Design 200 Wi '11 @dsgn200tk-blog - Tumblr Blog

J10

Danielle: http://danielle-hager.blogspot.com/

Jon: http://adams12345678.blogspot.com/

Grace: http://osustudent-dsgn200wi2011.blogspot.com/

Megan: http://megdsgn.blogspot.com/

Leona: http://jd11-nonsenseatitsbest.blogspot.com/

I enjoyed this project a lot. It was a good way to finally do some hands on work with design. A good change from videos and powerpoint. Our team worked very well together, and although I was probably the quietest one there, I tried to give as much input and help as I could. I was in charge of packaging which I think ended up quite well, even though we scrapped the original idea and redesigned at the last minute. Grace did a great job of putting the presentation together and really brought all of our contributions together into a good final project. Jon did a perfect job with the drawings showing each angle and features as well as the final kiosk drawing originally designed and drawn out by Leona. Megan and Danielle, among other things, helped me out with the final design of packaging including the logo, final design, and the partnership tag. Overall it was a good project and we worked well together.

Ill try to keep this last part short, as it isn't too important, but a bit frustrating. I was sick for a few days and one team member couldn't let that go. It was repeatedly brought up about how I was sick and the member wasn't sure what they could give me to do, etc. There was even a key feature of the design I suggested to this member who immediately threw it out the window, until Gabe came up and suggested adding this feature to which this member was totally responsive. These are only a few issues I had with this member, but I think the final project came out great regardless of team chemistry with this member.

There was definitely a bit more I could have contributed, but with other members missing class as well, I feel like I was a good member of the team. I can bet I got a bad team grade from that member, but once again it is not that important of a problem, and I had no problems at all with all the other members of the team.

#J10

Final Reflection

Overall, I enjoyed this class very much. It was a good introduction to design in general, and gives me a good idea of what I can expect in future classes. The presentation by the Cobego group was nice as well, giving insight into what students actually go through and complete.

The only drawback I found to this course was the obvious one. The slightly boring structure of just watching videos all class. Also I think it is a bit childish to penalize students for missing class in a class where literally everything is online. There is absolutely nothing you would miss by missing class except discussion. Although I feel it is important to not miss class, a few family issues and sickness have caused me to miss more than two classes, and I feel it is a bit crazy to be dropped a letter grade just for missing class especially when I can get everything online. But I understand, I have had other classes like that as well.

That being said, I did enjoy the subject matter and am excited to take more courses in design.

#CR10

Heskett 9 & 10

In chapter 9 the talks about OXO and Dyson were interesting, touching on companies we see as giants today, or at least rapidly growing companies, that started out small. With enough drive these companies have been able to take common tasks in everyday life and try to make them easier for the consumer. The brief history discussions and talks about design in different countries was a bit of a bore. Not that it wasn't good information, but just seemed a bit out of place. I enjoyed reading about the money drive in the design world. Even though trying to make a nice product with little costs is a common practice, reading about designing for poor countries made me think. For example a perfectly good design here in the USA could be obsolete in a poor country, and is a very important factor to consider when your audience is in a different income bracket than you.

#RR08

J08 - Coleman Project

Team links:

Danielle: http://danielle-hager.blogspot.com/

Jon: http://adams12345678.blogspot.com/

Grace: http://osustudent-dsgn200wi2011.blogspot.com/

Megan: http://megdsgn.blogspot.com/

Unfortunately, being sick for the work session last week has set me back with my team, but I feel after this week I can make some good contributions. I have read up on what my team has decided to design, and learned how the idea evolved from a blanket or comforter as a laundry basket, into a design for a better laundry basket in general, taking into account what we can add from Coleman.

I plan on helping a lot with final product design and with presentation. Since the original plan is already laid out, I can use this week to help my team further advance the design we have in place, as well as the packaging and kiosk once the final look is established.

#J08 #A05

Letterform Seek and Find

#A04

Design & Color

#J06

CTC - Chapters 1-3

Even though the first chapter started a lot differently than I thought it would, it was interesting to read about the Industrial Revolutions side effects we don't think about too often. It sets the tone for what I can expect to be a main focus through this book. I also liked the talk about how when cars were first produced, each being unique and sold as luxury items. Fast forward to today where it is almost impossible to live as a 16 year old through 80 year old without driving or having someone drive you. Including busses, planes, and maybe trains, there's not much we get around with these days that doesn't involve driving. Definitely interesting to look back on certain designs and see how things change. I also liked the cradle to grave paragraph, trying to open the readers eyes to how the world really works, behind what we see or are used to.

