design-anissa-blog

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Week 15

Seeing as how digital design has been rising in popularity recently, I think within the next decade all businesses will switch to digital. My grandparents own a business and they still have everything on paper. The reason is because the blueprints are drawn out on paper. With technology rising not only through digital resources for keeping information but also designing objects to be made in three dimensions, many will see that it is so much easier. Granted it is a lot of work to switch everything over, but I think it is so much more efficient and earth friendly. I also think 3D printing, molding will become very popular which also could affect my grandparents business. Rather than having someone manually operate a machine, 3D printers could probably do it more accurately and efficiently just typing in number, configurations. Its just the debate of whether we are going to let the digital realm take over our world. Yes, it is more efficient and earth friendly in the relation to trees/paper. But it is also scary thinking of all the people that would be replaced with a digital form. But it will be interesting to see where the future is headed in the digital world.

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Week 14

For a long time I didn’t know what separated a design from art, and art from a design. Obviously at this point in time I do. I understand that they are two different things, but I also think that a design/object can be both. It really is just in the eye of the beholder. It is opinion based and is not backed by facts or definition, because simply if someone finds beauty in something it is art, there is no reason to say its not. Whether its a chair, lamp, or canvas with a painting nothing makes one more of a piece of art than the next, in my opinion.

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Week 13

Digital Asethetic is not just the looks of a digital design, but also how it works because just because something is “pretty” or pleasing to the eye, does not make it valuable or great. Because if something does not work or function right it is not successful, looks cannot cover that up. I think many social networking sites and apps really capture the contemporary digital asethetic in whole. They are all simple, easy, and not “boring”. The designer keep it interesting in not only the way it works but also how it presents itself, thats why it has become so widespread to every kind of person, its something almost everyone shares in common.

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Week 12

Interactive Design is a user/client oriented study that focuses on the communication of media through collaborative processes between people and technology. The fields that have the biggest effect on whether the interactive design is successful is whether it has a clear defined goal. Its better for the user if it is simple, straight to the point. Excessive content is overwhelming and confusing/complicated. The purpose should also be carried out clearly and efficiently, and lastly it should have an intuitive user interface. In industrial design, the human to computer interaction, is the space where interactions between humans and machines take place. The main goal is effective operation and control of the machine from the human side. With all of these components in place the interactive design as a whole should be successful. 

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Week 11

There are a few meanings and ways a designer can be a “citizen designer”. As a designer you can affect or confront social or political change, for example. You can also use your platform to do more than design for clients and those around you, who you are working with and cross paths with along your journey/job. Being a citizen designer means you are more than just a designer doing you’re job you have the opportunity to be a leader especially for your clients, you become more than just “client & designer” with them. Designers should research their clients, and prepare. They should become aware about social, political, and corporate changes and developments. And, most importantly do their job and design responsible products.

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Week 10

My favorite style of fonts are the Art Deco Style fonts and the Blackletter typography. What interests me the most is that they are still common fonts today, but i had no idea that they were one of the main fonts for certain areas in the world for long lengths of time, I didn’t think they were that prominent. I guess I always just though of Times New Roman or something more simple like it to be used. I look at them and see decorative fonts, yet they were used in almost everything published (and was the only fonts used). In newspapers, magazines, etc. It surprised me that the Blackletter font was the main font used throughout western Europe from about  the 11th century all the way until the 17th. I even have a tattoo which now I know is Blackletter Font. I also love how the Art Deco fonts & type faces really correlate with the Art Deco style in other forms. Obviously, i am sure that was the point. But when first seeing it I didn’t know how you would translate that style into a font or lettering but I think many of them portray it really well, and It is easily known what style it is derived from. 

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Week 9

Brooks Stevens was born in Milwaukee ini 1911. He studied architecture at Cornell University, he started a design firm and also opened an automotive museum. He is so prominent still today because he basically did it all. From home furnishings, appliances to automobiles and motorcycles. He was also a graphic designer and stylist. Wisconsin was always his home and Brooks thought there was so much to be done in Milwaukee and it had potential for a lot of growth and development.

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Week 8

Looking around I tried to analyze objects I used daily. The objects I chose are the same yet different. Meaning, they entail different uses which both I utilize regularly. I chose my mirror, I think it is a very compact and useful design because on one side, there is a regular reflection (a flat surface). On the other side, when you flip the mirror, there is a concave shaped mirror which gives you a closer view of whatever you are looking at. It is nice because it is one solid objects, not two separate things. Next I chose my cameras. One is a film camera, one is a digital camera. I chose these designs because they are almost on totally different ends of the spectrum. Digital you can view your images right away, delete them, take as many as you want (until your storage is full) retake images, view what youre shooting on the screen, and more. With film you cannot see anything besides what you are choosing to shoot through the viewfinder, you only get a limited number of images based on your film, and you have to used many different methods and chemicals to process it. That being said, i asked myself if one is better than the other? But i love them both, for different reasons. I think this is a good example of how whether a design is “good” or “bad” is based on the user. It almost is never a universal opinion which interests me. One person might find it useful for one reason and another, for a completely different reason. I think that is a part of design that really intrigues me and that is why I picked these items.

