In celebration of the last posting for this course and consequently this blog for, er, ever? I have decided to do away with the theme! Sorry folks, that's it! The last batch was posted yesterday! If you can all manage to carry on through the tears of sadness, which I'm sure you all have right now, I'm going to start the actual post. Apparently there was four total reading reflections for this course...? I'm not sure though; I couldn't find that information on the blog site, I just happened to be reviewing grades through Carmen when I discovered a couple of 0's. Oh well I guess. Here is the last segment for that series though, and thankfully, the last assignment for Design 200!
Chapter 9: Contexts
Well, chapter nine begins by discussing where and how design can be found. The field is so broad and diverse that it can't be viewed like a typical professional trade (the book gave examples such as law and medicine). By this I mean, design means so many things, standardized rules and regulations just don't work very well for designers. Never the less, design does have its applications and conforms to some patterns. A prime example would be the business world. Here, there are many, many different ways to structure and organize design, but the applications are the same: a list of rules and criteria are established (guidelines for creativity, if you will) and from there, it is left up to the team of designers to work their magic. Some companies police the designers harder than others of course, but all designs serve one ultimate goal in this realm: to make the company a profit. Of course, business isn't the only field which employs designers. Government (and economies) reflect design as well, on a macro scale to be sure.
Chapter 10: Futures
Where is the field of design headed? The book includes two recurring patterns: variations upon what design means when applied, as well as the effect of technology. Take for example computer software. How many people are graphic designers, working on striking computer generated visuals or designing captivating web page displays? None of this would have been possible in the past without computers and their programs. Industrial systems and process involve complex machinery which need to be designed to work. Even the applied process of design changes with the future; instead of one person or a small team collaborating to do an entire project, tasks are now divided and separated. The chapter discusses in length the effect of the modern world countries upon the 'Third World' countries. Can design help these nations? Can it come up with ways to avoid exploiting cheap labor elsewhere? It seems the chapter focuses heavily on the possible applications of design in the future. Almost as if design has an obligation to create a better and more efficient tomorrow while protecting the very people it serves. And it seems to rely heavily on the technology which we can create today and in the future.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
"J10": The Long and Winding Road
A simple posting here; a course reflection in which the entire quarter is examined. More so, the assignments and overall instruction gets to be evaluated this time. And no worries Gabe, I felt like you did an excellent job! The course itself was really slow at first, and honestly, I thought pointless. I won't lie, I regretted taking it in the first couple of weeks. Some of the assignments just felt...childish. However, as we got going, there were some really cool assignments that I felt lived up to a 'design' course, such as the letterform seek and find. Basically, any assignment where we had to take pictures and argue why they worked. Those were alot of fun and I felt like it was a great teaching experience. And the final project at the end? Great idea. I felt like like the project was a great teaching experience because it taught the value of group work, presentation skills, and of course, design elements. Things I would change? Less 'frivoulous' assignments. For instance, why so many peer dialogues? And why do we need to reflect on EVERY course lecture day? Not all of them offered material which could be assessed and critiqued for a 'deeper meaning'. So if I were to change things, I would give a few less assignments on the blog and possibly make the big Assignments a little different. Some were just goofy and didn't feel adequate for a college level course. But overall, the way the course was structured was superb and Gabe, you made it a really awesome experience. I was glad I had you for an instructor.
"CR05": All Together Now
Yet another Beatles song; it is representative of the great job which everyone in the class did on this project. It was a tremendous success. This will probably be my shortest posting of them all. This reflection covers the last two days of the class, which were spent presenting the various products created by all of the groups. I say this will be the shortest because I don't have a clear memory of the particular products and their uses. But that doesn't mean they were not interesting or useful. For example, a couple I remember: there was a 'tent bed' which would provide an experience similar to camping for children in the home. And there was the solar curtain which took the suns energy and powered a wireless, remote electrical outlet box. The thing to take away from these two classes; all of the groups showed tremendous amounts of creativity and did an excellent job creating their product and presentations.
"J09": Paperback Writer
Paperback Writer, by the Beatles, is symbolic of all the documentation of this product; it's like publishing my own book in a way. And if you'll notice, I'm revisiting the Beatles again. It seems fitting to end the year's postings in the same way I began it. This journal's purpose was mainly to reflect upon the project as a whole. As a quick overview, I'll have links to my groups blog posted. I plan to discuss what our specific project was and then I intend to focus more on my own personal contribution to the groups success. As far as posting images, however, that I can't do because I did not come up with any of the drawings. That wasn't my personal area of expertise that I brought to the table.
First, I should thank my group. It was a pleasure working with you all and I wish you the best. The group included myself, of course, as well as Gered Bowman, Daniel Comai, and Bridget Mears. Their links are posted here in the respective order in which the names were presented:
http://design200classblog.blogspot.com/
http://dancsp11.blogspot.com/
http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
Now, let's discuss the project a little bit. What did we work on? Well, our attempt to place Coleman within the home took form in, essentially, two products. Or at the very least, two components to one product. We created a modified treadmill, which would focus heavily on the Coleman brand. That was our hardware; a treadmill which was light weight and easily collapsed/moved. Now, what made it unique was the combination of software, through which we enlisted the aid of Wii. We created an interactive game which would work in conjunction with the treadmill and simulated a hiking/camping experience for the user. As for how we worked as a group, things went very smoothly. There was no arguments and everyone got along very well. We didn't have an assigned leader; each of us took charge when needed and for the most part made group decisions on the direction of our project with everyone having an equal say. I felt like everyone presented a valuable work towards our project on both a personal and group based level.
Looking now at personal work contributed, I was largely an idea guy. I critiqued most ideas, as well as presented as many as I could come up with. From there, you could probably consider me the group's marketer or business representative. I tried to manage our time in order to get the project done by the due date. My handiwork is most apparent upon the power point; I combined all of the awesome visuals, courtesy of my fellow group members, and added comments to make it coherently presentable. Lastly, I made sure to learn all I could about our personal product so I could field as many questions. So all things considered, I feel we did a great job on our project. If there is anything I wish I could have done extra, I wish I knew more about the various programs used in design so I could have done some mock ups for the group.
And as I mentioned in the overview, I didn't have any sketches or drawings to provide as evidence. All I have is the finished product, since I put it together in a power point. While I can't post that here, I have it saved in my personal records and shall definitely remember it in the future.
First, I should thank my group. It was a pleasure working with you all and I wish you the best. The group included myself, of course, as well as Gered Bowman, Daniel Comai, and Bridget Mears. Their links are posted here in the respective order in which the names were presented:
http://design200classblog.blogspot.com/
http://dancsp11.blogspot.com/
http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
Now, let's discuss the project a little bit. What did we work on? Well, our attempt to place Coleman within the home took form in, essentially, two products. Or at the very least, two components to one product. We created a modified treadmill, which would focus heavily on the Coleman brand. That was our hardware; a treadmill which was light weight and easily collapsed/moved. Now, what made it unique was the combination of software, through which we enlisted the aid of Wii. We created an interactive game which would work in conjunction with the treadmill and simulated a hiking/camping experience for the user. As for how we worked as a group, things went very smoothly. There was no arguments and everyone got along very well. We didn't have an assigned leader; each of us took charge when needed and for the most part made group decisions on the direction of our project with everyone having an equal say. I felt like everyone presented a valuable work towards our project on both a personal and group based level.
Looking now at personal work contributed, I was largely an idea guy. I critiqued most ideas, as well as presented as many as I could come up with. From there, you could probably consider me the group's marketer or business representative. I tried to manage our time in order to get the project done by the due date. My handiwork is most apparent upon the power point; I combined all of the awesome visuals, courtesy of my fellow group members, and added comments to make it coherently presentable. Lastly, I made sure to learn all I could about our personal product so I could field as many questions. So all things considered, I feel we did a great job on our project. If there is anything I wish I could have done extra, I wish I knew more about the various programs used in design so I could have done some mock ups for the group.
And as I mentioned in the overview, I didn't have any sketches or drawings to provide as evidence. All I have is the finished product, since I put it together in a power point. While I can't post that here, I have it saved in my personal records and shall definitely remember it in the future.
"CR04": New Design
To be honest, I was surprised I found a song title in my music library which it so well. It's by Thousand Foot Krutch, which is a blend between rock and pop. As has been the case for awhile now, the course reflections take a bit of a different turn. No longer are the classes limited to 'slideshows'. In fact, for this particular set of courses, it wasn't really information based at all. It was spent doing group work for the Coleman project. And since all of the days relate to that, this posting will be pretty short since I have a couple more which relate to this project.
Day 13: Ah, the project was officially assigned and begun. We spent most of the first day, as a group, ascertaining who Coleman was in our eyes. From there, we started carving out core values which were important to Coleman and which we could utilize in a new product. Finally, we started brainstorming potential goods.
Day 14 - 16: At this point, things become sort of a blur. I can't distinguish between the next few days, so here is the gist of what happened. We met and decided upon a product which dealt with physical fitness. It took many forms at first, but finally, we decided upon a treadmill. From here, we started discussing the many forms and shapes it could take. We spent along time trying to come up with specifics on size, weight, what it would do differently, etc. Finally, I had the idea that it should be linked to a tv. After all, most people now a days watch tv as they exercise with treadmills, ellipticals, etc. So why not add another component to that? Seemed like the next logical step. Anyways, from there, some of the group members started sketching up our product. We then started developing the software component. By now, we were on our last day. We spent that working on our packaging. We were trying to come up with the best way to ship it and handle it. Like other groups, we wanted to try to create a green campaign or take advantage of a sleek new design for the package. In the end, it didn't happen. At the end of that last class, we divided work and tossed out some rough ideas for some a kiosk. And that pretty much covers these four days of class.