The breakdown of each task affecting the environment on pg. 46-47 is interesting, but I can see more where this book is headed. I hope this is not all about how bad we are to the environment, how terrible our products are, and how we destroy the earth. It is a concern that is important today, but I get very sick very quickly of people telling me how bad the world is around me. I enjoy the talks about how to make it better, but don't just sit there and say how bad this or that is for me. That's when I tend to loose interest... But it seems to show more than one side so far, so I continue...

Finally I did like the cherry tree section. "What might the human-built world look like if a cherry tree had produced it?" It is an interesting concept to think about that we have taken this world and sculpted it to our needs and wants as humans. What about all the other creatures? Why do we get to design how other species live? All interesting topics that should be good to read about soon.

#RR06

RiP!

I enjoyed the movie RiP! and am glad we spent time to watch it. I hear of girl talk now and then, and it's interesting to see him at work. Also the general issue of piracy is an interesting topic most of us have discussed with someone. Everyone has their own opinion on what's stealing and what's OK, and it is interesting to see someone's life be affected by the laws around piracy. To hear him talk about not knowing what to do next with a new CD or not was something I don't think about too much. Musicians like him having to change what they do, or be hesitant with decisions they could easily make without the laws is a difficult situation. Although I wish the nostalgia of music was brought back to record shops and finding music through friends and live shows, the ease of obtaining a new record is amazing with today's technology. It's so easy to sit at home, click a few buttons, and you can have new music, movies, and whatever else, fast. Pandora is a great way to hear new music, but another program I use called PandoraJam downloads each heard song onto my computer. Where is the line there?

There is also a lot to be said about musicians not earning what they should from CD sales, but topics like these are best discussed at greater length, or maybe by watching the movie and talking... Things become difficult when laws mix with opinions, and I am glad we got to watch a film dealing with this issue of piracy.

#CR06

50 Things

Trip to the grocery store:

