We finished the book! And boy, was Cradle to Cradle an informing read! I feel so different than when I started it! I think it opened up a new way of thinking for me.
I want to mention some interesting points from chapters 4-6. First, I enjoyed the anecdote about the textile factory that agreed to be chemically cleansed. Bill came in and replaced all of the toxic dyes and fabrics with safe, natural ones. As a result, the workers didn't have to wear protection, there were empty rooms in the factory that could be used for recreation, and the effluent water from the factory was cleaner than when it came into it! I thought that was amazing! I had no idea a factory could be so clean! It really opened my eyes.
Another interesting fact I read was on page 129, a tid-bit about the 1998 building that had windows that opened. It was a low-point in contemporary architecture because they had to make such a big deal about what should be considered normal. This hit me because I love my windows. In the summer, I hate the air conditioner and will be the first one to open all the doors and windows for that breath of fresh air. To think that buildings are designed without this simple pleasure is preposterous!
Overall, the last chapters summed up the main ideas just as the first three chapters started them. I feel that the authors did a great job of getting the point across because I am now constantly thinking of ways to reuse goods. So many things in our throwaway society needs to be redesigned!
While reading this book, I feel like I need to do something! I couldn't help but wish I was still in landscape architecture so that I can do something for our poor suffering planet! I mean, I'm in interior space design now, but is that a field I can really make a difference in? I'm sure there are ways, and maybe that field needs someone like me to think outside the box. After all, a filter starts in the designer's mind, not on the end of a pipe.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A04
Letter Forms!
capitol L in chip on ceiling
capitol Z in fire escape
capitol D on electric socket
lower-case r I found in my pretzels!
capitol U in bathroom pipes
lower-case b formed by this modern lamp in my room
capitol T in gas station support
capitol J in waterspout
capitol A on side of bench
capitol H in fence
capitol Y seen in this tree across the street
(had to crop it, that's why it's so blurry, sorry!)
lower-case i on soundboards in large McPherson lecture room
Monday, February 14, 2011
J06
Color (:
Importance to Design
Color is one of the most important elements of design, if not the basis of all of it. If you are designing anything, you need to put effort and thought into your color scheme so that it looks pleasing to the eye and brain. After all, you are designing to improve something. Color is very powerful in design. It can set the mood the instant you walk into a room. It is also used to communicate basic ideas, such as the red in stop signs. Likewise, word associations can be recollected from the visual stimulations of color such as red, white and blue should be reminiscent of the United States, or branding of companies like green Starbucks and blue Facebook. Lastly, color is important for designers because it used to create hierarchical statements in visual communications by making certain words or elements stand out against bland or monotone palates.
Excitement from Lecture
I was very excited from this lecture because I love colors! A lot of times in my life, a determining factor if I like or hate a painting, TV show, house, or even a whole city will be if there is enough colors in it! I am also really interested in the science behind colors. How they affect the human brain and psychologically associate to different moods. The physics of the light waves is rather amazing, also. The prism divides white light into its spectrum by nanometers, who knew that rainbow was hidden in the seemingly transparent white light!?
Sources of Further Information
1 - Website
Color Perception Is Not in the Eye of the Beholder: It's in the Brain
Here is a study done by the University of Rochester that claims color perception all occurs in the brain and is swayed because of our experience in the world. Everyone's retinas can vary up to 40% from each others, yet we all agree yellow is "yellow." Furthermore, they conducted a study using colored contacts for several days to weeks on participants who still continued to label colors properly. A very interesting article for those interesting in anatomy behind color!
Jonathon Serwood
University of Rochester
2 - Video
Can Colors Affect Your Mood
This brief video gives some interesting facts regarding how color can affect test results. Using computer screens, test participants were subconsciously subjected to blue or red screen colors which in turn seemed to affect how well they performed. Furthermore, this informational video also gives some more test results of how color affects men and women's interactions.
3 - Website
A Guide to Choosing Colors for Your Brand
This blog is interesting because it is aimed towards an audience of companies attempting to create a successful brand/icon. It gives a chart of colors and their mood associations along with examples of popular present-day companies. This site gives tips in choosing a brand color, such as "choose the opposite color as your competitor!"