Day 13: Ah, the project was officially assigned and begun. We spent most of the first day, as a group, ascertaining who Coleman was in our eyes. From there, we started carving out core values which were important to Coleman and which we could utilize in a new product. Finally, we started brainstorming potential goods.
Day 14 - 16: At this point, things become sort of a blur. I can't distinguish between the next few days, so here is the gist of what happened. We met and decided upon a product which dealt with physical fitness. It took many forms at first, but finally, we decided upon a treadmill. From here, we started discussing the many forms and shapes it could take. We spent along time trying to come up with specifics on size, weight, what it would do differently, etc. Finally, I had the idea that it should be linked to a tv. After all, most people now a days watch tv as they exercise with treadmills, ellipticals, etc. So why not add another component to that? Seemed like the next logical step. Anyways, from there, some of the group members started sketching up our product. We then started developing the software component. By now, we were on our last day. We spent that working on our packaging. We were trying to come up with the best way to ship it and handle it. Like other groups, we wanted to try to create a green campaign or take advantage of a sleek new design for the package. In the end, it didn't happen. At the end of that last class, we divided work and tossed out some rough ideas for some a kiosk. And that pretty much covers these four days of class.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
"J08:" Survivalism
Survivalism, done by Nine Inch Nails, is a rather interesting song. If I'm not mistaken, the 'group' is just one man and he has made alot of electronic noise to fill in for the various instruments. Not my favorite song by him, but he does have a couple that are awesome. So I chose to explore the design field in relation to accessibility a bit more in depth. I suppose the obvious question now is ‘why’? Hm, well, perhaps because I intend to live to see a ripe old age and realize my body plans to give out before my spirit does? Or perhaps I’m interested in extreme, dangerous sports and hope to garner a few broken limbs? It’s really as simple as that; sooner or later, everyone’s body will fail them in some way. And through design, maybe we can accommodate everyone; not just those who are physically/mentally fit. Now, the links I will provide will focus primarily on examples of cool and innovative features or products which cater to people who are handicapped in some way.
1) Handicap symbol
Perhaps the most generic idea of the field, the handicap symbol has become universally accepted and understood. For the United States, at least, it is readily apparent there are specific locations and facilities made for handicapped people to use. So specific, in fact, it is often illegal for those without the special symbol or pass to use said areas. Someone had to design the sign, of course, which is why it applies so readily to this assignment. But how long has it been around? I think it might be time to change the symbol. Add a modern design twist, or maybe change the color scheme. Anyways, this sight just gives an overview to the symbol and I would like to see some different design takes upon it.
2) Handicap ramps
There is a need for ramps in all buildings now. Due to the semi – recent legislation, all buildings need to be upgraded to fit code to allow for access to all people. Essentially, this will show a few examples of the use and benefits the ramps have, as well as offer some insight behind the construction of them. Why is it important? Well, ramps are a good alternative to stairs; they take up more room but are a smooth and easy option. But they tend to all look the same. Perhaps the field of design could put a new spin on them?
3) The wheelchair accessible motorcycle
So, the idea here is fairly simple, yet fairly new. Attach a side car, or better yet, a modified chassis, to a motorcycle which allows a wheelchair to roll into. By placing a protective ‘cage’ frame on the motorcycle, a person can literally roll their wheelchair up a ramp and sit on the bike without ever leaving their chair. With specialized locking mechanisms, the chair will remained anchored. Also, a gear shift has been installed to allow for easy forward/reverse movement. From that point, it is no different than driving a regular motorcycle. It is nice to see the lack of mobility won’t prevent the proverbial feeling of ‘wind in their hair’.
4) Modern prosthetic arms
Based for wounded military veterans, modern prosthetics are becoming quite advanced. Not only do they ‘fill’ a missing limb, but with the modern medical applications, they can actually interact with nerve endings around the missing limb. And the result is the ability to use the limb as if it was the original. They are still researching ways to make it send a feedback, allowing the user to ‘feel’ how more force they are exerting. It has all sorts of useful applications, and seems to be a prototype for a real plausible solution in the near future. I’m excited to see what the future holds in this area.
5) Lasik eye surgery
The number of people who have diminished to no eye sight is on the rise. Majority of the populace, in fact, is actually plagued by it. And while the idea of ‘near sightedness’ or ‘far sightedness’ might not rank as highly in terms of a disability, but I imagine anyone out there who has to wear glasses or contacts can greatly appreciate the aid given to help them see clearly again. As for this posting, it gives some insight on the modern practice of laser correction. Now, it does away with eye wear. And no longer do people have to have their eyes ‘cut’ on to correct their vision. Modern surgery involves less recover time and is nearly pain free. Not a bad deal in order to regain full eyesight once again!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
"J07:" Voices
Voices is done by Disturbed. I would have to double check, but I want to say this is the 'hardest' rock band I have chosen yet. They are a metal band, and frankly, I would be surprised if anyone in class has not heard of them before. Personally, I'm a fan; my two favorite sub genres are classic rock and hard rock. The connection is the idea that a peer dialogue is based on communication, which can take the form of speech, and thus requires a voice. But more importantly to me for today...yet another peer dialogue down! Today we will be exploring the postings of Dan and Bridget yet again and giving the highlights of their blog.
I'm going to begin with Dan's blog this time. I enjoyed his version of a letter form assignment, based on the things he found. It was funny, because we had identical pictures for a couple of the letters. The letter i was identical and the letter j was the same concept with the clothes hanger. Other than that, the toilet seat was sweet because I had never considered it. Yet, how many times does a person use it? Nice observation. As far as his course reflection content goes, it had some good points. I agree that Dan got some good tips from the various groups that visited us. And I also agree that it was important to see designers becoming business men, and not just another 'worker'. I also wish those guys luck; it has to be hard right out of college, holding a couple of jobs down, trying to get their name out there.
And let us not forget about Bridget! I believe her blog might be a bit behind, so I'll comment on the couple of posts which are most recent. I don't believe I commented on those last time. So I'll start with her found faces. The couple that she took of her own were really cool. The first picture was probably my favorite, though I'm not really sure why. Maybe it was just a really cool angle/item? But I saw it as a goofy looking face all the same. And of course, the plate with the bacon and eggs. It has been done time and time again, yet always is a classic looking 'face'. I bet it was a lot of fun to play around with. The next post was when we hunted down the designer based clues for a scavenger hunt. She provided a lot of specific information on all of the pictures and places we visited. And of course, her own personal twist on the goofy pictures. I think it is safe to say that we all had some fun posing for those pictures. Oh, and I got a kick out of the fact that she had forgotten the name of her magazine too. All I can remember is that I picked one done in Spanish as a joke, since I can't read Spanish.
I'm going to begin with Dan's blog this time. I enjoyed his version of a letter form assignment, based on the things he found. It was funny, because we had identical pictures for a couple of the letters. The letter i was identical and the letter j was the same concept with the clothes hanger. Other than that, the toilet seat was sweet because I had never considered it. Yet, how many times does a person use it? Nice observation. As far as his course reflection content goes, it had some good points. I agree that Dan got some good tips from the various groups that visited us. And I also agree that it was important to see designers becoming business men, and not just another 'worker'. I also wish those guys luck; it has to be hard right out of college, holding a couple of jobs down, trying to get their name out there.
And let us not forget about Bridget! I believe her blog might be a bit behind, so I'll comment on the couple of posts which are most recent. I don't believe I commented on those last time. So I'll start with her found faces. The couple that she took of her own were really cool. The first picture was probably my favorite, though I'm not really sure why. Maybe it was just a really cool angle/item? But I saw it as a goofy looking face all the same. And of course, the plate with the bacon and eggs. It has been done time and time again, yet always is a classic looking 'face'. I bet it was a lot of fun to play around with. The next post was when we hunted down the designer based clues for a scavenger hunt. She provided a lot of specific information on all of the pictures and places we visited. And of course, her own personal twist on the goofy pictures. I think it is safe to say that we all had some fun posing for those pictures. Oh, and I got a kick out of the fact that she had forgotten the name of her magazine too. All I can remember is that I picked one done in Spanish as a joke, since I can't read Spanish.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
"J06:" Moneytalks
This song was done by AC/DC. I honestly wasn't expecting to be able to use this power house of a rock band. Personally, I feel they helped bring 'hard rock' to the forefront of the genre and left it there in the following decades. I felt this title applies because money is needed to buy ALL of these goods, inside or out. Money gets things done; it is influential, and honestly, not a stretch to say it 'talks'.
This post was an online scavenger hunt. I'm going to give a disclaimer right away; I wasn't really sure what to search under for the exhibition photos. So I simply omitted them. It will obviously cost me points, but so be it. All other aspects have be submitted. I'll start with my definition, provide the links to the sites, and finish off with my photos and simple definitions.
This post was an online scavenger hunt. I'm going to give a disclaimer right away; I wasn't really sure what to search under for the exhibition photos. So I simply omitted them. It will obviously cost me points, but so be it. All other aspects have be submitted. I'll start with my definition, provide the links to the sites, and finish off with my photos and simple definitions.
