Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

I am always excited for Thanksgiving not only because we get to gather with family, but for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I was unable to watch the whole thing, but I did catch some old favorites and an unexpected guest which was Takashi Murakami. His float design were of his most popular characters Kaikai and Kiki. It was really cool and unexpected to see Takashi partake in the parade because we learned about it in class not too long ago. Even though I said we had learned about Takashi, I had not quite remembered why we learned about him, so I looked up a little bit of his background to see why Housefield thought he was so important to learn about. And apparently Takashi is credited with starting “Superflat.” After reading his biography I can see how Takashi evolved from his college years to the artist that he is today. He studied traditional Japanese art, but then “became disillusioned with Nihonga, and became fixated on otaku culture, which he felt was more representative of modern day Japanese life.”

HGTV Special 30 Holiday Decorating Hits and Misses

 On Friday the 26th, I was watching on of my favorite networks HGTV, and they ran a very fun and informative special on Holiday Decorating. Throughout the episode they mentioned a lot of key terms that we have learned in class and from our readings. Here are a few "Hits" and "Misses" for Holiday Decorating.

1. Hit: Using nature as a source for inspiration and as a source for decoration
One of the easiest suggestions that HGTV made for Holiday Decorating was to look around your yard and look in the grocery store for natural elements that could be incorporated into decorating. A simple idea they suggested was using a hurricane jar and filling it with water and cranberries and a few green foliage plants along with a floating candle to add warmth, color, and depth.

2. Miss: Decorating too trendy
Spending too much money on trendy decorating items is a miss, because trendy items only last for a little bit. And it is then harder to bring them back again year after year, because decorations should be an investment so that you do not have to buy everything new every year.

3. Hit: Using a punch of color that is Red, White, or Green
According to HGTV, people are often scared to venture away from these colors because they are seen as the official holiday season colors. And they are very nice for the holidays, but other bright punches of color can be used as well. Like teal and orange(complementary colors), pinks and violets(cool colors), or just white (monochromatic), all of these varying color combinations can make a festive theme for holiday decorating 

4. Miss: Forgetting little nooks and crannies in home 
This one is an easy one for everyone to overlook because sometimes you feel like you might over due on the holiday decorating, but it adds more interest to a room when special areas such as the fire place are given attention. Being that it is a focal point and should be treated as such.

These were just a few of the Holiday Decorating hits and misses that I used to show how several design terms were used that we have been learning about in class.

TheCoolHunter.net

I just found this website and I think its the coolest thing ever. I was browsing online for some inspirational Aalvar Alto library photos, when I stumbled across this website filled with some of the craziest architecture designs I have ever seen. I came across from photo after photo of unique inspirational and classic architecture. 

It made me think about my own personal taste of architectural design, and if prompted if I would be able create different styles and not just my own? I always knew that I had a special place in my heart for architecture, but this helped me reaffirm my desire and rekindle the light for my motivation to pursue a career in architecture.

On the site I saw really modern and edgy designs that normally wouldn’t be considered as functional, but nonetheless attention grabbers the regular bystander. This site doesn’t just have architecture; it carries fashion, music, lifestyle, art, kids, gadgets, etc. Just as is the field of design, a broad spectrum of disciplines.

A lot of the designs make you think and wonder, “What sort of creative process did the architects go through in order to get their final product?” There is an amazing list of just a few of some of the worlds most unique designs. One of my favorites and reason for stumbling upon this site, is of a staircase that was done by Frank Gehry, The Art Gallery of Ontario. Simply put it is exquisite and of pure imagination.The staircase wraps itself along the existing building, lending itself to be formed with the help of the building. Unique details include an underlit rail that is only visible from within. The  design looks flawless and clean, yet modest and honest. Honest in the sense of the building materials that were used to build it, in a natural wood tone with visible grain marks.

I wanted to share this site because I accidentally stumbled across it while trying to find inspirational pictures, and I found it. I know that inspiration is sometimes hard to come by when you are in need of a great a great idea. Its part of the creative process that we all undergo. Its a critical one at that, without it we are stuck. 