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Week 7

There are many examples of Universal Design, especially in a University since there are so many people in one space, it has to accommodate all of them, and not leave anyone out. One thing I see a lot around campus is the hybrid between stairs & an inclined ramp or walkway. Obviously, stairs were designed to bring people from one height (or place) to another. But for those who that that is not possible for there is another option. But also not just throughout campus, but also on the shuttles. They have a ramp that extends out the back for those with wheelchairs and such to get onto the bus. Also almost everywhere there is text communicating something (the elevator floor numbers, bathroom signs, etc) there is brail. So for those where reading text is not possible, they have another option which makes them abled just like the rest to complete the same task just as easily.

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Week 6

I always recognized the diversity of architecture in Milwaukee but never knew the names, or times each style took place. Obviously, being in a big city there are many tall buildings, and also very unique buildings. There is also still houses, apartments, etc. Many buildings on campus are built more for functionality rather than aesthetic. Pictured top are a few buildings on campus that are made mostly of concrete, they look thick and bulky, like the Brutalist style. Below is a house in Milwaukee which has more of a  classical style. Third, though the whole building may not be Art Nouveau, you can see bits and pieces throughout Milwaukee (what I’ve seen) that are traces of the style/characteristics of Art Nouveau, and here you can see it above the door. Lastly is the inside of the Art Museum, I think it can be categorized as Modern. Though one trait is “minimalistic” of modern architecture, I think it fits best in the modern era rather than any other style. It is interesting to be able to identify the different styles of architecture throughout Milwaukee and build a timeline piecing together each style I come across.

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Week 5

Design is everywhere we look, and there are many forms of design. Three are industrial design, graphic design, and architecture. Graphic design is the art or skill of combining text and pictures in advertisements, magazines, or books. Industrial Design is creating and developing concepts and specifications that optimize the function, value and appearance of products and systems for the mutual benefit of both user and manufacturer. Lastly, Architecture, which is defined as the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings or structures. Architecture is everywhere especially in cities, you see a different type of architecture. Usually the architect isn’t planning a common set up for a building, in cities the buildings are obviously much taller than buildings in smaller cities. This is because the population is so much bigger, but To keep the city compact and close the building have to go up rather than spread out. Also tunnels are architecture, the architect is solving the problem of getting through something-this example here is going through a mountain in Colorado. Our phone/electronics in general are great examples of industrial design. They are made in factories and are one of the most widely used products in the world. I think festival promotions/advertisements are always very interesting. This is graphic design, they use typography, images, and other elements to give information about the festival/performers.

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Week 4

I think the pro’s outweigh the con’s when it comes to buses. Though they have their flaws, I think buses are necessary and a very helpful design to many. Especially in the city, many don’t have a car/form of transportation due to cost (parking mostly). It is also more convenient. With bus stops all over it is very easy to hop on and off where you need to rather than driving a car and having to find/pay for parking. It is also very cheap (free for UWM students) and can hold many people at a time. Also there are so many “lines”, you can use the Milwaukee Transportation system and get pretty far, its not just a small radius you can travel to on the buses. Compared to other transportation  i.e. cars, motorcycles, bikes the positives are that is holds more people, you dont have to worry about parking, and do not have to pay for gas. It is obviously nice to have your own car or motorcycle etc. so you can go where you want when you want and do not have to follow someone else’s schedule. They are also more personal and you can go as far as you want and anywhere you want. I guess the biggest negative is having to pay for gas and parking in the city.

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Week 2

In the Harvard Business Review it described design thinking as “a methodology that imbues the full spectrum of innovation activities with a human-centered design ethos”. In my own words I think it is creating something/ solving a problem with the future user/client in mind. It has to solve the problem they are trying to fill otherwise it is not successful. Which means you need a clear understanding of what they want/need in order to accomplish the task correctly. Almost everything was created through design thinking, even though some are not successful. For example; electronics, kitchen supplies, they were all created to fill a purpose. We could say electronics were produced to fill the need to connect easier with others, or make getting information from the internet, etc. more accessible. Kitchen supplies as in microwaves, stoves, ovens, and more were designed to make and cook our food. Even though some may be more successful than others, the designer had the customer/user in mind when making these items. I think the most significant part I learned from this reading is that understanding what the person/people want is most important. Because if you don’t have a clear understanding of what your end goal is you will not be successful right off the bat.

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Week 1

My name is Anissa Fierke, I am a DVC major. I am taking this class to further my knowledge in design and the field I want to go into since I was only introduced to it last year and just changed my major. My first design class was last year where I was introduced to Photoshop and Illustrator and it really opened my eyes to a new realm of art since I had only really been into painting and drawing previously. My most recent purchase where design came into play was my my backpack for school. Previously I had one that was maybe more “stylish” but definitely did not do what I needed it to do. This year I chose usefulness and durability over aesthetic and look and it was the right choice.