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Week 15: Final Thoughts

This class has provided me with such great insight into the various forms of design, their history, and their influences. Considering the rapid development of interactive design in media and technological innovations I highly anticipate new forms of design in correspondence with the emerging Web 3.0. I’ve read that the Metaverse will be a new advanced platform where we can make virtual money, homes, desired experiences, etc. in a 3D virtual reality world. I expect there to be plenty of new ways design can be implemented in creating lighter augmented headsets/glasses, interactive 360 body movement devices, as well as design within the new virtual world.  Frankly, it’s terrifying to even think about the possibilities of this new Web, good or bad but nonetheless it will definitely be a step forward in technological and interactive design. I also foresee the uses of hologram displays rather than two dimensional screens. Holograms and their three dimensional functionality will undoubtedly enhance design processes. All of that being said, I really hope for a more environmentally friendly future with technological advancements that work to prevent the use of mass energy and exertion of greenhouse gasses. With awareness of the importance of preventing damaging effects on the Earth from humans becoming more widespread, I have hope that perhaps these future designs will benefit the environment more than it harms it. 

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Week 14: Your Choice

The type of design that has piqued my interest the most is purely visual and readable design that corresponds with visual digital art. For example, I’ve always had a fascination with magazines that utilized typography design in unique ways that engages the reader and also satisfies the eyes. My favorite editorial designer is Fabien Baron who is a French art director and magazine editor as well as photographer and product designer. In his work, he utilizes a great balance and relationship between typography and photography in order to achieve a very high-end fashionable aesthetic in magazine spreads like Harper’s Bazaar. Baron is a humongous inspiration of mine particularly because he does all the things I want to be known for in my career someday. I have been a photographer for longer than I’ve been a graphic designer, but I always loved the visual magic that happens when there is a balanced combination of both. I believe that since both typography and photography are relatively new in the timeline of digital art and design, I feel like there is so much room for creativity when you mesh the two. That’s why movie posters, magazines, brand design, etc. are so fascinating and also influential to viewers. Photography and typography alone and separate from one another can be moving, but it isn’t until the combination of both that I find so much influence and reverence to what I see. I like to perceive this form of design practice as a way to blur the lines between art and design–to create work that classifies as both but at the same time is legible and satisfying to see. I want to continue practicing and perfecting the act of creating relationships between photo and type so that I can one day move an audience that sees my work like Fabien Baron does.

Some of Fabien Baron’s work I like to derive inspiration from:

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Week 13: New Media

Digital aesthetic, as described in the text, is the appearance or visuals of digital media that pertains to a certain type of audience. For example, pixel art/design is any imagery associated with references to technology, video games, or science fiction. The main aspect is the pixel in which digital typefaces are displayed to have a pixelated structure. Many video or mobile games express this form of digital aesthetic such as Super Mario Bros, Flappy Bird, Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, etc. This virtual look has been widely and deeply rooted in video game culture since the height of its popularity in the 1990s. Many films that are associated with science fiction and video games like Ready Player One tend to utilize typefaces that are more futuristic. As for color, this digital aesthetic is very bold, dynamic and vibrant to mimic RBG screens. Beyond 90s fascination with pixelated/futuristic digital aesthetic, digital aesthetic as a whole can be used for marketing objectives by businesses to sell products or services or to attract a certain audience for a form of engagement and interaction. For example, one of my favorite fashion e-commerce store websites is called Dolls Kill, and the fashion style is very edgy, gothic-inspired, and artistic/eccentric. The site’s logo itself uses a form of typeface that mimics rough script that is associated with the gothic/modern edgy aesthetic, and it very clearly targets a specific market audience. This effective use of digital aesthetic is very useful  in successful marketing just as the pixelated/futuristic digital aesthetic is for gamers, science-fiction or computer lovers.

