IAR221- Blog Post #14- My object, space, building, + place

In pondering on me as a designer, I begin to realize what influences me and the work I do. Design influences me in several ways. Perhaps it in fact influences everyone in some way. Whether it is just by using the designed object, space, building, or place or by gaining knowledge and feeling through it, everyone is influenced by design. Design envelopes and covers the world in which we live. It is everywhere to be seen and is in everything we do. On furthering this thought I chose an object, space, building, and place that I feel best represent me as a designer, what in fact influences me the most, and what inspires me to be a designer and take risks.

Object:

The LEGO block

The lego block is the object that best influences and describes me as a designer. Its being "nothing and turning into something" intrigues my mind. I love how every time you go to build something it is always different than the time before; you can never get it to be the exact same. It plays with ones creativity and thoughtfulness in decision making. Anything built with them turns into a magnificent masterpiece, whether it be structurally built or a bundled mess. It allows one to create design even if they don't consider themselves a designer. I love how it takes adding "parts together to make a whole". It is by the combination and joining together and the thoughtfulness of which ones are to be matched together that makes them so remarkable and design worthy.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6484772

Space:

Jason de Caires Taylor's Underwater Sculpture

Taylor's Underwater sculpture is located in a space one would never believe. Its mystery and suspense, as well as its embodyment into the earth and allowing nature to form and fit into it makes this space, one all must see. Its uniqueness and the qualities above make it design worthy. It inspires me and pushes me to realize to think out of the box. Just because something is typically seen another way, does not mean that it can not be done another. Taking everyday objects, or things we take for granted and moving it to a location where it would be seen unfit actually can work. I believe that purpose went into this decision. Perhaps it is to represent all the lives lost in the ocean and deep waters and their life under the water; almost "afterlife" like. It is like the fish and sea creatures begin to nurture and feed them to give them life and purpose.

http://www.underwatersculpture.com/pages/artist/about.htm

Building:

The buildings of Dubai (Hydropolis underwater hotel + Dubai opera house)

The buildings of Dubai have such meaning, purpose, form, flow, and uniqueness, that each one holds its own favorable use. What intrigues me the most about these buildings is the use of the nature around them in designing them. They easily attach to the landscape as if they were meant to be there. It is coincidental that these buildings that take a nature approach actually sit on an island that was man made with natural resources (sand, etc). Or perhaps it was meant to be that way. Everything about the buildings imply nature and the future. I am inspired by this incorporation of nature and the literal approach taken. Yet, though it is this way, the buildings still look like something new that we have never seen before, yet we actually have seen such things similar. It reminds me that a designer can take anything they see and make it their own, even the natural things found on earth.

http://www.bustachange.com/underwater-hotel-sleeping-with-the-fishes/

http://www.samsal.com/2009/05/dubai-opera-house.html

Place:

The Blue Ridge Parkway and the Viaduct

When thinking of a place that would best represent what inspires me as an individual and a designer, the blue ridge parkway and the viaduct came to mind. I love nature, the mountains and the serenity and calmness it has. As a designer, I feel like the viaduct on the mountain. I curve in and out of mountains and obstacles that come my way. It is by the ups and downs that one learns and accomplishes design. Sometimes it is through the mistakes that great design comes. This place encourages me to take risks, jump away from the mountain, and hold onto it when necessary. Its beauty is added to by the changing of the seasons and the cars that detour it and take it for a ride.

http://www.grandfather.com/conservation_interpretation/blue_ridge_parkway.php

http://ashevillencvacation.com/blog/category/blue-ridge-parkway/

These four things represent where I am as a designer, what influences me and inspires me, and what makes the things I design the way they are. Without these 4 things, i am not sure where my design career may be. This is my objects, spaces, buildings, and places, and who I am.

IAR221- Extra Credit (Two views of design)

In class discussion today, we compared the two common views of design in today's world. What is true design? Is it what we see on the television like shows on HGTV? Are the designers on that channel educated? All of these questions were in our minds. This in turn led us to take a closer look into what the two views of design are. It also led us individually to ponder on what we consider design. This is what I believe design and "true" design is.

As a designer, I feel it is necessary to have a background in education. Though a true designer is born with a designer mind, education will help allow the mind to think differently and access more possibilites when designing something rather than making a quick decision. Education helps a designer know more of the types of design, the ways others design, and the practice for future careers. With an education, one will be able to be more advanced than one who did not further their education. One disagreement to my statement is that what if the designer who is educated has no design sense or style; That is very true. To be a true great designer, one needs both a designer mind as well as an educational background. This educational background in itself allows one to have credentials and experience in the design field when they are ready for a job. This is important in helping the designer obtain a good job and open their opportunities. Without credentials and experience it will be more of a challenge for a designer to go out and design in the world.

