I really enjoyed seeing what the other groups came up with for their Coleman presentations. It was really surprising to me how no ones ideas really resembled any other groups; every single one was unique and different. I found myself thinking, "Man, that is pretty cool. Wish I had thought of that" quite a few times. It was cool to see how advanced everyones projects were also, in terms of the visuals and modeling of their products. For an introduction to design course, everyone seemed to be really good with the software and were able to make some really cool visuals, which certainly helped me envision their product to its full potential. I really liked the table/cooktop concept, as it was simple, useful, and convenient. The drapes/wireless power charger concept was cool also. Although there were a few flaws, it was a really cool concept that could make life in the home a lot more convenient for people who hate having to always find a plug. Everyone was on the ball for their presentations, and I was able to get immersed into every product that was being pitched. I felt like a Coleman representative, sitting there and grading their presentations thinking about how this product could work and if it would sell or not. I was impressed that there were plenty of questions also. I'm pretty used to hearing someone ask, "Any questions?" and hearing no one ask any. But for this project, people were really thinking about each product and what parts might not work.
Overall, I enjoyed these last two classes and thought that the Coleman project was a great way to end the quarter!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
JO9 - Personal Documentation
To start off, I would like to say that I had great fun working with Bridget, Zack, and Gered on this project and felt that we definitely came up with a very cool product. The process flowed real well, as every time we would hit a roadblock, someone would come up with a way to get the wheels rollin' again. I felt that everyone contributed equal amounts and that is why the assignment was a success.
Our product was the Coleman Fit, an interactive videogame for the Nintendo Wii which came with a treadmill meant for the user to walk on, not run. The game focused on walking through nature and was objective based, rewarding the user for getting back to camp or for completing a trail. It was meant to be relaxing and informative, all while allowing the user to get some exercise in their own living rooms.
We originally came up with the idea for the treadmill after Bridget came up with an idea for a rowing machine that would be able to be folded up and allow the user to store certain things in it. We then came up with the treadmill idea and, after some helpful talks with Gabe, decided to scrap the storage idea and instead move towards the fitness/videogame territory. Initial sketches were drawn up by Gered, then he produced a very nice concept drawing in photoshop of the treadmill. At this point, we were fully committed.
At this point we decided to each pick a specific portion of the project to focus on individually, with Bridget focusing on the kiosk, Gered on the treadmill design, myself on the packaging and logo design, and Zack on the powerpoint. I came up with a few initial designs for the logo in photoshop, but unfortunately two days ago my computer got hit with a virus and I lost all of my documents along with my iTunes library, so I was only able to recover the pictures I emailed to Zack, as they were still stored online. Here they are:
I feel that I had done a sufficient job in my specific area, although I do agree that I did kind of stray away from the Coleman identity and more towards the Wii identity, a mistake that I really didn't notice until Gabe pointed it out.
Overall, it was a great project and I am really proud of my group members for doing such a great job! I felt really accomplished and confident in our product after we presented it, and I couldn't imagine designing it with anyone else but my groupmates.
Zack's Blog: http://dsgn200spof2011.blogspot.com/
Gered's Blog: http://design200classblog.blogspot.com/
Bridget's Blog: http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
Our product was the Coleman Fit, an interactive videogame for the Nintendo Wii which came with a treadmill meant for the user to walk on, not run. The game focused on walking through nature and was objective based, rewarding the user for getting back to camp or for completing a trail. It was meant to be relaxing and informative, all while allowing the user to get some exercise in their own living rooms.
We originally came up with the idea for the treadmill after Bridget came up with an idea for a rowing machine that would be able to be folded up and allow the user to store certain things in it. We then came up with the treadmill idea and, after some helpful talks with Gabe, decided to scrap the storage idea and instead move towards the fitness/videogame territory. Initial sketches were drawn up by Gered, then he produced a very nice concept drawing in photoshop of the treadmill. At this point, we were fully committed.
At this point we decided to each pick a specific portion of the project to focus on individually, with Bridget focusing on the kiosk, Gered on the treadmill design, myself on the packaging and logo design, and Zack on the powerpoint. I came up with a few initial designs for the logo in photoshop, but unfortunately two days ago my computer got hit with a virus and I lost all of my documents along with my iTunes library, so I was only able to recover the pictures I emailed to Zack, as they were still stored online. Here they are:
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| The original design for the packaging. Gered later added the treadmill onto the outside. |
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| The design for the game box. I basically took a picture of a Wii Sports game, erased the title and pictures, and replaced them with pictures of the outdoors and the logo design. |
Overall, it was a great project and I am really proud of my group members for doing such a great job! I felt really accomplished and confident in our product after we presented it, and I couldn't imagine designing it with anyone else but my groupmates.
Zack's Blog: http://dsgn200spof2011.blogspot.com/
Gered's Blog: http://design200classblog.blogspot.com/
Bridget's Blog: http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
Journal 10 Final Course Reflection
Well here we are at the end of the quarter. I must say, although I am quite excited for summer, I will indeed miss some of the fun projects we were assigned in Design 200. Before I get into the reflection, I have to say thank you to Gabe, as you have not only made this class fun and exciting, but have opened my eyes to the world of design, so much so that I switched into pre-design and am planning on applying for visual communications next winter! So, lets get into my thoughts on the full course then.
1). The Blog:
The blog, in my opinion, was the easiest way to assign homework and post projects than any other class I have ever taken. It made it easier to keep track of what projects I have done and what I still need to post, as it got a little hectic in terms of project due dates overlapping each other. I loved reading what my classmates had to say, both for inspiration and just to see how everyone else went about their projects. It was a great way to compare my works with others and see how I can improve. And on a sidenote, I would take the blog setup over exams and quizzes ANY day.
2). The teacher:
I thought you did a GREAT job with the course presentation and projects Gabe. As a freshman, I went through the phase where I had discovered the freedom of knowing that if I didn't go to class, the world was not going to end and I was not going to get detentions. So, when I wasn't finding much fun with engineering, my motivation was getting to be low, and some classes started becoming no-go's. But when I started up with this class, I found myself wanting to go to class just to learn more and see what fun project was next. I started to gain motivation, feel better about my classes (since I had found something that genuinely interested me), and get my homework done on time. I believe it was the just the atmosphere of the class that made it so fun. Very laid back, no exams or quizzes, and an instructor who loves his job. Every project was fresh and new and encouraged me to think outside of the box. While my friends were studying hard for their math and chemistry midterms, I was designing logos for a product that my group and I designed from scratch. It was great.