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Week 12: New Media

Interactive design has been ever-evolving throughout the years of emerging media. There is constant development of ideas and advancements that contribute to the growth of new media and interactivity. One of the most significant fields that has contributed to interactive design is Macromedia Flash that emerged towards the end of Web 1.0. It was able to support animation, video, and ads that increased the ability to interact. Youtube was also a very pivotal moment of early Web 2.0 due to the fact that users were able to broadcast and create individual content for entertainment. It was one of the most interactive platforms during this time and still continues to be today. Another thing that had a great impact on interactive design was the development of mobile devices such as iPhones and tablets. Internet and gaming is now way more accessible than ever, and the consistent updates on devices and software is constantly aiming for smoother user experience. We are now able to access social media with literally the tips of our fingers as well as communicate with others a lot easier. Another large impact is the technology that supports mobile itself which is HTML 5 and Javascript. This technology provides easier interactivity as well as motion graphics on mobile devices. This new technological innovation was definitely a large step from Web 1.0 and made mobile interactivity much easier to use without draining battery life. In my opinion, one of the most impactful forms of interactive technological design is the artificial intelligence/digital assistant such as Apple’s Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, etc. These assistants have made doing certain tasks way easier and have taken away steps to doing actions like listening to music, setting reminders, turning on/off lights, etc. 

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Week 11: Graphic Design

Citizen Designers, as mentioned in the reading, are designers that dedicate their commercial work to the community and prioritize aesthetic issues as well as modern society’s problems. They touch on issues such as climate change, consumerism, HIV/AIDS prevention, and many more societal dilemmas that strike a chord with the community. These types of designers are especially important and beneficial to society in ways that impact individuals the most. They use their work to seek positive change, and for years it has worked. William Morris believed that designers have the power to be a “beneficent social force” for the Industrial Revolution, but individuals like Brian Smith and Samina Quraeshi believed that design was meant for more than just business-driven distraction. Rather, they saw design as a way to influence and push for greater social change.

Even in today’s modern society, design continues to prove itself as a pivotal role in social change movements like gun violence prevention, women’s rights, lgbtq+, sustainability, and climate change. Citizen designers have used the knowledge of the past to create work that advocates for the wellbeing of the present and future generations. In addition, citizens designers’ work have flourished with the rise of social media. The ability to mass share, be active in sustainability, and spread awareness has increased the influence of design to the community in ways it hasn't before. When I participated in the art team of the March For Our Lives movement in the state of Wisconsin, I realized that the amount of people that showed up would not have numbered to hundreds if aesthetic and effective design wasn't heavily used in spreading awareness about gun violence. Even the logo for MFOL itself was widely known and associated with the movement. At this point, design is not only used for client/business purposes, but it’s proven to also create a beneficial change in society.

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Week 10: Graphic Design

One of the most interesting things in our typography readings is when it explains the point in time when sans and slab serif typefaces were considered “Egyptians” even though they really had no connection to Egyptians. It was a particularly interesting part of the reading because it reminded me of a discussion we had in Intro to Typography class. The book mentions that it was coined “Egyptian” for specifically marketing purposes for Europeans. In most cases, typefaces that are known to be for a certain region or culture actually have nothing to do with that group of people or place but rather for marketing purposes. This marketing strategy is not only used by those that are not part of the culture, but people from that culture have taken advantage of the strategy to market their own businesses as well.

Another interesting point I found in our reading was when it explained John Ruskin’s belief that decorative and design arts are not only important for the combination of beauty and utilitarianism but also for improving the lives of everyday people in all respects. He pushed the idea that decorative arts is just or even more important than art we see at the museum. He similarly argued that architecture is a prime example of such movement on humankind and our landscape. This idea is quite interesting as it does pose a better environment in a sense when a city or town is filled with color, pattern, and ranges of skills, it tends to brighten that part of the world more. It’s definitely more than making an environment pretty. It’s about improving peoples’ lives in modern society. I think this is definitely a beautiful way of seeing decorative and design arts.

