COLOR TRANSFORMS MY HOLIDAY SPIRIT

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Our world is full of vibrant color that catches our attention and sparks our interest. It is a vivacious and animated way of speaking to its audience and lifting our spirits. Color dances with our eyes and creates a vision of beauty and spectacular momentum. Since color is so evident around us, I decided to bring up the most exciting time of year, Christmas. Edward Johnson created the first string of electric Christmas lights in 1890. The festive lighting during the Christmas season then  became a tradition for many Christian, and has even became such a recognizable and tacky way of celebrating the holidays.  Every year neighborhoods everywhere, as well as companies and businesses decided to celebrate the holidays with a little bit of color. Not only color but bright lights and traditional lit up figures like Santa Claus and his reindeer. According to Albers, a color theorist, color is always changing and playing tricks on our eyes. We look at color in relation to those color that are surrounded with it, and when it comes to Christmas the variety of colors that families and friends display on their houses each year has the ability to appear in all different shapes, sizes, and shades. The lights interact with the background, and each color as an influence on each other to untimely creates a stunning and impressive display of ones Christmas Spirit.  As Albers would say, its almost impossible to see color by itself. Because of such a long standing tradition now color is represented in a such a festive and elaborate way that melts our hearts and sparkles in our eyes. 

DESIGN IS DANGEROUS: Hot Rod or Death Sentence

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Design has many good intentions. It is meant to attract our attention, intrigue us, and broaden our horizons. However sometimes design can have an element of danger. Even though we may know that there is a risk to acquiring this design we still purchase it our desire it because the design has a cool or trendy element.  However, is being cool or looking stylish worth the risk of losing your life? I am refereeing to motorcycles. Motorcycles have a very unique and sleek design that allows a driver to transport themselves faster, however it is not always the safest way. Motorcycles expose the driver, especially when it maneuvers throughout traffic; making it a vulnerable target to accidents. Also there is hardly any protection, which is extremely dangerous because accidents with larger vehicles can result in death. For example, there is an average of 3570 motorcycle deaths per year.  So why do we risk their lives all for the want and need of a particular design, or make or model? Why does design blur our conscience to believing that we must acquire it and ignore the elements of danger? For one thing, it has to do with the marketing of the product and meaning we put behind it. Also, many people cannot afford to buy a nice safe SUV or afford gas prices, so they result to purchasing a design that fits their lifestyle and their budget.  In conclusion,  designs that are dangerous may seem unneeded, but sometimes we must sacrifice the possible to risks. However, sometimes we completely ignore the risks just because we are taught to think that we must have a particular design or product.  

DESIGN IN SOCIETY: Utopian Design

The symbol above should be a recognizable design because it has been incorporated into almost all aspects of our lives. From our cars, to our garbage, to the water bottles we use, even in our grocery stores. Everyone has started to “think greener” and has started a global awareness of saving our earth, and it is all thanks to a slogan and design that almost immediately reminds us to recycle or reuse.

The design of the “Think Green” symbol and the campaigns that sweep our country to motivate people to save our earth,  possess a  very utopian like quality. Utopian means that it aims to improve our society. This symbol may not be a specific design that actually improves our society, but it is a reminder to our world to live smarted and to help preserve our earth for as long as we can. It has become such a recognizable symbol that it has produced a very strong impact amongst our society.  Its ironic to me that to catch our society’s attention, we chose to design something so simple and straightforward. However, the meaning behind that design, and the message it is sending is much greater. Its incredible how much meaning we can put into our design, yet the design seems so simple, that all I can think about is how complicated it actually is. Three arrows forming a triangle like circle to represent how we must recycle and reuse. The design makes it look so easy, however the design only goes so far. It is the person putting meaning behind the design that must then become an active part of the “Think Green” campaign for it to actually work. 

What's Next???

Image Source: http://www.kinectforxbox360.co.uk/kinect-xbox.jpg

     As soon as I thought our technology couldn’t get anymore advanced, Xbox decides to come out with something absolutely amazing and cutting edge. From the moment I saw it I new that it was something everyone has been waiting for. Years ago,  when Wii came out with a hand held remote controlled gaming system, it seemed as though the makers of Wii had discovered the “Holy Grail” of video games.  Wii took over how video games were played,  and  brought families and friends together with the click of a button.

     That all changed a couple days ago, when the makers of Xbox released what is called Kinect. Unlike Wii, it requires no remotes, or hand held devices. It locates your body position with a small black box placed next to your TV and uses your body movements to direct the game. A friend of mine asked me to try it out a couple days ago, and I had questionable thoughts about it all. How could something so small pick of my body movements so quickly and produce those movements through a computer generated character on the screen? I was asked to played volleyball through Kinect and was extremely skeptical. There was no way it was going to be accurate and quick enough. I expected many delays. However,  I was AMAZED by how clear and precise this system was. It picked up my movements exactly, and is able to locate two people at a time for 2-person play.

This design has raised the bar for our technology, and has only made consumers hungry for more. If makers of Kinect are able to produce such an amazing product, then what is expected to come years from now?

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/kinect 

I've Got a List and I'm Checking It Twice

     Greek etymology has described ergonomics has a word that stresses the importance of design with the human body in mind. For example, Psychologist A. Maslow created a pyramid of human needs, which includes physiological, safety, love, self-esteem, and self-actualization. At the top of this pyramid is a group of transcendent needs: universal peace, universal wisdom, personal peace, and personal wisdom.  These are the needs we dream about and strive for, but are still just as important to pursue. However, our needs do not end there. Our needs stretch beyond into the products that help manage our demanding lives.