3). The projects:
If I had to say anything about the assignments in this class, I would have to say not to change a thing. They were all enjoyable and kind of encouraged me to learn things in a different way. For example, instead of having to sit down, cram a book, and do huge amounts of practice problems, I was able to go about things the way I wanted to. It was a free experience, since I could write about what I actually thought and not be afraid of getting a bad grade, and there was always multiple ways to go about getting a project done. The pattern project and letterform project forced me to get out of the dorm and look at everyday objects with a new perspective. The coleman project allowed me to brainstorm with a group and come up with an awesome product that we can all say we designed ourselves. A great sense of accomplishment followed. I can't say I've ever enjoyed a class this much, and for that Gabe, I thank you.
In closing, I loved this class. There's nothing I would change about it, as it was all so organized and enjoyable. Keep up the great work Gabe!
1). The Blog:
The blog, in my opinion, was the easiest way to assign homework and post projects than any other class I have ever taken. It made it easier to keep track of what projects I have done and what I still need to post, as it got a little hectic in terms of project due dates overlapping each other. I loved reading what my classmates had to say, both for inspiration and just to see how everyone else went about their projects. It was a great way to compare my works with others and see how I can improve. And on a sidenote, I would take the blog setup over exams and quizzes ANY day.
2). The teacher:
I thought you did a GREAT job with the course presentation and projects Gabe. As a freshman, I went through the phase where I had discovered the freedom of knowing that if I didn't go to class, the world was not going to end and I was not going to get detentions. So, when I wasn't finding much fun with engineering, my motivation was getting to be low, and some classes started becoming no-go's. But when I started up with this class, I found myself wanting to go to class just to learn more and see what fun project was next. I started to gain motivation, feel better about my classes (since I had found something that genuinely interested me), and get my homework done on time. I believe it was the just the atmosphere of the class that made it so fun. Very laid back, no exams or quizzes, and an instructor who loves his job. Every project was fresh and new and encouraged me to think outside of the box. While my friends were studying hard for their math and chemistry midterms, I was designing logos for a product that my group and I designed from scratch. It was great.
3). The projects:
If I had to say anything about the assignments in this class, I would have to say not to change a thing. They were all enjoyable and kind of encouraged me to learn things in a different way. For example, instead of having to sit down, cram a book, and do huge amounts of practice problems, I was able to go about things the way I wanted to. It was a free experience, since I could write about what I actually thought and not be afraid of getting a bad grade, and there was always multiple ways to go about getting a project done. The pattern project and letterform project forced me to get out of the dorm and look at everyday objects with a new perspective. The coleman project allowed me to brainstorm with a group and come up with an awesome product that we can all say we designed ourselves. A great sense of accomplishment followed. I can't say I've ever enjoyed a class this much, and for that Gabe, I thank you.
In closing, I loved this class. There's nothing I would change about it, as it was all so organized and enjoyable. Keep up the great work Gabe!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Course Reflection
As we approach the last two classes for the quarter, I feel that taking this course has really opened my eyes to the world of design. As for the last four classes, I really enjoyed being able to actually design something. Being able to collaborate with my group members to come up with something that has not been done before really felt great and allowed me to really get a chance to see what it is like to be involved in the design process with others. Being able to come into class, sit down, and just brainstorm with Bridget, Gered, and Zack was really fun. I was also able to get my hands on some photoshop experience (I purchased it over spring break, but haven't really had a chance to use it until now) throughout the design process, as I was tasked with coming up with a logo and the box design for our product. In my opinion, there is no better way to learn a program than just diving into it and experimenting, which is what this project allowed me to do. While all of my buddies are sitting there complaining about their math homework, or their upcoming chemistry test, I get to tell them that in my class I'm designing something unheard of and get to use some creativity in the process. It's great! I know now that taking this course was a great idea not only for all the knowledge I gained, but for the fun I had while doing it. I find myself looking forward to the next two classes and to seeing everyones presentations!
JO8 - Design & Accessibility
I chose to pick the topic of accessibility in design mainly because I feel that it is one of the more important features of design in terms of designing for the greater good of all people. I could have chose color, or legal issues, but I felt that accessibility in design pertains more to the one of the main concepts of design itself: finding a problem (accesible areas for the handicapped is a very large problem in society today) and developing a solution through design. The topic itself deals with how designers today are designing buildings and products to help the handicapped navigate their daily routines in much easier ways. Handicap ramps and designated parking spots are just some of the solutions thought up to help.
http://www.disaboom.com/accessible-homes-general/thinking-bigger-making-an-accessible-home-out-of-a-small-house
My first post shed light on the process of designing a small home to be handicap accessible. Basically, it is a list of questions that designers believe handicapped people should ask themselves when thinking of making their home more accessible. This includes clearing up closet space, replacing bath tubs with roll in showers, and making sure the floor plan of the home is simple and easy to navigate. A great post for anyone who is thinking about making their home more accessible for the disabled.
This next one is a video from one of my favorite shows, Top Gear. It is a british television show that deals mainly with cars, but in this episode they travelled to Japan to test out a high-tech wheelchair. This wheelchair is sleek, fast, and comfortable, and is equipped with an array of high-tech features, such as a computer where you can connect with others who own the iReal (the name of the chair). I think this is a great way to bring the wheelchair into the modern age.
http://www.asktooltalk.com/articles/construction/accessibility/accessible_kitchens/barrier.php
This post deals with the idea of building a handicap accessible kitchen. Basically, the article breaks down the concept of designing a kitchen into three concepts; making it a barrier free environment (meaning that there are limited obstacles that the disabled user needs to overcome in order to make use of the kitchen), the design of the kitchen itself (as in all the technical aspects such as the dimensions of the doors and countertops), and the placement of appliances. An article that is a little technical, but informative about the process of design nonetheless.
http://www.studygs.net/accessibility.htm
This website talks more about designing a website to be accessible for the visually impaired and anyone else in general. I thought it had a pretty cool design by supplying a more interactive approach to getting its point across. It talks about everything from font design to links and images to testing the website's colors to make sure it is accessible for people with color blindness. A very informative and interactive website for those who wish to learn more about website design.
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/web-design-web-accessibility-design-guidelines/5112995
This last website also deals with the concept of designing a website to be accessible. This one is a little more straightforward, outlining some tips and no-no's for designing a website to be accessible for all people. A slightly older post, but still relevant I believe.
http://www.disaboom.com/accessible-homes-general/thinking-bigger-making-an-accessible-home-out-of-a-small-house
My first post shed light on the process of designing a small home to be handicap accessible. Basically, it is a list of questions that designers believe handicapped people should ask themselves when thinking of making their home more accessible. This includes clearing up closet space, replacing bath tubs with roll in showers, and making sure the floor plan of the home is simple and easy to navigate. A great post for anyone who is thinking about making their home more accessible for the disabled.
