Thursday, April 28, 2011

Journal 05: Peer Dialogue #5

Jonathan

Jonathan has added a lot to his blog since I last saw it. I noticed that he took away his fashion page and changed it to a Street Art page. I think this is a really cool idea because there are so many cool designs that have been painted on buildings around Columbus.

I also like how one of his designers was NASA. I didn’t really think of NASA as a designer but I realized that they are probably one of the most advanced technical designers. Their ability to think outside of the box and create new things has made it possible to go to the moon!


You can see Jonathan’s blog at:
http://design200.wordpress.com/

Lindsay

I agree with Lindsay about being interested in designing to help others. I also found the baby incubator a really cool product that has the ability to save lives.

I also liked Lindsay’s pictures of the found faces on campus. I especially like the one of the lookout binoculars, because I remember seeing those at different tourist places and thinking that they do look like a face.

I thought it was interesting how she talked about designer brands in her Reading Reflection 01. I know that I have the problem where I am attracted to brand name items because I think they are better than non-brand names. I know that this isn’t necessarily true, but I can’t seem to break my shopping habit!

You can see Lindsay’s blog at:
http://design200lm.blogspot.com/

Becky

I thought it was funny how I had a lot of the same “found faces” photos as Becky. We both took pictures of outlets and microwaves. I think that because a lot of us were looking around dorm rooms, we came across the same faces.

In her Course Reflection 02, Becky also mentioned all of the creative ways people have thought of to make the world a better place. One part that I really enjoyed was the idea of putting gardens on the roofs of buildings. I think that this is a really abstract idea, but one that would work well.

I also like the picture of the “Bookworm” bookshelf she has under her Designer Investigation assignment.

You can see Becky’s blog at:
http://bbeaulieu11.blogspot.com/

Reading Reflection 02

I finished reading the end of “Design: A Very Short Introduction” by John Hesektt and also started reading “Cradle to cradle” by William McDonough and Michael Braungart.

I found a couple of things very interesting in the “Identity” section of the first book. A part of the section discussed how it is important to keep the culture of the people you are designing for in mind when designing a product. For example, washing machines in India are designed to be able to wash long saris that are often worn. Also, a soak cycle was added to washers in Brazil to tend to the belief that only soaking a garment can really clean it.

I also liked when they talked about the design of Apple’s packaging. I have found many times that I am amazed by how simply and creatively Apple can package a product. I think this says a lot about a company: the fact that they are willing to put effort and money into the packaging design.

When I was reading the “Systems” section, I realized that I never thought about how much design and planning goes into transportation. Other than the physical system itself, there is a lot of thought that needs to go into designing the signs and instructions on how to use the system.

While reading “Cradle to Cradle”, I found it very disturbing how dangerous our common day items are. They mentioned all of the chemicals in the soles of shoes and how whenever we walk and kick up dust, we are releasing toxins in the air.

I also thought the statement in the end of the section about ants was very intriguing. “Ants have been incredibly industrious for millions of years. Yet their productiveness nourishes plants, animals and soil. Human industry has been in full swing for little over a century, yet it has brought about a decline in almost every ecosystem on the planet” (16).

I have often thought about this fact. If you think about how much humans have changed the planet in the past 100 years, it is scary to think what the world will be like in 100 years. I feel like humans have created so many new products and technology, but I feel like we have done significantly more harm to the planet than good. I am looking forward to reading more of this book.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Journal 04: Found Faces

These are pictures I found around campus of things that look like faces!


The side of the Math Tower


A faucet


Paper Towels


The SEL


A microwave


An outlet

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Course Reflection 02

I have found these last four classes very interesting. I like how we have moved on from the basic definitions and types of design and are starting to explore the ways design is applied in a greater context, such as accessibility and design for the world.
In one class, we watched the video “The Deep Dive.” After starting the video, I remembered that I have already seen this video in one of my engineering classes. I found it interesting that even though I thought the “Deep Dive” design process was only applicable to engineers, it also involves industrial designers as well. I really like this video because it gives an overview of the design process and kind of answers the question “How did they come up with this?”

I also really enjoyed the lecture on accessibility. I found it interesting how some products are designed for handicapped people, but often these also help the general public. I thought the video on the new wheelchair was very inspiring, although it is a shame that the product is not surviving on the market.

The next lecture consisted of our Scavenger Hunt. I really liked getting outside of the classroom and exploring all of the famous buildings and pieces that are on campus. I also really like the fact that the libraries on campus have some of these expensive designer chairs. I think it is a nice touch to the libraries!

The last lecture was probably my favorite so far. We discussed creating environmentally friendly products. I really liked all the videos that we watched in class. My favorite was probably the video on the new Life Saver Bottle. I think this is a really cool design and I hope it becomes popular in areas that need it. I also really enjoyed the video on biomimicry. Sometimes I am amazed about the complexity of nature and the ecological systems and I was neat to learn more about it.

