Intro to Design

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RN Portfolio 7: Period Style

Art Nouveau

The building displayed in the image below, is called the Casa Batlló and is located in Barcelona, Spain. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, it is a great representation of an Art Nouveau design. The building displays intense amounts of bold and dramatic colors, flowing lines, asymmetry and gives off a rather organic or romantic type feel. The immense use of curves and glass are also classic designs influenced by the Art Nouveau period.

Art Deco

The image below, displays furniture pieces very representative of the Art Deco period in the 20th century. Art Deco design is most commonly known for its sunburst shapes, clean lines, chevron or zig-zag prints and geometric forms. Notice the sunburst pattern on the front of the chest, along with the sunburst style sculpture on top it. Also observe the chevron patterned rug, geometric shaped table (round top) and the overall clean and simplified lines of all the items.

Late Modernism

Late modernism generally refers to the time after World War II and into the early years of the 21st century. Designs of this period in architecture, clothing, furniture and so on became streamlined and functional. Spaces and objects were designed with the thoughts of functionality, minimalist, stripped down and geometry on the mind. Observe the dwelling in photo below, lacking lots of color or ornate designs, but rather portraying a “less is more” feeling. Function seemed to be the number one focus!

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RN Portfolio 5/6- Design & Culture Part 2

Both of the pictures below were taken inside of my home. Notice the fireplace that has some white wood detailing on each side, sort of reminiscent of the column or pillar styles used in the neoclassicism era. While they are not actually columns, to me they sort of resemble the marble or textured columns you often see in neoclassicism architecture. You will also see in the second image that there are actual columns in the separation of one room to the next. While they are not marble and are the same material as the walls, the overall column design is similar to that often found in neoclassical styles. It is symmetrical (there is a second column to the right in the room) and has some added detail in the molding. The overall design of this condo, along with most of the furniture we have does seem to be modern and clean cut, with some design influences from architecture such as these neoclassical elements.

The third image below is of our bed, which I feel is influenced by the Rococo style. The bed has scrolling or curvy lines and is highly detailed. The bed overall is sort of dramatized in shape and seems to have a sculptural feel.

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RN Portfolio 5/6- Design & Culture

NEOCLASSICISM:

The home shown in the picture above, is a home located in New Orleans, Louisiana and was built only eight years ago in 2011. The architecture of this home is very reminiscent of the neoclassicism style. It displays elements of the traditional Greco-Roman styles including pillar style columns that are two stories high, large windows, a columned porch and a symmetrical facade. These homes were often a poplar style home for plantations in the south. The architecture here is inspired by that in Ancient Greece and Rome.

BAROQUE:

The artwork in the image above, is titled The Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and was painted by Peter Paul Rubens, completed in 1626. It was originally painted for the high altar in the Cathedral of our Lady Antwerp in Belgium, and that is where it is still currently located as well. The painting is a clear display of the Baroque period, with a display of flowing and layered clothing on the bodies of the people. The image has a sense of “fabric overload” and religious themes were popular during the Baroque period as well, perhaps why this was painted in the first place. The piece of art portrays the sense of movement, with bodies close to one another and floating up above. Physical power is also being displayed, while a strong feeling of sensuality is also portrayed.

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RN Portfolio 4: Scamper

In my opinion and from my personal experience, break rooms for nursing and medical staff in hospitals are often small, dark, outdated and cold (looking, not the temperature). They are not always in close proximity to where we are working, and usually are extremely boring or mundane to look at or be in. I often find myself not wanting to spend a whole lot of time in there besides to eat a quick meal for 5-10 minutes or so. It’s unfortunate that even though we work in a very high stress environment, we do not have a nice place to look forward to taking a short break or decompressing in.

The break room in the first picture below, closely represents the break room at a hospital I have worked at. It is small, poorly light with a lack of any natural light, not very organized and pretty “sterile” looking. Color is almost nonexistent and there really is no sense of “peace” or comfort.

The next several images, represent what I would consider a much better version of a break room, and some of the components I would include in a newly designed room. Using the SUBSTITUTE step in the scamper technique, I would take many elements of the old break room out, and replace them with much nicer and more suitable components. Like stated by Naccarella, “the aesthetics and maintenance of the workplace serve as a daily reminder of the value their employers place on their work. Nurses identified a number of environmental qualities that affect their daily work experience including temperature, noise, odour, colour and access to natural light” (Naccarella, 2016). I would add actual color to the walls, changing the paint colors to soft greens or blues in order to create a sense of calmness and tranquility. I would also ensure windows were present or added to the space where possible, to allow for natural light and fresh air when needed or desired. Colorful artwork, greenery and live plants would add dimensional pattern and texture while stimulating our senses. Softer lines in some of the furniture along with elements to make the room feel more “homey” would also be part of my plan for a more pleasant space. Having a place for nurses to retreat to and decompress is important and often overlooked. With some color and a few nice new elements I feel that productivity and employee retention could really be increased!