This next one is a video from one of my favorite shows, Top Gear. It is a british television show that deals mainly with cars, but in this episode they travelled to Japan to test out a high-tech wheelchair. This wheelchair is sleek, fast, and comfortable, and is equipped with an array of high-tech features, such as a computer where you can connect with others who own the iReal (the name of the chair). I think this is a great way to bring the wheelchair into the modern age.
http://www.asktooltalk.com/articles/construction/accessibility/accessible_kitchens/barrier.php
This post deals with the idea of building a handicap accessible kitchen. Basically, the article breaks down the concept of designing a kitchen into three concepts; making it a barrier free environment (meaning that there are limited obstacles that the disabled user needs to overcome in order to make use of the kitchen), the design of the kitchen itself (as in all the technical aspects such as the dimensions of the doors and countertops), and the placement of appliances. An article that is a little technical, but informative about the process of design nonetheless.
http://www.studygs.net/accessibility.htm
This website talks more about designing a website to be accessible for the visually impaired and anyone else in general. I thought it had a pretty cool design by supplying a more interactive approach to getting its point across. It talks about everything from font design to links and images to testing the website's colors to make sure it is accessible for people with color blindness. A very informative and interactive website for those who wish to learn more about website design.
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/web-design-web-accessibility-design-guidelines/5112995
This last website also deals with the concept of designing a website to be accessible. This one is a little more straightforward, outlining some tips and no-no's for designing a website to be accessible for all people. A slightly older post, but still relevant I believe.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Peer Dialogue Number Three
Well, here we are at the last peer dialogue. It's been a great experience to do these blogs, and while the laziness inside of me is happy to be getting closer to the summer time, I feel that having a homework structure such as this makes doing these assignments fairly more enjoyable. So without further ado, I'll start the assignment off with Zack's blog.
I have to say that I enjoyed your home goods post the most out of your recent posts. Unfortunately, that journal had skipped my mind and I forgot to even attempt it before it was due, hence the short supply of new material on my blog. But yeah, I thought your simple explainations for what makes a microwave, stove, and washer a home good were cool. I never thought of exactly why people use washers or indoor stoves, or what makes them so special, until you kind of took a step back and analyzed their simple intentions. Very cool and interesting. As for your reflection on the whole copyright scenario, I agree with you about how copyrighting itself is beginning to get a little bit ridiculous, where people hold the copyrights to certain information that could save lives and cure diseases. Great blog and, as always, keep up the good work!
http://dsgn200spof2011.blogspot.com/
Now onto Bridget's blog:
You found faces blog was probably my favorite out of all of them. I think I liked the first picture the most, I think because it looked hilarious. The bacon and eggs pics were a great idea too; I don't think I would have thought of going to Sloopy's to find faces. Definitely an A+ for exploration! I know I definitely enjoyed the scavenger hunt assignment, and it looked as you did too. I even recall taking some of those pictures, specifically the one of you posing in front of the SEL. I remember we had to do a few takes cause I couldn't take a good picture at all haha. I was definitely grateful, though, that you had your iPhone or else we would have had much more trouble finding our destinations.
http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
Overall, I'm going to continue to follow both of your blogs until the end of the quarter, even if I don't need to. They are great and I'm looking forward to following them further. Keep up the great work guys!
I have to say that I enjoyed your home goods post the most out of your recent posts. Unfortunately, that journal had skipped my mind and I forgot to even attempt it before it was due, hence the short supply of new material on my blog. But yeah, I thought your simple explainations for what makes a microwave, stove, and washer a home good were cool. I never thought of exactly why people use washers or indoor stoves, or what makes them so special, until you kind of took a step back and analyzed their simple intentions. Very cool and interesting. As for your reflection on the whole copyright scenario, I agree with you about how copyrighting itself is beginning to get a little bit ridiculous, where people hold the copyrights to certain information that could save lives and cure diseases. Great blog and, as always, keep up the good work!
http://dsgn200spof2011.blogspot.com/
Now onto Bridget's blog:
You found faces blog was probably my favorite out of all of them. I think I liked the first picture the most, I think because it looked hilarious. The bacon and eggs pics were a great idea too; I don't think I would have thought of going to Sloopy's to find faces. Definitely an A+ for exploration! I know I definitely enjoyed the scavenger hunt assignment, and it looked as you did too. I even recall taking some of those pictures, specifically the one of you posing in front of the SEL. I remember we had to do a few takes cause I couldn't take a good picture at all haha. I was definitely grateful, though, that you had your iPhone or else we would have had much more trouble finding our destinations.
http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
Overall, I'm going to continue to follow both of your blogs until the end of the quarter, even if I don't need to. They are great and I'm looking forward to following them further. Keep up the great work guys!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Letterform Assignment
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| I was walking through the Oval and saw the letter "O" in one of the trees. |
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| The letter "J" on a railing outside of Stradley Hall. |
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| The same railing also had an uppercase "P" attached to it |
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| This one is a little shaky but it should be a lowercase "i" on my Xbox 360. |
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| A wooden "X" on one of my smaller clothes hampers. |
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| A "J" that I found when turning one of my clothes hangers upside down. |
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| A longer "C" shaped toilet seat in my dorm bathroom. |
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| An "O" that I found when looking at the side of a roll of toiler paper. |
Course Reflection
These last 4 classes have been, in my opinion, the most informative about the design field after college. Having the guest speakers in from both the Design Circle and Cobego were my two of my favorite classes of the quarter. Throughout the quarter I have been frequently wondering about the career field for design outside of college, so the Cobego lecture was great for me. I thought it was really cool how they just decided to create their own firm out of college, instead of looking to join an already established one. I feel that it was a good lecture because it showed students that in a business atmosphere, designers definitely require some people skills in order to connect with their clients. It brought to light that not all designers can just make whatever THEY want, but rather they have to walk a fine line between being creative and satifsying the clients specifications.
I also enjoyed having some members of the Design Circle in to talk about design at OSU. I had never heard of the Design Circle, but now that I do I feel that it would be a great organization to get acquainted with. I liked how they elaborated more on the workload when you get into the major. The long hours in the studio seem like a daunting task, but it is obviously a good thing to devote such time to the major, because in the end you will only come out more experienced. It was good to know that the OSU design program is one of the better programs out of all the public schools, and that it is going very strong. I look forward to continuing with the design program and am extremely excited to get back here next fall and start getting ready for the application process!
