Design and its process is often defined as making or working out a plan for; to devise; the act of working out the form of something; an arrangement scheme; a decorative or artistic work. Design is and can be all of these definitions, but for me I believe design stands for much more. For this blog post we were to read a few articles in Designerly Ways of Knowing, by Nigel Cross and What Designers Know, by Bryan Lawson. Before reading these I had an assumption and predetermination of what design was, but I had not fully thought of what all design really is. While reading these articles, I discovered that all the little tasks I complete in studio is in fact designing and the steps to designing; it is not just the finished product that makes design. It was at this realization that I found my own manifesto about design.
I define design as a form of talent a human gains at birth, or obtains through practice. Designing can be accomplished by pupils of any age, but the intensity and depth of the design may differ. Design is something that persuades, explores, develops, a thought process, reflects, is intricate, and well crafted.
As one is designing, often they start with an idea that pops inside their head after they are persuaded by something. For others it's exploring different places and objects. Some people also design things because they are forced to design based off a given rubric in a specific time. But, no matter what the circumstance is, every single design is special and made for a purpose. Every design and process towards that design is delicate and worthy. One cannot just take their idea or their assignment and make it happen immediately. Perhaps some do get lucky at times and do not have to take as many steps to the final product, but this is very rare. Designing is a process and through this process designers will explore new methods, experiment with different ways of doing things, use different media and get persuaded by others. Through these steps and frequent turning of events, a designer will reflect on what they had achieved or failed and decide what is necessary for the final steps.
In creating the final masterpiece, a designer will work intricately and carefully to make the product in the best and most well crafted way possible to achieve their invention.
Because all of these small steps are necessary to achieve a design, I believe designing and its process is hard work and that it should be honored by everyone. For if design and its process did not exist or there were no designers to design things for the future where would our world be today or in the future to come? Would we still have the light bulb, electricity, computers, or a cell phone?
Design is a necessity for life. It is what makes this world functional and livable. Without designers we would not have the luxuries we have today. Design keeps the world new, fresh, and lively. It is our world.
For our second reading response we had to respond to something in the 400 BCE era. So for my response I chose to discuss and represent what temple interest me the most, the Erectheum. I love the story behind what the Erectheum represents between Poseidon and Athena. The marking spot of Poseidon's trident is very interesting and neat.
For the next upcoming project in studio, we are to research social networking in a specific country. The country I was given was Saudi Arabia. At the start of my search I had no clue about social networking in Saudi Arabia or much about the country for that matter. So I began to research and here is what I found.
There are several controversies when social networking is brought up in Saudi Arabia. Due to their conservative beliefs and values often social networking sites, such as facebook are seen as being "sinful". These social networking sites are also blocked from access at certain times. This causes problems for those individuals in the work force when they are unable to do their work and have their voices heard. Not only are working individuals having a hard time trying to social network, but teens are as well.
In Saudi Arabia, gender mixing is very strict. Because of the conservative values the country has it is very hard for teens and young adults to meet those of the opposite sex and start relationships. They seek to have a facebook in order to pass these restrictions and meet each other. Though we as Americans take this for granted, Saudi Arabians have to work very hard to secretly get on the websites to connect with each other. It has been so strict at times that a young Saudi Arabian teen was killed by her father because she was caught talking to a boy on facebook. But, over the past few years more and more Saudi Arabians have gained access to sites like facebook and has increased the interactions between the two sexes. The Arabians are becoming more and more liberal each and everyday and are hoping the government will soon catch up.
In taking these research findings into consideration, my ideas of a social networking space for Saudi Arabia will take the focus to help make social networking more acceptible and give parents and those more conservative a reason to accept the cause. Possibly I will not only create a space for teens and young adults to social network, but also a space that will help educate the Saudi Arabians on what all social networking can offer.
Below I have attached websites that contain some of this information that you may want to take a look at!
This past week we had color week in both studio and design visualization. Throughout the week we learned how to train out eyes to read color as well as learn about color theory. As the week went on, we progressed in daily assignments which gave us an overall composition of color. In the pictures below you will not only see my color week compositions and what I learned and accomplished, but also what the class learned as a whole. The wall we filled as a class is a perfect representation of what color week was all about.
The Color Wall
My Color Creations:
My Color Palette that I will use the rest of the semester
projects #1 and #2 (mixing two colors)
project #3 (mixing two colors four times)
project #4 (mixing three colors)
project #5 final (composition of the seasons using color palette)
For this weeks blog post we are to take the ten idea principles discussed in class with the Acropolis and Xianyang Palace and apply them to our campus here at UNCG. Here is what I HYPOTHESIZE:
1. Space
In thinking about the space of UNCG, the following words come to mind: enclosed, honored, and reserved. If you take a look at the campus entrances here at UNCG, one would get a since that the campus is enclosed and has a barrier surrounding it. What makes one fill this way is the implied barrier the campus has through the brick walls on either side of the four entrances. This space is reserved for those who have come here to learn and receive higher education. Though one can drive through campus, this barrier shows that reverence for the ones who are actually attending the university. The space of this campus is also honored by the surrounding area as well as people because of its history and purpose. The space also honors all the alumni, the Womens College of North Carolina as well as the founder, Charles Duncan McIver.
