chandlers-designsurvey

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 15 – Final Thoughts

Throughout this course, I have realized how important it is to understand the history of design to understand the present design styles and choices around us. Since the history of design takes many forms like architecture, typography, and consumer products, so also does the crossing of influence. Taking this into account, seeing the evolution of design and style helps to identify trends and changes in the design that surrounds our every day life. So, taking this into account, here are some areas that I think will be the future of design. 

Shared Space Neighborhoods

Much of our country has a tendency to look like a sprawling landscape with street after street of suburbs and single family homes. Ever since the post war world and the New Deal, these kinds of areas have become the fastest growing and the most common type of housing in this country. I recently saw a video discussing how this kind of neighborhood is actually slowly making our cities go broke. Check this out: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nw6qyyrTeI)

I will let the video do most of the breaking down of why and how this is becoming a problem as I would like to focus on how this will influence the design of our cities and living areas. 

The video highlights how areas that are walkable, multi-use, and feature a more community centric ideal, the more profitable and trendy these areas are. There is also some evidence to suggest that these areas are more likely to be the future of city design considering that zoning laws are going to be, and currently are, being changed in this direction. 

The new designs I am referring to look more like this: 

(image source: https://humphreys.com/top-5-hpa-mixed-use-projects-enhancing-walkability-and-streetscapes/)

Than like this: 

(image source: https://www.archdaily.com/948330/when-the-american-dream-became-the-urban-planning-nightmare) 

In the end, I do not have that many predictions on how this will take shape, but I do think that for the fiscal survival of our cities and the general mental health of our nation, this is going to be a huge aspect of the future design. This future includes figuring out how to design the living spaces, the walkability and arrangement, how restaurants and shops fit in,... etc. 

Digital Life

I have mentioned in a previous post how I tend to roll my eyes at how Mark Zuckerberg envisions the ‘metaverse’, but at the same time, the idea that our lives will be intrinsically more intertwined in the digital sphere is nearly a fact at this point. I say that with such certainty due to how quickly and with relative ease we all adapted to using zoom, teams, and other digital means of conducting life throughout the pandemic. On top of this, we as a society are increasingly investing in digital goods and services. These include video game skin packs, cryptocurrencies, and tickets to virtual concerts. 

One thing that all of those examples have in common is that none of them are tangible in any traditional sense. Their value only holds any sort of value within the digital sphere. 

This type of activity is becoming increasingly popular every day. For example, Coca Cola launched their new limited edition Byte flavor in the game Fortnite. Check it out here: 

(https://youtu.be/TV_hd1xUqeg) 

This evolving digital age will see the dawn of a plethora of aspects to design. From avatars, to digital storefronts, to work spaces that allow us to conduct modern commerce from anywhere in the world. 

In the end, I think that there will be a rapidly growing industry between designers and coders that will influence the way we combine our real and digital lives for the foreseeable future. 

Artisans 

Something I hadn’t really thought about until rather recently was the role of furniture and household product design. Increasingly, millennials are choosing the route of decisions that trend towards individuality and sustainability. This has been remarked on in this Forbes article and this article about the same concept but in the UK. 

Beyond this, we can also see the rise in the use of services like Etsy to cater for the hunger younger generations have for specific products that are made by people instead of mass produced products. Fueling this trend is a focus on sustainability as so many of the market is mass produced junk with a lifespan of a few short years (or less). The other aspect of this trend has to do with how so much of the modern mass products products look exactly the same everywhere you go. By going vintage or from an artisan, you not only get a better made product, you also get to stand out from the crowd a bit more and create a more individual experience at home. 

So, long story short, this renewed focus on the old and artisanal is carving out a new market that, I think, will create more opportunities for those who create and those who shoot to recreate vintage designs for the sake of aesthetics and trendiness. I think this is also a strong possibility for the future of design as it has happened before at the start of the industrial revolution. 

Finally, to tie this into the other concepts in this post, I think the future of design will lie in the balance between increasing digital influence in our lives, and the way we live and decorate our real lives to maintain a sense of being grounded. 

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 14 – Your Choice

https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/reviews/iphone-13-pro-maxOver the course of the semester, I have slowly began to notice more and more features of design in my daily life. There were things I had recognized but hadn’t known the name of and there were other aspects that went under the radar before the class. 

(image source: https://www.convelio.com/en-us/blog/blogpost/bauhaus-100-anniversary/)

Bauhaus

One major aspect that had been noticed but I didn’t have the proper knowledge to appreciate its scope, is Bauhaus and International style. We all know that modern city life is dominated by these towering rectangular behemoths, but how and why this became the universal city experience was elusive to me. While I have mixed feelings that jump between “clean corners and modern appeal” to “boxy concrete hellscape” when it comes to the international style, it is still very interesting to see the evolution from unreasonably ornate structures to practically designed modernity. 

It doesn’t end with the architecture though, the influence I am seeing in everything from furniture to typography is actually quite staggering. Much of my parents antique/retro furniture from the mid twentieth century have roots in Bauhaus design. On the typographic front, that influence is seen in logos, graphic design, restaurant menus,... Even more so, the design styles afterwards that took inspiration from Bauhaus is also popping up everywhere. This mainly pertains to the Grunge style and various underground/punk styles. 

