alexschwartz24-blog

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Week 15

For the future of design, I see technology becoming more and more a part of design. Obviously, technology has changed how we design in many ways and the impact it had was tremendous but I think it will continue to grow even further. The first way I see the future of design becoming more technologically involved is through projects that pertain to VR or virtual reality. More specifically the HTC vive which is one of the best VR headset creators and the amount of design that needs to go into creating something that changes your reality is incredible. This is also only the beginning of virtual reality and eventually, it may take over more of our lives. Through carefully thought out designs these devices are specifically made to put you into a new reality by only putting on a headset. Design is going to have to keep up with this new technology as designers aim to make virtual reality identical to our everyday reality. Being relatively new in a sense there will be a large future ahead for virtual reality and new design landscapes. Along with the headset the future of design will address other projects like the controllers that you use while wearing the headset. These controllers right now feel a bit like your playing a game instead of giving you a realistic feeling. The design for these remotes will need to be upgraded to be more comfortable and user-friendly so that the user has a more realistic experience when using a virtual reality device. The third project of the future will also be a chair or station that accompanies the remotes and the heads for VR. The design of the chair will have to be carefully thought out as it can make or break your experience. With technology advances, each and everyday designers will be able to incorporate more and more into the chairs to give you an even better experience. In the end, I think that the future of design and how we design will interlock with technology and they both will evolve together. In my mind, Virtual reality and technology will change the future and become more of a part of our lives than we think. 

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Week 14

Throughout this course, we have engaged upon many interesting topics that have opened my eyes to the world of art and design. I find my self looking at products in a whole new light after learning and reading the material from this class. I began noticing the way I looked at design in objects whenever i went out. The architecture of a building stood out a lot more to me than it did in the past and it would make me start to think of why the building was designed the way that it was and what the purpose the design was. Not only have I been doing this with architecture but also with art pieces. I find my self looking at art in a completely different way. I tend to seek out what is the purpose of an art piece and who are they trying to motivate with their piece. 

A question that comes to mind pertaining to art vs design is whether or not there are objects that have been created out there that are hard distinguish whether they are more in the category of design or art? 

Lastly, I would like to start a discussion on the design of social media. Since social media is becoming more and more a part of our lives every day, I wonder if social media needs to be redesigned because of the harm it can cause. In general social media, apps are designed to be addicting and implement many tactics to keep you on their app as long as possible. I realize that social media is very positive in many different ways because of the connections it can bring. But things like likes and comments on photos or posts can drive people crazy. One way that I think that social media apps could design their apps to be more positive would be to get rid of the like and dislike buttons on their applications. That way the pressure of getting likes is gone and people can have more freedom to post what they want. This is just one issue of social media that I think can be fixed by simply implementing a new design feature. 

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Week 13

The trend of digital aesthetics ushered in a new era of design and way that people created it. The digital aesthetic was focused on creating a technological look that was much different than what was done in the past. In many ways, this was graphic designers embracing technology and incorporating it into their work and showing the people what is now possible. I think that this is was a very positive thing because it forced the way we designed things to improve and grow. The impact that technology would have on design and society was prone to happen at some time and the start of digital aesthetics was only the beginning to how we design items today.

Back in the 1990′s one example of how digital aesthetics were used was in posters that were made for Nike (pg.392). The posters were digitally enhanced to add certain characteristics that would not be possible without the use of technology. But nowadays I believe that posters have become more obsolete and the shift has been more towards what people view on their phones. All the elements that applied to that Nike poster from the 1990′s are still around but now we see those characteristics each and every day on our cellphones. For example, if I look at the home screen of my iPhone I see crisp round apps with clear text below them. The text is very basic and easy to read while the text on the Nike poster was imitating the lettering of a video game. I think it is interesting that most of the text on our cellphones is the same until you jump into an app. The facade of the iPhone home screen is very minimalistic and aesthetically appealing to a lot of people. But when you jump down into an app that is when you see the different uses of digital aesthetics that appeal to the users. Overall, I think that operating systems have begun to use a very basic digital aesthetic that is plain and is easy to comprehend while individual apps on your phone feature more creative aesthetics that are somewhat unique from app to app.