I also enjoyed having some members of the Design Circle in to talk about design at OSU. I had never heard of the Design Circle, but now that I do I feel that it would be a great organization to get acquainted with. I liked how they elaborated more on the workload when you get into the major. The long hours in the studio seem like a daunting task, but it is obviously a good thing to devote such time to the major, because in the end you will only come out more experienced. It was good to know that the OSU design program is one of the better programs out of all the public schools, and that it is going very strong. I look forward to continuing with the design program and am extremely excited to get back here next fall and start getting ready for the application process!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Peer Dialogue Number 2
With only 8 actual classes left in this course, I would just like to start this blog off by saying that I have thoroughly enjoyed both this class, this blog, and also the people I have gotten to know throughout all the activities. I really enjoy having the opportunity to do these blog reviews (in the place of midterms and quizzes, these are like a vacation!) and I love reading what both Zack and Bridget post. So now, without further ado, I will present my dialogue.
First off is Zack. I gotta say, I thought your letterform assignment was pretty damn good. It was great to see that you went out and got all 26 letters, all while managing to make each picture unique and intriguing in its composition. Out of all of them, I thought that your letter "E" was the coolest. Your "Found Faces" journal was also well done, with my favorite being the picture of the wooden bedpost. It was definitely unique and the slightly skewed aspect of it seemed cool to me for some reason. I liked the layout of your designer investigation too, with you getting a large variety of designers. Throwing Zuckerberg in there was pretty cool too; something I wouldn't have thought of, thats for sure. As for the question you posed at the end of your peer dialogue, I would have to agree with you and pick function over form. Obviously, you can make something look as cool as you want, but if it doesn't serve its intended purpose, then there is no use to keep it around.
http://dsgn200spof2011.blogspot.com/
Next up is Bridget.
I enjoyed your designer investigation as well. You covered a variety of designers who I have never heard of but seem to have contributed a lot to the field of design and architecture. I enjoyed your article on Michael Arad the most. I have never heard of him before, so I never knew that he was the designer of the World Trade Center Memorial. The design of the memorial is really, really cool. I like how he brings a tranquil, green environment to a portion of the city where traffic is always bustling and huge skyscrapers stand out above the streets. I was also intrigued with his use of water, with the recessed pools placed there to (as I would imagine) provide a very serene, almost zen-like environment to allow citizens to pay their respects to the victims of the terrible disaster that occurred.
http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
I'm looking forward to following both of your blogs in the future! Keep up the good work!
First off is Zack. I gotta say, I thought your letterform assignment was pretty damn good. It was great to see that you went out and got all 26 letters, all while managing to make each picture unique and intriguing in its composition. Out of all of them, I thought that your letter "E" was the coolest. Your "Found Faces" journal was also well done, with my favorite being the picture of the wooden bedpost. It was definitely unique and the slightly skewed aspect of it seemed cool to me for some reason. I liked the layout of your designer investigation too, with you getting a large variety of designers. Throwing Zuckerberg in there was pretty cool too; something I wouldn't have thought of, thats for sure. As for the question you posed at the end of your peer dialogue, I would have to agree with you and pick function over form. Obviously, you can make something look as cool as you want, but if it doesn't serve its intended purpose, then there is no use to keep it around.
http://dsgn200spof2011.blogspot.com/
Next up is Bridget.
I enjoyed your designer investigation as well. You covered a variety of designers who I have never heard of but seem to have contributed a lot to the field of design and architecture. I enjoyed your article on Michael Arad the most. I have never heard of him before, so I never knew that he was the designer of the World Trade Center Memorial. The design of the memorial is really, really cool. I like how he brings a tranquil, green environment to a portion of the city where traffic is always bustling and huge skyscrapers stand out above the streets. I was also intrigued with his use of water, with the recessed pools placed there to (as I would imagine) provide a very serene, almost zen-like environment to allow citizens to pay their respects to the victims of the terrible disaster that occurred.
http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
I'm looking forward to following both of your blogs in the future! Keep up the good work!
RR02 Reading Reflection
Cradle to Cradle Introduction:
I really enjoyed the intro chapter of this book, mainly because of all the interesting environmental tidbits that Bill and Michael throw in there. I have never really been a "green" man but this book along with the recent environmental lectures has kind of opened my eyes a bit. The thing I enjoyed about this chapter was reading the different ideas that Bill and Mike threw around (for instance, the seed in the can seemed like a cool idea, albeit a tad out there). I like how they don't just try and get things done by sitting around and protesting, but rather, they have the means to design and implement new products and structures in order to realize their vision of getting everyone to go green and make our cities and environments healthier.
Heskett Chapter 7:
In this chapter, Heskett elaborates on the concept of identity, including both national and corporate identity. It was very interesting to hear his perspective on globalization and how businesses really struggle when it comes to designing products for other cultures. I never really thought of how different the cultures of the world are from ours in terms of the products they use and the way they use them. For instance, when Whirlpool was designing a new washer for the overseas markets, they had to take into consideration that people in India need to be able to wash their 18-foot long pieces of clothing, while people in Brazil need to be able to have a soak cycle or else they won't believe that the washer will yield a clean wash. As for corporate identities, I agree with Heskett's idea that corporations can spend all the money they want on new logos and advertising campaigns, but if their products and services do not back up their new image, then all that money was spent for nothing. Without quality goods and services, a company will not be able to change their image and reflect efficiency, great service, or any other trait that they wish to accommodate.
Heskett Chapter 8:
This chapter focused mainly on systems, which I really didn't know much about before reading. I didn't really see how systems pertained to the field of design until Heskett started talking about the transportation systems around the world. I found it really interesting how much work is put into street, freeway, and all the other roadway signs that I have seen everyday for 19 years. I could see, then, how these systems pertained to designers, as it is the designers goal to make sure that these signs are made properly in order for the public to be able to navigate such roadways with ease. This section of the chapter reminded me of a field of engineering that I was looking into studying more; industrial and systems engineering, where a large portion of work is dedicated to helping a company run more efficiently in order to minimize costs and make the company run smoother. A very interesting connection which, at least for me, once again shed light on how wide the field of design stretches and how designers are pretty much involved in just about everything we see in our environment.
I really enjoyed the intro chapter of this book, mainly because of all the interesting environmental tidbits that Bill and Michael throw in there. I have never really been a "green" man but this book along with the recent environmental lectures has kind of opened my eyes a bit. The thing I enjoyed about this chapter was reading the different ideas that Bill and Mike threw around (for instance, the seed in the can seemed like a cool idea, albeit a tad out there). I like how they don't just try and get things done by sitting around and protesting, but rather, they have the means to design and implement new products and structures in order to realize their vision of getting everyone to go green and make our cities and environments healthier.
