Hailey Howe: Design Survey Blog

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Week 15 - Final Thoughts

With the semester coming to an end, these past fifteen weeks have given me a lot of insight on design. Everywhere we look, something is a form of design. From the larger scale things such as structure, to smaller scale things such as typography.

As time seems to never stop, new inventions, designs, and art are coming out each and every day. In the future, I believe we will be heavily relying on technology, meaning our handheld devices, laptops, television, and much more.

With the never-ending supply of technology at our fingertips, architects seem to have much more of an interest in bringing society back to its roots. That being said, there are always new ways to implement green spaces, such as green roofs or crossing bridges for animals. To make the home more environmentally friendly, technology such as wind or solar power are being used. Large windows act as a heating source for cold winters, but also allow for natural lighting, which saves power!

The future of design will take society a step back from the futuristic realm of technological advancements. I am interested to see what is to come!

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Week 14 - Your Choice

I have been trying to figure out what I have been paying attention to most. I could not think of anything, until I was sitting in my bed, looking at my variety of succulents and flowers and the variety of pots I had put them in. What does this have to do with design you may ask? Well, the pots that I have chosen, two of the have a “bowl” type of holder under the pot to catch any overflow of water. My other planter is a box and does not have any drainage. No drainage means I could overwater my plant easily and drown it, so it is important to watch. My last planter is still in the plastic cup I bought the succulent in, however I have it sitting in a hexagonal orb holder. When I water this one, all the water goes straight out and onto the floor.

Personally, I prefer the pot that has the bowl underneath to catch any overflow of water. I do not have to worry about the mold or drowning of my succulent or flower and there is a bit of water leftover, so the soil does not dry out.

Another design aspect that I deal with on a daily basis is the carts used at work. I am a Personal Shopper at Walmart and there are two cart types to choose from. The first cart is bigger, bulkier, and heavier, while the small cart is more lightweight, and easier to pull around. The bigger cart can carry heavy loads, such as waters, salt softener, charcoal, dog food, etc. The small cart is used for basic groceries or light things, such as paper towels. Pictured below are the heavy carts (left) and the light carts (right). As pictured, you may also notice a younger girl is using the heavier cart, while an older woman is using the lighter cart. This is also true at the Walmart I work at, the older workers tend to like the lighter carts better, whereas the younger employees do not have a preference.

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Week 13 - New Media

What is “digital aesthetic”? To understand digital aesthetic, it is important to understand what an aesthetic is. An aesthetic is a particular artistic style and/ or movement. Generally, those trying to follow the aesthetic are concerned about the beauty or appreciation of the style or movement. Now, digital aesthetic brings on a whole different twist. Digital aesthetic can include more sensual properties; sight, smell, taste, hear, and feel. This links the art to the viewer in a more modern way that aesthetics has in the past.

To start, a type of digital art is the fractal or algorithmic art. This type of digital art includes mathematical algorithms. The art is much more abstract in style, a software is used to calculate the structures in the media. Through the calculations, fractal images, videos, and art are created.

Which brings me to the pixel art. Pixel art can be very colorful, but also have lots of movement, even though it is only pixels.

Another well-known design that is part of the digital aesthetic is the 2D Computer Graphics. These little pictures are those clip-arts you can find on a Google search. The drawings are formed by 2D models, text, and images.

A more complicated version is the 3D Computer Graphics. By modifying the 2D Computer Graphics, the drawings can be represented using geometric structures and data to create a three-dimensional graphic. The data and geometries are the stored and are able to be rendered using another software to bring the image to life!

An article to check out is the “15 Types of Digital Art to Consider”, which is going to be linked below. There you can see the most popular variations of the digital aesthetic.

15 Types of Digital Art to Consider [2021][Reviews+Buyer's Guide] (architecturelab.net)

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Week 12 - New Media

What is Interactive Design? Interactive design is the design of products that can be interacted with. The designer has to go much further than just the visual focus. They have to think about the ways in which the user will interact with the item or use the item. The field of study focuses on the communication of media through a collaborative process. Those designs that are successful usually have a simple, well defined goal and purpose.

That being said, there are five “dimensions” that designers use to work around their product. Those five dimensions are words, visual representation, physical objects and/ or space, time, and behavior.