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Week 9: Industrial Design

Brook Stevens was said to be born and raised in Milwaukee, and that he was attached to Milwaukee so much that he left Cornell University without a diploma. I believe that there are several reasons as to why he chose to stay in Milwaukee including the fact that Milwaukee is known for some of the most prominent manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, Allen-Bradley, and Miller Brewing. This way, he was able to earn relationships and business relations with these companies. The city is additionally a great place to gain inspiration due to its constant movement in production and design. Milwaukee was and still is a fast growing city with countless significant firms and inspiration everywhere you go. Stevens was significantly known for his quotes about the ‘tastes of tomorrow’ emphasizing through his attitude that industrial design is always future-orientated and fast-paced. Staying in Milwaukee was an excellent way to market his services in the place he knew best. 

Brook Stevens was the only Midwestern founder of the Society of Industrial Designers at the time which ultimately put Milwaukee into the limelight of the industrial design industry. In the reading, it said that he was also the last surviving founder of the Society of Industrial Design, and his passing was the end of an era. He grew his firm, was a master at sales, and connected with many other designers which boosted his network in a familiar environment. On top of that, his overall work and passionate contributions to the industrial design world was incredibly innovative enough to be part of its history. He has helped create 3,000 products for countless clients in addition to supporting several designers to success by the time he retired. His dedication, love for Milwaukee, and willingness to keep his business here was consequently what made Milwaukee part of Industrial Design history.

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Week 8: Industrial Design

Most of these photos are going to be from where I work which is a retail store. These are totes that hold all of the items or products for the store. The design is built so that it is compact and organized when stacked together. It’s harder for items inside to bust open because of how these totes are closed with one plastic piece blocking both flaps on both sides. There are also smooth ridges that act as handles so that they are easy to carry especially when they are heavy.

This is our store’s basket. What’s unique about it is that it’s designed for the customer to be able to both carry it like a regular hand basket and also pull it as it rolls on the floor. This is actually one of our broken baskets that’s missing the handles to carry but it usually is laid on top of where it says “please do not remove from store.” The design is efficient in terms of versatility; when the items are light, you can hold the basket but when the items are adding up, you can pull it around. We use these particularly for disabled customers that are wheelchair bound so that they can shop with ease.

This is the stapler we use specifically for closing our curbside/pickup bags. Unlike regular staplers, these require less effort as we simply squeeze the handle shut rather than pushing down on a surface. It’s lightweight, fast, and can also be placed in easily accessible spaces like shown in the photo.

This is my polaroid camera. Beside it being very adorable to look at, the design is slick, smooth, and bulky in the right places which helps with grip. The button on the right hand side (when holding it) is the shutter button to snap the photo which is conveniently where our pointer finger is at. The button next to the lens is what makes the lens pop out to be used. You can just push the lens down to compact it when not in use. The viewfinder is right at the top, and as soon as you snap the photo, the photo prints out instantly.

This is my dustpan and broom. The broom’s design is more efficient than the regular kind with the bristles facing downward. The placement of the bristles on the side helps with exerting less effort on the wrist. The handle is short enough to sweep in fast bursts, and the paired dustpan fits perfectly with it.

This is my shaker bottle. It’s great for protein shakes, smoothies, and pre-workout particularly because of the whisk ball inside. When shaken, it blends the contents inside. The lid not only has a leak-proof top but it also only requires to be pushed rather than twisted. There is also a handle for easy mobility.

This is my favorite box cutter design. The handle is a shape that’s easy to hold  and hard to drop because of how it fits in the hand. The blade can be easily slid out or back in by pushing the metal button and dragging it up or down. Releasing it locks it automatically which makes for a safer experience.

This is the mopping bucket that is very widely used pretty much everywhere. The soapy water stays in the big bucket as well as the mop. When ready to use, you can put the soaking mop inside the littler container above where you can squeeze out all the excess water. The squeezing process is easier with the red handle.

This is my wine glass that I use for orange juice. The classic wine glass design has the stem that is great for preventing water rings on the surface below. The stem is great for holding drinks that are cold or warm.

