CR06

This week's topic of the remixing was so interesting! Although, at first, I was a bit confused as to how the laws of  copy writing would somehow relate back to our topic of design. It did come back around full circle and I was intrigued by the talent of remix artists who blend all sorts of music to make a new and completely different sound.  I don't see the wrong in it, as long as these remix artists are being open with the fact that they are taking pieces of other artist's work.  I think its a way to express one's self in a new fresh way and many people seem to enjoy this new genre of music! I don't understand why musicians (or record companies) would go to such extremes over these things.  If I wanted to memorize a song and sing it over and over for everyone to enjoy (if I were a talented singer) then I could do so and wouldn't get in trouble for it. So why all the trouble for someone to remix a song and throw a sick beat behind it??

RR05

In the introduction of Cradle to Cradle, William McDonough's thoughts, although a bit wordy and confusing at times, are quite valid.  First of all, making a book such as this one out of a plastic resin/inorganic filler blend is one ingenious idea to assist in the slowing of cutting down trees.  Reducing the use of paper and increasing the use of recyclable products is a great way to help sustain our ecosystem.  Moving on to Michael Braungart's story; his work with Greenpeace seemed to help form his passion about environmentally friendly chemistry.  After forming EPEA, he met Bill in 1991 at a reception in New York City.  They soon founded McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry together and have focused their goals to research and design principles.  The main thought at this point is that "Nature doesn't have a design problem. People do."

CR05

I thought learning about colors was pretty basic. Who knew there was so much more to learn? Some of the terms were very new to me or I had definitions confused with other ones.  Chroma was a new term although I had already known saturation.  The difference between shade and tint is obvious, but they are easily mixed up in my mind because of the well-known 'tinting' of windows.
Learning that as a designer we can control the sustainability of products is very important.  Making something last as long as possible and then the lessening the waste coming from that product at the end of it's life is also an essential thought. Creating things that can be recycled and are eco-friendly is what will save our world, so we don't have overflowing land fills or and over production of pollution.

J05 - 50 Things

A trip to the grocery store...

1. automatic doors slide open
2. carts to my right
3. shaky wheel on the front of the cart
4. produce section
5. woman contemplating between two apples
6. bagged lettuce for salad goes in my cart
7. the sprinkler turns on over all the greens
8. temptation while passing the bakery
9. 11 choices of turkey in the deli
10. regular pastrami or turkey pastrami
11. end-cap full of Nilla Wafers
12. bread aisle
13. wheat or white
14. donuts
15. bagels
16. Oreos
17. kids begging for cookies
18. annoyed mom
19. kids whining and hanging on their cart wanting to climb in
20. annoyed me
21. traffic jam near the registers
22. attempt to get around the corner into the cereal aisle
23. so many cereal options
24. health-conscious cereals near each other
25. most 'kids' cereals are made with whole grains
26. seafood section--so expensive (no shrimp for me)
27. ground meat
28. chicken breast package is leaking, yuck.
29. people won't let me near the bag dispenser
30. chicken juice on my hand
31. hand sanitizer on the wall outside the restroom
32. open doors to get milk
33. grab 2 gallons of skim
34. there is less 2% than any other kind
35. yogurt: 10 for $10
36. white chocolate strawberry is gone :/
37. more key lime pie then!
38. why so many types of shredded cheese?!
39. Mexican blend looks most appealing
40. cheese choices seem difficult to all around me
41. where are the low-fat Kraft Singles? kind of hidden...
42. the frozen section is my favorite
43. the lights in each doorway only light up when a sensor is activated by someone walking passed it
44. the grocery store is trying to save energy.. GO GREEN!
45. frozen pancakes or frozen waffles
46. lots of people choose the healthier frozen items
47. most of the items I choose are frozen (last longer---waste less money)
48. someone in line couldn't buy alcohol because they were with someone under 21...stupid!
49. I seem to be the only one around using coupons
50. do they not ask for paper or plastic anymore?

A03 - Hunting Down Design

Clue 01:

The Barcelona Chair, design by Mies van der Rohe, was designed specifically for the German Pavilion at the International Exposition of 1929.  The inspiration for this piece came from folding chairs of that time.  The Barcelona Chair is now seen as an icon of Modernism.

Clue 02:

The Bertoia or Diamond Chair was designed by Harry Bertoia.  He designed this in the 1950s while under the patronage of Hans and Florance Knoll.  The magazine I chose to read was the Harvard Design Magazine.

Clue 03:

The Wexner Center, designed by Peter Eisenman, is one of the most modern structures on campus.  There are many unique features of this structure, one being the Tower-like feature seen on several parts of the building, These were built to replicate those on the building that stood on the spot where the Wexner Center now stands. The Armory (pictured below) burned down in the 1950s because the resin/material used to coat the floors in one of the main rooms caught fire.

Clue 04:

This building is the Math Tower designed by architect Philip Johnson who also designed the Science and Engineering Library.  Below is a photograph of the two brick arches inside the building.  We thought these were unique because it is a narrow building with little detail and these archways spice it up a bit!

Clue 05:

The Thompson Library, designed by local architects Acock & Associates, is one of the newly renovated structures on campus.  The renovation of this building is controversial because it is considered a Historic Ohio Landmark and the existing frontal structure cannot be altered.  Therefore, the inner parts of the library were modified as well as the rear, giving it a newly modernized look and making it much more functional for students and faculty.

My partner's, Craig Sonnenberg, blog can be found at http://fraichestyle.blogspot.com/.

RR04

All over the world individuals and groups search for identities within their cultures and societies.  Searching for that identity is not something we do by choice, but rather an act we perform subconsciously.  Just like individuals, companies want to establish an identity also.  Culture affects companies in a similar way that it affects individuals.  There are some companies who are responsible for creating a product for multiple different countries and making the same item isn't always possible.  They need to alter the item to fit the differentiating cultural needs.  Designing for the convenience of cultures may be difficult, but it is necessary. Whether the design is something being used or some form of visual merchandising, it needs to have an individual identity to fit the users and consumers.

Systems may not be something we think about everyday, but we do use them all the time.  Different systems, such as roadways/transportation, computer, business, and banking, are all step-by-step procedures that we think of as a whole.  We, as users of these systems, are so accustomed to they flow of everyday life that we don't notice all the little pieces of each network.  They are designed a specific way to be convenient and helpful so that these small steps don't seem like just that.

J04

I wish I had more to post. I'm sure I saw so many more over the course of the week, but unfortunately I'm just not that perceptive.