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Week 12

There are many fields that have helped the interactive design field grow. The first thing that I saw that impacted the interactive design field was web design 2.0. I say this because of Web Design 2.0 and what it demanded. Web 2.0 demanded more interaction, more design, better video, clearer audio and much more (pg.397). The design had to be appealing to both businesses and to the consumers. The problem was balancing the design to make sure that the advertiser did not make the site too commercial or manipulative while creating a luxurious interactive feeling (pg.397). The field of interactive design is always changing and updating with all of the new technology that is coming out. It is important that these interactive designers stay up with the consumers and business owners want as they are the ones using interactive design technology through apps and such. 

Next, I believe that the advertising field had a large impact on the interactive design field as we now see ads everywhere through our phones and computers. Nowadays ads on our phones have become more interactive than ever as our technology starts prompting up adds on our phone for items that we have searched for in the past or even similar items. Some people also believe that our phones are listening to us and that when we talk about buying certain items adds will show up on facebook for said items. Then with the click of a flinger, we can interact with an add and find the right location where to purchase an item. Ads have come a long way and are continuing to grow in complexity and sheer volume. Having a smooth interactive design in apps that feature ads is also very important because the ads need to appear appealing and not overwhelming to the customer or else the point of having the ad in the application has failed to do its job.

Overall, these were just a few things that I personally believe impacted the interactive design field and will continue too.

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Week 11

The citizen designer is a very interesting topic because it challenges the norm. Instead of dealing with client-focused problems some designers believe that we should be looking and working on issues that are of concern to our society (pg.425). This is done by designers implementing ideas that address societal issues in their commercial work. By doing this these designers are creating a design community where they can go and work on these issues through their designs (pg.425). During the 19th century is where we can first see the idea of what it meant to be a responsible citizen designer. One of the first artist to start this movement was William Morris who was the leader of the Arts and Crafts movement (pg.425). 

An interesting example that one way these designers can be more responsible is by using recycled paper in more than one way (pg.425). This shows that the designer is more conscious of the effect he has on the environment and what he is doing to limit it. Another key piece of information that I read about had to do with what Bruce Mau said in 1959 that “ Massive change is not about the world of design; it's about the design of the world” (426). This stood out to me because most people think that changes occur in the design world when in reality the major changes are the ones that are being done to the outside world.

In today's world citizen designers is ever more important because of the societal issues that are arising each and every day. These designers have the power to bring these issues to light through their work. The sustainability of the citizen designer sums this up well “the balanced use of natural, social and economic capital for the continued health of the planet and future generations” (pg.425). 

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Week 10

While looking through the various reading on Typography I became intrigued when I got to the nineteenth-century type. I became enamored by this section because of all the innovative typefaces that become popular during this type. This is the beginning of an era of decorative and display signs that needed fonts that stood out from each other and caught the public eye. It is wild to think that the famous sans serif font was used all the way back for commercial use in 1816 and is still popular till this day. At first the sans serif seemed to be a copy of another typeface but eventually, it found its home as it was used in advertising. 

Moving on from that, back in the early 1800′s wood type was created by using a wood router machine. The slab serif was created and used heavy rectangular serifs. This stood out to me because I remember learning about this way back in the day and it leads me to look deeper into it. I even began to do wood carvings at the time because the idea of wood type font was interesting to me. During the time that slab serif came about, there were many other types that began to grow in popularity but slab serif still stood out in its own way. It is weird to me how much a certain typeface can have an impact on how advertisements are done and how important they really are to the overall image. 

Then we have the gothic sans serif that came about in Europe. It was not fully in use until decades later than its creation but it set the bar for many other typefaces that were created during the 20th century. All in all the 19th century is home to a lot of typefaces that are still being used today and even lead the way for many others.

Pages 45-50 Graphic Design A New History 

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Week 9

Brook Stevens was an absolute legend for his time and contributed a lot to the world and to Milwaukee. Milwaukee was home to many big companies like Miller and Harley Davidson. Stevens made many contributions to these large industrial companies and even designed the logo for Miller. As for Harley Davidson, Stevens even worked on some of the post-war designs for the bikes. Brooks Stevens helped put Milwaukee on the map for its industrial design and contributed many things to the city. Even during his early years, Stevens helped redesign logos for companies and eventually designed the MSOE logo that is still used until this day. He used his unique ways of design and style to help companies with sales and marketing. The reason I think Stevens come back to Milwaukee and stayed was because of all the great companies that were booming during his time and he felt that he could help them out. His designs helped revolutionize and improve companies in the area where he grew up. This all eventually led to the major impact Milwaukee had on the industrial design era. Every day we can see that impact that Brook Stevens had on Milwaukee, whether we're eating a hot dog or enjoying a Miller high life it was partly thanks to him. The accomplishments that Stevens made in Milwaukee I think made him happy with his choice of returning and staying in Milwaukee and we will all remember his impact that he had on our city. 