1. Car did not want to wait for me crossing street.

2. Apple stand is spilled, about 20 on the floor.

3. Very hard to walk around the fruit section

4. Long line at deli. One worker for about 12 people.

5. Taste tester worker asked all but me for a sample.

6. Seems to be mostly older shoppers.

7. My cart has a bad wheel.

8. Only two cashiers open, lines starting to back up.

9. I can not find coffee filters anywhere.

10. This entire aisle is dog and cat food and toys.

11. The next aisle is completely baby products.

12. I can’t seem to find the cereal I want, but am in an entire aisle of cereal.

13. Two workers are clogging up the freezer aisle.

14. One person is taking too long in the freezer section.

15. All the milk is almost expired. Two days for everything.

16. Yogurt section is a lot longer than I remember.

17. Beer selection is actually very good.

18. They are low on carts.

19. There is a lot of restocking of drinks right now.

20. I can not find office supplies.

21. They only have one size bubble wrap.

22. The section with books and chairs has a few people actually sitting down and reading.

23. Two cases of water really takes up a lot of space in the cart.

24. Cheez-its and Oreo-s are the majority of the cookie and cracker aisle.

25. Someone is using a basket to carry a cartfull of items.

26. Orange juice is not as big of a section as I thought.

27. The Big-K pop is half the price of Coke brand.

28. Beer is next to cheese and milk.

29. The whole back wall is either dinner meat or breakfast meat.

30. I wonder how many people are shopping for the super bowl today?

31. Main aisle devoted to super bowl food and party items.

32. They only have two large sizes of contact solution.

32. Pharmacy section seems tucked away in the corner.

33. Health food tucked in corner, next to beer, chips, and cookies.

34. I see a few people using iPods while shopping.

35. No crying baby’s yet during the whole trip.

36. Checkout is going to take a while, not many workers.

37. I have just a few too many items to try to use the self-checkout.

38. Self-checkout is just as backed up as normal lanes.

39. I’m surprised they still ask if plastic is ok.

40. I feel different checking out when the line is backed up. Makes you feel like you are moving way too slow.

41. The amount of bags they gave will take a while to bring into apartment.

42. Movie rental machine on the way out the door after checkout.

43. About 5 skill games for children after checkout.

44. I have never seen the slushie machine next to the checkout lanes before.

45. They are still out of carts as I leave.

46. Lot is not icy but very slushy. Makes it very hard to push the cart.

47. They need more holders for the carts in the lot. Customers have to walk too much to put carts away in certain spots.

48. Not a large crowd out today most likely due to weather.

49. Cart pusher is having a hard time in the cold and slush.

50. Someone who needed a cart took mine on the way in.

#J05

CR05

I enjoyed the videos this week. It was interesting to see Michael Pritchard's water bottle design as I have heard of this before but never seen it in use. It was also interesting to see McDonough talk about cradle to cradle before we start the book. The biomimicry was an interesting video as well because you can see how it relates to a lot of disciplines in action now, but easy to see how it is a new look on design in general. It will be interesting to see what the next assignment is about next week.

#CR05

McDonough Intro

It seems McDonough and Braungart have a distinct view on the environment, and that this book will not just simply be about specific designs in the world today, but changes that can be made and different ways to look at existing designs. It seems they enjoy exploring the question of why can't this be better? They think about existing designs such as shoes, cars, and buildings and ask why can't we make this better for the environment. Things we use every day that we can design just a bit better, and make a large impact on the world around us. This will be an interesting read as the chapters unfold.

#RR05

Scavenger Hunt

Team Member:

Danielle Hager: http://danielle-hager.blogspot.com/

After taking the time to figure out each clue, we both set out to find the fastest route to get each shot required. We were able to find each clue easily, and with a little asking around, we were able to finish quickly.

Clue 1: Barcelona Chair - Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

I find it interesting that the only authentic Barcelona Chairs manufactured today have van der Rohe's signature stamped in them. Any chair without this stamp is a copy.

Clue 2: We originally chose to photograph the red-blue Rietveld Chair, but after waiting for others to finish, we chose this chair instead. I am not sure what chair this is, but the magazine I am reading specifically deals with design in architecture.

Clue 3: Building designed by Peter Eisenman

We chose to photograph the Wexner Center. The scaffolding walkway is an interesting twist on the building and architecture in general. It forces you to walk through this walkway when going to the Wexner Center, which can help you appreciate the design of the building itself.

Clue 4: Philip Johnson

We chose to photograph the Science and Engineering Library designed by Philip Johnson. The arches in the front of the building were what we found to be an interesting detail.

Clue 5: Acock & Associates

The Thompson Library, designed by Acock & Associates, is an interesting building because of the major renovation that took place. The original building, built in 1913, later had two additions added, that many felt looked out of place. A major renovation was done to make these three buildings work together, and now is one of the nicest libraries around.

#A03

#J04

Heskett Ch. 7-8

Chapter 7 deals with identities. First Heskett discusses identities of different countries as well as old vs. new products and how they change to fit certain identities. I find it interesting when he talks about how Gillette has a strategy of trying to sell the same razor to everyone. They are able to market a product that goes beyond certain countries identities, and is focused more on what the consumer wants. Cultural identity plays a role as well as religious identity, which I believe go a bit hand in hand. I enjoyed reading about Apple as well, as I can relate to their extreme focus on packaging. My family has been on the apple train since the beginning, and every time we get a new iPod, iPhone, or computer, it's almost fun taking it out of the box and finding all the extras as it is to set the product up.

Chapter 8 discusses systems, more specifically systems of designs or information that relate together and share a common topic. Transportation is most likely the easiest system to think about, and possibly why Heskett spends most of the chapter talking about signs, maps, and the objects and symbols used on this equipment. I also enjoyed the discussion on modular units. Talking about kitchens and spaces designed for specific purposes, and how individual parts of these designs work together to make a successful system.

#RR04

CR04

This class is going well so far. The scavenger hunt showed some interesting views on certain buildings around campus. I've been here three years now and to learn a little about some buildings I spend a lot of time in is fun. I also enjoyed the video the other day on the wheelchair. It was amazing to see this technology as I have not seen that before, even though the video seemed a little older. I hope we keep exploring interesting designs that some of us might not have heard of, and I enjoy relating what we learn to real life objects and buildings. It makes it a lot more interesting than just learning how to do something correctly or the right and wrong processes involved in producing certain things.