In home goods: Products which are designed and intended to be used within the dwelling structure in order to benefit the individual/families life in a positive way including, though not exclusive to, increasing happiness and/or saving time.
Outdoor based companies :
Indoor based compaines:
*Note that all of the examples fit my working definition of an indoor good for the explained reasons. Furthermore, I simply picked products located in one room of my house. In door goods can be a multitude of items, and they do not all need electricity, nor do they all lie solely within a 'kitchen' setting.
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| Example 1) The microwave, like all of my example, needs electricity to work and would be easily damaged left outdoors. More so, it saves time in the fact that it allows left overs to be quickly warmed and can cook simple meals in a matter of minutes versus the prep and cook time previously required. |
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| A washing machine allows for a simple load and turn on policy. It washes and gives you free time to do other activities. |
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| A indoor stove is convenient since it allows the cooking of meals indoors, away from the elements. It also has the convenient 'start and leave it alone' concept. |
"CR03:" Black and White
Ah, todays song title comes from Three Dog Night. Personally, their song called One is my all time favorite by them, but this title was more fitting. It is going to reference the video we watched in class and how this law dealing with the music industry is so cut and dry. Yet, often, with the idea of remixes and such, the legality is a shade of grey, not black and white. So, thank you to Three Dog Night for putting a classic touch on my music, and let's get on to the post.
Now we reach yet another junction where we can reflect on past knowledge gleaned from class. I'll start off with the lecture that dealt with legality issues and color schemes. I'd like to start by saying that color is really neat concept to play with. The idea that pure light consists of all colors and is simply refracted, or broken into its seperate components, which gives the represetation of color. And then color gets absorbed or repelled by objects which in turn represents a component of color. It is pretty cool. Now, from a designers point of view, color plays an even more pivatol role. I feel that, without color, images would not play nearly an important role in advertising for products. I feel like the expression 'a picture is worth a thousand words' becomes more like a hundred words when a lack of color exists. It serves to draw focus; it can guide a viewers thoughts and attention. Not to mention the optical ticks it can play on the eye. Color is a very influential part of design. But what about legality in design? Anymore, legal issues over things like copyrights and patents can seriously inpair a persons ability to design. The original inent, I feel, was to encourage people to be creative knowing their ideas where theirs alone and they would be justly compensated. Now, I feel like they exist to serve as warning and limit creative issue. After all, if parts of older ideas are modified but incorporated into a designers new and unique invention, the designer would get into trouble. And to me, the 'new' designs are becomming few and far between with most designs simply trying to improve on something old. Yet I feel like now, it is just a few short steps from going to court every time.
And then to further my thoughts from the legal lecture, we were shown a movie called "Rip!: A Remix Manifest" in class. I still haven't come up with a stance on this position. This movie covered two class days, so I'll quickly sum it up. The idea is ideas are able to be copyrighted, and often are, by very large corporations. And then you have people who mix, mash, and reuse parts of these ideas in very different and unique ways which haven't been done. Thus, these people, these artists, have created something new themselves. And the questions is, who has the rights to it? Is it fair to allow corporations to own ideas? And if so, can you sue people who take those ideas and apply them in a different way or a new form? Because right now, as a whole, the government supports the large corporations who are trying to limit or restrict the usage of intellectual based ideas. The movie was focused primarily on music, and thus the compaines anf affiliates related to that field. But it brings us important questions I feel. Why do we allow people to copyright ideas which can be used to save lives? How is it fair that ideas, which are just that, an idea and NOT a tangible product, can be restricted and taken out of use? Now, I feel that some things a company should be entitled to reimbursement. For instance, if a majority of their product is used in a new design, then yes. If some one takes their product or idea and makes money off of it, then perhaps the original company should be entitled to a small percentage off of the sales. But on the flip side, I feel like ideas should not be allowed to be 'owned' by a corporation to begin with. An idividual, yes. But a corporation, no. See, when a business owns intellectual property, they do so ONLY to earn profit. It is the only reason they could have; unrestricted usage, for themselves, in order to make money. But if the individual has the idea, then they to make money off of it and copyright it. After all, it was their idea. And furthermore, it should not be fair to patent something for such long periods of time. Again, it hurts the general well being of the population. Now, this is why I am on the fence, because essentially, this is what the debate boils down to. Should we allow an individual, or company, profit off of an idea at the expense of the general populace? Or should the general populace have equal access to all ideas, yet prevent the individual, or company, from earning money and improving their own life? I feel like a careful balance needs to be found because both extremes are detremental. With excessive profits, quality of life goes down. Yet with no profits, no one can invent or create new ideas, thus quality of life also goes down. I think that'll be enough for now, just know that both sides have merit, and I feel like right now we are not in balance and need to find it again. As a final thought, maybe I should say I recommend anyone who DOES listen to my music, and like it, to LEGALLY obtain it. I in no way condone illegal piracy. Please don't sue me! : - )
And finally, we had some guest speakers pay us a visit in class. One set were some students going though the design major, and the other set were some recent graduates of the program who have started their own firm. This was mainly information sessions, kinda touching base with the programs and their personal experiences so I don't have alot of in depth analysis here. Basically, I feel like there are some cool opportunities within design, but it is not an easy major in which a person could just coast through. Since I'm only minoring, I apparantly don't have to worry about the entrance exams and formal applications (assuming I heard correctly) so I wish the best of luck to those of you out there who are going to major in this!
Now we reach yet another junction where we can reflect on past knowledge gleaned from class. I'll start off with the lecture that dealt with legality issues and color schemes. I'd like to start by saying that color is really neat concept to play with. The idea that pure light consists of all colors and is simply refracted, or broken into its seperate components, which gives the represetation of color. And then color gets absorbed or repelled by objects which in turn represents a component of color. It is pretty cool. Now, from a designers point of view, color plays an even more pivatol role. I feel that, without color, images would not play nearly an important role in advertising for products. I feel like the expression 'a picture is worth a thousand words' becomes more like a hundred words when a lack of color exists. It serves to draw focus; it can guide a viewers thoughts and attention. Not to mention the optical ticks it can play on the eye. Color is a very influential part of design. But what about legality in design? Anymore, legal issues over things like copyrights and patents can seriously inpair a persons ability to design. The original inent, I feel, was to encourage people to be creative knowing their ideas where theirs alone and they would be justly compensated. Now, I feel like they exist to serve as warning and limit creative issue. After all, if parts of older ideas are modified but incorporated into a designers new and unique invention, the designer would get into trouble. And to me, the 'new' designs are becomming few and far between with most designs simply trying to improve on something old. Yet I feel like now, it is just a few short steps from going to court every time.
And then to further my thoughts from the legal lecture, we were shown a movie called "Rip!: A Remix Manifest" in class. I still haven't come up with a stance on this position. This movie covered two class days, so I'll quickly sum it up. The idea is ideas are able to be copyrighted, and often are, by very large corporations. And then you have people who mix, mash, and reuse parts of these ideas in very different and unique ways which haven't been done. Thus, these people, these artists, have created something new themselves. And the questions is, who has the rights to it? Is it fair to allow corporations to own ideas? And if so, can you sue people who take those ideas and apply them in a different way or a new form? Because right now, as a whole, the government supports the large corporations who are trying to limit or restrict the usage of intellectual based ideas. The movie was focused primarily on music, and thus the compaines anf affiliates related to that field. But it brings us important questions I feel. Why do we allow people to copyright ideas which can be used to save lives? How is it fair that ideas, which are just that, an idea and NOT a tangible product, can be restricted and taken out of use? Now, I feel that some things a company should be entitled to reimbursement. For instance, if a majority of their product is used in a new design, then yes. If some one takes their product or idea and makes money off of it, then perhaps the original company should be entitled to a small percentage off of the sales. But on the flip side, I feel like ideas should not be allowed to be 'owned' by a corporation to begin with. An idividual, yes. But a corporation, no. See, when a business owns intellectual property, they do so ONLY to earn profit. It is the only reason they could have; unrestricted usage, for themselves, in order to make money. But if the individual has the idea, then they to make money off of it and copyright it. After all, it was their idea. And furthermore, it should not be fair to patent something for such long periods of time. Again, it hurts the general well being of the population. Now, this is why I am on the fence, because essentially, this is what the debate boils down to. Should we allow an individual, or company, profit off of an idea at the expense of the general populace? Or should the general populace have equal access to all ideas, yet prevent the individual, or company, from earning money and improving their own life? I feel like a careful balance needs to be found because both extremes are detremental. With excessive profits, quality of life goes down. Yet with no profits, no one can invent or create new ideas, thus quality of life also goes down. I think that'll be enough for now, just know that both sides have merit, and I feel like right now we are not in balance and need to find it again. As a final thought, maybe I should say I recommend anyone who DOES listen to my music, and like it, to LEGALLY obtain it. I in no way condone illegal piracy. Please don't sue me! : - )
And finally, we had some guest speakers pay us a visit in class. One set were some students going though the design major, and the other set were some recent graduates of the program who have started their own firm. This was mainly information sessions, kinda touching base with the programs and their personal experiences so I don't have alot of in depth analysis here. Basically, I feel like there are some cool opportunities within design, but it is not an easy major in which a person could just coast through. Since I'm only minoring, I apparantly don't have to worry about the entrance exams and formal applications (assuming I heard correctly) so I wish the best of luck to those of you out there who are going to major in this!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
"J05:" Cheers Darlin'
...Is brought to you by Damien Rice. If you guys have checked out any of the prior tunes, you will realize this guy is totally different from everything presented so far. He is in the folk genre and can easily impact your emotions/mood. Frankly put, the guy has a gorgeous voice. And I chose this one because the title makes me think of catching up with colleagues over a drink. And isn't that the point of peer dialogues? After reviewing the last peer dialogue session, I plan to keep this one about as simple. There are plenty of comments which could be made for each, but I think I'll limit myself to just a couple of thoughts/points. Also, in spirit of this 'peer dialogue' idea, I think I'll end my posts now with a question posed to my fellow group members. Might be fun to engage, eh? To be fair, Bridget inspired this idea from her post. So I think I'll dive in now, mentioning the various pictures/comments which tickle my fancy. And I believe I started with Bridget first on the prior posting, so guess what Dan? You're up first!