Heskett Chapter 7:
In this chapter, Heskett elaborates on the concept of identity, including both national and corporate identity. It was very interesting to hear his perspective on globalization and how businesses really struggle when it comes to designing products for other cultures. I never really thought of how different the cultures of the world are from ours in terms of the products they use and the way they use them. For instance, when Whirlpool was designing a new washer for the overseas markets, they had to take into consideration that people in India need to be able to wash their 18-foot long pieces of clothing, while people in Brazil need to be able to have a soak cycle or else they won't believe that the washer will yield a clean wash. As for corporate identities, I agree with Heskett's idea that corporations can spend all the money they want on new logos and advertising campaigns, but if their products and services do not back up their new image, then all that money was spent for nothing. Without quality goods and services, a company will not be able to change their image and reflect efficiency, great service, or any other trait that they wish to accommodate.
Heskett Chapter 8:
This chapter focused mainly on systems, which I really didn't know much about before reading. I didn't really see how systems pertained to the field of design until Heskett started talking about the transportation systems around the world. I found it really interesting how much work is put into street, freeway, and all the other roadway signs that I have seen everyday for 19 years. I could see, then, how these systems pertained to designers, as it is the designers goal to make sure that these signs are made properly in order for the public to be able to navigate such roadways with ease. This section of the chapter reminded me of a field of engineering that I was looking into studying more; industrial and systems engineering, where a large portion of work is dedicated to helping a company run more efficiently in order to minimize costs and make the company run smoother. A very interesting connection which, at least for me, once again shed light on how wide the field of design stretches and how designers are pretty much involved in just about everything we see in our environment.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Course Reflection 02
Well, here we are five weeks into the quarter and time is flying by. It seems like just yesterday I enrolled in this course having no clue what design was or what designers do. Needless to say, I've learned quite a lot of information regarding design in the last 5 weeks and have had a great time doing so. Now, for the course reflection over the past few classes.
These past few classes have been packed with some fun assignments. I must say, I really enjoyed both the scavenger hunt and the "found faces" journal entry. Just as the patterns assignment, both of these projects forced me to view my surroundings in a different manner. For the scavenger hunt, I had to focus on buildings and objects that I would normally not even look twice at on my way to class. They were always just buildings to me. But for the assignment, I was able to get some background not only on why they were designed and who designed them, but also I learned some interesting things about how they were constructed and all the thought and planning that went into designing them.
I also learned more about how much designers take accessibility into account when they are in the process of designing a new product or structure. I couldn't help but think of an episode of Top Gear (a British TV show all about cars) where they tested out a new, cutting-edge wheelchair designed by Toyota.
These past few classes have been packed with some fun assignments. I must say, I really enjoyed both the scavenger hunt and the "found faces" journal entry. Just as the patterns assignment, both of these projects forced me to view my surroundings in a different manner. For the scavenger hunt, I had to focus on buildings and objects that I would normally not even look twice at on my way to class. They were always just buildings to me. But for the assignment, I was able to get some background not only on why they were designed and who designed them, but also I learned some interesting things about how they were constructed and all the thought and planning that went into designing them.
I also learned more about how much designers take accessibility into account when they are in the process of designing a new product or structure. I couldn't help but think of an episode of Top Gear (a British TV show all about cars) where they tested out a new, cutting-edge wheelchair designed by Toyota.
I like the fact that accessibility is so crucial in the process of design nowadays. It was refreshing to learn that people with disabilities are really being thought of when it comes to new structures or products. Of course, as Gabe mentioned about the handicap ramp in the back of Hopkins, it still has a bit of a way to go. Taking the ramp all the way to the architecture library in Knowlton was very cool though, as it really proved a point of how the building was designed to be completely accessible to everyone.
As for the "Going Green" lecture, it was a bit of an eye-opener. I have always been one of those people who never thought global warming was real, the world isn't going to end in 2012, and yes, there are greenhouse gases that are affecting the ozone layer but hey, I'm not going to be living by the time something bad actually happens. But this lecture kind of taught me that for designers, it's not about designing something that is going to work great and make life a little easier for everyone, but also designing something that can be disposed of in a way that is healthy for the environment. Design is not just about the current generation, but rather present AND future generations. When I thought of going green in this way, I could see why people want to get on board with it; it's about making sure the earth is safe and sustainable for all future generations. If nothing is being done to make sure that products and the making of products nowadays are being designed with the earth in mind, then it is only going to get worse in the future. And if our future generations have to change the way they live because the pollution is way out of control, or the ozone is all but gone, then design and all designers have failed.
Found Faces
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| Three-Eyed Monster aka grated cheese container top |
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| Big mouth aka sink in my dorm |
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| Scared! Outlet in dorm bathroom |
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| Big eyes, little mouth. Drumset back home. |
Scavenger Hunt A03
I certainly enjoyed this assignment because it gave me a chance to go out and experience design in my own backyard. I enjoyed the time I spent with my partner, Gered Bowman, and felt that this was an enjoyable project for the both of us.
For this project, Gered and I teamed up with Zack S and Bridget M, although we technically were two seperate groups. We started off by going to the Wexner Center to take a picture in front of a building designed by Peter Eisenman. Something I found interesting about the construction of the Wexner Center was how Eisenman constructed the main passageway in alignment with the Columbus street grid in an attempt to connect the building and university with the rest of the city. So here is a picture from clue 3.
Our second stop was to figure out clue 4. We found, by googling on our phones, that Philip Johnson designed the Science and Engineering Library on OSU campus. One interesting detail about the building we all found interesting was the main archway. As stated in the tour given by Gabe towards the beginning of the class, the main arch was made to be much larger so people would know which one to walk through.
Our next destination was for both clues 1 and 2. We headed to the Knowlton School of Architecture to discover some chairs. First off was the Barcelona chair. The Barcelona chair was designed by Mies van der Rohe. Something I found very interesting about the chair was that, during the World Arts Fair where they were designed for the German pavilion, the King and Queen of Spain had used them as seats when visiting the pavilion. Rohe had to make sure that his design of the chair was functional, comfortable, and light, which caused him some stress.
Clue 2 was just a few steps away from the Barcelona chair. The magazine Gered is reading is Modernism magazine.
For our last clue, clue 5, we were tasked with finding a building designed by Acock & Associates. We googled it and found that the Thompson library was actually one of their works on campus. Something interesting I found about the construction of the building was that they had to use very safe and reliable lifting devices to lift the large blocks of stone, as most of them weighed between 1300-3000lbs!
For this project, Gered and I teamed up with Zack S and Bridget M, although we technically were two seperate groups. We started off by going to the Wexner Center to take a picture in front of a building designed by Peter Eisenman. Something I found interesting about the construction of the Wexner Center was how Eisenman constructed the main passageway in alignment with the Columbus street grid in an attempt to connect the building and university with the rest of the city. So here is a picture from clue 3.
