Committee Meeting 3

Hello Hello!  So what's my big news?  I had another committee meeting this week- better yet- my head is still attached to my shoulders!  

I went into Tuesday's meeting overwhelmed.  I came out nearly nauseous from an overload of ideas.  Wednesday I followed up with Nancy, and by Wednesday evening, life started to make sense again.  I think every graduate student can relate to this vicious cycle.  Today I spent several more hours reviewing this week's advancements and believe I am at peace with tackling the task ahead of me.  Below is a rather lengthy synopsis of Tuesday's meeting and where I plan to go from here in order to successfully reach that ominous deadline.  

During the Meeting

1) Updated Plan of Work Approval (Added Independent Study with Nancy in Jacquard Woven Design)

2) Adjust Timeline

3) Discuss Updated Outline

Updated Outline: An Exploration of Factors Affecting Innovation in Automotive Upholstery, 1950-2010

I have now clarified my purpose of study:

Determine trends and trend cycles in the automotive upholstery over the past 60 years.  Based on these trends and industry interviews, understand what factors are involved in creating successful automotive fabric.  From this information, develop predictions for future trends in automotive upholstery.

I have also finalized my research objectives:

1) What trends have recurred in the materials used in automotive upholstery?                       

2) What trends have recurred in the types of fabric structures used in automotive upholstery?           

3) What trends have recurred in fabric design (colors, and patterns) in automotive upholstery?

4) What factors contributed to these trends?

5) Based on these factors and trends, what predictions can be made for future automotive interior upholstery?

In order to accomplish these objectives, I will:

1) Review pre-existing literature on automotive upholstery in order to better evaluate the fabrics’ materials and constructions.  I will also review literature that explores trend cycles in order to understand how to document my findings, relate these to outside factors, and justify my approach.

2) Analyze the fabrics from the Top 5 Best Selling Vehicles in the US from the DeLeo collection.  From the swatches, I will be able to determine the year, model and make of the vehicle, the materials, structure and fabrication method, and the fabric design (colors and patterns) of the fabric.  I will catalogue this information and examine it using various statistical analysis tools (yet to be decided) in order to determine trends and trend cycles.

3) Conduct a follow-up literature review in order to understand what factors may have contributed to the observed trend cycles.  These sources will focus on consumer, OEM, and global influences in automotive design and textiles.  I will also complete my study on the F-Series (America’s all time best selling vehicle) in order to gain an in-depth understanding of what factors are involved in design during a vehicle’s life cycle.

4) Conduct industry interviews in order to confirm and validate the factors that I have determined contributed to innovations in automotive upholstery.

5) Based on these factors and trends, I will make predictions for designing successful automotive upholstery fabrics for the future.

Literature Review

            We spent the majority of the meeting discussing the literature review, which was certainly a wise use of our time.  Initially my thoughts were too broad and too vague at the same time.  I think the main reason for this is because until Tuesday’s meeting, the literature review was the most intimidating part of my thesis (which shouldn’t be true), and this was keeping me from getting off to an efficient start.  Our solution is actually the opposite of what is normally done; I will be conducting my primary literature review after my research.  Most graduate students are strongly advised against this, but we felt that this was the natural order of progression for my study.  I will still conduct a preliminary literature review, as discussed in Point 1 above in order to better understand what I am looking for and how to evaluate this information, but the majority of my traditional literature review will conducted after my fabric analysis.  This way I will be able to focus my efforts only on the factors that actively influenced trends seen in the sample analysis.

Goals before May 12 Committee Meeting:

1) Complete TTM Research Proposal. 

This is an assignment given for my Research Methods class, taught by Dr. Moore (my committee co-chair).  For the proposal, we are a write an Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Prospective Benefits and Limitations, and create a Timeline/Budget, within a 10-page document.  I have discussed much of this with my committee, but this assignment will force me to put it all on paper in order to get the ball rolling.  This is also a great opportunity to receive valuable feedback before I am in too deep.

2) Begin Fabric Analysis and Cataloguing.

In order to successfully complete my proposal, it will be necessary to understand if my analysis process will be a success.  I hope to analyze fabrics in the 2006 and 2005 DeLeo books, 10 vehicles total.

Networking and Portfolio Sites

I'm supposed to be refining my research question tonight...but after a killer test on Wednesday, I think my brain broke :)  Really I've just decided to switch my attention to something a bit more entertaining.  This week that has meant joining LinkedIn, a professional networking website. 

 

This has brought me to today's blog post: a list of some of the most lucrative sites I have joined, as well as some I do not recommend professionally.