Overall, I have enjoyed this class and look forward to more lectures!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Assignment 03: Scavenger Hunt

For the third class assignment, we were required to go around campus and take pictures of elements created by famous designers.

Clue 1:

The first clue led to the Barcelona Chair, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. This chair was found in the Knowlton library. One interesting fact that I learned about the chair is that it was designed to be used by the King and Queen. The accompanying stool, on the other hand, was designed for the attendants.


Sitting in the Barcelona Chair


Clue 2:

This clue required us to take a picture of another interesting chair we found in the library. We found the Red & Blue Chair, designed by Gerrit Reitveld in 1918. One interesting fact I learned was that the original of this chair was painted black, gray and white. My classmate is reading a copy of Harvard Design Magazine.


Catching up on design news in the Red & Blue Chair


Clue 3:

The third clue led us to the Wexner Center, which was designed by Peter Eisenman. I learned that there was a problem with the large west facing windows of the building. Too much sunlight was entering the building so the windows had to be redone.


The Wexner Center


Clue 4:

We then went to the Math Tower, which was designed by Phillip Johnson. We also found the circular windows on the face of the building a very interesting element on an academic building.


The Math Tower


The interesting circular windows and arches

Clue 5:

The last clue led us to the William Oxley Thompson Library on the Oval. Acock & Associates designed an addition to this building. One interesting fact about this library is that the original design team was selected in 1910 by winning an architectural competition.


Thompson Library

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Journal 03: Peer Dialogue #1

For this journal, I looked at some of the other blogs of my classmates. Here are my thoughts:

R.Becky_B

I looked at Becky’s blog and the first thing that I noticed was the cool picture of tree bark that was part of her pattern assignment. I really like all of the patterns that she found because they are all common designs that I feel like I have seen before.

I also agree with her statement of not realizing the entire realm of design, from industrial to interior to visual communication. I also really liked how we were able to see the chairs that we learned about in class in the libraries on campus.

To see Becky’s profile, go to: http://bbeaulieu11.blogspot.com/

Lindsay_M

After looking at Lindsay’s profile, I have found that we have very similar ideas about the course. I really like what she said about knowing some of the history of the buildings on campus. When we went on the walking tour, we learned some fun facts about the libraries, such as how there are no right angles in the Wexner Center.

I also really liked the patterns that she had on her blog. A lot of them were on similar products where I found my patterns, such as the mosaic candle holder, clothes and purses.

I found it interesting that she also did her designer project on Jonathan Ive. I feel like a lot of students researched him.

To see Lindsay’s profile, visit: http://design200lm.blogspot.com

Jonathan_T

Jonathan is the fourth member in my group of 4s. I was surprised when I visited his blog because he uses it for more than this class so there is a lot on it. When I looked at his J02 with the patterns, I noticed that a lot of them are from articles of clothing. I think that a lot of people found their most interesting patterns on clothes because they are products that they bought because they were attracted to.

I like how Jonathan has a Campus Style section on his blog. I look forward to checking back and seeing what styles he has observed on campus.

I think his blog looks very professional and he has a lot of material on it. To see his blog, visit: http://design200.wordpress.com

Assignment 02

I found three designers that I found very interesting. They are listed below, along with a biography and some pictures. Enjoy!


Jonathan Ive (longer bio):

It is no doubt that the Apple products have become among the most popular items desired by people today. This is due to the sleek designs created by Jonathan Ive, the Vice President of Industrial Design at Apple. Jonathan has been the star designer at Apple for 14 years, creating products such as the iMac, Powerbook, MacBook, MacBook Pro, iPod, iPhone and iPad. His design and new approach to technology have turned Apple into the second largest company in the world.

Ive was born in Chingford, England in 1967. In high school, Jonathan played rugby and was often called a “gentle giant.” He was known for always being up to a challenge. He was originally interested in designing cars, but once he got to art school, he thought the other art students were too weird. After graduating, he started working at a small design firm, and was later offered a job from Apple.

When he started working for Apple, the company was not doing well and he was working out of the basement of his house. Things started improving for Ive and Apple when Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997. Jobs got rid of the bad products that were being made by Apple and was impressed by all of the prototypes that Ive had designed. Jobs decided to move Ive’s office to the Apple building and to seriously consider Ive's prototypes. Security was increased within the company; so much that other Apple employees are not able to see Ive’s prototypes.

Apple started taking off with Jonathan Ive’s new, colored design of the iMac in 1998. When the first iPod was made in 2001, the Apple “minimialist” vibe was born. Ive started to work to make every product lighter and smaller. Since 1996, he has lead the design team at Apple. Along with his team of 12 designers, Ive works to design new products, many of which don’t make it out of the design studio.