Though education, experience, and credentials all are important, the individual designer and how they form design is equally important. It is very important for one to take a holistic approach to design. Things should have meaning and fit together. The quote, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" is a great example of this. As an interior designer, you do not want to decorate a room in a home that does not fit the rest of the house unless it was meant to stand out or be separate from the home.Therefore, taking a holistic approach is very important as well as having a concept and design motive for any design task. As a designer, having this holistic approach and design knowledge, one will bring creativity and uniqueness to the profession and to the atmosphere at hand. Often these designers and the actual process it takes to design is misinterpreted in television shows and in magazines. On the show Design Star, they will often make it seem as if a designer can throw a room together in thirty minutes or an hour and just think of the perfect design in a second. Which in reality, we all in the true design profession know that this is not what happens. It often takes hours and days to come up with all you need to redo a room or space. These show designers also design more for the fame and money rather than taking their own styles and using it regardless of what they may lose. However, I do feel like some designers do it for their own love of design and push the television programs into letting them have their own style and do what they dream of. But, we all know that all designers face limitations in budget, how much their client can afford, and how what resources they have to use. Media plays a huge role in interior design and how it is judged and thought of, but it is through us as designers that we can show the world what interior design is capable of and what it really is about.

HGTV design show that often misinterprets true interior design and what really takes place

UNCG IAR Lab (College designers working hard at learning more and practicing design skill)

IAR221- Blog Post #13 Scandinavian Modern

Scandinavian Modernism has an important legacy to design today and in the ways in which designers think. Its way of expressing through the use of curved corners, exposing finished edges, yet allowing simplicity and smoothness makes this a desirable form for all. Today the desires for simple yet comforting and smooth is met through Scandinavian design and experimenting from them. A great example of this is the Turning Torso building in Malmo, Sweden.

This building, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, is emulating the turning torso of a human being. It shows the way in which our back turns creating a since of smoothness in flow and movement while producing curves. The tower itself not only showing this but also simplicity in use of color (white), as well as repetition and functionality of residence. The building reaches to a height of 190 meters and totals 54 stories. The building also consists of 9 cubes. each rotating slightly each time it moves upward.  This building also holds 147 flats, offices, and conference rooms, and facilities for the tenants. The functionality of this apartment building is great by the use of amenities, number of elevators, and the availability of the tenants. Also, the building holds high speed elevators to transport the tenants; it only takes them 38 seconds to reach the top floor to help someone. This itself proves of the buildings functionality. The turning torso is a great example of Scandinavian design and through this one can see how people all around the world today try and make their skyscrapers top of the line yet simple just like this one.








 






Sources:
http://inspire.2ia.pl/post/35737357/turning-torso-apartment-building-in-malmo-sweden
http://www.woonq.com/2008/12
http://www.flickr.com/photos/venteco/2720427648/
http://mithhilarora.blogspot.com/2006/12/turning-tower-of-santiago-calatravas.html

IAR221- Reading Response #13- Farnsworth

sources:

http://history-of-architecture-frank.wiki.uml.edu/Exam+2

http://www.architakes.com/?p=3266

http://architecturelab.net/farnsworth-house-opens-for-special-tours-wednesdays-and-weekends-through-october-2008-2311/

http://fourdivisions.co.uk/farnsworth-house-floor-plan-dimensions&page=3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mies_van_der_Rohe_photo_Farnsworth_House_Plano_USA_9.jpg

http://maciejratajski.blogspot.com/2009/12/philip-johnson-glass-house.html

http://fmcog.org/stelle-johnson-county-texas-philip-tinsley/

 

 

 

 

 

IAR221- Blog Post #12- artifact represents good design

An artifact representing good design is in my definition one that serves all people, reasonably priced, and provides some form of comfort and positivity to ones life. The "good design for all" artifact that I choose is the T-shirt.

T-shirt: a thin, knitted shirt which is pulled over the head to cover most of a person's torso. It is ususally buttonless, collarless,  with a round neck and short sleeves.

Made back in the 19th C. for the use of undergarments, the t-shirt is now used for a variety of uses. It was first used by miners and stevedores to help cover the body in the hot temperature months. It was made comfortable by its absorbensy, durable quality, ease of cleaning, and breathable textile. The US Navy then issued t-shirts as uniform during the Spanish American War, making the shirt popular in the US. Workers of all occupations began including the t-shirt in their work attire. It was then included in boy attire. In the 1960s, the t-shirt took a hit. It now became used as a medium for wearable art and expression. Today, they are used for politics, protesting, art, pop culture, and memoir. They are even used to advertise for businesses, schools, corporations, etc.

What makes this object/artifact so design great is because of its inexpensive, comfortable, multiuse qualities. People can even create their own designed t-shirt through tie-dye or even using markers or paint. This is a good design artifact.

wear it in all colors

represent school pride

advertise

Its a perfect craft for all ages!

create art with a t-shirt

sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-shirt
http://www.t-shirtcountdown.com/t-shirts/history.html
http://www.markedixon.com/new_page_10.htm
http://tshirtriches.com/
http://tcritic.com/archives/tide-selling-vintage-washed-t-shirts-for-charity/
http://www.rockbrookcamp.com/blog/summer-camps-craft.html
http://www.asapshirt.com/tie_dyes.htm
http://sales.buysmrt.com/UNC+Greensboro+Spartans+T+Shirt+Nike+UNC+Greensboro+Spartans+Navy+Blue+Ladies+Team+Logo+T+Shirt