#tmd126 @intro2d #redesignbreakrooms #placeofretreat

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RN Portfolio #3: Elements

I chose this piece of artwork as a clear representation of the design element, color. A lot of color was used in this painting/piece of art, and in particular cool colors. The two main hues used are blue and green, while shades and tints of these two colors were also used. To me, the artwork gives off a very cool temperature and tranquil feel. Color “is the design element that most directly appeals to human sensibilities” (Aspelund, 2015). This art makes me feel very calm and relaxed. A sense of movement is also displayed in the piece as the flowers were painted as if they might be blowing in the wind. The high contrast between the light background and darker colors on the flowers and grass is very interesting to me and makes the flowers noticeably stand out. I like that the flowers each have a variation in value, with light to dark color being used.

I chose this chest as a representation of the design element, texture/pattern. The piece contains both visual interest and tactile sense. The front of the doors are designed with a pattern on the surface, and are a rough texture to the touch. The use of the pattern on the front of the doors allows for a sense of rhythm. The pattern is created by the design of the door fronts, while the texture is created by the actual carving done in the wood. I believe this pattern on the front is considered 3D, as it comes off of the actual surface and is not flat or painted on like it would be on a shirt or book.

This was the first stethoscope I ever used as a registered nurse. It has a lot of sentimental meaning to me as I used it in the very early stages as a new nurse while I began my journey. I feel happy when I look at it, as it has traveled with me to multiple jobs and through many long shifts that sometimes include saving peoples lives. Its easy and flexible design allows me to properly and easily perform nursing skills such as listening to patients’ heart beats and lung sounds. It creates quite a sensory experience of sound for those who use it, as you are able to hear heartbeats and other sounds not audible to the naked ear. For the most part, this object creates positive experiences and I have indeed formed a relationship with this design over time, becoming more comfortable with it in the situations that have occurred. I consider the design “safe” at this point, as an object I can use without hesitation or limitations. 

#tmd126 @intro2d #design #nursing 

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Tumblr Portfolio Week 3

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The design problem that I can relate to is displayed in the top, first picture above. The issue at hand, which was also discussed in the article written by Reiling, Hughes and Murphy, is noise reduction. As you can see in the first picture, the rooms in this emergency department, and one I recently worked in as a nurse here in Rhode Island, are only separated by thin and flimsy curtains. Noise travels loudly and fast in this setting, often creating what are known as latent conditions. As quoted by Reiling, Hughes and Murphy, “Noise interferes with communication, creates distractions, affects cognitive performance and concentration and contributes to stress and fatigue”. In this type of curtain room separation setting, patient privacy is diminished and the amount of noise in the ER can make it difficult for nurses and doctors to work efficiently.

Looking at the seven stages of the design process, I think we would need to go back to the identification stage. This is when we identify the problems to be solved and begin to understand the needs that the design must fulfill (Aspelund, 2015). This stage is when we could or should realize that noise will be a problem in an ER setting (always active and busy) without actual walls (shown in the second image above) placed in between the rooms. Although budget and constraints may play a part, it is important in this identification stage to do the proper research and brainstorming so that potential risks may be discovered beforehand and maybe even prevented. I wonder if anyone had considered to test this design out first by standing in two spaces or rooms full of noise, only separated by a curtain, while trying to complete tasks such as taking patient information or ordering serious medications? “In addition, the walls between rooms are separated and insulated with airspace minimizing transfer noise” (Reiling, Hughes & Murphy, 2008).

To help with a solution to this problem, I think we would need to use the SUBSTITUTE action from the scamper technique. I would recommend that the curtains in the rooms be taken out or removed completely, and replaced with actual constructed and insulated walls. This leads to noise reduction, better patient privacy, a more peaceful and harmonious environment for the healthcare workers performing their duties and more positive patient outcomes overall.

Currently, I believe that these curtain separated rooms fall on the usability level of the hierarchy of design needs The curtains are a simple, budget friendly and are a “user friendly design”. I believe that after my scamper action, the room design would then fall into the proficiency level. This new “rooms separated by actual walls” design, allows us nurses to do things better than before. Noise would be reduced, productivity would increase and it would create a much nicer environment for all those in it.

#tmd126 #intro2d @intro2d #designinnursing #healthcarefacilitydesign

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This is a storage area/compartment in my bedroom, located directly underneath a bay window. When the door being held open is shut, it functions as a window seat area. To me (and my fiance whom I live with) this is a design problem. As you can see in the picture, the door has to be physically held in order to stay open and it does not stay open on its own. The storage area is deep but very narrow, and awkwardly shaped. It is difficult to put things inside as one hand must used to keep the door up and prevent it from slamming down. The size of the compartment does not seem to fit many things comfortably. I realize that the inherent constraints of the window size, shape and location in the room, are what made this storage compartment the design that it is. In my opinion, this compartment is not very functional. I think (and recommend) that this space could have been designed with two doors on the bottom to open out, versus one large, heavy door that opens from the top with not enough room to go far enough back in order to stay open. The physical location of the door is an issue, as it is fixed too close to the wall right behind it preventing it from being able to swing back fully and stay open.

My first steps towards a design solution would include identifying the issues at hand, and trying to come up reliable solution. A good design should be functional, reliable, usable, proficient and creative.