Identity is important for human individuality. All things design define who we are, and how we wish to express ourselves. Everyone has a predetermined 'image' of oneself and how they want to be portrayed to the world. The use of the internet can be a way of linking the cultural identity from one side of the world to the opposite. Identity is rooted from where you come from, no matter if you have moved to a complete new country. With the advancements in communication technology, it is easier for someone to stay in contact with their original home country, and in turn hold on to that identity more easily. My major here at Ohio State University is Communication Technology, so I can greatly appreciate this part of the reading. I think that the internet plays a HUGE part in personal identity, especially with the recent boom in social networking. Just about every website nowadays has a link to their Facebook or Twitter page. Businesses can easily define their company's identity by analyzing the company's internet popularity. Even with the advancements in communication, the many different cultures around the world make it difficult to design in a general way. Each culture does need its own design and identity because too easily one idea can clash with another. In the corporate world, a change in identity can make or brake you. This result is based on how well the diversity of cultures respond to the identity change (just like the internet analysis).
Moving away from identity and towards systems, systems often are structured ways to keep a general design functioning in the general public's day to day life. This can be from travel structure to communication systems. I like to focus more on the communicating aspects. The book gives the example of informational system communication as street signs. Street signs have to be able to be easily understandable to give clear instruction in the means of travel. The way communication is presented systematically is important to a wide spread understanding. Another reference the book makes is the rapid growth of giving everything an icon on the computer. This can be a negative thing if the design of the icon is too vague or even too specific. When dealing with design and communication you have to take into consideration all options. I find it frustrating when I come across a webpage with an icon link and when I roll over it with the mouse, without clicking, there is no explanation as to where this icon will be taking me. It is important to give a structure of rules and common sense boundaries when dealing with a communication system. If information cannot be obtained easily, it is poor in design.
I know there was more in each of these chapters, but I felt it important to focus on the aspects the pertained to why I am in this class and major, communication.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Course Reflection
This past week of Design 200 was my favorite thus far. I really enjoyed the scavenger hunt activity. Getting out of the class room and seeing parts of campus that I have not seen was really pretty cool. Exploring Kwolton was my favorite "new" thing for me. It was really interesting seeing all the cubicals with people working on god-knows-what. Definitely a very interesting building. I also enjoyed researching the buildings afterwards and finding out the interesting information about each designer/architect. I had no idea that the Wexner Center lets in too much light.
I think Nina and I made a good team for the hunt. With the help of our Droid phones and some patience leaving the class room, we were prepared for each clue before we went out into the cold day. I didn't know anyone in this class going into it, so it was really nice getting to know someone new. I have had too many classes in my three years on campus that have no classmate to classmate interaction, and to me that is really disappointing. I hope that as the quarter progresses, we get to team up more and do more activities like this.
I think Nina and I made a good team for the hunt. With the help of our Droid phones and some patience leaving the class room, we were prepared for each clue before we went out into the cold day. I didn't know anyone in this class going into it, so it was really nice getting to know someone new. I have had too many classes in my three years on campus that have no classmate to classmate interaction, and to me that is really disappointing. I hope that as the quarter progresses, we get to team up more and do more activities like this.
Found Faces
This is a face I found in the front of my great-grandma's brother-in-law's old Chevrolet Corvette. This car is very close to being completely restored, and is #87 of 162 (to the best of my memory). I like the big "eyes" with the wider, almost shouting mouth formed by the grill. This car-face seems more inviting and friendly than the car-faces we see on today's cars.
In my kitchen is a very old outlet that be do not ever use. I immediately saw a face when searching the house for faces last week. I have seen an outlet face on internet forum pages before so it was not an original find by my creativity, but having said that, this particular outlet has some character. The wear-and-tear marks and old outlet plate make this outlet-face a bit more interesting than a bran new outlet.
I really liked this find because it is quite quirky. This was found underneath my Time Warner Cable remote. I liked the big gaping mouth formed by the cut out for the hand grip on this remote. The little "eyes" right above form a cartoonish look to this face.