IAR221- Reading Response #12- Bringing Nature to the City

 Sources: Ching,Roth

 http://mappery.com/Central-Park-Map

 http://americanthings.wordpress.com/2010/12/

http://www.centralpark.com/photos/show/12862/fun-in-central-park

http://andrewprokos.com/photos/new-york/central-park/central-park-waterfall-autumn/

http://fwymedia.org/news-and-views/

IAR221- Unit Summary #2 Reverberations

In focusing on architecture and the elements it possess as well as the elements it gives to the earth, one can see that architecture has flow, rhythm, unity, and tone just as the way music does. One knows that music is a cultural thing, and that music works within a specific setting to come across appropriate. Architecture is the same way; it must work within the setting it takes place. In fact, architecture may be called “frozen music”. It is the “music in space, as it were, a frozen music.” (Friedrich von Schelling). An architectural “music” in Mexico may have a drumming tone, while one in India may have a harp like features and tones.

As the first millennium ends and the new modern world begin, we are approached with the “dark ages”. It is when the “maps” begin to unfold and the mental processing of location takes hold. People are beginning to acquire, code, store, and recall information about relative locations and attributes of everyday environment and use it to their advantages. One way in which this was made possible is through the importance of the church in the city, where it was located, and the features that make it stand out connecting it to the music like features. It is during this time period that the church is a large-scale communal ritual space overlapping with the message of imperial glory. It becomes the center of all around it and the most important place to be; the one location that links the people to the church and allows them to have connection with God. We see the importance of religious faith and the trinity in the combination of windows in groupings of three and the embedded material and carving to help relate and retell the stories of the Bible. The church is the place people can go for hope and light in a time that is “dark”. It gives a happy “noise” and rhythm and sound of security. This “light” and security is represented through the use of natural light directing one through the space and to the alter. It is also represented through the verticality of the windows, columns, and space uniting all cathedrals. By the rules being set through this structure people began to feel constrained.

People began to think that breaking the rules and having the church the main focus was no longer desirable and sought to go back to having rules. It was time for a “rulebook” to be established and for the classical ways of architecture be brought back. In the western world, the challenge was to re-link to the ancients. They begin to say that everything should be rational and clear, contain groves and stacks when possible, and place the man at the center. They started to focus on perspective drawing and the “ideal city” and look at the map of settlers travel. An example of the Westerns new theory of thinking of architecture and the “rules” in which they assigned is the Palazzo Medici. As one moves their eye vertical upward can see that the roughness of the structure get less and that the openings and scale does the same. Also, this is a representation of the use of groves and stacks. While the western world is focused on re-linking to the ancient world, the east continues to focus on the past. They continue to hold onto the same building forms throughout time, focusing on their importance. They replace the parts that are out rather than coming up with something new, they continue to layer in groves and stacks, celebrate the surface and materiality, and focus on nature and community needs. An example of this continuation cycle of the past and the “rules” they follow can be seen in the guwwat-ul-islam mosque.

Palazzo Medici

guwwat-ul-islam

Now that the west finally has rules to follow, they begin to bend and break them. They start to play around with the different ways of doing things. The palazzo del te in Italy is an example of the breaking of rules. It also goes back to the idea that architecture is musical and like music “frozen” in time. We see the musicality in the columns and arches giving a since of rhythm. Another example of the new idea of breaking the rule is in the Villa Rotunda in Italy. We see the breaking of rules in that the building has four entrances/facades. This poses a problem with where to enter and with the direction of the sun in relation to the building.

Palazzo del te

Villa Rotunda

The cause of these new ways of designing is in part due to expanding the colonial world and breaking away. This colonial expansion brings ideas and people around the world together. It is because of an existing hidden set of rules and conventions that meanings to a particular social group are made universal. This allows the uncovering of everyday lifestyles and cultures which all posses’ value. It is now that one sees how persuasive architecture is. One uses objects, spaces, buildings, and places to “write” about these cultures and show how different they really are. People begin to incorporate and distribute architectural ideas, making the ever cultural world global and as one. We see this through the use of Roman architecture in our Capitol building in Washington, DC and in the plan of the city as well as our (US) contribution by the invention of the skyscraper. Though cultures combine other cultures ideas and designs they maintain their own unique designs making them ever more important and meaningful.

capitol building, washington DC: shows roman architecture being used in America

The combining of cultures and now being able to see globally without going away has brought cultures to advance. And it is due to this new knowledge of what is out there that a revolution in America begins to unfold. America begins to compete with others in making mass production faster than before. We start to make things advance technologically making everything modern and easier to build. It at this time that modernism arose and begins to dominate.

Factory during American Industrial Revolution

    Sources: Ching, Roth
http://blog.ratestogo.com/top-20-things-to-do-in-florence-i/
http://italia.pordescubrir.com/palazzo-de-te-obra-de-artr-en-lombardia.html
http://travel.sulekha.com/quwwat-ul-islam-mosque-photos.htm
http://www.newurbanarchitect.com/tradarch/villa-rotunda-vicenza-italy
http://www.freemasonrywatch.org/blog/
http://www.303rdbg.com/pp-cologne.html
http://industrialrevolutionresearch.com/