This is my knife rack from Faberware. It’s very minimalistic and compacts various shaped knives. It’s great for not only storage but also for safety reasons. It covers only the sharp blades of the knives as it’s being stored. The block has a longer part for the bigger blades and scissors as well.

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Week 7: Architecture

One key principle of Universal Design is equitable use. An example I commonly see is at the place I work at: Walgreens. We have baskets that not only have a handle but have a separate longer handle that you can pull as the basket wheels roll on the floor. A lot of customers use these baskets, but I’ve noticed that those who use them more frequently are disabled individuals while most customers use our general shopping carts. Customers in wheelchairs are able to shop more effectively as they push or pull these baskets without having to stand or push or pull a cart taller than their line of sight. These baskets avoid segregation or stigmatization, and provide the same means for all due to the fact that anyone can use it the way it’s intended. Another example of equitable use are the automatic doors in public buildings. It uses a motion detector to sense when someone needs to get through and closes on its own. Its function does not segregate or stigmatize and it’s identical when possible and equivalent when not.

Another key principle is low physical effort. One good example of that is an automatic sink faucet as well as an automatic soap dispenser and paper towel dispenser. Not only does it increase usability for all, but it also increases sanitation with a smooth, non-repetitive process. All users don’t need to touch more surfaces and therefore transmit less bacteria to others. All users are able to utilize it and it exerts less physical work. Another example is the kind of blinds on windows that only require the user to push the bottom up to open rather than pull on a string. With strings, they can get tangled, blinds can get uneven, it can be difficult to open or close, and it generally takes more effort to simply open blinds. With this design function, it only takes the user to push the bottom upwards for it to smoothly open or pull downwards to close. It takes less time and definitely less effort. Not to mention, cordless blinds also prevent young children from getting strangled and hurt.

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Week 6: Architecture

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Week 5: History of Design

The first example of design I found from the reading is in the Revolutions in design: De Stijl Architecture. A photo of the Schroder House is shown, and it reminds me of modern houses that are common in richer neighborhoods of the West coast specifically. I watch a show called “Selling Sunsets” which is a reality TV show about a luxury home real estate company. There have been plenty of houses shown in many episodes that have no-roof, geometric, cubic, contrasted colors features.

The second example is from the Russian Constructivism part of the reading where is talks about German Expressionism with grimy, distorted, eerie, and exaggerated features of design. It reminds me of the style of a director whose films I watch frequently -- Tim Burton. His films like The Nightmare Before Christmas definitely encompasses that grimy, moody and exaggerated aspect that his films are mainly known for.

The third example is from the New Typography section of the reading where it talks about directing typography to something that steers away from the old typography of mimicking handwriting especially with serifs. This new typography, characterized by sans serif, clear communication and modernity, is now used widely in corporations, companies, brands, etc. such as Target.

Citations:

Eskilson, Stephen. ‘Revolutions in Design’. Graphic Design: A New History. Laurence King Publishing, 2019.

Eskilson, Stephen. ‘The Bauhaus and the New Typography’. Graphic Design: A New History. Laurence King Publishing, 2019.

Eskilson, Stephen. ‘Russian Constructivism’. Graphic Design: A New History. Laurence King Publishing, 2019.

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Week 4: Found Object

I live right by the Milwaukee Public Library east branch where I’ve always admired the unique bike rack in front of the building. It was designed by a Milwaukee artist and designer named Ray Chi. The bike racks are all shaped differently yet each of them together form a type of visual movement. The farthest rack is a circle attached to the ground, the second rack looks like the first one but is warped and looks to be moving or jumping away from the first one and so on. The way it’s designed makes them look like it’s jumping in midair back to the ground. 

In terms of functionality, it works like any other bike rack you see on the streets. However, the design gives the bikes more room, and the variety of sizes gives space for diverse forms of transportation.