SF MOMA- Exposed, Voyeurism, Surveillance, and the Camera since 1870

The exhibition at the SFMOMA I visited this past weekend was called Exposed, Voyeurism, Surveillance, and the Camera since 1870. I had tagged along with my friend to see the exhibit not really knowing what to expect. I partially knew what voyeurism meant, but after the exhibit I feel like I had a much better understanding of it. The dictionary definition is; a person who gains sexual pleasure from watching others when they are naked or engaged in sexual activity, a person who enjoys seeing the pain or distress of others.

It was a really different experience to walk through this exhibit; it was sometimes awkward and weird. I come from a very conservative Catholic family where the sex is never talked about, let alone pleasure. And although I have been attending college for a few years now, it feels weird to actually let go of my conservativeness in public, and allow myself to be curious and question the photographs they had on display. The first thing we saw was a video of a woman undressing herself in front of the mirror, and it kept replaying with these loud gunshot noises. At first of course I was hesitant to see because there was nudity, but my curiosity finally took over me. But it did not last long before I started to feel uncomfortable. I was unable to view the name of the person who took the video, but from what I could tell it was made around the 70’s. It definitely related to the theme of voyeurism because there were so many people crowding and trying to see what was going on in there. I don’t think that anybody became publicly aroused but there was still that curiosity that led folks in there.

There was also a photograph by Richard Avedon of Andy Warhol’s scars on his torso, it really captivated my interest because I wanted to know what had happened. The scars looked surreal and I couldn’t believe what I saw. After visiting the museum I looked up to see what had happened to Andy Warhol and apparently it had been an attempted assassination and he had barely survived. They said that even afterwards he never really recovered because if he exerted himself he would start bleeding.

Like previously mentioned this exhibition was a very different experience, I would not feel comfortable seeing it with my parents. I feel like they would think I was a heathen, and they would disown me. Well maybe not that far, but still there was definitely some R-Rated content in there. I feel like in order to of had been prepared for this exhibit I would have had to read some background on the topic, or researched what the exhibit was featuring. Because there were some photographs I did not understand why they where there, and I want to know what the curator had in mind. If it was to have the shock and awe factor? Because they definitely shocked me. 

Ergonomic Studies

The couch has become an essential part of one’s home. That is where one gathers with friends and family to partake in each other’s company. It is also a largely where the same family and friends gather to watch television. It is a domestic staple that everybody has. From the hand me downs that college students own, to the larger fancier and cushier sofas better off families own. The couch is a staple because it fits the five areas of ergonomics. Which would include Safety, Comfort, Ease of Use, Performance (productivity), and Aesthetics.

Safety with a couch is very important. I remember as a child we would get stuck in the recliner and we would try to climb off of it, but it would get stuck and lean forward. Sometimes part of our effort would cease because we would get fingers stuff in the reclining hardware. And it would not be until that we got an adult to help us out, that we finally escaped the chair. Now they have become a lot easier to handle where not a lot of effort is required to recline and un-recline.

Comfort is a must in regards to a sofa couch, because you need it to be inviting and welcoming. There is never a bigger letdown than when you sit down on a beautiful couch and it fails the comfort test. Comfort is nearly at the top of the ergonomic areas for a couch because it is the make or break it factor when you are in the process of acquiring a sofa.

Ease of use is important in terms of a couch because everybody and anybody should be able to sit, pull out a bed, or recline. It would become a hassle if you always had people over and they never knew how to operate your sofa because it was too complicated for them to use. A good sofa should be self-explanatory because it is a staple in the everyday environment.

Performance is also one of the top two reasons that can either make or break your sofa dreams. If a sofa couch looks like it’s going to be high maintenance, then it probably will be. This factor is highly considered among families with young children, because children of course will be children and are prone to be messy and have accidents. So practicality in the selection of performance is important when considering who the users will be and for what purpose.

Aesthetics is the fun area to consider after all the real decisions of ergonomics have been made. Aesthetics are the color, texture, fabric, etc that one can consider if having the privilege to have a wide selection to choose from.