To start, words. Words help the guide the interaction of the individual and object. The information on the directions, labeled buttons and switches, and more. Next are the visual representations. These helps guide the user through images or icons. Next is the physical object, which is the object that is used. So, a smartphone, which allows you to access social media. Then there is time, which is how the media will change over time. Lastly, the behavior. This can see how individuals are operating while on their phones or maybe even feedback on a design.

Interactive Design really relates to Citizen Design, from last week. Both of the design types are trying to lure in the consumer. While the citizen design may be designing something that might be only visually pleasing, the interactive designer goes a tad more into depth by allowing the user to interact with the product.

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Week 11 - Graphic Design

This week, the reading referenced the Citizen Designer. The Citizen Designer is just that, they are designing something that is going to last, and citizens will want to take part in, by purchasing, reading, watching, etc.

When a consumer buys something, they hope it will be sustainable, meaning it will be a lasting, reliable product. You do not want to lie and say your product is unique when it is the same product. So, companies like Bounty will show how their paper towels are much more absorbable than a generic, cheaper brand, showing a side-by-side visual of the two in action.

Another aspect the Citizen Designer needs to be aware of is the artistic aspect. Usually, a brand will be recognized by the design, the way the colors and bold font are presented. This is where the play of brand name and generic names come in. I will be able to see a Coca-Cola bottle from down the aisle, but something like RC Cola, I will not pay any attention to.

The Citizen Designer book is a book written by graphic designers for aspiring, young graphic designers. It is relevant because we, the students, are in a way, young designers. While most of us are probably in a design major, like me, some of us may not be. However, they still take part in the design process. As consumers, we see and recognize the designs.

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Week 10 - Graphic Design

This week we focused on typography. What exactly is typography? Why is it so important?

Those pretty letters and words we see on a daily basis in ads, on shampoo bottles, on food containers are all fonts and a form of typography. Typography, in a way, is a form of art. The techniques and arrangement of the words create hierarchies. The hierarchies can be formed from point sizes, line lengths, bolding, letter or line spacing, and more! Good typography should really set the tone for a product.

Something I found interesting was the font anatomy in lecture. I had no idea that there were so many terms within the lettering. For example, the little piece that sticks off the top of a lowercase “g” is called an “ear”. The “ear” is defined as a “decorative flourish”. Another term is the “x-height”, which is the height of the lowercase letters.

Typography is so important within a design. It really a visual way to convey a message to the viewer. The writing, while visually appealing, usually has a sense of hierarchy and the viewer can understand. Typography builds upon the character of a design as well as the personality. Along with hierarchy and character, typography also brings upon brand recognition. So, Coca-cola, for example. You recognize this font because it is world renowned.

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Week 9 - Industrial Design

Brook Stevens was an industrial designer born in Milwaukee, WI. At an early age, Stevens suffered from polio, causing his body to stiffen. Fortunately, this was one of the factors that really influenced Stevens to fight and overcome. Later being able to spend hours imagining, drawing, and crafting ideas.

By 1935, Stevens opened his first office in downtown Milwaukee. He designed logos for companies. With The Great Depression and World War II creeping around the corner, Brooks Stevens was able to take the military jeep and turn it back into something American’s would want to drive around.

Once business started booming for Stevens, he was able to partner with companies such as Miller Brewing and Harley-Davidson! His design ideas and business mindset rose as he designed the Olympian Hiawatha. This design was a train that was operated by Milwaukee Road.

Brooks Stevens decided to stay in Milwaukee because that is where business was booming! He had a great career in Milwaukee and designed so many products and logos. He even designed the Miller High Life logo, “The Champagne of Beers”!

Another classic is the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile! If you have not seen this, be sure to check it out!

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Week 8 - Industrial Design

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Week 7 - Architecture

Universal Design: the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed and understood in a way that allows anyone, regardless of their age, size or disability.

Compared to the times of Le Corbusier, the term, Universal Design, has a slightly different meaning. While universal design aims to appeal and provide access to a wide variety of users, the focus is turning towards those that are disabled. Today, when something is considered “universally designed”, this means that anyone can make use of the building or object, without any obstacles.

While there are numerous principles of Universal Design, the most important aspects of Universal Design are the simple, yet intuitive, use and the flexibility of use.