4 - Book
An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks
This book is a collection of seven unique neurological mysteries. The chapter that is relevant to our color research is entitled The Case of the Colorblind Painter. It is an account of a painter that is unfortunately involved in a drastic car accident. He survives with only a concussion that leaves him in a fog for several weeks, however he lost his vision of color. What is amazing is that he did not even know this for months! As a painter, he shows a dramatic change from before and after the crash in his choices and organization of colors in his works of art, often making messy, blurry paintings. Before the crash, he created perfectly contrasting and organized colorful art pieces. The artist still paints today with color and is learning to overcome hardships through adversity. This story is a wonderful tragedy of the colorless life of a colorful person.
5 - Website
The Absolutely Scariest Colors Imaginable
This article is interesting since it speaks of common phobias and the colors associated with them. For example, the fear of needles and the associated colors include dark and blood reds along with silvers and grays. It is also cools because it touches upon the fear of colors! Who knew?!
RR06
This reading assignment was the first three chapters of McDonough's "Cradle to Cradle." It was quite an intensive read, filling me with guilt as I was introduced to the world's industrial pollution problems. I look around my room now and feel that I am getting poisoned by all the cheap, plastic, disposable junk in here! And all the electronics that will soon be replaced and thrown "away" when the next best thing comes out. And where is this away at? (I guiltily glance over at my full trash can...) Yet, McDonough and Braungart also claim that even if you try to help out by recycling and such, may be even worse than doing nothing! It's confusing but quite a reality check for how terrible our manufactured goods actually are! They say, to be "less bad" is a failure of the imagination.
I wish I could do something to stop this tiny particle emanating from our products that is killing us and out world. But it seems like a radical revolution would have to take place! If so much has to change, how come I have never heard about these new ideas? And why hasn't anyone else spoken up about how recycling isn't really solving anything? I am going to try to communicate McDonough and Braungart's ideas to my friends and family but I feel that I am not informed enough to be able to educate them enough. At least I will try my best!
I wish I could do something to stop this tiny particle emanating from our products that is killing us and out world. But it seems like a radical revolution would have to take place! If so much has to change, how come I have never heard about these new ideas? And why hasn't anyone else spoken up about how recycling isn't really solving anything? I am going to try to communicate McDonough and Braungart's ideas to my friends and family but I feel that I am not informed enough to be able to educate them enough. At least I will try my best!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
CR06
This week we delved into the legal issues surrounding the design field. We were forewarned that it would be the most boring lecture of this class. As much as I hate to say it, I'd have to agree. The law is so monotonous to me! It is all memorization of pety little things with no passion or colors. Nevertheless it is necessary to protect artists' original work, time and effort. The movie we viewed, "Rip!: A Remix Manifesto" was such a good documentary! The maker did an excellent job with portraying his side of the story and presenting it in a really good film! The whole idea of copyright really hit home when he had to cut out the girl talk concert's audio because he had played it to make a point and then filled in the silence with music from the pubic domain, a classical piano concerto. It was such a contrast from the picture to what was being shown. After this week I am noticing more and more copyright elements like signs of businesses on high street and youtube videos that have been removed. Something about this video also made me really want to go home and download some music, probably encourages by the rebellionistic attitude of the old cartoonist man that fought disney to draw a mouse. However, this time I decided to be a good citizen and not "steal" any music off the internet. Although, its not like any of the money gets to the artists anyway! The giant music corporations gobble everything up. How frustrating to live in a completely private and corporated society.
Monday, February 7, 2011
J05 - Documented Visit to Library
Fifty Sensed Things While Walking Through Thompson
1.Freezing cold air as I walk in a gloomy, silent world toward the side doors, my feet crunching ice and salt on the brick patio.
2.A gush of warm air with the opening of the door.
3.Overpowering smell of coffee, warm foods. Cappucinos being made with loud hisses, my stomach churns in hunger.
4.People everywhere!
5.Colors! Clothes, purses, advertisements on walls, tvs running, lighting, colorful lunches on tables, laptop screens, books open.
6.Long line for food, wraps around the waiting line ropes. People wait facing same direction, silently.
7.People at tables eating, some nervously looking around between large bites, others indulged into their studies while subconsciously nibbling/sipping.
8.Walking by main doors: wind blowing, bundled up people scooting outside, wet floors, food smells becoming faint.
9.Dark scrutinizing eyes of security guard bore into me as he nonchalantly leans on counter.
10. High-pitched ring of walking between security sensors.
11.Open ceiling of main room! Bright, can see several floors up, hustle-bustle of people everywhere.
12.All chairs occupied.
13.Walk up on see-through stairs.
14.Room of unorganized seating. Red, orange, and black square, low chairs all over room.
15.Plop down in vacated orange cushy chair.
16.Bumpy texture, not soft on skin. Dry skin and calluses stick to fabric fibers.