1) www.LinkedIn.com

I just joined this network and it is currently top on my list.  This is by far the most professional site, which I am mainly basing on the caliber of contacts that have joined.  As described by a friend, "it makes me feel important having so many business/professional contacts!"  Although it has been somewhat intimidating requesting contacts who I have not spoken with in months or even years, you are given the option to write a personal note that appears in their primary email account when sending a contact invitation.  This was a great opportunity to reconnect with past professionals and colleagues with whom I have networked and keep my name fresh in the minds.  So far the biggest convenience of LinkedIn is being able to import contacts directly from your email.  The site shows you which of these are already members on LinkedIn and you can request them, or invite them to join.  I still have a lot to learn about this site...which might be the only downside.  There are just so many options for adding information and finding contacts and the layout is somewhat confusing.  Regardless, it gets the job done.

Connect with me:  www.linkedin.com/in/jennaeason

2) www.SlideShare.net 

Second on my list is a feature that I found via LinkedIn called SlideShare.  This site allows quick and easy upload of your powerpoint presentations.  You can work with this feature directly from LinkedIn, or create a SlideShare profile at: www.slideshare.net.  By creating tags, or keywords, for your presentations, users can search on a variety of topics.  Also, in the 3 days I have had this account, I have been fortunate enough to have 2 of my presentations selected to be featured on the "Automotive Spotlight" page.  Most impressive is the fact that I had no difficulties in uploading my presentation files, which are far to big for email.  You can then download the presentation directly from the site.  The only MAJOR disadvantage is that your file can be downloaded in original format, notes and all, which means the content that you might have spent months on, could easily be stolen and, um..."adopted".  As a student, I feel that sharing knowledge is important and understand the risk, but in a professional environment, this is NOT an option.  On the up-side, you do have the option to upload in a number of different formats, including pdf (which I think is my next step).

Check out my presentations: www.slideshare.net/AutomotiveTextileDesign

3) www.carbonmade.com

Carbonmade is the site I am currently using to host my design portfolio.  The layout is simple, professional, and easy to navigate.  The backend of the site also makes uploading and project organization very user-friendly.  This is one account that I am currently paying for at a rate of $12/month (the "Whoo!" account), which allows me 50 projects and 500 hi-res. images and 10 video uploads.  However, the best investment is the FREE membership, no strings attached.  With this plan (labeled as the "Meh." account), you are allowed a respectable 5 projects and 35 images.  You also have the option to turn projects off, or hide them, at any given time...perhaps you are catering towards a specific audience?

Check out my portfolio: www.HereIAm.carbonmade.com

4. www.flikr.com

Flikr certainly seems to cater to the more "artsy" crowd.  I use the site for public viewing of my blog albums, which are hopefully informational and interesting, but many users of this site are working at a far higher caliber; set to impress the world with their photographic and photoshopic techniques.  Users can comment on other's photos, providing what is often helpful feedback.  The biggest drawbacks are failures in uploading, and the significant amount of time it takes to create an entire album.  I also find it frustrating to navigate from the backend and while viewing.  Nonetheless, it is a reputable home for your images.

Visit my photostream: www.flickr.com/photos/27362998@N07/collections/

While I understand there are tons of other networking, and especially portfolio sites, these are my TOP recommendations.  Below are links to a number of other sites with descriptions.  Please also comment on your favorites that I may have not mentioned.

5) www.myworkster.com

I joined this site over 2 years ago, when there were only about 20 other members from all of NCSU.  I have not revisited the site until recently, and now that I am using LinkedIn, will probably remain inactive on Workster.  If I spend any additional time on it and discover new advantages, the layout has changed significantly since my last long in, I will be sure to let you know.  Certainly still worth checking out.

6) www.facebook.com

Anyone who's been in college over the past 5 years is all-too-familiar with facebook.  I must be honest, I've grown to love the site.  Its a wonderful way to reconnect or stay connected with friends and even family.  Always controversial and confusing are the monthly changes to the site, which are sure to spark thousands of new "groups" protesting the updates.  While I learn to accept some of the changes and forget the "old ways of facebook", the site has lost what I once considered a sense of professionalism.  All the applications of mob wars and zombie attacks may be fun, but for me are just distracting.  This site has revolutionized how many school groups connect and how friends plan the night's activities.  It successfully connects you to large groups of people with simple note or event page.  A college student not on facebook is a rarity, and in that sense, I think facebook has been the most successful at connecting people of like interests, but this is also a site I recommend for fun, not for professional use.

7) www.myspace.com

MySpace is essentially the original social networking site.  I think that is also the most important thing to remember, that it is primarily for social purposes.  I do not recommend this site professionally, and often come across crude material if I am browsing.  I do however recommend joining if you are a music or entertainment fanatic, or plugging your own album.  If you ever want to be on an MTV reality show, this is the site to join.