#CR04

I. M. Pei

I. M. Pei first came to the United States to pursue architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. It is said that he wanted to come the the states to have an education with more fun than he would have in China. I think it is interesting to hear of an outsider wanting to come here for more fun, but still wanting to pursue a challenging career. You normally hear of people coming here to pursue work and do whatever they want, not just to have more fun in college. He came to the states in 1935, and was disappointed at first in how architecture was being taught, he was wanting to focus more on modern buildings and designs. He transfered to MIT where he continued his work, where he was able to meet one of his great inspirations on a visit, Le Corbusier. Pei completed work at MIT in 1940 and earned a degree in architecture there. He married a woman he met in New York City, and after she was in the architecture program at Harvard, Pei wanted to continue studies at the Graduate School of Design there. Unfortunately he only spent about a month there before working for the war effort for the US. After returning to Harvard in 1945, he continued his studies until graduating with a masters degree in 1946, and then teaching for two years after that. From 1948 to 1955 he worked with a company Webb and Knapp before starting the company I. M. Pei & Associates.

While working with Webb and Knapp, Pei designed apartment buildings, corporate business buildings, and then some projects in Denver, Colorado and Washington, D.C. After some time, Pei decided to start I. M. Pei & Associates, where most of his know work came out of. Again apartment buildings and the like were some of the first projects to come out of this firm, but in 1961, Pei designed the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the Kennedy library, where you can see his style start to come out more. Pei used the mountain backdrop at the NCAR for inspiration in the buildings shape, and has been quoted as saying the Kennedy library is the “most important commission” in his life. A very famous work was the Louvre in Paris. This giant steel and glass pyramid is designed as a giant skylight for the room below, and is a significant attraction in the courtyard of the museum. Seeing this structure for yourself is the only real way to appreciate it. Surrounded by a large museum on both sides, looking at a massive pyramid, it is quite a sight. Besides the top of the Eiffel tower and Colosseum, this was a great highlight for me on my trip to Europe. Many people in Paris seemed to hate the design when Pei created it, and were disgusted that Pei would design something like that for such an important and cultural museum. Another noteworthy design is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. This building, consisting of circles, squares, pyramids, rectangles, and a combination of white walls and glass is a very unusual design. I personally love the look of the museum, and when you are able to see it in real life, walking around the building taking in the different views from different angles, it is a very unique sight. Pei however is said to be unhappy with the end result.

Pei is known for trying to capture surroundings with his work. He likes to design buildings so that they look like they belong with the rest of the landscape. He does not just come up with an idea for a building, but instead used the landscape and nature to influence how the design will ultimately look. I am very interested in this, and it makes the buildings that much more special to me, when you can see how the surroundings influence the design.

Pictures:

1. Louvre

2. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

3. Bank of China

4. View from a high up floor in the Bank of China

5. Luce Memorial Chapel

#A02

Henry Dreyfuss

-Dreyfuss focused on function and usability of objects as opposed to looks and style.

-Designed “Western Electric 302” telephone for Bell which resembles the standard look of a rotary phone. Another design for Bell was the ‘500’ desk phone which was a very popular model for Bell for a long time.

-Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1904 and completed most of his work in the 1930’s and 1940’s

-One of his most famous designs was the interior of the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

-Dreyfuss designed stage sets when he was young for a Broadway motion picture theatre before landing jobs with larger companies

-Famous for his design of the “Mercury train” in New York. This design is also resembled in some fountain pens and their caps.

-Designed Models A and B tractors for John Deere.

-Designed a vacuum for Hoover that floated on a cushion of air.

-His original company, Henry Dreyfuss Associates, is still in operation today.

-He committed suicide with his wife in 1972. His wife was terminally ill and he had recently been diagnosed with liver cancer.

-Dreyfuss is considered a very important designer because, among other things, his attention to the ergonomics of the product was a main concern. He wanted his customers and clients to enjoy using his products, and make them as easy as possible to enjoy.

#A02

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