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Week 3: History of Design

1. This is my Wacom tablet that allows me to connect to any device via Bluetooth. It acts as a cursor and functions well for digital drawing and/or designing. There is a tab with the logo on it that also acts as the pen holder. Along with the on/off button, there are four other buttons along the top that you can customize any action to.

2. This is one of my favorite tea cups with a handle to hold onto when the tea is hot. The material is made of porcelain that holds hot liquids well.

3. This is my iMac bluetooth mouse. It is sleek and fit the hand well. You can click and scroll on the smooth surface rather than rolling a scrolling wheel. The bluetooth accessibility also allows you to connect it to other devices. 

4. This is my dish soap dispenser which was pretty expensive for a soap dispenser ($17). I didn’t realize why it was pricey until I used it -- it holds a great amount of soap, has a smooth button to dispense, has a sleek minimalistic design, and it doesn’t leak due to the soap’s thick consistency like other dispensers. 

5. This is my iMac that has a great functional yet minimalistic design. There are 4 USB ports, 3 charging ports, 1 SD card slot, and 1 headphone port all in the back where they can’t be seen. It allows bluetooth connectivity so the only wire visible is the power cord, which isn’t really visible since it is integrated in the back. 

6. This is my Playstation 4 controller. The shape is great to fit both hands and the buttons/toggles/triggers are designed in a way that works with the human hand effectively, 

7. This are my airpods and podcase. The airpods are sleek and fit the ear snug. The case itself has a charging port on the bottom and has a light that indicates the charging status.

8. This is the spray bottle I use to mist my plants. It fits a good amount of liquid. There is also an adjustable nozzle where you can choose what kind of spray you’d like. 

9. This is my favorite lamp that has a flexible neck, a USB port, an outlet, and multiple storage slots for pens and other items. 

10. This is my mechanical pencil that can hold several lead pieces, dispense lead, and allows for more life of an eraser. It’s designed to have soft grip for a more comfortable hold.

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Week 2 Journal Post

After looking into this week’s videos and readings, it is further emphasized that design is incorporated into everything we hold, use, or see in our day-to-day life. It is function and form fused together in a way that makes it both pleasing or interesting to the eye, practical, and with purpose. Design is also something that often goes unnoticed. We normally don’t realize how much of everything we use is designed, especially the design thinking process that aided in the creation in the first place. It is most recognized in advertising to appeal to consumers, entertainment, products, and so much more. 

Just today, actually, I was using a needle for my fiber arts class and realized that even the tiny needle was designed and planned by someone. Watching the Deep Dive was also an eye-opener to me in a way that it made me look at everything differently. The readings additionally make me realize how much is included in the process of designing something, This realization actually causes me to have more appreciation for furniture, technology, and even the smallest things like a needle.

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Week 1 - About Me!

I am taking this class to further my design skills and to sharpen my eye for creativity. My interests in design lies in logos, websites, advertisements, and type. Art has been my outlet since I was a little girl who immigrated to the United States. Drawing, writing, painting, and other art forms was my way of communicating when I couldn’t speak everyone else’s language and had to assimilate in a new country. In high school, I was very drawn to ink calligraphy, fonts, photoshop, and digital design along with drawing, painting, and photography. I started with drawing and painting in elementary school, utilized them to move my way to digital art and photography in which the principles of design are highly regarded and utilized. It was through my exploration and passion for photography that introduced me to digital illustration and design. 

I am inspired by my mother who fought to get us where we both are and who worked through blood, sweat, and tears for us to live a better life in the U.S. The immigration process as a young girl shook my childhood and helped me greet art as a way of expression when I was too shy and shocked. In regards to design, I often find myself buying products where design is a large deciding factor. A main aspect is fashion where I often spend a couple hours deciding and narrowing down to the final set of clothes and accessories I would like to officially buy. This is because I like to ensure that the color palette, type, and patterns combined with the overall design and fit work well together and would compliment my personality. I also just recently purchased a planner which has fonts, color scheme, aesthetic, line weight, etc. I preferred. It is interesting to realize that design plays a large role in what we as consumers buy.