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My first observation was my computer desk which encumbers very straight lines and is made from solid wood. The desk drawers have a carved pattern that starts at the top drawer and goes down to the bottom one. The texture of the desk is grainy but smooth at the same time.

Next, I have my pencil sharpening that was designed to be compact and self-cleaning. The small compartment below the hole houses a removable shell that collects the shavings. The finish is a rubberized coating that prevents the sharpener from sliding around. 

Then I have my unusual lamp that twists and winds. Near the top, the two metal rods come together and connect to form one. Near the top as well there are two glass balls that are mounted above and under each other that glow when the light is turned on.

My computer monitor is a 7 inch curved Samsung that is not flat like a majority of monitors. I notice a subtle difference when using this monitor and enjoy that design aspect of it. The base is designed to be wide enough to keep the monitor in a sturdy position. The base can also be removed and put on a mount and that is something I am planning to do with this monitor so that I can have two in front of me. The monitor is packed with many different options that allow you to get the most out of it.

Lastly, I have my iPhone 8 plus that has somewhat of a large screen but at the time it was designed apple decided to leave a lot of negative space on the front of the phone that serves no purpose. Overall the design is very clean but basic and incorporates metal and glass. The all-glass design on the back now allows me to wirelessly charge my phone.

The last five photos that I have taken were elements of design that saw outside of my life at home.

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Week 7

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                                                          Week 6

While in Milwaukee I noticed that the Gaslight building was a great example of the architectural style called art deco. Visual drama is clearly created by the piece above the entrance way that stands out and catches your eye. Moving onto the second picture you will see that the eye-catching designs can be seen in multiple places like the elevator doors along with a metallic finish which is a classic staple in art deco. Next, we have the entranceway where you began to see the use of strong geometric shapes like the circle and square. Thus creating an overall tone for the room, the Milwaukee Gaslight building is a great example of art deco design shown on this beautiful piece of architecture. During my time there I noticed heavy use of the color green and gold. These colors were very bold and the green made the gold stand out or pop out to you when viewing it.

Next, I have a sketch and photo of the Milwaukee Federal Building and U.S Courthouse. This building displays many architectural features that are in line with the Romanesque architecture. Romanesque features include sturdy pillars and barrel vaults which the Courthouse boasts a good amount of them and going along with that, the sturdy pillars outline the front of the building. The building features a multitude of beautiful arches that cover the facade of the building. Lastly, one main feature of Romanesque architecture is large towers and a symmetrical design. This is easily seen by getting a good look at the front of the building from a distance where you will see a few large towers and the symmetry of the building as a whole. Milwaukee has many different building that features buildings that display architectural designs that correlate with gothic, Romanesque, art nouveau, art deco and more. The ones I posted were two classic examples, with one being art deco and the other being Romanesque. 

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Week 5

The first example I pulled from the textbook was the Heinz Schulz-Neudam, Metropolis, 1926 on page 215. This poster was more than just a promotional ad for a movie but rather an illustration of German expressionism after the war. Combined with German expressionism, the metropolis showcased the fear of women and machines. The style of lettering used in the title of metropolis creates an emotional tone while the bottom of the poster displays bold letterforms. The expression that this poster gives off to me is fear and the danger of machines. When thinking about an example I could correlate this to I thought about a movie poster for Black Mirror. This poster also makes me feel fear and the image of the man on it helps evoke that emotion. The lettering is black and white which is simply half white along with the other half being black. 

Moving on to the second example I saw when reading was the Mecano by Theo van Doesburg on page 186. The title means “mechanic” in French and showcases the artist's injection of machinery into this work of art. The writing is on all sides of the cover and this makes the reader have to turn it to read each side of it. Destructive satire is prevalent in this example thanks to the saw blade that is known as the emblem of the Mecano. I found an interesting example of a time magazine that interjected words into the image of a lady on the cover. The way the words make up the picture forces the reader to rotate the image or their head to make sense of what wrongs they are reading. We see examples like this is many magazines covers each and every day.