This picture always makes me laugh. This is on the women's bathroom door at Gooeyz, where I work. The opposite end of the the outlet is on the men's door.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Hunting Down Design: Scavenger Hunt
Team: Nina http://sayithot.tumblr.com/
Brandon http://bmreed330.blogspot.com/
Before rushing out of the room like our fellow classmates, Nina and I looked over the entire assignment. We used our Droid phones to look up the clues, and I wrote down our results in my mini-notebook. Once we knew where we needed to be we started with clue #5 (Thompson Library), proceeded to clue #2 (Knowlton Hall), clue #4 (SEL & Math Tower), and finally we hit clues #1 and #3 (Wexner Center). Each photo was taken by the opposite team member with their respected Droid phone.
Clue #1: There are several places on OSU campus where you can find the Barcelona Chair. Take a picture of one of your team members sitting in the chair, but still compose a good picture showing both you and the chair. Also note the name of the designer and something interesting about the chair or the designer in your comments.
We found the Barcelona Chair in the lobby of the Wexner Center. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and his partner Lilly Reich designed the chair after the chairs of the Romans and Pharaohs. The original chair was designed to be bolted together, but in 1950 stainless steel allowed Ludwig to redesign the chair with a seamless metal frame.
In the Knowlton School of Architecture Library, we found the awesome Red & Blue Chair. I really like the use of the primary colors in this chair. It was designed in 1918 by Gerrit Reitveld. This piece was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, my favorite designer, and Piet Mondrian. In the photo I am looking over the very cool magazine entitled "domus." This is a home and interior design magazine that had some very cool pictures inside of tastefully colorful rooms.
The two buildings on campus that Philip Johnson designed on the Ohio State Campus are the SEL (Science & Engineering Library) located in the far back of this photo, and the Math Tower located in the front. I really like the curves built into the sides of the buildings around the windows. The buildings are brick so curves really stand out. The buildings also look 'industrialized' in that they could almost look like old factories.
Brandon http://bmreed330.blogspot.com/
Before rushing out of the room like our fellow classmates, Nina and I looked over the entire assignment. We used our Droid phones to look up the clues, and I wrote down our results in my mini-notebook. Once we knew where we needed to be we started with clue #5 (Thompson Library), proceeded to clue #2 (Knowlton Hall), clue #4 (SEL & Math Tower), and finally we hit clues #1 and #3 (Wexner Center). Each photo was taken by the opposite team member with their respected Droid phone.
We found the Barcelona Chair in the lobby of the Wexner Center. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and his partner Lilly Reich designed the chair after the chairs of the Romans and Pharaohs. The original chair was designed to be bolted together, but in 1950 stainless steel allowed Ludwig to redesign the chair with a seamless metal frame.
Clue #2: Find the Knowlton School of Architecture’s Library and explore the space noting the various chairs from design’s history. Pick a chair that you find interesting (not the Barcelona chair) and compose a picture of you in the chair reading a design-related magazine. In the comments, tell me who the designer is, something about the chair, and what magazine you are reading.
In the Knowlton School of Architecture Library, we found the awesome Red & Blue Chair. I really like the use of the primary colors in this chair. It was designed in 1918 by Gerrit Reitveld. This piece was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, my favorite designer, and Piet Mondrian. In the photo I am looking over the very cool magazine entitled "domus." This is a home and interior design magazine that had some very cool pictures inside of tastefully colorful rooms.
Clue #3:Take a photo of one of your team members in front of a building on campus that was designed by Peter Eisenman. In the comments, tell me something interesting or controversial about the construction of the building on campus.
This is a photo of me hanging from part of the Wexner Center. This specific part of the building is my favorite at night in the winter. Right above me are an abundance of large lights that light up in different sequence, very cool. A few interesting things about the building are that the white metal girders represent the street layout of the campus and City of Columbus. An interesting controversial situation that went into building the center was that the skylights let in too much light, possibly ruining the art work inside...
Clue #4: A famous architect by the name of Philip Johnson designed the Sony (originally AT&T) skyscraper in New York City which is a great example of post modernism. He’s also responsible for two buildings on the Ohio State campus. Find one a get a picture of both the building and an architectural detail that you find interesting.