Your found faces posting was definitely entertaining. Loved the 'three eyed monster', and because of that, the child inside of me will forever be terrified of Parmesan cheese bottles now! As if there weren't enough scary creatures trying to get my inner kid already...Heh, but all joking aside, neat concept in the attempt to avoid a traditional face. For my second "thumbs up" to Dan, I looked to his post based on past designers. Specifically, Shiro Kuramata. It seems fitting giving the emphasis spent early on concerning chairs that his designer made a couple contributions of his own. Good call picking someone more modern, thus perhaps easier to relate to. And you provided some fine pictures of his work. I especially liked the dressers, with the extreme curvature. Reminds me of something you would find in a cartoon.
http://dancsp11.blogspot.com/
And of course, who could forget his partner in crime, Bridget? The first thing that jumped out at me was the lack of diverse postings. It is a bit hard to compliment and make conversation over pieces that aren't there! Of course, I tend to stay ahead on these assignments due to my course load, so I'm sure she will have all sorts of things posted after I get this done (I'd bet even by tomorrow, she will have some of the most interesting thoughts uploaded). So, I'll start with her designers as well. I noticed she had an eye out for architects, and frankly, I can't say I blame her. They have some of the most easily recognizable pieces (after all, you can't really hide a skyscraper). I picked 'Asymptote Architecture' for two reasons: the first, the partners started their company the year I was born. Good year, if I say so myself. But more importantly, I liked them due to the example of their handiwork which Bridget provided. That tower in Seoul is stunning. It appears 'futuristic' in the sense that it is sleek, and, well, if a building can be thought of as such, sexy. I feel it is cocky and boastful creation, but to be honest, I feel it has the right to be. And secondly, I just wanted to compliment you on the idea of posting questions for us to reply to within your peer dialogue. Never would have thought of that without reading your last post.
http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
With that thought in mind, I have to say my color palate is very open. If I had to chose a favorite color, I might say green? I don't necessarily have one, but I prefer dark hues of colors. If it is towards the white end of the light spectrum, I tend not to the object it is applied to very seriously. Dark blues, greens, and reds are the best with blacks and greys rounding them off.
So now I should think of a question. I will try to keep mine design related to help with grades for these posts. If you had an object in which you were to design, and knowing you could only optimize one of the two key components (form versus functionality), which would you choose and why? I'll always post my answer here as well. I would choose functionality. The short answer? I'm a wanna be engineer. But what I mean is I judge the value of objects by their use. And while I enjoy looking at paintings, or admiring shapes of chairs, I ultimately don't care how it looks. I want my design to work well because it is tangible to measure, as is its resulting value. Where as the form of the object is basically 'art' and is incredibly hard to judge its true value since it is completely subjective to perspective.
Your found faces posting was definitely entertaining. Loved the 'three eyed monster', and because of that, the child inside of me will forever be terrified of Parmesan cheese bottles now! As if there weren't enough scary creatures trying to get my inner kid already...Heh, but all joking aside, neat concept in the attempt to avoid a traditional face. For my second "thumbs up" to Dan, I looked to his post based on past designers. Specifically, Shiro Kuramata. It seems fitting giving the emphasis spent early on concerning chairs that his designer made a couple contributions of his own. Good call picking someone more modern, thus perhaps easier to relate to. And you provided some fine pictures of his work. I especially liked the dressers, with the extreme curvature. Reminds me of something you would find in a cartoon.
http://dancsp11.blogspot.com/
And of course, who could forget his partner in crime, Bridget? The first thing that jumped out at me was the lack of diverse postings. It is a bit hard to compliment and make conversation over pieces that aren't there! Of course, I tend to stay ahead on these assignments due to my course load, so I'm sure she will have all sorts of things posted after I get this done (I'd bet even by tomorrow, she will have some of the most interesting thoughts uploaded). So, I'll start with her designers as well. I noticed she had an eye out for architects, and frankly, I can't say I blame her. They have some of the most easily recognizable pieces (after all, you can't really hide a skyscraper). I picked 'Asymptote Architecture' for two reasons: the first, the partners started their company the year I was born. Good year, if I say so myself. But more importantly, I liked them due to the example of their handiwork which Bridget provided. That tower in Seoul is stunning. It appears 'futuristic' in the sense that it is sleek, and, well, if a building can be thought of as such, sexy. I feel it is cocky and boastful creation, but to be honest, I feel it has the right to be. And secondly, I just wanted to compliment you on the idea of posting questions for us to reply to within your peer dialogue. Never would have thought of that without reading your last post.
http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
With that thought in mind, I have to say my color palate is very open. If I had to chose a favorite color, I might say green? I don't necessarily have one, but I prefer dark hues of colors. If it is towards the white end of the light spectrum, I tend not to the object it is applied to very seriously. Dark blues, greens, and reds are the best with blacks and greys rounding them off.
So now I should think of a question. I will try to keep mine design related to help with grades for these posts. If you had an object in which you were to design, and knowing you could only optimize one of the two key components (form versus functionality), which would you choose and why? I'll always post my answer here as well. I would choose functionality. The short answer? I'm a wanna be engineer. But what I mean is I judge the value of objects by their use. And while I enjoy looking at paintings, or admiring shapes of chairs, I ultimately don't care how it looks. I want my design to work well because it is tangible to measure, as is its resulting value. Where as the form of the object is basically 'art' and is incredibly hard to judge its true value since it is completely subjective to perspective.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
"A04:" You Speak My Language
Song title was from Collective Soul. Surprisingly, I don't have a lot of music which relates to letters or language in the title. This was the only one I could easily find, which is disappointing, because the song is mediocre. I wasn't really moved by this one, but the title is the closest fit I have so there it is. Side note, Collective Soul does have very enjoyable music. This particular one just doesn't do it for me. I should begin by saying this was one of my favorite assignments thus far for this class. To prove this, I went a bit out of my way to track down all twenty six letters, not just the twelve required. Once I started, it just seemed really easy to find letters within, well, everything. Apparently, though, not every letter receives equal emphasis (for example, I had trouble finding F and Z, but I could find O in practically everything I looked at). So, a couple of the pictures are harder to see the apparent letter, but I'll be posting them in alphabetical order and providing descriptions when I feel the letter appears more abstract.
A) It was a bike frame tied up to a rack. The frame forms the outer 'A' and the rack makes the cross section. Of course, there are several other bikes that can form the cross on the A, but I saw it as the bike frame with the corresponding, closest rack it was tied up to.
F) This letter took some creativity on my part to see. But if you look at the one fan blade which appears to be perfectly vertical in this picture, and follow it from the tip upwards to where the two metal cords are hanging. There lies the capital 'F'.
A) It was a bike frame tied up to a rack. The frame forms the outer 'A' and the rack makes the cross section. Of course, there are several other bikes that can form the cross on the A, but I saw it as the bike frame with the corresponding, closest rack it was tied up to.
B) This was a latch on a fence in my backyard. It makes a lower case 'b'.
C) This picture was of one half of the two piece plastic shield used on a heavy duty Kitchen Aid mixer I own
D) I flipped a coffee mug upside down and took the picture as is because with the light on it like so, a shadow is cast by the handle back onto the side of the cup. So with the shadow and the handle, I saw the capital 'D'
E) I took a picture of some road lines outside of the Black Well on campus. I distinctly saw the letter 'E', and by cropping of the picture, I think it will be more apparent to others.
F) This letter took some creativity on my part to see. But if you look at the one fan blade which appears to be perfectly vertical in this picture, and follow it from the tip upwards to where the two metal cords are hanging. There lies the capital 'F'.
G) A picture of a roll of scotch tape. Lower case 'g'.
H) A wooden chair from the dinning room table. Makes a capital 'H'.
I) The memory unit port with the wireless sync button on top of it located on an Xbox 360 forms the lower case 'i'.
J) A plastic coat hanger, when focused on the top with the hook, forms the letter 'J'
K) A metal musical stand forms a lop sided 'k'.
L) Located at the base of a metal support pillar at the edge of the car port outside of my home. A capital 'L' should be easily spotted.
M) To be honest, this might be cheating. It is a symbol of the prominent business known as McDonalds. So it could be taken as an image of an M, or it could be seen as a picture of an actual letter. Either way, it is what I used for my letter.
N) Found this oddly colored bench outside of Big Lots. The ends of it look like a lower case 'n' to me.
O) A picture of our in home central air unit. The thin wire metals form multiple 'o's with a solid one at the center.
