Design in Society

Utopian designs are products that aim to help society. These designs do not have to be extremely high tech or life-changing; many are very simple and easy to use. I found an example of a utopian design online that sparked my imagination and definitely intrigued me. It is a very simple concept that wouldnt necessarily change the world, but I believe it is an excellent idea and would be useful to a large amount of the population.

http://peoplesdesignaward.cooperhewitt.org/2010/nominee/2366

This product is a backpack that features lights on the exterior that describe which way the user is turning or if they are stopping, while biking down a road or through a city. This backpack would definitely improve the safety of consumers and would be very practical to use in busy towns. Living in Davis, a city with an insane number of bicyclists, I know how dangerous it is to travel around town on a bicycle, especially at night. This product would definitely be useful and would improve the safety of many people, which would be beneficial to society in general. Sometimes it is the small details and ideas that are realistic in improving society. When combined, these simple findings create a large impact on the world and the attitudes of consumers. Instead of society waiting for dramatic changes and constantly being disappointed when the results do not meet their expectations, they should take pleasure in the little things and appreciate all of the useful design that is around them.

Impact of Color in Design

Josef Albers took optical illusions into careful consideration when evaluating the effects of color interaction. One occurence that he explores, that I find particularly interesting, is the Bezold effect. It was first discovered by a German professor of meteorology, Wilhelm von Bezold. The effect, also referred to as the "assimilation effect," is an optical illusion where a color's hue or value is affected by the color or colors surrounding it. The Bezold effect is the opposite of 'simultaneous color contrast', in which a color takes on the complimentary hue and contrasting brightness of its surroundings. Using the Bezold effect, color may appear different depending on its relation to adjacent colors. For example, a group of red lines surrounded by black will appear darker than a group of red lines surrounded by white. This occurs because the colored regions assimilate their border color. This effect is often used in the design of carpets and other textiles. It is also present, and very easy to use, in graphic designs and logos. I enjoy this effect and think it wold make effective and interesting designs because it causes the viewer to analyze what they are seeing. It causes viewers to look past a first glance and look at the subject in depth, which is how designers want society to view their work.

Design is Dangerous

When I think of a dangerous design, there is one design that comes immediately to mind: pole pruners. A 'pole pruner' is essentially a chainsaw attached to a long stick that is used to cut high branches on trees. I think it is quite obvious how dangerous this tool is. One mistake by a consumer can be fatal: someone slipping, someone getting knocked over, a branch falling, etc. Another hazard that this design poses is that it is not insulated. In other words, if a user accidentally cuts a power line while trimming their tree, they will be electrocuted and could very easily die. One thing that shocked me the most is that this product is supplied by many companies and it is not necessary to be a professional in order to purchase it. The only benefit from using a pole pruner is that the consumer can cut hard to reach branches, when it would be dangerous to use a regular chainsaw while standing on a ladder. However, I do not think that this one pro justifies the dangers and potential fatality that can arise from using this product.

Designs by Vadim Kibardin

I was searching the web when I came across work by designer Vadim Kibardin. I was immediately struck be his designs because they are extremely modern and interesting. One of his designs is a black and white clock in the form of four independent figures that give the representation of digital numbers. Each has their own power source and control. The clock also detects light using a sensor and will switch from white to black automatically depending on how much light is in the room. They can also be fixed to any surface autonomously. Overall i think this is a great design because, although it is very modern and advanced, it is designed to seem very simple and give the effect of an old plain digital clock.

Another design my Kibardin is an umbrella in the form of a folder that can be hidden in a briefcase or backpack. It is relatively large and has an interesting shape that collapses into a simple 8 by 10 folder. I like this design because it is very modern and easily accessible. Users do not have to carry a bulky umbrella around with them to work or school. Instead, they can have an extremely lightweight and small design with them that is easy to transport.

Convenience in Design

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/82dwcy/email-junk.com/pictures/magic-box.html

Ergonomics of Macbooks

Apple has always been known for making sleek and effective designs. Ergonomics is an important factor any major company's products. Ergonomics is defined as 'the applied science of equipment design, as for the workplace, intended to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort'. The main characteristics that define a designs ergonomic quality are safety, comfort, ease of use, performance and aesthetics. Macbooks definitely address each of these properties and are also consistently given outstanding ratings.