The two buildings on campus that Philip Johnson designed on the Ohio State Campus are the SEL (Science & Engineering Library) located in the far back of this photo, and the Math Tower located in the front. I really like the curves built into the sides of the buildings around the windows. The buildings are brick so curves really stand out. The buildings also look 'industrialized' in that they could almost look like old factories.
Clue #5:Take a photo of one of your team members in front of a building on campus that was designed by local architects Acock & Associates. In the comments, tell me something interesting or controversial about the construction of the building on campus.
Here we found a building on the campus designed by local architects at Acock & Associates. This is the main Ohio State University Library otherwise known as Thompson Library. The library was build in three main phases. 1st we have the original design, a 'Second Italian Renaissance Revival Style Structure' that opened in 1913. After this the 14 level tower with side wings and pavilions was completed in 1951. Finally we have the modern addition on the west side of the building, finished in 1977.
Here we found a building on the campus designed by local architects at Acock & Associates. This is the main Ohio State University Library otherwise known as Thompson Library. The library was build in three main phases. 1st we have the original design, a 'Second Italian Renaissance Revival Style Structure' that opened in 1913. After this the 14 level tower with side wings and pavilions was completed in 1951. Finally we have the modern addition on the west side of the building, finished in 1977.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Influential Designers
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright is a very famous designer. He is known to have designed 1141 works. One cool fact; Wright is American (which was greatly shown in his works. He didn't believe in the Greek or Renaissance designs, he believed in democracy). Born in Richland Center, Wisconsin. Frank first began to realize his love of architecture after working on his uncle's farm in the summers of his youth.
While working under architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee, Wright drew up the design for his first building, the Lloyd-Jones family chapel. Working for Silsbee led to Frank to his eventual working with mentor Louis Sullivan.
Frank's abilities and talents are credited to his own philosophy of "Form and Function are One", after adding his mentor Sullivan's philosophy of "Form Follows Function."
Wright opened Taliesin in 1932 so that the young designers with aspirations of working with him could do so, for a fee or course. This building was first lit by gas lamps. While working at the Taliesin Fellowship, Frank Lloyd Wright created my favorite of all his works, Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania.
The American Institute of Architects recognized him to be "the greatest American architect of all time."
The man did not only design. He was known to be a great writer and philosopher. He authored twenty books, and also authored many many articles. Although he is best known for this building designs ranging from homes to offices, to churches.
I am sure there is an abundance of people, like me, who would absolutely love to one day own a house even similar to the ones designed by Wright. His work is really impressive in my eyes and I love all the straight lines involved in his work. Not only is the Falling-water House (pictured below) is my favorite house that I have ever seen. The location in the woods right on the water is amazing. It could not have been designed better in my mind. I love all the balconies looking out into the woods, and the multileveled features.
http://www.cmgww.com/historic/flw/bio.html
http://www.franklloydwright.org/fllwf_web_091104/Wrights_Life_and_Work.html
Frank Lloyd Wright is a very famous designer. He is known to have designed 1141 works. One cool fact; Wright is American (which was greatly shown in his works. He didn't believe in the Greek or Renaissance designs, he believed in democracy). Born in Richland Center, Wisconsin. Frank first began to realize his love of architecture after working on his uncle's farm in the summers of his youth.
While working under architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee, Wright drew up the design for his first building, the Lloyd-Jones family chapel. Working for Silsbee led to Frank to his eventual working with mentor Louis Sullivan.
Frank's abilities and talents are credited to his own philosophy of "Form and Function are One", after adding his mentor Sullivan's philosophy of "Form Follows Function."
Wright opened Taliesin in 1932 so that the young designers with aspirations of working with him could do so, for a fee or course. This building was first lit by gas lamps. While working at the Taliesin Fellowship, Frank Lloyd Wright created my favorite of all his works, Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania.
The American Institute of Architects recognized him to be "the greatest American architect of all time."
The man did not only design. He was known to be a great writer and philosopher. He authored twenty books, and also authored many many articles. Although he is best known for this building designs ranging from homes to offices, to churches.
