Reading Response 03

What is the purpose of an object and who is it made for? Heskett deals a lot with the idea of an objects meaning versus its functionality amongst consumers.  Unlike postmodernists design concepts I think designers today are responsible to produce products that make sense to consumers.  You can create smart products that arise from an intended meaning, but ultimately if they aren't usefull they become meaningless.  This point also coincide with the consumption of name brand merchandise.  Elevating prices in the name of fashion and selling a product for hundreds of dollars to do something that a product worth ten dollars could do has always been a sore spot for me.  Fundamentally design is materialistic, but design driven by the consumption of material objects becomes less about its interpretation and more about profit.

Course Response 03

I am absolutely in love with the idea that designers should work together with people they don't agree with.  Constructive criticism is a great influence on the design process.  Focused Chaos is such an ingenius concept.  Generating insane ideas makes so much sense in trying to narrow down a functional design.  Asking the question why not and trying to realize an idea is inspiring.

Reading Response 02

Hesketts writing put the history of design into context.  I appreciate how he didn't try to constrain the definition of design to a static characterization.  He acknowledges that there are multiple opinions about what design is and incorporates them all into its definition. The human factor is the only universal of design. It's a cool concept to think that humans are responsible for utimately every aspect of our tangible world.  It also wasn't until recently in human history that we began to examine how our design processes will affect the future of our enviromnent.  Producing responsible design is just another example of how the definition of design is ever evolving, "objects are not just expressions of a solution to a particular problem at any point in time, but can extend much further, into embodying ideas about how life can be lived in a dynamic process of innovation and refinement beyond the constraints of time and place".

Course Response 02

Coversations with Paul Rand: Paul is very concerned with formal elements of art and design. He emphasizes the idea that form and content must work together to produce an effective product. This idea is somewhat of a challenge, since these two concepts are averse to one another. Manipulating form and content as it relates to shape is the equation to creating "good" art.  Aesthetics also play a role in the success of a design, but function trumps aesthetics, things have to be useful. He seems to subscribe to the idea that form follows function. He doesn't recognize a distinction between graphic design and fine art, "It's all art, or it could be".  Everyone has a different definition of art and design that don't correspond. You have to define it for yourself.

- Theres always a way to improve on an idea and possibilities are endless. 
-Process is a very important in the creative development.
- Art has many definitions, genre doesnt matter as long as its found its perfect form, formal problems are all the same.
- Art is a biproduct if you're lucky. 
-Form and content work together, one cannot exist without the other.
- Art is realized when form and content are in synthesis. It is problematic bringing two antagonistic elements together successfully.
-Form has its own language and it has nothing to do with style.
-Aesthetics helps find truth about objects
-You have to have the ability to self generate ideas.
-Everyone has a different definition of design.

Journal 02: Found Patterns

This pattern was found in my apartment. It is a blanket that was actually draped over me at the time the picture was taken.  The hair like nature of the textile drew me to the pattern, and also the fact that it was keeping me very warm at the time.

The pattern shown here is a twill pattern on my friends couch.  I took a textiles class last semester and the intricacies of the twill design stuck with me. I love the hand of this fabric, and I think its texture is really aparent through the photo.

I found this patter when I was walking home from the RPAC.  It is one of the thousands of mats found at crosswalks around campus. I was drawn to it by the curvalinear and raised nature of the dots, while the background of the mat utilizes a cubed pattern. I also like the fact that this object was a design solution to indicate a cross walk and reduce slippage.

This is a chain link fence. I found this patter walking on campus. I like the coolness of the metal offset by the snow. The interlocking of the links is attractive.

These are the pavers outside of the SAS building on campus.  The very clean lines of the rectalinear tile is neutralized by the dust and salt caked over the face of the tile. The color contrast this creates is also very appealing.

 

This is the arm of a sign on Lane Ave.  It drew my attention because the metal it is made out of is bent without any hard edges that match the circular cut outs in the material.

This wood grain pattern was found on the side of a building on Lane. The vertical lines running between the planks oppose the rough texture of the planks themselves. The gradation of color and general erosion of the material also added to my intrigue of this pattern.   

This pattern is a chainlink fence found on campus.  I took the picture from this angle because it shows the scalloped structure of the metal. This pattern is interesting because it's something we see frequently, but it can take on a completely different nature when viewed from an unconventional perspective.

This pattern is a bench placed next to an outdoor basketball court on campus.  The ergonomic holes placed in the bench create the pattern and I helped emphasize it using one point perspective. The original pattern itself was somewhat bland on its own.

This final pattern is the side of a trashcan near the same basketball court.  The conglomerate nature of the pebbles and the grey scale color scheme caught me eye.  I chose to include the rust stain to emphasize the lack of chroma throughout the rest of the material.

Reading Reflection 01

Books and Bars: LA's Thirst for Literature (and Style) is the article I found on styleture.com.  The article focuses on the trendy movement of incorporating extensive bookshelves into LA based bars.  It interested me because of the obvious juxtaposition of literature and alcohol, but as the article points out, the two aren't exactly mutually exclusive. Some of the best authors of our time were heavily influenced by drink. I think the article does a good job of pointing out the influence of trends on interior design. Trends impact design through human cultural experience.  Some bar patrons prefer the revitalized notion of sophistication books bring to bars.  Adding books to the decor of a bar is an effective means of manipulating the aesthetics and atmosphere of a bar.
 http://www.styleture.com/2011/01/04/books-bars/

Journal 01 & Course Reflection 01

Hello Design 200! I'm Elissa. I transfered to OSU this quarter from the University of Akron, where I was studying Interior Design. After I complete the entrance exam I hope to be admitted to the Interior Design program at OSU. I'm a student member of The American Society of Interior Designers and I was actively involved with the University of Akron's student chapter. I'm passionate about sustainable design and was really excited when I saw Cradle to Cradle on the syllabus. I read it on my own over summer and can't wait to explore it more in depth. In my spare time I like to refurbish furniture and occasionally play some tennis. I'm taking Design 200 because it's a prereq for Interior Design.