P) This is my take on the letter 'p'. Just happened to notice the door hinge to a stall in a bathroom in the basement of Dreese Labs.
Q) Rummaging through my shed, I came across my bike in this position. With the pedal at that angle, it looked like a capital 'Q' to me.
R) This was my roommates chair, with my roommate sitting in it no less. He was gracious enough to let me take a picture of the arm rest, which appeared to resemble a lower case 'r' to me.
S) This one is pretty obvious. It is an 's' hook my roommate uses to anchor his hammock to the wall. That's right, he sleeps in a hammock.
T) The letter 't' was found on my laptops battery charger. It resembled a cross like structure, or rather, a 't'.
U) These items are the bike racks located outside of the Fisher College of Business. I simply took the image and inverted it on my laptop in order to distinctly show the letter 'U' and not 'n'.
V) This letter was found outside of the Hitchcock Hall on top of a piece of metal based art work. Could double as a 'K', roman numeral five, or as I saw it, a 'V'
W) Another image garnered from my shed. I found our garden rake and noticed the prongs resembled a repeating pattern of 'w's. So I cropped it to portray just one.
X) Miniature 'x' was located on my book bag. It is actually meant as a headphone hole, so a media device can be placed in the pouch to both conceal and easily carry it while still allowing the user to listen to it.
Y) I have an old wood burning stove which has been used in awhile. And upon it, there is a knob which allows the control of the air vent to be open and closed at will. This is the said knob with its cob webs, clearly in the shape of a 'Y'
Z) And finally, I used my guitars capo to illustrate the letter 'z'. Sort of a stretch, and definitely crooked, I promise it is there!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
"J04:" Faceless Man
This song is done by Creed. On to the post now.This post was pretty unique, and definatley fun to look for. It was suppose to be focused on faces found in on or in products which were not intended to have one. So here it goes; the few I found or noticed in my life.
Picture 1)
This picture was a total accident. I had stopped by to use the bathroom in the Central Classroom building before class one morning, and the paper dispenser in there was missing the cover. On the inside was located this image. I actually laughed when I saw this.
Picture 2)
I saw this an a slightly skewed face, something you might see on a childs doll or possibly in a painting. The portrait is actually the leg post of my lofted bed, with the eyes being a couple of bolts and the mouth structure a slotted piece of wood.
Picture 4)
I had trouble getting the camera to focus, as the light reflected so poorly off of this one. The picture is actually a candle in which I was staring straight down at. The three wicks form the eyes/mouth, with the circular outline to emphasize a round face.
Picture 5)
Perhpas a bit of a stretch, since I kinda doctored this setup myself, though not on purpose. I had been playing a bit on my X-box and laid a couple games on top. Later while I was watching tv, I noticed the way I layed them, at an angle, looked like oversized eyes, with the tray kinda looking like a mouth. Again, maybe a bit of a stretch, but it was coincedental and I liked the image.
Picture 1)
This picture was a total accident. I had stopped by to use the bathroom in the Central Classroom building before class one morning, and the paper dispenser in there was missing the cover. On the inside was located this image. I actually laughed when I saw this.
Picture 2)
Perhaps an obvious item. This was a simple power outlett foundin my house. I have always thought they were a 'face' since I was a child. I have always seen it as a 'shocked' expression!
Picture 3)
Picture 4)
Picture 5)
"CR02:" Powerful Stuff
The Fabulous Thuderbirds were the band who preformed todays title. Technically in the rock genre, it has a very strong southern country feel to it. Think of Lynard Skynard; while they don't necessarily sound the same, the genre is closer to that. Strong guitar part, decent vocals. I recommend checking it out. Moving on to the actual post, this is the second course reflection based off of the past four lectures.
Day 5) This lecture was dedicated the the designing process. It was focused on the different ways or methods used when deciding the process of design. Often, this process isn't simple. It requires plenty of research through analyzing the product in question, discussing the potential problems, creating multiple solutions to the various aspects, etc. And these solutions need to be combined, deciding which aspects to keep and/or combine. And then there needs to be a prototype created and tested. It was informative to break down and analyze this process, especially with the demonstration video where the team built a 'better' shopping cart. I hadn't given the process of design alot of thought before, but I imagined it was only linear. So it was suprising to me to learn the repetitive nature of the design process, how it branches out and captures various aspects which were not initially considered.
Day 6) On day six, I actually missed class. Most days I have to be up by six in order to be on compus by eight. Anyways, I forgot to turn on my alarm and I slept till about eleven thirty, thus didn't make it. The point is, the only insight gained was from reading the lecture notes online. This lecture seemed to really focus on the importance of creating designs which are universally accessible products and buildings. Specifcally, it looked at creating product designs which were able to be used by people who are imparied or disabled in some way. There are many forms these disabilities can take, but what I see as being incredably important to this area of design are the baby boomers. See, this term represents a very large amount of people in our society. And these people are rapidly approaching retiree states, which means they are becomming the commonly thought of elderly. At this point in their life, mundane activities become difficult, and special aid or assisstance is needed. But designs are made for younger, healthy individuals. And since the baby boomers are a very large percentage of the population, this should become a very profitable investament oppurtunity for future designers.
Day 7) This post will be a bit shorter, since it didn't have alot of critical thinking/learning involved. This day was spent on a scavenger hunt around the university. We visited the Wexner Center, the math and science library, Knowlton Hall's library, and finally, Thompson Library. It was a lighter, more fun day as far as classes go. I got to spend some time with my fellow group members and act goofy in a couple of photos. It was also nice to revisit the chairs disscussed in the first week; I don't get to see or sit in chairs like those very often.
Day 8) Ah, this lecture was focused heavily upon the green movement and how design can impact our enviornment positvely. This lecture was, as a side note, possibly my favorite so far as well. Mainly because the green movement, in a traditional sense, irrates me. See, the green movement leads people to believe that we, as a society, are horrible and doing nothing but harm to our planet. And they use the argument that they are only interested in saving the planet, and thus, our future generations. So anyone who opposes them are "bad" and absolutley does not care about the well being of our enviornment. Basically, the movement tries to place guilt on people who do not follow their beliefs and acts as if they only serve the greater good of humanity. But does it really? I don't think so. See, to 'go green', it requires a number of negatives. For example, if you go green and boycott industries and their products due to the pollution it generates, what happens? People lose jobs, prices on products go up, thus the poor can no longer afford to buy them which creates a further dividing line between classes and ultimately, unrest among citizens, and industry goes out of business. Does it help the enviornment? Yes. But does it do so at the expense of the people, whose future is the ultimate concern of the green movement? Yes. The problem is, so often, their goals and speech is a concealed lie. The trick is to find balance, because extremes in both directions ultimately hurt our race. Yet 'eco friendly' is simply the green movement, which ultimately places the enviornements concern ahead of people. Simply put, I feel it will be our technology and knowledge that secures a place for furture generations, not plants and animals. I don't condone needless destruction of the enviornment, but progress should not be obstructed because of it either.
Day 5) This lecture was dedicated the the designing process. It was focused on the different ways or methods used when deciding the process of design. Often, this process isn't simple. It requires plenty of research through analyzing the product in question, discussing the potential problems, creating multiple solutions to the various aspects, etc. And these solutions need to be combined, deciding which aspects to keep and/or combine. And then there needs to be a prototype created and tested. It was informative to break down and analyze this process, especially with the demonstration video where the team built a 'better' shopping cart. I hadn't given the process of design alot of thought before, but I imagined it was only linear. So it was suprising to me to learn the repetitive nature of the design process, how it branches out and captures various aspects which were not initially considered.
Day 6) On day six, I actually missed class. Most days I have to be up by six in order to be on compus by eight. Anyways, I forgot to turn on my alarm and I slept till about eleven thirty, thus didn't make it. The point is, the only insight gained was from reading the lecture notes online. This lecture seemed to really focus on the importance of creating designs which are universally accessible products and buildings. Specifcally, it looked at creating product designs which were able to be used by people who are imparied or disabled in some way. There are many forms these disabilities can take, but what I see as being incredably important to this area of design are the baby boomers. See, this term represents a very large amount of people in our society. And these people are rapidly approaching retiree states, which means they are becomming the commonly thought of elderly. At this point in their life, mundane activities become difficult, and special aid or assisstance is needed. But designs are made for younger, healthy individuals. And since the baby boomers are a very large percentage of the population, this should become a very profitable investament oppurtunity for future designers.
Day 7) This post will be a bit shorter, since it didn't have alot of critical thinking/learning involved. This day was spent on a scavenger hunt around the university. We visited the Wexner Center, the math and science library, Knowlton Hall's library, and finally, Thompson Library. It was a lighter, more fun day as far as classes go. I got to spend some time with my fellow group members and act goofy in a couple of photos. It was also nice to revisit the chairs disscussed in the first week; I don't get to see or sit in chairs like those very often.