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| Me in the passageway of the Wexner |
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| Gered in front of the SEL |
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| Just contemplating life in the Barcelona chair. |
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| A relaxing day with good ol' modernism... |
http://design200classblog.blogspot.com/ - Gered's blog
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Reading Reflection 01
For my first reading reflection assignment, I'll be focusing on what I found interesting through chapters 1-6 of John Heskett's "Design: A Very Short Introduction".
Chapter One attempts to explain what design actually is as compared to what many people think it is. Design, as the book says, is a very vague field and even the word itself can be interpreted many ways. I found one line quite interesting: "Design is to design a design to produce a design". This line was shown to me first in lecture, but when I read over it in the book I really grasped the complexity and open-endedness that the design field entails. Heskett explains in chapter one how design is all around us, and almost everything we see has been designed by some human being. This, once again, opened my eyes to how crucial design is to human society today.
Heskett goes on to talk about the historical evolution of design in chapter 2. What I found interesting in this chapter was how he explains how early human beings created tools as extensions of the hand. Early tools were created in order to maximize the effeciency at which humans could perform a certain task, but they needed the hand to actually use the tools. I never looked at the human hand in such a way, never really thought of all of its functions and how tools today are still, at their core, extensions of the functions of the hand.
In Chapter Three, Heskett outlines the concepts of utility and significance. Right off the bat, another quote from lecture appeared in the book, this one coming from Louis Sullivan; "Form follows function. This is the law". This sets the tone for the rest of the chapter, where Heskett attempts to break the idea of function into two parts, utility and significance. Utility being how well the object can serve its purpose, and significance being how forms can assume a certain meaning to their users. He uses examples such as the Rolls-Royce (a finely crafted automobile which, when purchased, is a sign of wealth and status) to show how utility and significance co-exist.
In Chapter Four, Heskett discusses objects and their relevance to design and human society, and also how designers design and market these objects to the general public. He delves into designers work attitudes, where some are focused more on being artsy and edgy to make something marketable, while others are focused more on maintaining the integrity and control of their design over what other businesses are telling them to do. He goes on to explain how design firms work, where the head designer still makes his mark on his designs, but said designs are not as personal when the designer has had help from a team of designers (that's a lot of design going on in one sentence). I found it interesting how he explained how some big name designers will have a firm but also will have an individual business on the side so they can still create their own, personal designs to market to clients.
Chapter Five I found quite interesting because Heskett begins to talk a little about two-dimensional material, such as the material that involves the work of a graphic designer. He begins the chapter by explaining the difference between objects and communications, where objects can exist in their own form and do not need any further explaination, whereas communications material makes it point right off the bat with text and imagery intertwining to tell of a certain idea or advertise a certain good. He also goes into detail about graphic designers and how they are crucial for many businesses to market their goods. I never took notice to how much graphic design is out there, whether it be a logo or a flyer for an event. After I read this certain section of this chapter I took a look around my dorm and was able to see a TON of different designs, all presumably made by a graphic designer somewhere.
Chapter Six focuses on environments and how they play a large role in behavior, expectations, and use. Heskett also outlines the work of the interior designer in this chapter. I liked how, in the chapter, he explains the differences between American and Japanese bathrooms. He mentions how Americans generally have no problems when they want to add an appliance or piece of furniture to their home, whereas people living in Japan have much less space, so delicate planning needs to be done in order to accomodate certain additions to the home. Their bathrooms are much smaller and less decorated than ours, so at first glance one may think they are worse, yet they serve the same function and purpose that American bathrooms do, with the same efficiency. This takes me back to the concept of form following function. No matter what the field of design you are in, this concept seems to always be at the front of a designers mind, and is a recurring concept in the text.
Chapter One attempts to explain what design actually is as compared to what many people think it is. Design, as the book says, is a very vague field and even the word itself can be interpreted many ways. I found one line quite interesting: "Design is to design a design to produce a design". This line was shown to me first in lecture, but when I read over it in the book I really grasped the complexity and open-endedness that the design field entails. Heskett explains in chapter one how design is all around us, and almost everything we see has been designed by some human being. This, once again, opened my eyes to how crucial design is to human society today.
Heskett goes on to talk about the historical evolution of design in chapter 2. What I found interesting in this chapter was how he explains how early human beings created tools as extensions of the hand. Early tools were created in order to maximize the effeciency at which humans could perform a certain task, but they needed the hand to actually use the tools. I never looked at the human hand in such a way, never really thought of all of its functions and how tools today are still, at their core, extensions of the functions of the hand.
In Chapter Three, Heskett outlines the concepts of utility and significance. Right off the bat, another quote from lecture appeared in the book, this one coming from Louis Sullivan; "Form follows function. This is the law". This sets the tone for the rest of the chapter, where Heskett attempts to break the idea of function into two parts, utility and significance. Utility being how well the object can serve its purpose, and significance being how forms can assume a certain meaning to their users. He uses examples such as the Rolls-Royce (a finely crafted automobile which, when purchased, is a sign of wealth and status) to show how utility and significance co-exist.
In Chapter Four, Heskett discusses objects and their relevance to design and human society, and also how designers design and market these objects to the general public. He delves into designers work attitudes, where some are focused more on being artsy and edgy to make something marketable, while others are focused more on maintaining the integrity and control of their design over what other businesses are telling them to do. He goes on to explain how design firms work, where the head designer still makes his mark on his designs, but said designs are not as personal when the designer has had help from a team of designers (that's a lot of design going on in one sentence). I found it interesting how he explained how some big name designers will have a firm but also will have an individual business on the side so they can still create their own, personal designs to market to clients.
Chapter Five I found quite interesting because Heskett begins to talk a little about two-dimensional material, such as the material that involves the work of a graphic designer. He begins the chapter by explaining the difference between objects and communications, where objects can exist in their own form and do not need any further explaination, whereas communications material makes it point right off the bat with text and imagery intertwining to tell of a certain idea or advertise a certain good. He also goes into detail about graphic designers and how they are crucial for many businesses to market their goods. I never took notice to how much graphic design is out there, whether it be a logo or a flyer for an event. After I read this certain section of this chapter I took a look around my dorm and was able to see a TON of different designs, all presumably made by a graphic designer somewhere.
Chapter Six focuses on environments and how they play a large role in behavior, expectations, and use. Heskett also outlines the work of the interior designer in this chapter. I liked how, in the chapter, he explains the differences between American and Japanese bathrooms. He mentions how Americans generally have no problems when they want to add an appliance or piece of furniture to their home, whereas people living in Japan have much less space, so delicate planning needs to be done in order to accomodate certain additions to the home. Their bathrooms are much smaller and less decorated than ours, so at first glance one may think they are worse, yet they serve the same function and purpose that American bathrooms do, with the same efficiency. This takes me back to the concept of form following function. No matter what the field of design you are in, this concept seems to always be at the front of a designers mind, and is a recurring concept in the text.