17.Girl on phone in midst of silence. Others notice, annoyed by disturbance and shift in seats.
18.Contrast of bright orange chair to gloomy outside through windows.
19.Walking on shiny floor. Tiny tiles with sparkly silver connector lines running through.
20.Stairwell: dark, concrete, low ceiling.
21.Odd recesses in walls randomly along stairs.
22.Red bricks, concrete unfinished floor.
23.Shifting light as move up through levels.
24.Out into bright level 3
25.Smell of old books.
26.Bright wood walls give off golden hue along with golden corrugated wood floors.
27.Very tall skylight ceiling.
28.Rows of gray metal cabinets, handles form converging lines.
29.Janitor across open floor, fixing lamp. I can hear his cart and the jingling of lamp being fixed.
30.Reflection of silver and gold book titles on shelf.
31.In the stacks: low white ceilings, unfinished concrete floors, rows of primary colored books.
32.Ringing and whirring of elevators.
33.Elevator interior similar to microwave-silver, bumpy, & square. Loud dings, robotic woman’s voice, crowded with people in it, dirty floors, cute little overhead recessed lights.
33.Out into level 7 (more of the stacks): snowy/rainy oval with tiny, slow-moving, students trudging across.
34.Books! Dusty, old, beaten up series of solid colored books. Smell like dust, learning, and the flipping of yellowed pages.
35.Modern books regarding psychological issues, smell like plastic. Colorful covers.
36.Guy hunching over computer with legs crossed. I want to straighten up his posture!
37.Books left out haphazardly on cart attract my attention. I want to pick them up and touch them but resist urge so I don’t mess up workers’ tasks.
38.Blue title labels on series of books reflect light flowing in from outside through wall-size window.
39.Lit-up red exit sign hurts my eyes.
40.A man is walking towards me, looking at me as I approach him. I dodge down aisle of books to avoid contact with him.
41.Attracted to light-teal argyle cover design with a beautiful Arabian language on it.
42.Loud wall vent about 4 feet tall. Surprisingly no air blowing or being sucked through for how loud it is humming. Neither a source of heat or coldness.
43.Boy sleeping at table now sits up in a daze, staring out window with open notes in front of him on table.
44.Down elevator to level 2M. Several empty shelves remind me of a structure from starwars! Looks odd seeing racks without the normal blanket of literature. Floor feels empty and stiff.
45.Murmer of study partners, male low voices. They look at me and pause in conversation when my presence is noted.
46.Looking back out to that larger open interior, once again seeing those low, square orange chairs in reading room.
47.Once at level one again, the chatter of indeterminable voices is noticeable along with movement of people in all directions.
48.Clicky/clacky of computer lab with its studio lighting and worried students that can’t properly print their documents.
49.Girl next to me on phone just got accepted into her summer program. Very excitedly exclaims “yay!” in her conversation.
50.See my friend Scotty and initiate a quick friendly chat, he is so nice!
51.I begin to blog as the world of osu students surrounding me constantly changes with the clicks of computer transactions and low conversations of passing couples…another pleasant trip to Thompson Library.
1.Freezing cold air as I walk in a gloomy, silent world toward the side doors, my feet crunching ice and salt on the brick patio.
2.A gush of warm air with the opening of the door.
3.Overpowering smell of coffee, warm foods. Cappucinos being made with loud hisses, my stomach churns in hunger.
4.People everywhere!
5.Colors! Clothes, purses, advertisements on walls, tvs running, lighting, colorful lunches on tables, laptop screens, books open.
6.Long line for food, wraps around the waiting line ropes. People wait facing same direction, silently.
7.People at tables eating, some nervously looking around between large bites, others indulged into their studies while subconsciously nibbling/sipping.
8.Walking by main doors: wind blowing, bundled up people scooting outside, wet floors, food smells becoming faint.
9.Dark scrutinizing eyes of security guard bore into me as he nonchalantly leans on counter.
10. High-pitched ring of walking between security sensors.
11.Open ceiling of main room! Bright, can see several floors up, hustle-bustle of people everywhere.
12.All chairs occupied.
13.Walk up on see-through stairs.
14.Room of unorganized seating. Red, orange, and black square, low chairs all over room.
15.Plop down in vacated orange cushy chair.
16.Bumpy texture, not soft on skin. Dry skin and calluses stick to fabric fibers.
17.Girl on phone in midst of silence. Others notice, annoyed by disturbance and shift in seats.
18.Contrast of bright orange chair to gloomy outside through windows.