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      It is hard to imagine that as humans we require so much, but if we are to be held to such extraordinary expectations we must demand needs that either we must provide for ourselves, or someone else must provide for us. This does not exactly mean that it must be a person who fulfills our needs of purpose, uniqueness, effectiveness, energy, or belongingness directly.  It can be a designer who creates a product that is used by its consumer as desired.  We are not only humans with needs; we are consumers who demand products to fulfill our needs. We may even tap into our transcendent needs and dream about a product to make life easier until someone is brilliant enough to solve the problem for us. For example, a problem as simple as turning your car on with the push of a button, because turning the key was too time consuming in the first place. God forbid the effectiveness of the car is impaired because I find turning a key too time consuming.  In reality, this is the world we live in today, so we must have just has many expectations from our technology and products.

However, just as the consumer has needs, so does the designer. To be fully effective and ultimately accepted a designer one must have functionality, reliability, usability, proficiency, and creativity.  Once a designer has followed such criteria from our demanding world, he/she must still try to make the design unique,  and of something that reflects their vision and style.  Sometimes when designers pay too much attention to how a design looks,  the consumers needs our disregarded.  Which brings me to the basis for design criticism. There are 5 areas of ergonomic research: safety, comfort, ease or use, performance, aesthetics. Ultimately, when these 5 areas are satisfied,  a design is created that makes our life easier.  For example, as an athlete, the demands for performing well are very high, so whenever there is something that can give me an edge on my opponent, or a chance to stay healthy and fit I have to try it. Orthotics are crucial for athletes, especially those who suffer from chronic foot pain. I do not think that many designers understand the importance of how orthotics are designed, and instead look to mass produce them for a fast and easy solution for swollen sore feet.  Therefore, I find it very annoying when orthotics in your local Rite Aid do not do their job. They might do their job, but I have to buy a new pair every month. This led me to pursuing a perfectly designed pair of Orthotics from my local Podiatrist. It had everything I needed, safety, comfort, ease of use, performance, and aesthetics. Even though I decided to leave it to a professional, the price was very alarming,  a price completely over my budget. 

http://www.hemmettchiropractic.com/images/Orthotic.jpg

     On the other hand,  I could not help but find that the price was well worth it because it satisfied each of the 5 areas of ergonomic research: safety, comfort, ease or use, performance, aesthetics. The safety part was satisfied through the strong support that was molded to my foot. Following that was the comfort, which allowed me to perform to my best without pain. They were easy to use and very simple. Unlike orthotics you buy at the store, I didn’t have to cut the orthotic to fit my foot. Continuing on with my appreciation for the product, the performance, and productivity of the product was excellent because they have lasted me 3 years, and I wear them everyday. Aesthetics may play a small role, however I cannot complain, because the simple design is basic and recognizable for my lifestyle. With all that said, I have come to a conclusion from my experience. 

     After shelling out $500 for these orthotics, it seems as though the products or designs that satisfy all my needs seem to be more expensive, and the ones that pretend to be, lack something I wish it had.  If only I could have my cake and eat it too. Or maybe designers could find a way to make my life easier, while staying within my budget. You could say that on my journey towards finding products that satisfy all 5 areas of ergonomic research, I found more transcendent needs to dream and ponder about.  Maslow may have me wishing and hoping for even more, but he has taught me not to settle for anything less than the best, especially when it comes to staying healthy and happy.

*To find out more about Orthotics and their contribution to keeping athletes healthy check out this website--> http://www.guilfordortho.com/orthotics_athletic_performance.htm

Word and Image- The Art of Tattoos

Image Source: http://www.tattoodesignpictures.net/tattoo-design-picture-starwithwords-Iampaulstypingfingers-gallery.jpg    

The relationship between words and images are an essential part of design. We can see this in comics, advertising, commercials, etc. However,  have you ever stopped to wonder about the art that is permanently tattooed onto someone’s body. Whether it be for fun, a dare, or because you want to keep a memory with you at all times, tattoos are amazing pieces of art that are influenced by happenings in ones life.  For example, Lil’ Wayne has essentially tattooed his whole body, with everything from tear drops, to words, quotes, people, places and things, you name it!  His tattoos are poetic and lyrical, and it fulfills his expressive character. People find the urge, for whatever reason, to connect so deeply with words or phrases that they find it imperative to ink it onto their skin. These words or phrases are then transformed into a piece of artwork that is specifically meaningful to that particular person. Of course many people enjoy getting images of symbols tattooed to their body, but understand that the words, phrases, or quotes that people insist on getting tattooed on their body are transformed into an image in itself. Words become a display of meaning and are a significant and unique to that individual.  The idea that words and images share a connection is true. For example, in some ads you cannot have one without the other. But, when words become the image itself they transform into the vehicle for meaning and value. 

Image Source: http://www.doobybrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/lil-wayne-1.jpg

Word and Image

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     The anti-smoking agencies have provided our society clever advertising to persuade or convince us to stop smoking. From commercials, to stats and facts about the effects of smoking, these companies go to great lengths to get their urgent message across. This ad however, stood out to me because of its powerful connotation. Not only that, but the strong relationship between word and image has created  an influential and compelling representation of the deadly effects of smoking. The image is a dramatic interpretation of a cigarette with the end shaped like a skull. Since the skull is a fairly recognizable icon of death, it automatically brings out a significant piece of information. It represents a correlation between smoking and death through design.  Following the image is the words placed below it that read, “Smoking Kills.” This finalizes the piece. If it did not have those two simple words below it, it might leave room for someone to interpret it there own way. This ad leaves no room for error, because when it comes to smoking there is no room for making the mistake of risking your life. “Smoking Kills” completes the ad in a direct and serious way.  Because of the link between the word and image, this ad is more powerful and demanding of the viewers participation. It forces the viewer to reflect upon their decisions and to understand the consequences of smoking that can ultimately be death.