All in all the design of a couch is practically solely reliant on all of the ergonomic areas of study. You have to take into consideration the Safety, Comfort, Ease of Use, Performance (productivity), and Aesthetics in order to make a good decision.

Mass-Produced

The video game industry is a huge market for designers to be working in. It is constantly evolving, as all design does, and its changed from just a recreational hobby, to a lifestyle for some. I am not claiming to be an expert in this field, but I have been witness to how the video game console has grown over the years. As an object of design the first Nintendo console was very bland and bulky compared to the more highly designed consoles such as the PS3. From basic observation we are able to assert a certain degree of that products capabilities from the shape, form, and figure that we see. We are able to analyze that the PS3 is of great value, not only because of the price tag, but also from the materials and finishes that the product possesses. We can derive from its grand state of design that that product performs above par, and possesses a lot of important programs and capabilities. The design is made to appeal to the buyer as a newest and latest product that we must have. Most of the times that is what gears product design, and sometimes they slip in solutions to some product flaws. Although I think that even over the years they still have not figured out how to prevent over heating in gaming consoles, which would be very beneficial when you have intense gamers who take gaming very seriously.

The Evolution of Toy design

Carolina Herrera Bride Barbie Doll

Toys have always held a special place in my heart, because even as an adult I still play with toys. Children and adults find great enjoyment in them. As children we played with GI Jo's to Barbie dolls and Lego's, and as adults we get into this "collectible" toy genre where you cant open the toy and you keep it for its value. But every which way toys have evolved greatly from the simple wooden blocks, and classic Barbie dolls, and the green army soldiers.

Toys have grown with our society's cultural norms. For example, Barbie dolls used to only come in the white Caucasian version, but now because we have grown more to accept that we are a multicultural society they have made newer colored versions of Barbie to appeal to the multicultural society today. Although they have yet to come out with a Barbie that has more realistic body proportions, in my opinion that design is long overdue. In terms of other toys such as hot wheels, they have evolved from a simple metal frame and wheels to more advanced mechanical toys. They now have hot wheels that operate with batteries and spin around the track for a more realistic racing playtime. Overall toys have changed with the times in accordance to norms and to maintain interest in the younger generations. 

Objectified by Gary Hustwit

Objectified is a film documentary by Gary Hustwit about the design in everyday objects that we use, from a camera, chair, and phone to a computer. He features several of professionals within the various design fields, like Jonathan Ive from Apple and Dieter Rams. They discuss various topics such as the importance of sustainability in its relation to good design today, because it has become of greater need for us to have. There was also conversation on how "we revisit the archetype" to make "newer" product according to Rob Walker in order to sell more things.
I feel like this film gave me greater insight into the in depth thought process that designers go through, such as Jonathan Ive from Apple demonstrated. He went into such detail about how they thought about the smallest details and trying to find solutions in order to make them less apparent and more as if it "were meant to be designed that way" was somewhere along the lines of how he explained it. His whole explanation of thought process reveals to us the consumer how serious they are about the products that they put out. Its very evident in how we view their products, one of the number one reasons why I prefer Apple computers is that they have a simple design and concept. It was very easy for me to maneuver and work my first Apple computer because it was self explanatory and easy to grasp.
Overall I feel like this film is a great way to gain a newfound appreciation into mass produced industrial objects because its interesting and you get great insight from people who know design and who have been in the field for awhile.

Gestalt

My sketch done with a greater acknowledgment of Gestalt

My sketching subject

I think the just the word Gestalt is cool to say all by itself. It reminds me of gesture, which comes back to the meaning of the word an organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts, or even simpler how the small things relate to the big picture. And even more literal form and shape. I feel like after learning about this word and having to do sketching activities, I feel more confident in my sketching abilities than I did before. Because before when I would sketch I would have only focused on a small area and then worked my way out around whatever drawing I was doing.