Ease of use is important because you want the user to be able to simply understand the design and know exactly how to use it. An example of this would be the remote to your TV. The big red button is the power button. In the middle of the remote, the left side has the volume, while the right side has the channels. The device and design is wired in our brains and takes no extra power to understand how to use it.

Flexibility of use is another important aspect because, as a designer, you want to accommodate to a wide array of people. For example, on streaming services, such as Netflix, there is an option for captions. This accommodates those that cannot hear. Another example would be at museums and galleries where there are a few options to gather material: reading, listening, or brail letters. This accommodates the blind and seeing, the deaf and hearing.

Universal Design will be one of those things that is forever changing. With advancements in technology and new ideas, the world we know today could change, similarly to Le Corbusier’s time and ours.

Source:

What is Universal Design | Centre for Excellence in Universal Design

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Week 6 - Architecture

Milwaukee is one of the richest places filled with architecture. From the old German and Polish suburbs to the inner city skyscrapers. Learning about architecture in Milwaukee is a privilege because of the history it offers.

If I could add more images, I would. Milwaukee is an extremely diverse area. From the old to new architecture in residential and commercial buildings, to landscape and structure.

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Week 5 - History of Design

When you walk through life, day to day, you may notice subtle designs in different objects that may stick out to you. While reading, there have been a few examples that can correlate to day to day designs!

To start, the Bauhaus was a building that I first learned about in an Architectural History class, my freshman year at UW-Milwaukee. At one point in time, the Bauhaus served as a space for students, primarily architecture students. The building is concrete and plain. What makes this building unique is the use of a skeletal exterior, which shows what is on the interior, between the walls. This building is very similar to UW-Milwaukee’s SARUP (School of Architecture and Urban Planning) building! Both buildings, while plain, housed some great student designers. What I find unique about the buildings is that the plainness of the buildings allows for more critical design thinking. You are not necessarily inspired from the building, but rather you are able to become inspired a different way without the building becoming a distraction.

Next, the Museum of Modern Art. This museum is filled with art and design, ranging from paintings to architectural designs. What I found interesting was on their website, there is a lecture/ panel for architecture design on “Black Reconstructions: Cities and Spatial Justice”. I find this interesting because, in Milwaukee, what is considered a “black” neighborhood, are not taken care of. Buildings are boarded up and abandoned, run down, etc. With the protection of these neighborhoods, so much potential can be brought into light!

Lastly, Russian Constructivism. This movement was known as groundbreaking! The art and design had minimal color palettes, mainly reds, blacks, and yellows. The goal was to bring change to society, shock them, bring excitement.

Black Reconstructions: Cities and Spatial Justice | MoMA

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Week 4 - Found Object

There are a few things that I have noticed while walking around my town. First, I will talk about the little park on the corner of my subdivision. The park is not huge and there is not much there, just a very plain, metal swing set. There are two seats for grown children or adults, and two seats for babies. Next, there is a bland black bench. Though, the material of the bench seems to be a bit more rubbery. Both of these items can be utilized for seating, however the swing set is a bit more of an entertainment item, while the bench is utilized for relaxation.

Going into town, the streets were under construction to widen the roads. Upon doing this, yards were ruined. The area that they widened the road was in front of these homes that were on more of a sloped hill. Unfortunately, they had to design a brick retaining wall in front of the homes. I think this design is absolutely awful. The retaining wall makes the home’s front yard seem extremely unsafe, especially with how up high they are. These same retaining walls are in front of the high school, but on this side of the road, it does not look as bad or as dangerous. This side of the road, by the high school, the retaining wall is in front of the elevated parking lot.

Going further into town, there is a “historical downtown” and I find the layout and design of the downtown area very nice. It appears as a strip mall, which is a bit touristy, and there is mainly road parking, but some parking lots, depending on what store or restaurant you go to. The buildings are all connected and right next to the Fox River. Most of the buildings have brick. Brick is a good material, especially if there were ever to be a fire in town.