2. Power
When thinking about power associated with the university, I hypothesize that power is having a better education. If one thinks about it, someone who applies for a job with a college degree against someone who does not, will more than likely receive the job. It is similar to the hierarchy of the Egyptian pyramids; the higher your education, the higher your ranking and your pay will be. Therefore, the people who attend college at this campus will more than likely be recieving a higher power than someone who does not. That does not mean to not consider other universities because they too help people receive these "powers". But, in looking at statistics and ratings, UNCG is said to be a "Best Value college", as well as one of the most diverse campus' around.
Power of UNCG is also represented in the statues of Minerva and Charles McIver. Minerva represents power in wisdom, intellegence, learning, and discipline of war. Charles McIver represents power in founding the campus as well as knowledge.
3. Experience
There is a ton to relate to experience here at UNCG. When first looking at experience represented here at the university I think of dorm life and being away from home. This campus represents a new start and a new beginning and faze of your life. Ones experience here will be with them forever. This is evident in the Alumni house. Due to peoples experiences here when they attended, they would like to still contribute and give back to the university as well as be a part of it. This campus is something that will give us experiences that will be with us forever. Another example of experience on campus is the graduate sidewalk through the park. It is here that we as students and faculty can walk over and see the names of those impacted through experience here at uncg through there completion of studies and graduation from the university. By walking this sidewalk and seeing the names, we are gaining an experience ourselves before we come to that part of our journey.
4. Principles
When thinking about principles I think of beliefs and purpose of the campus. Some of these are "School comes first" and "A student should devote so many hours to their studies a week". These beliefs are some of the principles here on campus and this is evident in all the areas devoted to student learning, especially the library, the campus meals to go, and the writing center.
5. Precedent
In thinking of precedents in relation to campus I think of campus protection and location. UNCG is located in the city which has a lot around it, however based off the layout and ways of protection, one can feel safe here on campus. This is shown through the campus' overall design.
6. Site
The site of campus is in Greensboro, NC. It is located close to the downtown area, but is not in downtown, making it convenient yet home like. The campus takes pride in its site in showing Greensboro in the name of the school as well as on the signs around campus. Pictures inside some of the buildings also show this dedication and pride in its site.
7. Order
Order of the UNCG campus is to help harmonize the area and yet make it serious. That is when looking at the campus layout, buildings, etc. This is also seen in the ranking of student classification; seniors have a higher classification than freshmen. Order of the campus also often suggests that one, "complete this to do that" approach. An example of this approach in order is having prerequisites for classes. A way this campus has used order is by making each specific school have its own unique building, especially designed for them. We see this in the School of Education building and the Stone Building (HES).
8. Scale
UNCG has a wide scale in my mind. Scaling of building and the school has changed over the years. It started off as one building and now has well over 50 on 210 acres. Not only is the scale of the buildings changed, but also in what the school offers in learning. UNCG now offers over 100 undergraduate degrees, 61 masters, and 26 doctorate degrees. Students also come from farther away than ever before. UNCG has a diverse population of students coming from 46 states and 90 countries. This campus has went out of the actual land scale to a global scale, making their name known to the world.
9. Technology
Technology on the UNCG campus is everywhere. It is in students pockets, backpacks, in the food court, computer labs, the library, the lighting in and out of buildings as well in the architecture surrounding the school. In taking a look at the first building built on campus to the newest one being built today, one can see that technology has risen to new and greater heights. Newer buildings on campus now offer more steel beams and glass windows, which brings us to the next idea of surface.
10. Surface
In looking at the surfaces of the buildings on campus, one can see the changes of time. The oldest builing (Foust 1891) is made of brick, has old pane windows, and a more gothic style approach to it. The newest builings being built today (The new Education Building and new dormitory) show steel beams, glass windows, and a more modern style. Surface of the campus will and has continued to change over the years.
For our first project in Studio this semester, we were to create a box with dimensions : 12x12x18 with one of the 12x12 sides left open. We were then instructed to make slits in the box and try to divide the box into four distinct places/spaces of light. My idea and execution for this project was to make the box have the most minimal slits possible. I made a small scale model which had removal tops so I could try out several ideas. In my final idea I have one slit at the top at an angle. This slit is a triangle shape. To make four distinct spaces I chose to use two light sources. One light source (my desk lamp) is places laying parallel to my box on the same table. This light is warm so it makes an orange tint inside the box. The other light is a cool light source and is positioned right above the crack at the top of my box. The two structures (bristol board) inside the box are used to divide the light sources as well as let the light spaces stand out. A scale figure was also added for the viewer to get an idea as to what scale this building would be in.
Scale model used in processing ideas and thoughts
Scale model tops of the box with measurements
scale figure and view of inside the right section of the final box
light box in day light and with natural light going in it
light box with light sources on it. The four sections of light are visible