Peer Dialogue 01: Checkin' Out Some Blogs
For my first peer dialogue, I went through both Bridget and Zack's blogs as they were the two 10's that I got to know on the first day of class. These blogs, I believe, are a great idea and a great way to get to know one another outside of class, as I only see these guys twice a week. It's a great way to gain insight into other classmates ideas and a great way to gain inspiration if I hit a roadblock in my thinking. Now, onto the assignment.
Step One: Bridget's blog.
I thought it was really cool how she has a personal connection with a lot of the objects we discussed throughout the course lectures. That lecture was my first introduction to a lot of those objects, so for Bridget to have known about them for awhile and even owned some of them got me thinking as to how everyone is comes from different backgrounds and has a different perspective on everything. As for her pattern assignment, I thought that it was a great idea to use the Block O theme at the Ohio Union! All of the patterns fit perfectly with the theme and really got me thinking about all the different variations of the "O" at the Union. Overall, I enjoyed the blog very much and am excited to read more posts of hers!
Step Two: Zack's blog.
First off, I really enjoy the song titles! I think it is really clever how Zack relates the titles to his posts; they always seem to make perfect sense and really entice me to read more. I liked how he enjoyed the card activity, as I also thought it was a great first day icebreaker. We seem to have a lot in common too, as he is in Engineering (although I am switching into Design from Engineering) and he has been through the same situation where it took him a bit to realize what he wants to do in college (it took me basically the entire year to find something that I could actually see myself doing out of college). I enjoyed his pattern assignment also. It was interesting that he found all of those patterns from objects just sitting around his house! It made me realize how many patterns there are out there and how we often overlook them.
All in all, both blogs were great and I look forward to keeping up with them in the future!
Zack's Blog: http://dsgn200spof2011.blogspot.com/
Bridget's Blog: http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
Step One: Bridget's blog.
I thought it was really cool how she has a personal connection with a lot of the objects we discussed throughout the course lectures. That lecture was my first introduction to a lot of those objects, so for Bridget to have known about them for awhile and even owned some of them got me thinking as to how everyone is comes from different backgrounds and has a different perspective on everything. As for her pattern assignment, I thought that it was a great idea to use the Block O theme at the Ohio Union! All of the patterns fit perfectly with the theme and really got me thinking about all the different variations of the "O" at the Union. Overall, I enjoyed the blog very much and am excited to read more posts of hers!
Step Two: Zack's blog.
First off, I really enjoy the song titles! I think it is really clever how Zack relates the titles to his posts; they always seem to make perfect sense and really entice me to read more. I liked how he enjoyed the card activity, as I also thought it was a great first day icebreaker. We seem to have a lot in common too, as he is in Engineering (although I am switching into Design from Engineering) and he has been through the same situation where it took him a bit to realize what he wants to do in college (it took me basically the entire year to find something that I could actually see myself doing out of college). I enjoyed his pattern assignment also. It was interesting that he found all of those patterns from objects just sitting around his house! It made me realize how many patterns there are out there and how we often overlook them.
All in all, both blogs were great and I look forward to keeping up with them in the future!
Zack's Blog: http://dsgn200spof2011.blogspot.com/
Bridget's Blog: http://bridgetmears.blogspot.com/
Robert Venturi
ROBERT VENTURI
(1925-Present)
For my last investigation, I decided to go the same route that I did with Kuramata; picking someone I have never heard of with the hopes that I will learn more about them. Robert Venturi was the target of my randomness, so I jumped right in and began to get father some info.
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| Vanna Venturi House |
Robert Venturi was born in Philadelphia in 1925. He attended Princeton in the 1940's and graduated in 1950. He has since become well-known as one of the best postmodern architects currently in the business. In 1951, Venturi worked under Eero Saarinen (designer of the Gateway Arch) in Michigan, and Louis Kahn in Philadelphia. This early experience allowed him to gain a lot of knowledge which he absorbed very quickly. In 1954 he was awarded the Rome Prize Fellowship at the American Academy in Rome, Italy. From 1954 to 1965, Venturi held various teaching positions at the University of Pennsylvania, where he eventually rose from a teaching assistant to an associate professor. He also met his future wife, Denise Scott Brown, at the university.
Venturi's architectural works are known more for their opposition to the typical 1960's, modernism approach to design. Venturi is known to have said "Less is a bore" in response to Mies van der Rohe's phrase "Less is more".
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| Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery |
In 1960, Venturi started his first architecture firm, Venturi and Short, with William Short. After a series of additions and replacements among his staff over the years, the name eventually ended up as Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates (Scott Brown being his wife, Denise Scott Brown, who joined the firm in 1969). The firm won the Architecture Firm Award by the American Institute of Architects in 1985. It is still up and running today, with recent projects including university buildings and civic buildings in London and Japan.
Some of Venturi's most famous architectural works include the Vanna Venturi House, the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery, and the Oberlin Art Museum addition.
Shiro Kuramata
SHIRO KURAMATA
(1934-1991)
For my second post of the designer investigation, I chose to try and learn a little more about Shiro Kuramata. I figured that I had already done an investigation on a designer I knew previously, so it was time to step out of the box and just pick someone that I have never heard of. Shiro Kuramata seemed to be a good choice, as he is renowned as one of Japan's leading twentieth century designers of furniture and interiors.
Kuramata got his start in 1953 when he graduated from Tokyo Polytechnic High School, where he studied woodcraft. He then went on to spend a year working for Teikokukizai, a Japanese furniture manufacturer. He studied interior design at the Kuwazawa Institute for Design until 1956, when he then went on to work as a retail designer for Matsuy, a department store in Tokyo, until 1963. It was two years after his departure from Matsuy when he established his first office of design in Tokyo.
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| Drawer in an Irregular Form |
Kuramata was intrigued with ways of unifying the Japanese concepts of art with a more Western, minimalistic flair. He went on to design over 300 bars and restuarants as an interior designer, but became famous almost instantly in 1977 for his furniture piece, "Drawer in an Irregular Form". After his success with the piece, he went on to produce many other pieces of furniture that have become staples of his career, such as his "Miss Blanche" chair and his "How High the Moon" chair.
In the later stages of his career, Kuramata won many prestigious design awards, such as the Odres des Arts et des Lettres, which was awarded to him in 1990 by the French government. He has worked on and designed over 180 furniture forms in his career, all of which being stunningly simple yet incredibly functional; a testament to his minimalistic nature. Sadly, Shiro Kuramata passed away in 1991, but he left his legacy in his fantastic, simple pieces of furniture that evoked such strong emotion among many of his followers.