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Week 3 - History of Design

Over the years, design has been a huge impact on our world. Simple things, especially objects from my everyday life, make an impact. To start, I have my lamp on my nightstand. This lamp helps with organization because of the little compartments and has extra outlets, saving me wall space. For added ease, to turn on the lamp, you twist the button on the top. Next, my alarm clock. While this alarm clock is battery operated and a little “old school”, it gets the job done, waking me up. On the back of the clock, there are two notches, one is the alarm. You then choose the time to set the alarm too and when the time comes, the little metal bead between the bells, slams and bounces off the bells, causing a loud ring. The third item I chose is an antique phone I found at my local antique store. Now that we have cell phones with touch screen, making phone calls are so much easier. This phone has a cord, meaning it needed to stay plugged in. If you mess up the number, there is no delete button, you must hang up and start all over. The next item is also an antique, it is a money counter. This object is heavier than it looks. The function was to calculate, paper and ink would be on the inside and you push the different notches down to make a mark, like a typewriter. The fifth object is my film camera. Film cameras aren’t as popular as the new iPhone 12 camera, though, processing the images yourself is very rewarding! When taking pictures with this camera, there is a bar on the right side that measures the lighting, if it is too high, you lower it by playing with the focus. One you take a picture; you must be sure to rotate the film. Next are my whiteboard markers. I like the design on the markers because I do not have to find another spot for them! They are magnetic, attached to a chain. When the cokes used to be in glass bottles, I feel as though the soda was fresher and stayed colder. However, some of the bottles did not hold nearly as much. Onto the notes, I start with my bed. I recently got a new bed with drawers underneath to maximize space in my room. The drawers allow me to not have a dresser and maintain organization. Next, I wrote about my cellphone holder on my dashboard. My cellphone holder helps when I need to use GPS, since GPS is not a feature in my car. The last item is the pop socket. Personally, I do not care for the pop socket, but it is a little useful when needed to grip onto your phone or need to stand your phone up.

There are so many things in our life that we do not consider as design, even though it is.

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Week 2 - Design Thinking

After reading “Design Thinking” in the Harvard Business Review, I would define design as a multi-step process. When designing, the idea is not something that just pops into your head and makes the world a better place. Designing is a long process that involves sketching, prototyping, testing, bouncing ideas off of your peers or a team. When designing, communication is key! As the designer, you must be able to communicate what your design is going to do for the greater good and why it is beneficial, why should people buy your creation?

What I found interesting was that, historically, “design has been treated as a downstream step in the  development process” (Harvard Business Review 86). What makes me question this quote is the fact that design is very important in the creation of everything! Designing something it not just a drawing, a design is something that can come to life and be used on a day to day basis. While “great ideas” may not pop into our head every day, one day you will be inspired and will need a team to help collaborate and make this design come to life.

In the article, one of the designs was the bicycle. With so many collaborators from the local government and cycling organization, spots were even identified to ride in (Harvard Business Review 90). Interestingly enough, the design for the actual bike was not originally thought of right away, it was pushed off.

I think the most significant part of this article was at the beginning when Thomas Edison made design into a group effort. I think it is extremely important to collaborate with others. Whether it be a client, coworker, a friend… Being able to bounce ideas off of one another really gets the inspiration flowing to develop something that could potentially be great.

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Week 1 - About Me

My name is Hailey Howe and I am a first semester Junior attending UW-Milwaukee. I am set to get my Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Studies. Soon, I will be working towards a certificate in Interior Design from New York Institute of Art & Design, since Interior Design is something I am much more passionate about! My dream job would be a house flipper, like you see on HGTV! I find it really rewarding to design, complete, and use my own projects.

As for the Design Survey class, I did not know it was an option at first. I was searching through different GER classes until I stumbled upon this one. I found interest in taking this Design Survey class because I want to learn more aspects of the design world, since my goal is to become a designer myself. As of right now, my experience in design I would say is still at the beginner level. Last semester, Fall 2020, was when I officially started to dive deeper into the Adobe world with Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator for numerous architectural related projects. I also used a lot of Rhino, AutoCAD, and V-Ray to make my designs come to life!

I receive a lot of my inspiration from Pinterest, whether it be for architecture studio projects, or painting projects and DIYs on the side. I would definitely like to describe myself as a person who is very goal oriented and hardworking. If I see something I want to accomplish, I strive and push myself! The most recent thing I am getting interested in is embroidery! I bought a starter kit last week and had to choose one of the varying designs they had out on the shelves, it was a tough decision to choose just one! Though I was able to come to a decision. I am finding embroidery to be VERY time consuming!

Let’s have a great spring semester!

Self Portrait - Viewer can see who they are reading about.