I am sure there is an abundance of people, like me, who would absolutely love to one day own a house even similar to the ones designed by Wright. His work is really impressive in my eyes and I love all the straight lines involved in his work. Not only is the Falling-water House (pictured below) is my favorite house that I have ever seen. The location in the woods right on the water is amazing. It could not have been designed better in my mind. I love all the balconies looking out into the woods, and the multileveled features.
http://www.cmgww.com/historic/flw/bio.html
http://www.franklloydwright.org/fllwf_web_091104/Wrights_Life_and_Work.html
A02
Henry Dreyfuss
Henry Dreyfuss was born in New York, New York on March 2, 1904. Like Luigi, Henry was also an industrial designer. Instead of cars though, Dreyfuss started out designing for Broadway. When he was doing his work for Broadway he was only 17 years old. Eight years later, he opened his own industrial design office. At this office he had clients such as Bell Telephone, AT&T, American Airlines, Polaroid, Hoover, and many more. In the late 30's Dreyfuss worked for John Deere designing farming equipment. What caught my eye the most about Henry was his work with Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin makes the C-130, which is the aircraft that I work on in the Air Force. Henry Dreyfuss worked with them to convert military planes to civilian aircrafts. He worked my my rival company Boeing and designed the interior of the Boeing 707. Interestingly enough as well, Henry Dreyfuss was a founding father of the American Society of Industrial Design.
Tragically, Henry and his wife committed suicide together in 1972, two years after my parents were born...
http://www.biography.com/articles/Henry-Dreyfuss-9279245
http://www.henry-dreyfuss.com/
Henry Dreyfuss was born in New York, New York on March 2, 1904. Like Luigi, Henry was also an industrial designer. Instead of cars though, Dreyfuss started out designing for Broadway. When he was doing his work for Broadway he was only 17 years old. Eight years later, he opened his own industrial design office. At this office he had clients such as Bell Telephone, AT&T, American Airlines, Polaroid, Hoover, and many more. In the late 30's Dreyfuss worked for John Deere designing farming equipment. What caught my eye the most about Henry was his work with Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin makes the C-130, which is the aircraft that I work on in the Air Force. Henry Dreyfuss worked with them to convert military planes to civilian aircrafts. He worked my my rival company Boeing and designed the interior of the Boeing 707. Interestingly enough as well, Henry Dreyfuss was a founding father of the American Society of Industrial Design.
Tragically, Henry and his wife committed suicide together in 1972, two years after my parents were born...
http://www.biography.com/articles/Henry-Dreyfuss-9279245
http://www.henry-dreyfuss.com/
A02
Luigi Colani
Luigi Colani was born in Berlin on August 2 1928. He is known to have over 5000 industrial and consumer products. In his early years he studied sculpture and aerodynamics. I can see a lot of the aerodynamic influences in his works. There are many accented curves which make his pieces very pleasing to look at. Taking a look into the car world a bit, he was very influential to the company Fiat. I am a bit of a car fanatic, so when I learned that the Colani Alfa was the first sports car to drive around the Nurburgring in under 10 minutes, I was very impressed. in 1984, Luigi was considered to be the number one industrial designer in Japan. In the year of my birth, 1989, the Museum of Modern Art featured Colani's SONY headphones. A few years later, he got into computers and had a lot of success there as well. In overview, Luigi Colani is a very versatile designer.
http://www.colani.org/luigi_colani_Product_design_museum/Introduction.html
http://www.colani.ch/historie.html
Luigi Colani was born in Berlin on August 2 1928. He is known to have over 5000 industrial and consumer products. In his early years he studied sculpture and aerodynamics. I can see a lot of the aerodynamic influences in his works. There are many accented curves which make his pieces very pleasing to look at. Taking a look into the car world a bit, he was very influential to the company Fiat. I am a bit of a car fanatic, so when I learned that the Colani Alfa was the first sports car to drive around the Nurburgring in under 10 minutes, I was very impressed. in 1984, Luigi was considered to be the number one industrial designer in Japan. In the year of my birth, 1989, the Museum of Modern Art featured Colani's SONY headphones. A few years later, he got into computers and had a lot of success there as well. In overview, Luigi Colani is a very versatile designer.
http://www.colani.org/luigi_colani_Product_design_museum/Introduction.html
http://www.colani.ch/historie.html
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