Jonathan Ive has grasped the concept of design that Apple and many consumers are looking for. He works to find the “true appeal of a product” and figure out what people are looking for. When designing, Ive puts the user first and creates a product based around them and what they want. He believes “design drives the technology, not the other way around.”

Ive is a well-respected industrial designer. According to design expert Stephen Bayley, “[Ive] thinks and thinks about what a product should be and then worries it into existence.” Bayley also says the Ive understands that a “consumer is a sophisticated aesthete who will cheerfully pay a premium price to own products that flatter by their pristine beauty and sparkly intelligence.” This desire for beauty and intelligence has been portrayed in Ive’s products today. Ive was also awarded the RSA's Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry. Judges said “his designs make computers accessible. When you see an Ive product you think, yes, that's how that should have looked all along. I want to use it.” He was also awarded the Industrial Designers Society of America's Industrial Design Excellence Award.

Jonathan Ive has been one of the most influential designers in the past two decades. The whole field of technology has changed due to his vision of sleek products that work well and attractive. I know I am always looking forward to the next Apple product, hoping that Jonathan Ive has created something else that is unimaginable.


Jonathan Ive


Ive's revolutionary design of the 1998 iMac

Works Cited:

“Apple yum poster”.

Arlidge, John. “Father of Invention.” The Observer.” Web. 21 December 2003. 17 April 2011.

“Jonathan Ive.” Press Info. Apple Inc. April, 2006. Web. 17 April 2011.

Waugh, Rob. “How did a British polytechnic graduate become the design genius behind £200billion Apple?” The Daily Mail. Web, 20 March 2011. 17 April 2011.



Michael Graves (shorter bio):

Whenever I go to Target, I make it a point to stop and look at the Michael Graves products. Michael Graves was born in Indiana in 1934. He is know for being one of the New York Five architects and his many architecture, drawing and product projects.

As a child, Graves was interested in drawing and painting. Graves attended the University of Cincinnati. He then went to Harvard University and received a Master of Architecture. From there, Graves attended a fellowship program at the American Academy in Rome. It was in Rome where Michael Graves learned the “language of architecture.” In 1962, Graves returned to the United States as a lecturer at Princeton University. He then opened his own practice in 1964.

Michael Graves has designed a wide variety of projects, ranging from the “ministructure to megastructure.” He has designed many buildings, such as the Portland Building in Oregon, Resorts and Hotels for Disney, many halls for different universities. Graves has also become a common name because of his household products now sold at Target Stores. He has designed the Target Design Collection, which consists of 200 kitchen, cleaning, storage and home décor products. Graves says “Target products are an inspired balance of form and function created to infuse our daily lives with great design and joy.” He has also published many pieces of literature.

Michael Graves has been awarded the National Medal of Arts, the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal and many more product design awards.



Michael Graves


Target Tea Kettle

Works Cited:

“Michael Graves.” archINFORM. N.p. 18 Feb 2011. 17 April 2011.

“Michael Graves.”

“Michael Graves.” Modern.architecture.sk. n.p,n.d. Web. 17 April 2011.

“Michael Graves”. Target.com. Target Designers Shopping Directory. N.d. 17 April 2011.

“Michael Graves.” Wikipedia.org. Wikipedia, 6 April 2011. Web. 17 April 2011.

“Michael Graves Target Tea Kettle”


Fred and Friends (shorter bio):

There have been several stores that I have been at where I have run into the Fred products. The company Fred and Friends, started by Fred Roses, designs and markets everyday products with a creative twist. Their studio is in Cumberland, Rhode Island and it is there where the ideas of senior designer, Liz Dubois, are put to work. Founded in 2004, this is a fairly new company. One can see from their products, that there are extremely creative designers working at Fred.

Their unique products have been featured in many magazines, such as Rachael Ray, Oprah and People. Also, their products have been displayed on the Today Show.

On their website, worldwidefred.com, Fred posted a message saying that they produce “stuff that works, puts a smile on your face, and doesn’t cost a fortune.” Many of their products are designed with a theory of play on words. For example, their “Peace of Cake” cake pan is in the shape of a piece sign. The products are designed with the idea of being perfect, quirky gifts to give to people.


Tank Up Coffee Cup


To Do Tattoos


Air Fork One

Works Cited:

“Airfork One™.” Worldwide Fred.

“Fred and Friends.” Worldwidefred.com.

Hollands, Courtney. “Coming up with the latest in truly off-beat items? It's a gift.” The Boston Globe, 18 Sep 2008. Web. 17 April 2011.

“Tank Up™”. Worldwide Fred.