Lastly, the Kino Glaz by Alexander Rodchenko on page 198 stood out to me as something we see every day on a dollar bill. The Kino Glaz shows the use of triangular composition just like it does on the American dollar bill. The boys stare directly up at the eye above the pyramid. Sans serif lettering is used to separate the boys. 

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Week 4

While on a walk in Madison today, I saw this beautiful car and thought it would be a perfect example of an object that posses many elements of design. This a Porsche Panamera 2016 and its design is formulated to allow the driver a smooth ride at high speeds. The low body design creates less drag when driving thus allowing the driver to go faster. The size of this Porsche is rather large compared to the Porsche 911 or other Porsche car which means that it can fit more people inside more comfortably than other Porsche’s. Porsche has made their four door car look just as sleek and low profile as their two seater cars thanks to its tight roof line. The color combination really stood out to me because of how much the silver made the black rims stand out. The tail of the car is slightly creased and gives this Porsche the design of a sports car even though it is a four door. Looking at the picture you cannot see the rear spoiler because when it is parked it is designed to lower down into the car itself become hidden. The spoiler helps this luxury car move faster because it is designed to elimate undesirable air movement across the car. In return this allows the driver a smoother ride as they began to drive faster and more air hits the car. All of these elements contribute to making this large Porsche still a sports car compared to many other four door cars. The sharp and long lines of this car along with the low body style make this car more areodynamic compared to a four door Volkswagen. The differences in design in a Porsche Panamera to any other car is clearly visable just by looking at it and even more noticeable when looking under the hood. This is one of my favorite cars purely because of its beautiful design.

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Week 3

Starting from the top, the yeti coffee mug is designed to keep liquids cold or hot for a long period of time. Most yeti products like the coffee mug have interchangeable tops that allow user to change the design of the cup and the way that they drink from it. 

Next is the the paper mate mechanical pencil that is designed to be refillable when it runs out of lend unlike a normal pencil. The simply design allows you to screw the tip of the pencil until more lead comes out. The eraser is also replaceable when it is worn down. 

The sketch of the fork is shown to be skinnier in the middle and wider at the end so that it is easier to grip. The tines at the top are sharpened to allow you to pick up food more easily. It is also made out of metal and this helps keep the fork from bending or breaking.

Next is the sketch of my microwave that is made mostly of stainless steel which gives it a smooth surface even though it is a finger print magnet. The buttons are touch and this makes it easier to enter in the correct information. The time is show in bold letters so that it is clear to see.

The Toyota Rav 4 is a crossover and this design helps save on gas consumption. The rav 4 has a larger body than a car allowing you to transport more items but smaller than an SUV. All of this makes it more reliable and easy to maneuver. 

The picture of the Ray Ban glasses show case large lenses with thin frames making it easier to see through. This design is very functional and comfortable to wear each day.

Next I have my mac book pro which is very sleek and minimal. The mac book is made from aluminum making it very light to carry with you. The large screen with high resolution makes it easier to view items on your computer. 

After that I have a picture of my Air Force Ones that are the acronym edition where nike collaborated with an outside designer. Aside from the style that the zipper adds to the shoe, it allows me to loosen and tighten the shoe to my comfort. The design allows me to unzip the shoe instead of untying them which is unique for this type of shoe.

Lastly, I have my sonicare electric toothbrush that show cases little grips on the back designed to help you grip it when using it. The top part with the bristles are removable for when it gets old and you simply attach a new top to the battery of the tooth brush.

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Week 2

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Week 1

Hello! My name is Alex Schwartz and I am from Muskego Wisconsin. I am 21 years old and I am studying supply chain management. I have always been interested in design from a young age and wanted to learn more about all the key elements of it. Early on in my life, I loved to draw and create new and unique pieces. My relevant experiences would include an architecture class where we studied a lot about design and other key elements. Things that inspire me are items that are unique and not owned by many people. Such things could be a limited edition pair of shoes or completely customized goods. This inspires me because it makes me able to express myself and what I like. The design of a product is always a huge factor for me when deciding to purchase an item and most recently it was a big part when I bought a new monitor for my computer. With all the computer specs aside I chose to get a second monitor with a curved 27 inch screen because of the design of it which appealed a lot more to me than a flat monitor screen.