After a certain amount of research, I found that although Macbooks are convenient and aesthetically pleasing, some of their designs did not meet the proper amounts of safety necessary. For example, Macbooks use a Magsafe power adapter, which uses a magnet to keep the power chord in place while the computer is charging. There have been reports of computers catching on fire while the consumers were sleeping. Although the design of the MagSafe adapter is great, adjustments must be made in order to make it more secure and safe. Safety must be considered more important than convenience. However, this is the only problem that has been a concern for this product and it is not a common occurrence.

Regarding comfort, Macbooks are probably one of the most successful laptop designs, according to consumers. Macbooks are designed very sleek and are relatively light. There are no bulky battery packs and the body of the computer allows for ample wrist room. The Trackpad allows users to do a vast amount of functions very easily, determining what the user wants done by detecting how many fingers are on the the pad. This also ties into another important aspect of ergonomics; ease of use. Macbooks, as well as most apple products, excel at this particular field.

Apple is one of the most successful companies in the world because its designs are so advanced and innovative, yet they are extremely easy to navigate. The long lasting battery life means that users are not constantly limited to having their computer constantly charging and are more free to travel. The keyboard is also extremely easy to use and greatly avoid hand cramping, due to the spaced out keys that are not bunched right next to each other like most laptops. Each key is also backlit and the user can control how bright they want the keys or screen at any given time.

Macbooks are also consistently rated excellently on their performance. This is because they are extremely fast compared to most laptops in the market and they also have an extensive amount of storage space. They are also known for having a relatively fast charge time, when compared with its battery capacity as well as excellent graphics. This can also lead into the final aspect of ergonomics, aesthetics.

Regarding aesthetics, there is no match to the Apple Macbook. It is very modern and sleek, particularly the Macbook Pro. The Macbook pro features an aluminum body that is one solid piece of metal. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it is also very sturdy. It also has black keys and a very bright, clear screen. The battery also fits into the rectangular design of the body so there is no bulk and it rests easily on any surface. Although these laptops have a very simple design, they are extremely intricate and advanced internally.

Overall, Macbooks have a decent

design, ergonomically. There could be more attention to safety, rather than placing so much importance on convenience and aesthetics. Despite this lack of ergonomics, Macbooks are rated very well by consumers and, although they have minor problems, they are considered one of the top products and designs in the market. This could identify that there are more beneficial ergonomic properties in the laptop that allow consumers to overlook the minor errors, which displays the success of the overall design of the Macbook.

Futuristic Designs

As more and more technology is created, more designs must be created as well. There are so many products available to consumers that designers are forced to create their very best and appealing designs, in order to catch the attention of the public. An example of an industry that adapts and changes designs everyday is the cellular phone industry. New phones are released every month, each product more advanced than the next. Verizon and Apple are a good example of the battle of design and technology in the industry. Each company attempts to create the sleekest, most aesthetic, and most technologically advanced product in the market. This competition in the industry has forced other companies to keep coming up with more ideas that are unexpected and interesting, in order to capture some of the consumers attention. An example of this adaptation is a new concept by Nokia. Nokia created a cell phone that charges itself using body heat. Instead of plugging your phone in overnight, you could simply put it in your pocket as you walk out the door. Not only is this product green, which is a becoming a growing importance in the design community, but it is also very well designed. It is aesthetically pleasing and well and technologically advanced.

More information about this product can be found at this website: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1IohFh/inhabitat.com/2010/10/07/nokia-new-concept-phone-lets-you-re-charge-in-your-pocket/

The Combination Words and Images Can Make or Break a Cover

Although many people mention the saying 'don't judge a book by it's cover', no one ever takes it seriously. When a consumer is walking through a book store, the book with the most interesting combination of words and images on the cover is going to be noticed first. According to Brian Fies, it is also an opportunity for designers to interact with the author and come up with a cover that portrays exactly what readers will find when they open the book. In a blog that Fies posted online, he states; 'If you can't entice someone to pick it up in the first place, they'll never see the terrific stuff inside'. I was surprised by how big of an ordeal designing a cover is. Fies showed us thumbnails of some examples of covers he had created for his book 'Mom's Cancer' and there were hundreds! There were different combinations of words and images changed into different colors until so many were created that it was hard to keep track of them all. Here is an example of the finished cover that Fies and his designer decided upon:

This was an excellent combination of word and image for this cover because, after hearing Fies discuss the contents of his book, this cover created the exact feeling that the consumer gets when they start reading. The broken plane gives readers the feeling that, not only are they going to read a comic, but also that they are looking through a window at the woman in the image. This gives the feeling that you see what this character is going through, but you are unable to truly understand her situation and help her.