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| Miss Blanche |
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| How High the Moon |
http://www.nyu.edu/greyart/exhibits/shiro/html/kuramata.html
http://www.paulhughes.co.uk/conthome/kuramata/shiro.html
Frank Lloyd Wright
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
(1867-1959)
For my first investigation, I decided to write about Frank Lloyd Wright. Yes, I know, everyone has heard of him and know of his works quite well (especially those in the department), but he happens to be one of my favorite architects/designers I have learned of and is responsible for peaking my interest in such fields in the first place. He was not only a groundbreaking innovator in the fields of architecture and design, but was also an established writer and teacher, leaving his legacy in over 1100 projects that he had designed.
Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin on June 8th, 1867. His mother was Anna Lloyd Jones, a teacher in Wisconsin. His father was William Carey Wright, a preacher and musician. He had two sisters, Jane and Maginel, all together forming a family that was always on the move. When the Wright family eventually settled in Madison, Wisconsin, young Frank began to spend more and more time in the countryside with his uncle, where he eventually began to develop a stronger appreciation for nature.
His parents divorced in 1885, so Wright got a job with the dean of the University of Wisconsin's engineering department. It was here where he started studying civil engineering and got the chance to work with some real architects, absorbing valuable information that he would take with him for the rest of his life. He took this information with him when he moved to Chicago in 1887, eventually getting a job with the Adler and Sullivan firm, where he worked very closely with Louis Sullivan. He learned much of his style from Sullivan, who believed that American architecture should be based on American themes, rather than European influences or old traditions. This new, innovative way of thinking inspired Wright, who would later develop it further.
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| Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio - Chicago |
In 1889, Wright fell in love and married Catherine Tobin. He built their home in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, where it is now known as the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. It was in this home that Wright and Tobin had six children.
Wright's first breakthrough piece was the Winslow House in 1893. Wright developed this house with nature in mind, giving it a very open, expansive feel in order to try and establish a direct link with the natural surroundings. "Organic architecture" was what Wright began to call his work. It was this house that boosted him into becoming a notable figure in the field. It was around this time that Wright began to give public lectures about his feelings and thoughts on architecture.
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| Taliesin |
In 1911, after spending a year in Europe, Wright returned to Wisconsin to begin construction of his new home, "Taliesin", in Spring Green. Over the next few years, his career really began to take off as he was doing projects in Japan, Chicago, and California. In 1928, Wright began to focus more on writing, publishing "An Autobiography" and "The Disappearing City", both of which books influenced many in the field of architecture. Wright and his wife at the time, Olga Lazovich, established an apprenticeship program at Taliesin, called the "Taliesin Fellowship".
In the 1930's, when Wright was considered to have come and gone, he staged a monumental comeback. With projects such as Falling Water, Taliesin West, and the SC Johnson Wax Administration Building, it was clear that Wright was still the great architect he was once thought to be. A flood of new commissions came pouring in for Wright, as he was still pumping out project after project.
In the last decades of his life, Wright was awarded many medals for his innovation in the field. He started one of his largest projects, the Guggenheim museum in New York City, and also began many projects for city buildings, instead of residential housing. It marked the last leg of his career, as he passed away on April 9th, 1959. As an innovator, writer, teacher, artist, father, and husband, Frank Lloyd Wright has changed the world of architecture and design forever with his groundbreaking new ideas of American architecture.
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| Falling Water |
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| Taliesin West |
http://www.franklloydwright.org/fllwf_web_091104/Home.html
Sunday, April 10, 2011
JO2 Patterns
Here in this post I will share with you the top 10 patterns I have found this week. My phone camera has kind of been on the fritz lately, so there are a few pics from the internet on the list. That does not mean, however, that I just decided to pick a few random pictures from google, as each one I chose from the internet peaked my interest in some way. Anyways, here are the patterns:
1. This picture to the left was taken in the stairwell of my dorm during the day. It interested me because, to me, it seemed that although these bricks were manmade and placed individually, there is an almost organic element to this pattern. It's imperfections, I suppose, intrigued me.
2. This picture was taken at the coffee shop in the student union, sometime around 9PM or so. I don't know why exactly I found it interesting other than the fact that it was a great centerpiece to the room and the warm colors and patterns helped create a very relaxing atmosphere.
3. This picture was also taken at the coffee shop around the same time the above picture was taken. I think I liked this pattern because if you didn't really look at it closely you wouldn't think of it as a pattern. It would seem just like a cup full of coffee beans to anyone else. I just thought it was cool to see that even something as simple as a cup full of beans can create a pretty interesting pattern.
4. This pattern was taken in my buddy's dorm sometime during the day. It is the pattern on a chair that they have sitting in their room. I found this one interesting because when I first looked at it, it seemed pretty uniform and bland, but when I took a closer look, it seemed a little crazier. A lot of colors are getting thrown around and switched out here and there, but if you were to look at it from far away it would seem just like a few squares on a chair.
5. This picture I had taken from a google image search; the URL can be found in the caption. This photo showed me how patterns can not only look cool, but also serve a purpose. This spiders web, for instance, looks really cool but also plays a huge role in catching food for the spider, thus making it an essential component to the life of the spider.
6. This picture was also taken from the internet, URL included in caption. I found this one interesting because it shows that beautiful patterns can be fashioned out of anything, even a giant field of corn. This crop circle, and others, are great examples of how complex some patterns can get, but when they are pulled off like this one, the result is amazing.
7. I found this picture also from the internet. It is a picture of a piece of carbon fiber, from a rather close-up angle. I found this pattern interesting because it was another example of what I stated for pattern 4. From a quick glance, a sheet of carbon fiber looks almost to be just a piece of black metal, but when a closer look it taken, you can see all the perfect little shapes meshing together to form a whole.
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| Add caption |
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| http://www.freshpics.blogspot.com/ |
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| http://www.masterxela.wordpress.com/ |
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| http://www.mag-knight.com/ |
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8. This picture was another one I found off the internet, the URL is http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/19/best-buildings-of-the-dec_n_397686.html.
This is Beijing National Stadium, nicknamed the "Bird's Nest". I found this structure really interesting because of the crazy pattern it has wrapping around itself. This pattern is cool because it is really crazy, but also fairly sound when it comes to the stability of the building. It has been there since 2008 and is still standing perfect, despite its wild exterior.
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| http://www.realdailyphoto.blogspot.com/ |
9. This pattern of trees striked me as interesting because it shows really that anything, when placed correctly, can be turned into a pattern. Even large trees like the ones in this picture can be placed to form a cool pattern.
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| http://www.designswan.com/ |
10. This last pattern interested me for the same reason the spider web had; it serves a purpose. This frog is able to warn predators not to eat it all because of the vibrant pattern on its skin.
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