This can be applied to everything design related, because when designers alike try to come up with new ideas, they can stem from a theme that id the larger picture and then after wards the smaller details come easier to fit the theme of whatever the idea was in the first place. For example, lets say you want to plan a wedding but you don’t really know what style to choose, wedding planners oftentimes consider the clients personality to dig for a style preference. Like if a client is loud and happy, their style might be more bolder, and edgier because of their personality, and this is like the big picture. Then after the client finally agrees to go with the “Edgier” style for a wedding, the cool details or the smaller aspects can be delegated.

Be it either sketching or picking a style for a wedding, Gestalt fits its way into things to make sense and to organize things.

Design as a Conversation

What first came to mind when I hear "Design as Conversation" I imagine fashion as an easy example to consider this theme. Because all people are essentially conveying a message to others without words but through fashion. It can be a as simple as a gym outfit, when we look closely we can tell what type of workout the individual is going to do. For example, if we observed a young man walking in to the arc with sneakers and basketball shorts we know he is more likely to be headed to the courts or the track, either than a group session of yoga. And this "reading" and analyzing of outfits or compositions transcends to other forms of design such as interior design. You can tell a lot about a person by looking into their personal space. They even have an exhibit at the Exploratorium, where you get to analyze a persons home and try to guess from snapshots to whom it belongs too. For example, you could tell what was important to a person by things and objects that they kept like photographs and a keepsakes. There was one social experiment at the Exploratorium that had an older male as the owner of all the things, and he had old military photos and you could tell that the military was still with him because of the way he kept all of his button up shirts neat and hung up in the closet. The conversation is everywhere, you just have to know where to look and be kind of like a detective to look for clues and signals.

Exhibit in Walker Hall, Vanishing Traditions

A shot from Hmong New Year during a ball toss courtship game

Unfortunately I was not able to make it to hear the curator Bea Roberts speak, but I was able to view the extraordinary collection of garments and ornaments. When I first walked in to the gallery I felt a sense of awe and familiarity, I have seen similar creations by the Hmong people. After doing a little research, I found out that some Hmong people migrated to Southern China, and that is probably the reason for similarity. The following link is of an article that I used as a source http://www.international.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=12590
I really felt a sense of passion and dedication in the pieces because of all the extensive details that took years and years to complete. I remember my friends in elementary telling me that their traditional garb would take a lot of time and patience to make.
Some of the differences and similarities between the garments that I noticed was that the traditional Hmong garb had a lot of bright neon colors, and some of the pieces in the collection did have a lot of color, but not neon. Another difference that I noticed was that there was a lot of garments with two or three colors, like black and gold. But one of the real big similarities was with the ornamental headdress with all the dangling charms, I remember a lot of headdresses with charms.

Product Design

I never thought I had ever noticed or admired product design, until I became a design major. I was always aware of when my candy product design suddenly changed, and I was never too enthusiastic about it. I always thought along with that old saying “If it aint broke, don’t fix it” mentality. But then after awhile I would kind of get excited to see what new thing the company’s would come up with, like the one that comes to mind is the Pepsi can label design. I clearly remember that one changing a lot of times during my childhood. I think the only reason they like to come up with new snazzy designs, is to make you think it’s a new product, and that way they sell more product. Which for a product like soda or candy I guess you need to maintain interest.

My Refrigerator

I recently noticed that the overall look of my refrigerator highly improves when it’s stocked with healthier foods. It's all of the fresh strawberries and vibrant green lettuces, complimented by the red tomatoes. It actually turns out to like a designed pattern because there are different colors, shapes and textures to look at. Whereas, when there are unhealthy foods it looks less natural, more commercial, and more or less, less appetizing. What this reminds me of is the stocked refrigerators with the glass doors at Panda Express, all of the chopped veggies ready to be cooked almost look sculptural in a way. Beautiful with their simplistic form and color, all lit and almost glowing with pride. I wish that my refrigerator could one day look something like that of Panda’s. Not just because its healthy, but because it looks like a designed piece that somebody took a lot of time and care for. The food almost looks too good to be eaten, as if we were only meant to look at it and admire it from a far. 