Interaction of Word and Image In Comics

Comics are unique in the way they are able to portray messages through the interactions of words and images. Comics are able to create images that don't necessarily depict reality, but allow readers to use their imagination to recreate the scene in their mind. This allows readers to feel exactly how the author wants them to feel, which also allows for a deeper connection with the story. An example of this interaction is the comic 'Mom's Cancer', by Brian Fies.

Fies took the tragic occurrence of his mother developing cancer and turned it into a story that was relatable to the public and easy to identify with. A comic was the

perfect way to convey his feelings because the images he was able to pair with words were imaginative and could portray things that may not really have been there in reality. An example from Fies book is this image of his mother experiencing the side-affects of her chemo.

This image is abel to give a literal translation of how the woman is feeling. Fies decribes that his mother feels as if she is cut in half and the audience is able to tell how she feels, just by looking at the image. Images in comics are often done in a way that is very clear and doesn'

t require much explanation. Using these types of interactions between words and images, comics are able to give clear meanings to the messages that are being sent and they can also often be seen as humorous when the author decides to put such literal meanings into the art.

Fascinating Designs Using Paper

For my final blog of the week, I thought I would share something with you that I found while browsing the internet that I thought was fascinating:

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2uwN3N/www.6die.com/2010/06/artwork-single-sheet-of-paper.html

This website depicts sculptures created from cutting designs into a single sheet of paper. These designs are so small that it is a wonder how one person was able to create such an intricate design using such little material. Each creation contains an immense amount of detail and has a large amount of depth. Some of the designs are very realistic, while others use more imagination and are more creative. The designer says that his works have been based around an exploration of the relationship between two and three dimensionality. He finds the materialization of a flat piece of paper into a 3 dimensional form almost a magic process.

Some of the small paper cuts relate to a universe of fairy tales and romanticism. An example of this is my personal favorite design; the castle. It is based on the fairy tale The Steadfast Tin Soldier, where the tin soldier falls in love with a paper ballerina, and they live in a paper castle. I like this design the best because it is the most romantic of his designs and it is also so detailed; it even has multiple tiers and individual windows.

Mass Production In Design

Most designs are created in order to be available to the masses. The film Objectified defines industrialization as 'a standardized product for the consumption of millions. An example of a product that is mass produced in society today is the automobile. There are millions and millions of the same types of cars produced every year. However, companies that participate in mass production all try to create an individuality in this industrialization, in order to appeal to consumers on a more personal level. Every time I turn on the television I see car commercials telling me that if I buy this specific car, I am going to become more sophisticated and well-liked by everyone around me. In Objectified, a designer says that cars need to be sleek and that each one has a face.

Cars need to be designed in a way that suggests movement because they are a stationary object that is stuck in its permanent state forever. The consumer wants to imagine himself or herself in that product and feel like it was made just for them, despite that there are millions of the exact same vehicle. Industrialization may seem like it is making the masses conform to the products that it provides, but in some cases it can also create the illusion of individuality by the way that products are marketed and advertised.

Content and Form in Objectified

In class last Tuesday, the film Objectified was shown. Objectified portrays design as something that improves daily life without people knowing or thinking about it. We make assumptions about an object within seconds of seeing it; 'What is it?, How well does it do its job? How much does it cost?'

The film states that products should be unobtrusive, long-lived, consistent, and contain as little design as possible. One concept that the film displays very well is the interaction between content and form. Design is the search for form— it is trying to find what form an object should take. Content is what the artist is trying to convey through their work and form is the physical materials the are being used. An example of form interacting with content in the film is the first product that was shown. The first scene depicts a team of designers attempting to change the design of a products handles in order to create a more comfortable and enjoyable experience to the public. They wanted to create a finished product that would allow a more secure grip and less stress on the human body. The form of this product would be the shears and the content would be the changes and design of the handles that the designers are trying to create. There are many more examples of form and content throughout the film, such as products created by apple, phones, cameras, etc. I enjoyed the section of the film that involved the designer that worked for apple because he brought up a very interesting point. Many designers want it to be clear how clever their design

was by making it very obvious, when in reality it shouldn't be there if it has no purpose. An example of this is the indicator light on apple computers that illuminates

when the computer is shut, to show that it is still functioning, and turns off when the computer is in use.

Every product is a work of art and therefore contains both form and content. A perfect design is a product that we look at and think; 'Of course it's that way, why would it be any other way?'