Day 8) Ah, this lecture was focused heavily upon the green movement and how design can impact our enviornment positvely. This lecture was, as a side note, possibly my favorite so far as well. Mainly because the green movement, in a traditional sense, irrates me. See, the green movement leads people to believe that we, as a society, are horrible and doing nothing but harm to our planet. And they use the argument that they are only interested in saving the planet, and thus, our future generations. So anyone who opposes them are "bad" and absolutley does not care about the well being of our enviornment. Basically, the movement tries to place guilt on people who do not follow their beliefs and acts as if they only serve the greater good of humanity. But does it really? I don't think so. See, to 'go green', it requires a number of negatives. For example, if you go green and boycott industries and their products due to the pollution it generates, what happens? People lose jobs, prices on products go up, thus the poor can no longer afford to buy them which creates a further dividing line between classes and ultimately, unrest among citizens, and industry goes out of business. Does it help the enviornment? Yes. But does it do so at the expense of the people, whose future is the ultimate concern of the green movement? Yes. The problem is, so often, their goals and speech is a concealed lie. The trick is to find balance, because extremes in both directions ultimately hurt our race. Yet 'eco friendly' is simply the green movement, which ultimately places the enviornements concern ahead of people. Simply put, I feel it will be our technology and knowledge that secures a place for furture generations, not plants and animals. I don't condone needless destruction of the enviornment, but progress should not be obstructed because of it either.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
"A03:" I Would Walk 500 Miles
Todays title comes to you from The Proclaimers. Kinda a one hit wonder, but it was a very catchy song. Now, for a quick view into our "elaborate" process and planning. Originally, there were only three 10's, but the fourth one was given out to a fellow classmate and thus, joined with our merry band. We decided to google the names of the designers, matching names with achievements. From there, it was a quick discussion on the order to hit the stops. We begin with the Wexner, and tried to make as few stops as quickly as possible. Known accomplises include Bridget and Dan. She was the photographer for me and Dan was witnessed in a couple of my shots. Links are as follows:
http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
http://dancsp11.blogspot.com/
Clue Number 1)
So the first clue is looking for the famous Barcelona Chair. Here sits Dan, striking a thinking pose, and myself, taking a nap. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was the designer and for an interesting fact, the chair was made with the intent to be shown off at an international exposition representing Germanys contribution. Fun fact.
Clue Number 2)
In hindsight, this wasn't the best view of the chair to prove we visited Knowlton. But, I promise, this was taken inside of the library there. And the chair in which I am sitting is the Red and Blue Chair by Gerrit Rietveld. Interesting fact about that guy? He got involved with architecture as well and designed the Rietveld Schroder House. Oh, and I guess I should mention a bit about the book/picture. Heh, I made that specific face because the design article I picked out was completely done in Spanish.
Clue Number 3)
Here, we have the Wexner Center's lovely corridor of lights, with a very distant/tiny me treating it as a casual leaning post. For the interesting fact, this building was designed to smooth the different angle of the city's grid layout with OSU's. It actually does an excellent job of this.
Clue Number 4)
http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
http://dancsp11.blogspot.com/
Clue Number 1)
Clue Number 2)
Clue Number 3)
Clue Number 4)
Philip Johnson was the man who designed the math and science library. And this particular building was designed in a manner in which the arches show the front with one arch in particular being much larger and more defined than the others. This is done on purpose, as if to becon people to that specific entrance. In the picture it is denoted by the lack of windows directly above it and the off colored pattern when compared to the brick around it.
Clue Number 5)
And here, we have the Thompson Library, done by Acock and Associates. This photo was taken to capture Mr. William Thompson himself as well as the main library on campus. The architecture has quite a modern feel to it and the inside offers an astounding view over the oval and the surrounding areas.
Monday, April 18, 2011
"A02:" The Secret
Title was a song done by Emery. Neat song, kinda emoish group. 'Bout all I know about them. Liked this particular title because the designers I chose remind me of the expression 'get rich quick', to which all of them figured out the secret to do so. This blog will discuss three different people who impacted the field of design using different areas of expertise and respective design skill sets.
First, I want to tip my hat to a man who revolutionized the modern world of mass production. For my first designer, I chose Henry T. Ford. This man was born in the late 1800's and came to fame in the early 1900's. Thoughtout his life, he applied himself to various forms of work which included rural farm labor, work on steam engines (and on other factory based projects), and even in sawmills. He married, raised a family, and eventually became an engineer focused on applying a modified 'steam engine' design to a small, more personal, land vehicle. He created the Ford Motor Company who specialized in production of one of the orginal, 'modern', automobiles Now, how what was it that he actually designed? Henry Ford realized the production times/costs of these vehicles would be far too expensive for an average consumer. Thus, he is credited with designing and implemnting the traditional assembly line still used today. Ford made tasks simple, allowing unskilled labors a job, standardized parts, created a convayor belt system which brought the product to the workers instead of the other way around. In short, the assembly line was a modern work of genius from a fiscal stand point. It optimizes worker production effeciency as well as product output. I have mixed feelings myself, seeing as this design helps to greatly lower prices for consumers, making large complicated devices affordable. Because on the other hand, the assembly line creates often fast, physically demanding work enviornments which are boring and potentially dangerous. In essence, it allows companies to abuse and rotate workers quickly and efficently for profit. Regardless of personal feelings though, the assembly line design is vital to most prominant, large scale business today and thus, instrumental to the American economy.
Information about Ford - http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/hf/default.asp#childhood
http://manassashyundaielantra.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/following-henry-ford/
http://www.johndclare.net/America4.htm
Next, I wanted to jump ahead and look at something a little more modern in time and culture. For the second designer, I selected Mark Zuckerberg. This man is best known for the extremely popular social website known as Facebook. Zuckerberg is actually a relatively young person, being born in 1984. He was an extremely talented programmer and gifted student. For example, he created several different software programs. One which allowed a simplified messenger system from computer to computer. Another that was a data collection program coupled with music apps in order to better 'read' the user and fine tune music selections. And obviously, his most known piece, the social networking site known as Facebook. He has had job/money offers from giant corporations, such as microsoft, but ultimately chose his own route by managing his successful website. The man has connected millions and millions of people now, and has gained a large amount of wealth. Due to the wide use and success of his software, the man has become quite famous. Now, for my personal take on the situation? The man knew exactly what people wanted socially, and has done an excellent job on delivering. His design has all but made Myspace obsolete, and brought about the creation of other streamlined blogging sites, such as twitter. With personal interaction, I must say I don't fully understand the appeal to the website. The main purpose is to share blog based material, yet somehow, people will waste hours on the site. Most of the people who would see the information are close friends, which means they already know the information. What suprised me the most, though, is how advertising firms and even professional businesses adopted the use of the site as well. Essentially, I feel the website is incredibly frivolous and useless. Yet, it continues to appeal to the recreational lives of large numbers of people.
Information on Zuckerberg - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Zuckerberg
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7628850-mike-zuckerberg-facebook-founder-personal-2010
http://www.facebook.com/
And finally, I picked Joseph Strauss for my final designer of the three. I started with a production concept designer, moved on to a software and visual concept designer, and finally ended the trio with a large scale architect. Strauss came from good ol' Ohio. Yes, that is right, he was supposedly born in Cincinnati here in Ohio. He was born roughly a decade after the Civil War into an artistic based family. This inspired him to attend college (at the University of Cincinnati). He focused on art based studies following in his familys footsteps. But he also had dreams and ideas for large scale transit in the form of railway systems and bridges. After college, he began a career in drafting which allowed him to experiment with different bridge designs and building techniques. Over the years, Strauss worked for various companies and not only designed, but oversaw the construction, of hundreds of bridges across the nation. However, wasn't until an engineer in San Francisco approached Strauss that the idea of a suspended bridge came to him. After a long process of debate and opposition against the building of said bridge, Strauss finally was given approval by the city to begin construction of the Golden Gate bridge. It was his first suspended bridge, and by far, one of the longest in the nation. He designed it, with help from some other engineers who worked out the technical aspects. Sadly, however, the bridge would be one of his last major accomplishments. Less than a year after completion of the Golden Gate, he would die of a stroke due to complications which began during the construction of the bridge. I feel that the bridge itself was a major benchmark in modern design/engineering. The San Fransico Golden Gate bridge might even be considered a modern world marvel and is certainly one of the easiest to identify by picture. Personally, I find the bridge to be gorgeous and I'm impressed it has been around for so long. For the designer himself, it's always cool to learn that someone famous came from Ohio. But it was speculated he might have suffered from mental issues and physical illness for the last decade or two of his life. So, in hindsight, perhaps artistic genius put too much pressure on Strauss?
Information on Strauss - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldengate/peopleevents/p_strauss.html
'
http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7283
http://essentialdegs.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/golden-gate-bridge-night.jpg
First, I want to tip my hat to a man who revolutionized the modern world of mass production. For my first designer, I chose Henry T. Ford. This man was born in the late 1800's and came to fame in the early 1900's. Thoughtout his life, he applied himself to various forms of work which included rural farm labor, work on steam engines (and on other factory based projects), and even in sawmills. He married, raised a family, and eventually became an engineer focused on applying a modified 'steam engine' design to a small, more personal, land vehicle. He created the Ford Motor Company who specialized in production of one of the orginal, 'modern', automobiles Now, how what was it that he actually designed? Henry Ford realized the production times/costs of these vehicles would be far too expensive for an average consumer. Thus, he is credited with designing and implemnting the traditional assembly line still used today. Ford made tasks simple, allowing unskilled labors a job, standardized parts, created a convayor belt system which brought the product to the workers instead of the other way around. In short, the assembly line was a modern work of genius from a fiscal stand point. It optimizes worker production effeciency as well as product output. I have mixed feelings myself, seeing as this design helps to greatly lower prices for consumers, making large complicated devices affordable. Because on the other hand, the assembly line creates often fast, physically demanding work enviornments which are boring and potentially dangerous. In essence, it allows companies to abuse and rotate workers quickly and efficently for profit. Regardless of personal feelings though, the assembly line design is vital to most prominant, large scale business today and thus, instrumental to the American economy.