Stone Soup

Stone Soup was an interesting way to experiment at just how the creative process is handled between a large group of people. I felt like in order for our group to of had had a more productive/engaging creative process, we could of used a little more forethought and planning. Because a lot of us, including myself, had no idea for what to create for the assignment. I feel like we felt trapped in the broad range of possibilities and we were unsure of what to create for our assignment. With no theme or idea or inspiration to spark our imaginations, the suggestions and ideas came in very slowly.

We first tried to brainstorm and jot down ideas to go from, then we took a brief catalogue of our supplies that we had to work with. This was just as Lauer had mentioned in Design Basics, 1. Thinking, 2. Looking, 3. Making/Doing. Which for #3 was the harder one to commit to. Another obstacle that our group encountered was staying within the time constraints; we really didn’t keep track of time until we noticed the rest of the groups were finishing up. As well as making sure that everybody helped to contribute, and had some sort of task to perform.

I understood afterwards the reason for being assigned this task, which was to work as a group creatively as we would in a future work setting. Sometimes you don’t have all the supplies or materials you may need, but you need to work with what you have creatively.

Glance at all of the groups displays.

Adding some finishing touches to our project.

Our final groups efforts.

My earliest memories of design....

My earliest memories of design stem back to all the arts and crafts projects we had to do in grade school. This was always a favorite time of class for me, because it meant that I could let my imagination run wild. I remember my kindergarten or first grade teacher being shocked that I had made her a card depicting a scene from a book that we had read. The book was about the caterpillars transformation, and to show the caterpillar I cut out a long piece of paper and folded it accordion style and then added eyes and had a whole scene going with the moon and a tree in the background. It was not a required assignment, but I had so much fun playing with my construction paper, glue, and scissors at home I wanted her to have it. With my supplies I felt invincible with my never ending imagination at hand. My mom and grandma always looked at me with amazement, because I could be left alone for hours with my supplies creating and designing whatever my hearts desired.

Water Fountain

I recently noticed the huge streamlined water fountain outside of our lecture hall, and thought wow this is pretty old. I had never seen one with a step feature before, and I was pretty amazed that it was still working and quenching students thirst. This goes to show how design just really is everywhere, even when it comes to our water fountains. They don't have to be just plain and simple water fountains. Our water fountain has an air of elegance compared to its surroundings, its logo even appears to resemble a bow tie slightly. After taking a sip from the water fountain, I started to think about how somebody probably created the design to resemble a car or a train, and decided to add "the bowtie" as a finishing touch. I hope the water fountain lasts.

Design in Society

Before I started taking design classes I did not grasp to the fullest extent how much design is intertwined with our society. I would say that I may of had a much smaller notion of it, and was obviously yearning to learn more through my classes. I appreciate good design so much better now, I see it everywhere!!! Its almost cataclysmic, from the layout of a hotel lobby, or a fashion spread in a magazine, even new product packaging. I feel that I have a bigger appreciation for functional design though, seeing something created that fulfills a greater purpose in society, is I feel, the utmost return for a designer. Like currently with the Green trend, products that are created from sustainable materials, or reclaimed materials I feel set a moral standard that we should be taking care of our earth. And that we should be aware of where our products are coming from and where they will eventually go. 

Sustainable shopping bag made from rice bag and an old pair of jeans.

Side View

In a previous class I learned this lesson through a Challenge assignment where we had to study where plastic bags where being made from and where they would go. I learned that they were being made with a lot of petroleum oil, and after a couple of uses, then they would be tossed and end up in the dump for a thousand years before breaking down, or fly away and get caught in a tree, or float into the ocean and create more havoc there. After learning the sad truth, we continued our assignment by making a sturdy reusable shopping bag from sustainable materials. There were a lot of creative bag design submissions that the class completed, like a book turned bag, and a basmati rice bag, and some made of fabric samples. This is the type of design that I feel provides a practical solution to a large problem. Through this assignment I was able to indirectly educate people about the purpose behind the design and they loved hearing about it. My family friends would see me carrying the bag that I had made and they asked me, "What is that?" "Why did you make it?" and "How can I make one?" Their curiosity and minds opened up to the idea of functional design, because it made sense. I hope that in the future my designs still grab peoples attention and provoke dialogue.