In future blogs I hope to add more site, especially portfolio sites, but I have not yet done much research into these.  Some recommended by friends include: www.coroflot.com, www.viewbook.com, www.otherpeoplespixels.com, or my #1 recommendation of creating and hosting your own site.  linked

3D Spacer Fabrics

Good morning textile enthusiasts! 

Keeping this blog is all about reporting on topics I find most interesting as well as serving of an account of my activities and research during my final semester of graduate school.   This semester I am taking a class in Woven and Knit Structures and Properties.  As a requirement of this class, we have been assigned a topic paper and presentation from a variety of categories.  I selected spacer fabrics, specifically for automotive usage.  I have been very interested in this construction technique because I believe it gives a fresh, funky, and innovative spin on the automotive seat.  My research has converted me into even more of an enthusiast as I have uncovered the extreme benefits of using this material over conventional seating components.  I have included my slide below, but these only touch on the surface of my research.  As always, if you'd like more information on the topic or have any questions, please feel free to contact me by posting a comment or emailing me directly.

2009 Southeastern Automotive Forum

Spring "Break" is anything but for the graduate student.  My weekend, and week, of course started in the library- working on that lovely 3D Spacer Fabric paper.  Of which I have 15 single spaced pages and am almost halfway through my research.  The paper guidelines are for a 6-8 page paper.   Oops...I think I have a long weekend of editing ahead.

But more importantly...the past days I have been assisting with the 2009 Southeastern Automotive Forum.  I have been helping my wonderfully involved graduate professor, Nancy Powell, as we prepared to host the conference at the College of Textiles.  The event, held today from 8:00-1:00 was a HUGE success with the largest turnout yet of over 200 participants!

The day started with a Introduction and Welcome by Nancy Powell, Dr. Terri Helmlinger Ratcliff (the Executive Director of NC State IES), and Morgan Blue (of UL-DQS).   Terri's welcome gave the conference an optimistic start.  She gave us hope as she compared a 1875 Wisconsin state legislation to develop a feasible and economical substitute for the horse.   A patent given in 1899 (almost 20 years later) took the award of $10,000...a figure that relates to around $200 million in today's economy.  But in 1903, as we all know, Ford pushed this product aside and said 'I can do better'...and he did.  The point of the story is that things can always be done differently and better.  The grandchild to this competition: Progressive Auto's X-Prize.  The goal: Revolution through Competition.  Partnered with the US Department of Energy and Discovery Education, the X Prize Foundation is offering $10 million for creating the most energy-efficient solution to automotive transportation.

The keynote address, given by Todd Taylor continued this positive vive and reported on automotive efficiency and sustainability of the industry in today's economic environment.  Todd, of Honda North America, spoke on "Strengthening Characteristics and Efficiency During the Weakened Economy".  Honda's philosophy since 1960 is inspiring to say the least: A company that Society wants to exist.  

We then hosted 4 breakout sessions:

Simon Cobb, Chief Operating Officer of NCCAR spoke on "Disruptive Times Offer Big Opportunities in Automotive Industry".

Jerry Skaggs, PE's topic was "Putting Leadership in Energy Through the Draft ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard".

Dr. Mike Seibert, Assistant State Director and Director of Export Financing Services, SBTDC, hosted a session about "Business Success in Tough Economic Times"

and Phil Mintz, Manager of Continuous Improvement Services and NC State's IES, spoke about "Continuous Improvement for the Green Organization"

As you can see from these topics, the theme for the Forum, "Sustainability in our Changing Environment", was clearly using sustainability to its original meaning rather just in the trendy environmental way.  The goal is to learn how to sustain not only the environment, but also the companies, the automotive industry, and supporting industries.

We the continued with Dr. Fred Gallasch speaking on "How Suppliers Can Sell Their Wares While Protecting Themselves from the Uncertainties of Dealing with the OEM's".  Fred is the President of Gallasch Consulting Services, LLC, and is the Past Brand Manager for General Motors Corvette.

The day wrapped up with a panel discussion hosted by Simon Cobb, Rich Cregar, Jerry Skaggs, Mike Hensen, and Todd Taylor.

The Southeastern Automotive Forum was hosted by UL DQS Inc (Management Systems Solutions), The Industrial Extension Service at NC State (IES), NC Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR), the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), and the NC State College of Textiles.  Please be sure to check out the links to these great organizations and see what is really going on in the North Carolina Automotive Industry (and the world).

And 1 more, very positive personal note for the day.  Crystal Avalos and I were publicly recognized by Stephanie Rodgers of ATS for our First Place entries in the Automotive Design Competition....which led to some very interested potential employers!