19.Walking on shiny floor. Tiny tiles with sparkly silver connector lines running through.
20.Stairwell: dark, concrete, low ceiling.
21.Odd recesses in walls randomly along stairs.
22.Red bricks, concrete unfinished floor.
23.Shifting light as move up through levels.
24.Out into bright level 3
25.Smell of old books.
26.Bright wood walls give off golden hue along with golden corrugated wood floors.
27.Very tall skylight ceiling.
28.Rows of gray metal cabinets, handles form converging lines.
29.Janitor across open floor, fixing lamp. I can hear his cart and the jingling of lamp being fixed.
30.Reflection of silver and gold book titles on shelf.
31.In the stacks: low white ceilings, unfinished concrete floors, rows of primary colored books.
32.Ringing and whirring of elevators.
33.Elevator interior similar to microwave-silver, bumpy, & square. Loud dings, robotic woman’s voice, crowded with people in it, dirty floors, cute little overhead recessed lights.
33.Out into level 7 (more of the stacks): snowy/rainy oval with tiny, slow-moving, students trudging across.
34.Books! Dusty, old, beaten up series of solid colored books. Smell like dust, learning, and the flipping of yellowed pages.
35.Modern books regarding psychological issues, smell like plastic. Colorful covers.
36.Guy hunching over computer with legs crossed. I want to straighten up his posture!
37.Books left out haphazardly on cart attract my attention. I want to pick them up and touch them but resist urge so I don’t mess up workers’ tasks.
38.Blue title labels on series of books reflect light flowing in from outside through wall-size window.
39.Lit-up red exit sign hurts my eyes.
40.A man is walking towards me, looking at me as I approach him. I dodge down aisle of books to avoid contact with him.
41.Attracted to light-teal argyle cover design with a beautiful Arabian language on it.
42.Loud wall vent about 4 feet tall. Surprisingly no air blowing or being sucked through for how loud it is humming. Neither a source of heat or coldness.
43.Boy sleeping at table now sits up in a daze, staring out window with open notes in front of him on table.
44.Down elevator to level 2M. Several empty shelves remind me of a structure from starwars! Looks odd seeing racks without the normal blanket of literature. Floor feels empty and stiff.
45.Murmer of study partners, male low voices. They look at me and pause in conversation when my presence is noted.
46.Looking back out to that larger open interior, once again seeing those low, square orange chairs in reading room.
47.Once at level one again, the chatter of indeterminable voices is noticeable along with movement of people in all directions.
48.Clicky/clacky of computer lab with its studio lighting and worried students that can’t properly print their documents.
49.Girl next to me on phone just got accepted into her summer program. Very excitedly exclaims “yay!” in her conversation.
50.See my friend Scotty and initiate a quick friendly chat, he is so nice!
51.I begin to blog as the world of osu students surrounding me constantly changes with the clicks of computer transactions and low conversations of passing couples…another pleasant trip to Thompson Library.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
CR 05
This week in class we talked about being environmentally-friendly in our designs. I loved it! I didn't realize that interior design and visual communication had ways to be green, whereas industrial design seemed obvious (using green materials and recycling). In visual communication it was interesting how you have to watch how you advertise. In interior design, I forgot how much a designer has to think about heating, insulating, lighting, materials, ventilation, etc. I hope someday I can make a difference by designing green interiors.
We watched a lot of really cool movies this week! They were about recyclable products, electric cars, portable baby incubators, water filters, and bio-mimicking! All of them had the same concept: change our thinking to help the world. Most of the time we as humans try to help but end of worsening the situations. If we rethink, like the man who invented the water filter, we can help so many more people.
On Monday I decided to donate blood, but unfortunately it took longer than expected so I was really late to class! Thus, I read the slides about color on my own. I really liked the lists of colors and their associations. I never really noticed certain feeling from rooms of those colors. However, looking back I guess my green bedroom did give me some rest, well-being, and balance of order! (:
We watched a lot of really cool movies this week! They were about recyclable products, electric cars, portable baby incubators, water filters, and bio-mimicking! All of them had the same concept: change our thinking to help the world. Most of the time we as humans try to help but end of worsening the situations. If we rethink, like the man who invented the water filter, we can help so many more people.
On Monday I decided to donate blood, but unfortunately it took longer than expected so I was really late to class! Thus, I read the slides about color on my own. I really liked the lists of colors and their associations. I never really noticed certain feeling from rooms of those colors. However, looking back I guess my green bedroom did give me some rest, well-being, and balance of order! (:
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