Information about Ford - http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/hf/default.asp#childhood
http://manassashyundaielantra.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/following-henry-ford/
http://www.johndclare.net/America4.htm
Next, I wanted to jump ahead and look at something a little more modern in time and culture. For the second designer, I selected Mark Zuckerberg. This man is best known for the extremely popular social website known as Facebook. Zuckerberg is actually a relatively young person, being born in 1984. He was an extremely talented programmer and gifted student. For example, he created several different software programs. One which allowed a simplified messenger system from computer to computer. Another that was a data collection program coupled with music apps in order to better 'read' the user and fine tune music selections. And obviously, his most known piece, the social networking site known as Facebook. He has had job/money offers from giant corporations, such as microsoft, but ultimately chose his own route by managing his successful website. The man has connected millions and millions of people now, and has gained a large amount of wealth. Due to the wide use and success of his software, the man has become quite famous. Now, for my personal take on the situation? The man knew exactly what people wanted socially, and has done an excellent job on delivering. His design has all but made Myspace obsolete, and brought about the creation of other streamlined blogging sites, such as twitter. With personal interaction, I must say I don't fully understand the appeal to the website. The main purpose is to share blog based material, yet somehow, people will waste hours on the site. Most of the people who would see the information are close friends, which means they already know the information. What suprised me the most, though, is how advertising firms and even professional businesses adopted the use of the site as well. Essentially, I feel the website is incredibly frivolous and useless. Yet, it continues to appeal to the recreational lives of large numbers of people.
Information on Zuckerberg - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Zuckerberg
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7628850-mike-zuckerberg-facebook-founder-personal-2010
http://www.facebook.com/
And finally, I picked Joseph Strauss for my final designer of the three. I started with a production concept designer, moved on to a software and visual concept designer, and finally ended the trio with a large scale architect. Strauss came from good ol' Ohio. Yes, that is right, he was supposedly born in Cincinnati here in Ohio. He was born roughly a decade after the Civil War into an artistic based family. This inspired him to attend college (at the University of Cincinnati). He focused on art based studies following in his familys footsteps. But he also had dreams and ideas for large scale transit in the form of railway systems and bridges. After college, he began a career in drafting which allowed him to experiment with different bridge designs and building techniques. Over the years, Strauss worked for various companies and not only designed, but oversaw the construction, of hundreds of bridges across the nation. However, wasn't until an engineer in San Francisco approached Strauss that the idea of a suspended bridge came to him. After a long process of debate and opposition against the building of said bridge, Strauss finally was given approval by the city to begin construction of the Golden Gate bridge. It was his first suspended bridge, and by far, one of the longest in the nation. He designed it, with help from some other engineers who worked out the technical aspects. Sadly, however, the bridge would be one of his last major accomplishments. Less than a year after completion of the Golden Gate, he would die of a stroke due to complications which began during the construction of the bridge. I feel that the bridge itself was a major benchmark in modern design/engineering. The San Fransico Golden Gate bridge might even be considered a modern world marvel and is certainly one of the easiest to identify by picture. Personally, I find the bridge to be gorgeous and I'm impressed it has been around for so long. For the designer himself, it's always cool to learn that someone famous came from Ohio. But it was speculated he might have suffered from mental issues and physical illness for the last decade or two of his life. So, in hindsight, perhaps artistic genius put too much pressure on Strauss?
Information on Strauss - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldengate/peopleevents/p_strauss.html
'http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7283
http://essentialdegs.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/golden-gate-bridge-night.jpg
Saturday, April 16, 2011
"RR01:" Complicated
The title is a song done by Bon Jovi. To be honest, I'm not a real big fan of theirs. The group is pop metal, and that is an awkward sounding combination to me. However, they were quite popular for awhile, and they do have a couple of catchy songs. More important is the actual title. I chose it because it seems to describe 'design' perfectly. As this post will show, design is not easily explained (not accurately, anyways) because it is such a broad topic. So, what is design? It's complicated! And as always, I like to start with a brief overview of the post. I wasn't sure if we needed to site the actual textbook or not, so I did not on the grounds that it is an understood assigned reading from one single book/author. If this is a problem, I will change it for the next post, but all I plan to do is say what page I found my material on. Also, it should be noted that a true critical analysis over this many pages would easily be over 15 double spaced, typed pages, so to shorten this for a blog format, I intend to dedicate about a paragraph to every chapter. I'll pick something that really interested me, break it down, and discuss it a bit to save time/space. Because let's be honest, you guys don't want to read that much, and frankly, I don't want to type all of it out in a coherent, literate fashion. Now, on to chapter one.
With chapter one, I felt like the big idea he wanted to stress was design is misunderstood due to various human/cultural aspects. The field of design is, in fact, difficult to sum up, largely due to the fact that the word 'design' encompasses so much material. Thus, it means many different things to different people. In other words, design can not be simplified to a simple definition and approached the same way to be taught or applied. Heh, imagine a painter who excels with a brush trying to sit on a computer and use the architects software to design a functioning building.That is hardly the same skill/expertise. The point is, again, design meant two different things to the people applying the respective skills. Since design encompasses different fields, different definitions, and people (varying from the individual to an entire culture) perceive their environment differently, it is hard to simplify. So difficult, in fact, that it really can't. It can only focus on certain aspects at a time and the best we can do as a whole is to understand that each area is a little piece of design which fits neatly together to form a whole. The key idea? Design is a huge part of our lives and can be found everywhere and in everything. It just takes many, many different forms.
Moving on to chapter two, Haskett briefly highlights humans role in design, claiming that "There has been change and evolution...but human nature as remained remarkably unaltered...[thus] design [is] a unique and unchanging human capability" (Haskett, 8). He continues with the chapter giving various historical examples to support his claim, showing how design has simply been improved upon over time. While I agree that design is unique to humans (we are, after all, the only species who radically shapes our environment for simple aesthetic pleasures), I disagree that it has been unchanging. For instance, do all humans perceive design the same way? Of course not; that was discussed in the preceding chapter. So if that is the case, how can design not change? It has been forced to fit so many different fields and subjects after all. Furthermore, technology allows for innovations. It allows for new designs and ideas to be realized that would have otherwise been inconceivable or impossible. For example, I do not believe modern day luxury ideas, such as this very computer I'm typing on, were thought of in early human history. If you want to go back to 'the beginning', regardless of what you believe in, humans focused on basic instincts. Keeping safe, providing nourishment, reproducing, etc. They did not have the time or resources at their disposal to think of such things. Their inspiration came from basic shapes in which would become useful to help them live out their lives. So how can design remain 'unchanged' when at one point in time, such ideas were inconceivable, yet now, they are a fact of life?
Next came chapter three, and the key idea I focused on was form versus function. It should be noted that, both in the book, and within the lecture notes presented to us, a prevailing theory was 'form follows function'. Catchy, if nothing else, making use of consonance with the letter 'f'. But, of course, there is much more to the phrase than simple writing terms. It was readily believed that, when designing something, the function was key to the process. And once the function was established and successful, then form would be applied to aid in said function. In the natural world, this definitely appears true. And even in human history, I would say it also held true. But I think it is important to challenge this idea as well. Just because something functions well, does that mean we should not be as concerned with aesthetic value? Maybe a better way to approach this idea is by analyzing our own economy. We are based on industry/commercial enterprises. As a national community, we buy products that appeal to us in someway. Now, when selecting a product, let's say an automobile, and specifically, a typical car, do all of them not have identical functions? I would say, for a car, the point is to move a person(s), semi-comfortably and quickly, from point a to point b. Now, assuming that is the primary function of the car, why is it that there are so many different auto makers? I argue it is because of form. All cars have different shapes, colors, designs, extra features, etc, etc Their key function all remains the same, however, as consumers, we have developed personal interests and tastes based off of aesthetics. Thus, I believe that function is vital. However, I believe form is what attracts people. Form is what interests people to buy said product and have self satisfaction from the use of it. Without form being stressed, a product simply works, yet does nothing to change a persons mood.
Chapter four follows the above, and it discusses the significance objects play in the world of design. Where as above, the idea has been form follows function, now from a post-modern perspective, form has taken the emphasis, and it allows designers to create products in ways that appeal to them instead of their potential consumers. It seems readily apparent, then, problems shall occur in the opposite end of the spectrum. Instead of dull, unappealing products, you have lively, striking products which appeals to individuals tastes. The trade off then? Functionality of course. Many of these 'unique' products beg to ask the question 'what, exactly, does it do...?' And the answer isn't always apparent. In fact, several of the more radical, yet unique, designs end up being even less functional than their counterparts. To complicate this further, they tend to be more expensive too. An example given in the book discussed a lemon juicer (Haskett, page 38) and how it was sought after as a kitchen piece, yet worked so poorly. Ultimately, the person would have to buy another, cheaper juicer to use, and allow the 'kitchen piece' to sit unused, adorning the counter top or cabinet in which it rests. In essence, some of these object designs appear to have become the traditional thought of 'works of art', much like a painting hanging on the wall. It is interesting, it is thought provoking, but ultimately, it is useless in function. And unless a person is coming from the upper end of society, the lack of extra spending money rules these objects out as household items. This, then, makes the 'art' piece more desirable and classy. These objects are then associated with rich individuals and become a symbol for status.
