering its purpose and utilizing it effectively. 

This coaster plinth is my personal favorite, i on average knock drinks over 2/3 times a week, but what i enjoy more is Franks explanation off the coaster." Misreading and not fully understanding are symptoms of dyslexia and can be elevated by pressured situations. This coaster misread the dimensions it was supposed to be and hasn’t understood the question (classic dyslexic). As a result it is more of a plinth than a coaster. The Coaster Plinth is designed to make one more aware of the mug and less likely to knock it over by elevating it. The mug feels more precarious on the Coaster Plinth and results in a different interaction, encouraging people to place the mug in the centre, delicately, despite being just as stable as it would be on the desk. When the mug is empty the Coaster Plinth becomes this celebrated platform for your mug, which aims to prize the object at a higher significance than just another vessel. It's your mug, which people seem to form strong connections with, so why not have a plinth for it."

Coaster Plinth

Best peices of advice ive been given

1- "don't worry if someone hasn't enjoyed your work as much as you'd hoped, sometimes its just not to there tastes there are plenty of other people who will love it" - one of the smaller stall holders at Birmingham interiors trade show gave me this advice in response to me asking them " do you ever worry that your personal style wont sell?" i was take back by this response as her work seemed quite commercial but after a brief conversation she revealed that she tones down her work so she can make and income off it. 

2- I'm not sure who originally created this image but i find it rather reassuring. 

3-"the trick is to put as much hard work in as you possibly can, and eventually it will pay off! I have a strong belief that you can make anything happen, if you want it bad enough! “

it would seem from the questions i ask and what i have found most useful that i worry about how my work would be received. currently my work has been a little unusual as i felt that now is the time to experiment, i have decided to spend this summer defining my style and getting into the market.

profesional contact 1

 Vicky's Pritties 

Vicky's Pritties is a lovely little company, specializing in vintage and shabby chic home decorations. i contacted them in the hope of getting some tips on setting up my own business and whether there was a future for traditional crafts. 

They responded with: 

“I used to go to Manchester Met at Hollings and studied fashion, that is where my love for making things comes from!”

“there are an awful lot of people making their own things at the moment, the trick is to put as much hard work in as you possibly can, and eventually it will pay off! I have a strong belief that you can make anything happen, if you want it bad enough! “

i really appreciate advice like this sometimes its hard to tell yourself that you can make it, but it will be worth it. 

Please check out the site: 
http://www.vickyspretties.co.uk/