“To-Do Tattoo ™”. Worldwide Fred.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Reading Reflection 01

While reading “Design: A Very Short Introduction” by John Heskett, there were a lot of interesting facts that I learned about design. I thought the quote about design being an “essential determinant of the quality of human life” (2) is a good definition of design that shows how it is more than just a drawing or logo.

Design is such a vast topic that it is hard to really see how it fits into your life. It can either be designing a product, a feel or a space. I feel as if I don’t necessarily notice good design, but I definitely recognize when something is designed poorly.

I thought it was very interesting how the reading talked about the history of humans and how design has been a huge component of that. We are the only creatures on this planet that have the capability to change the world this much. Humans themselves have not changed, but yet it is interesting to see how the world we have lived in has changed drastically. One major development was the realization that humans could use other sources of power (animals, water, wind). This was a crucial step and our world today is based off of this. I think that when you think of design in this way, it gives it such a greater importance than just being an art field.

I also found it very interesting when the book was discussing the difference in design in homes in different cultures. It mentioned that design in American homes is usually less detailed than smaller homes, for example in Japan, because the space doesn’t need to be used as efficiently. There was also a section on designing office spaces. I was intrigued when they were talking about how companies had decided to have their employees work at home. Companies have adapted to this with design and technical changes in the offices.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Course Reflection 01

So far, I have really enjoyed this class. I thought it was interesting to learn how design has evolved over the years. For another one of my classes, I had to write a paper about the history of industrial and systems engineering (ISE) and I noticed a lot of similarities between the history of ISE and design. Mass production was crucial to the development of ISE and design because products were now being made more efficiently and all products were made in a standard way.

I also really liked the slides containing the different chairs that have been famous in design. I think it is really interesting how something so basic as a chair can be designed in so many ways. During the tours of the libraries, I thought it was really cool how Ohio State has purchased some of these chairs for students to actually see.

The two videos we have watched in class have also contributed to my appreciation for design. In my engineering classes, I have learned about cultural ergonomics, which is improving a system by learning about the culture and way of life of who you are trying to help. This was also a prominent idea in the video by Ted Brown. In order to design a product, it is crucial that the people are able to use it.

I also enjoyed the video about Paul Rand. I found it very interesting how he defined design as a combination of form and content. Before watching the video, I found it hard to define design. After hearing his definition, I think it makes a lot of sense how both of these elements need to present for product to be well designed.

I am looking forward to learning more about design during the quarter!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Journal 02: Patterns

When asked to find 10 of my favorite patters, I immediately went to my closet. I found some of my favorite patterns on my clothes and shoes. I also have some random decorations around my room with some very fun patterns on them. A lot of these items I have had for a long time so they also have some sentimental value.

Below are my top ten favorite patterns I found:


This is a decorative candle holder that I use to hold all of my hairties and clips. I have had this for probably 8 years and I am very impressed that it hasn't broken through the years. I think it is a cool pattern made of stones and it reminds me of the cute stone mosaic tables they have in foreign places.




This is a picture of a dress I bought over winter break. I really like the pattern of the lace and the light purple color underneath.



The above is a photo of my rainboots that I bought last summer. I think they are really cute, comfortable and useful! The fun pattern also has many different colors in it so it is easy to find something to match.


The above picture is from a pair of pajama shorts that I own. I like the clean lines on them (even though they are wrinkly in the picture) and I think the colors go well together.


This is a picture of a shirt that I bought. I like the mixture of the brighter and darker colors along with the flower pattern.


This is a picture of the gift bag I got from the Coach store when I purchased a ring. I really like the colors of the stripes. I also have a slight obsession with anything Coach (including their gift bags!).

http://images2.layoutsparks.com/1/213282/coach-slipper-shoes-design.jpg

Speaking of Coach, the above picture is from a website I found. The picture has the Coach "C"s on it in fun spring colors. I really like the Coach pattern because I like their products and it is also very simple.

http://www.girlytwitter.com/install.asp?id=5380

This is a picture of polka dots that I found at the above website. I like this pattern because the dots are a little more complex than just normal polka dots, but they are still very simple. I also like the bright colors of the dots and I think they go well together.


http://noveltyrugs.guidestobuy.com/delos-rugs-rovos-brown-and-tan-samburu-giraffe-rug-size-5-x-7-6

In addition to patterns on items I own, I also like patterns found in nature. Above is a picture of a giraffe print that I found online. My favorite animal pattern is that of a giraffe. I like the mix of colors and I also like how it looks as if the spots would fit together if they were closer.

derekprospero.com

This is a really cool photo of a leaf that I had saved on my computer. I really like this photo because I can easily see the patterns of the veins of the leaf. I love being outside so looking at the leafy pattern reminds me of spending time outdoors.

Those were my top ten favorite patterns that I was able to find. Hope you enjoyed them!