Now comes chapter five, which discusses communication within design. It immediately draws a comparison between objects and visual based communicative designs. The two key differences are centered around ease of use and emotional/thought provoking reactions. First, objects are simplistic to use, where as communicative designs need words and or definitions to help explain their meaning. Second, objects rarely provoke emotional responses. It is understood or implied how the device works, and that is the purpose it serves. But with communication based designs, images are readily available and used. And these images evoke a multitude of emotional responses which serve some purpose (Haskett, 55). After all, a picture is worth a thousand words, no? The rest of the chapter focuses various uses and fields within communication design. I don't have a lot of critical thought here, but I would like to note that visual communication can be a very powerful tool. Again, referencing our own economy, advertising programs spend their whole lives trying to use images and ideas to convince consumers to spend money on their products. And what about news based organizations? Sure, they inform you of what is going on, but how often do they seem to use subtle words/phrases and graphic images to influence public opinions? Communicative design is, again, a powerful tool that can easily influence masses into certain thought patterns and/or feelings. It has even gone as far as making brand names household expressions, and many companies have been made (or destroyed) with striking logos. So while communications isn't necessarily tangible, it is just as important (if not more so) than other fields within design.
And finally, chapter six features the environmental setting which houses the various aspects of design. Specifically, it focuses on the outer and inner environment of homes/businesses in various countries, and how their trends seemed to have changed over the decades. It would seem that the environment is rather important on an individual level because it is what holds all of the other various design areas, including the objects and visual communications, in one location. It is the 'big picture' within which the other designs can be found. And furthermore, it seems that environments, at least for the individuals, are physical manifestations of idea happiness/comfort. It serves as an outlet to put quirks and identities on display so that anyone visiting can, at a glance, get an idea about what matters to that individual. This is all affected by factors such as money, time spent at a place, whom owns it/rents it, etc. On a more personal level, I can understand how this matters and can affect a persons overall mood. For instance, going to college at a young age, like I am now, means that I don't own the residence in which I am living. I'm just a temporary tenant. As such, it means I have to compromise price with quality/luxury. That said, it means I have to live in a place that does not satisfy my personal aesthetic desires. And since I am a renter and not an owner, I have littler authority to change it radically to fit my desires. Thus, a perfect harmony can't be achieved; I simply have to make due and put as many of my personal items of design based interest in the house as possible.
With chapter one, I felt like the big idea he wanted to stress was design is misunderstood due to various human/cultural aspects. The field of design is, in fact, difficult to sum up, largely due to the fact that the word 'design' encompasses so much material. Thus, it means many different things to different people. In other words, design can not be simplified to a simple definition and approached the same way to be taught or applied. Heh, imagine a painter who excels with a brush trying to sit on a computer and use the architects software to design a functioning building.That is hardly the same skill/expertise. The point is, again, design meant two different things to the people applying the respective skills. Since design encompasses different fields, different definitions, and people (varying from the individual to an entire culture) perceive their environment differently, it is hard to simplify. So difficult, in fact, that it really can't. It can only focus on certain aspects at a time and the best we can do as a whole is to understand that each area is a little piece of design which fits neatly together to form a whole. The key idea? Design is a huge part of our lives and can be found everywhere and in everything. It just takes many, many different forms.
Moving on to chapter two, Haskett briefly highlights humans role in design, claiming that "There has been change and evolution...but human nature as remained remarkably unaltered...[thus] design [is] a unique and unchanging human capability" (Haskett, 8). He continues with the chapter giving various historical examples to support his claim, showing how design has simply been improved upon over time. While I agree that design is unique to humans (we are, after all, the only species who radically shapes our environment for simple aesthetic pleasures), I disagree that it has been unchanging. For instance, do all humans perceive design the same way? Of course not; that was discussed in the preceding chapter. So if that is the case, how can design not change? It has been forced to fit so many different fields and subjects after all. Furthermore, technology allows for innovations. It allows for new designs and ideas to be realized that would have otherwise been inconceivable or impossible. For example, I do not believe modern day luxury ideas, such as this very computer I'm typing on, were thought of in early human history. If you want to go back to 'the beginning', regardless of what you believe in, humans focused on basic instincts. Keeping safe, providing nourishment, reproducing, etc. They did not have the time or resources at their disposal to think of such things. Their inspiration came from basic shapes in which would become useful to help them live out their lives. So how can design remain 'unchanged' when at one point in time, such ideas were inconceivable, yet now, they are a fact of life?
Next came chapter three, and the key idea I focused on was form versus function. It should be noted that, both in the book, and within the lecture notes presented to us, a prevailing theory was 'form follows function'. Catchy, if nothing else, making use of consonance with the letter 'f'. But, of course, there is much more to the phrase than simple writing terms. It was readily believed that, when designing something, the function was key to the process. And once the function was established and successful, then form would be applied to aid in said function. In the natural world, this definitely appears true. And even in human history, I would say it also held true. But I think it is important to challenge this idea as well. Just because something functions well, does that mean we should not be as concerned with aesthetic value? Maybe a better way to approach this idea is by analyzing our own economy. We are based on industry/commercial enterprises. As a national community, we buy products that appeal to us in someway. Now, when selecting a product, let's say an automobile, and specifically, a typical car, do all of them not have identical functions? I would say, for a car, the point is to move a person(s), semi-comfortably and quickly, from point a to point b. Now, assuming that is the primary function of the car, why is it that there are so many different auto makers? I argue it is because of form. All cars have different shapes, colors, designs, extra features, etc, etc Their key function all remains the same, however, as consumers, we have developed personal interests and tastes based off of aesthetics. Thus, I believe that function is vital. However, I believe form is what attracts people. Form is what interests people to buy said product and have self satisfaction from the use of it. Without form being stressed, a product simply works, yet does nothing to change a persons mood.
Chapter four follows the above, and it discusses the significance objects play in the world of design. Where as above, the idea has been form follows function, now from a post-modern perspective, form has taken the emphasis, and it allows designers to create products in ways that appeal to them instead of their potential consumers. It seems readily apparent, then, problems shall occur in the opposite end of the spectrum. Instead of dull, unappealing products, you have lively, striking products which appeals to individuals tastes. The trade off then? Functionality of course. Many of these 'unique' products beg to ask the question 'what, exactly, does it do...?' And the answer isn't always apparent. In fact, several of the more radical, yet unique, designs end up being even less functional than their counterparts. To complicate this further, they tend to be more expensive too. An example given in the book discussed a lemon juicer (Haskett, page 38) and how it was sought after as a kitchen piece, yet worked so poorly. Ultimately, the person would have to buy another, cheaper juicer to use, and allow the 'kitchen piece' to sit unused, adorning the counter top or cabinet in which it rests. In essence, some of these object designs appear to have become the traditional thought of 'works of art', much like a painting hanging on the wall. It is interesting, it is thought provoking, but ultimately, it is useless in function. And unless a person is coming from the upper end of society, the lack of extra spending money rules these objects out as household items. This, then, makes the 'art' piece more desirable and classy. These objects are then associated with rich individuals and become a symbol for status.
Now comes chapter five, which discusses communication within design. It immediately draws a comparison between objects and visual based communicative designs. The two key differences are centered around ease of use and emotional/thought provoking reactions. First, objects are simplistic to use, where as communicative designs need words and or definitions to help explain their meaning. Second, objects rarely provoke emotional responses. It is understood or implied how the device works, and that is the purpose it serves. But with communication based designs, images are readily available and used. And these images evoke a multitude of emotional responses which serve some purpose (Haskett, 55). After all, a picture is worth a thousand words, no? The rest of the chapter focuses various uses and fields within communication design. I don't have a lot of critical thought here, but I would like to note that visual communication can be a very powerful tool. Again, referencing our own economy, advertising programs spend their whole lives trying to use images and ideas to convince consumers to spend money on their products. And what about news based organizations? Sure, they inform you of what is going on, but how often do they seem to use subtle words/phrases and graphic images to influence public opinions? Communicative design is, again, a powerful tool that can easily influence masses into certain thought patterns and/or feelings. It has even gone as far as making brand names household expressions, and many companies have been made (or destroyed) with striking logos. So while communications isn't necessarily tangible, it is just as important (if not more so) than other fields within design.
And finally, chapter six features the environmental setting which houses the various aspects of design. Specifically, it focuses on the outer and inner environment of homes/businesses in various countries, and how their trends seemed to have changed over the decades. It would seem that the environment is rather important on an individual level because it is what holds all of the other various design areas, including the objects and visual communications, in one location. It is the 'big picture' within which the other designs can be found. And furthermore, it seems that environments, at least for the individuals, are physical manifestations of idea happiness/comfort. It serves as an outlet to put quirks and identities on display so that anyone visiting can, at a glance, get an idea about what matters to that individual. This is all affected by factors such as money, time spent at a place, whom owns it/rents it, etc. On a more personal level, I can understand how this matters and can affect a persons overall mood. For instance, going to college at a young age, like I am now, means that I don't own the residence in which I am living. I'm just a temporary tenant. As such, it means I have to compromise price with quality/luxury. That said, it means I have to live in a place that does not satisfy my personal aesthetic desires. And since I am a renter and not an owner, I have littler authority to change it radically to fit my desires. Thus, a perfect harmony can't be achieved; I simply have to make due and put as many of my personal items of design based interest in the house as possible.
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