Apple Rant 

Something that has been bugging me more and more as I begin approaching things from a design perspective is the modern iPhone style. In all ways that pertain to aesthetics, visual appeal, and all things minimalism, its perfect. On the functionality front, I am not convinced. 

(image source: https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/reviews/iphone-13-pro-max)

I personally think this is the coolest looking iPhone and it definitely has a specific appeal to it that is undoubtedly Apple in every possible way, but in the hand it feels very fragile. Most of my past iPhones have felt somewhat safe yet fragile (in a normal smartphone way), this one just feel straight up delicate. Even though it may pass a bend test or have ip60 water resistance, the feeling that it would shatter if dropped from mere inches is not something that I find appealing. This iteration of iPhone design is often described as “industrial” in nature, which makes sense in many ways, but falls short in the sturdiness factor that usually goes along with that term. 

That being said, my biggest beef with this design is how it feels in the hand. The sharper corners and boxy design is not just slippery, but also uncomfortable. This was extremely noticeable as I went from an iPhone 10 to a 12 Pro Max. Without a case, the rounded corners felt so futuristic and smooth. Its hand appeal for the same design aspects made me feel like putting a case on it was dampening the experience. When I got my 12, it felt like a case was a necessary dampener for the lines on my hand after only holding it without a case for mere minutes. 

(image source: https://tcrn.ch/3kl43q9) 

Long story short, a case on an iPhone used to feel like a necessary protection that took away from the experience of that handheld piece of sophisticated tech to it being something necessary for protection and the comfort of daily use. 

Even Androids seem to have this figured out better than Apple at least on this front (not something I say that often). A majority of the smartphone market has gravitated towards designs that feel good in the hand, but Apple seems to be seeking out aesthetics over functionality in this case. 

Now, I do understand the comparison made to the iPhone 4 design that the modern design is drawing from, but this also feels like a step backwards to me personally. Not to mention that phones used to be much smaller and those corners were not as much of an issue in the long run because of the lack of weight and size. The market isn't the same anymore and I just think that this current design is a bad move for the details of the modern smartphone market. 

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 13 – New Media

Cyberpunk 

As technology has progressed in the last couple of decades, there has also been the rise of digital art that came along with it. The result of this is the rise of a digital aesthetic that stands on the shoulders of the 90s. The text describes how the digital aesthetic that arose in the 90s was based on futurism, robots, and it was very conceptual in nature. 

(image source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcio0DYsDGY)

As Adobe Illustrator evolved and offered a broader range of possibilities than ever before, people were able to put their imaginations into art and reality easier than ever before as well. A generation who grew up in the 90s and inspired by this digital aesthetic began to slowly carve out images like the one above and over time, it became an aesthetic of its own. It is defined by grandiose dystopian cityscapes coated in neon colors like purple, pink, blue, and red. Most importantly, it is specifically digital in the respect that the execution and methods of producing this art is really only made possible through digital means. Overall, this style and aesthetic has carved out the very image that comes to mind when someone mentions the word “cyberpunk.” 

(image source: https://www.wallpaperflare.com/sci-fi-cyberpunk-city-futuristic-people-skyscraper-wallpaper-gkimf)

Destiny 

In the text, the author describes the impact that video games have had on digital aesthetic. Specifically, the game Destiny is brought up as a significant  influencer of this style that encompasses the smooth and again futuristic style of the game. 

(image source: https://www.pinterest.com/gabebsmith/destiny-aesthetic/)

Defined by geometric shapes, smooth textures, and a clean look overall, this helped to kickstart many variations of ‘gamer’ digital aesthetic. I think this has a special kind of place in the digital sphere of aesthetics in the sense that it is made from and derived completely from digital sources. There is little to no influence that can be found outside of the digital sphere. 

Digital Minimalistic Aesthetic 

Another aspect of the digital aesthetic is how the purpose and software of the product itself ends up influencing the hardware design. Not to mention how it influences out surroundings. This on its own has become an aesthetic of its own that is also natively digital. 

(image source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/812336851517713595/) 

In fact there are many styles derived from this be it interior design, clothing, or a hybrid general aesthetic. The influence of the digital sphere in 2022 has far exceeded that of just the technological devices in our pockets. Wearable technology and the minimalist nature of the marketing behind our devices influences an aesthetic that is in its exclusively “digital” at its core. 

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 12 - New Media

The sheer expansiveness that is new/emerging technologies and media in 2022 is daunting. Even more so when one considers the spiderweb of how those two compliment and drive one another. After the assigned readings and lecture this week, I think there are a couple of main topics that are subtly (and not so subtly) changing how we approach the creation and enjoyment of art, technology, influence, and social connection. 

(image source: https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3155664/tencent-says-it-has-technology-build-metaverse-and-beijing-does-not)

Artificial/Augmented Reality 

Lately the keywords “Web3″, “Metaverse”, and “Crypto” have been plastered all over the news media and permeated discussion on places such as Twitter and Reddit. Some believe that we are running into a Matrix-like digital future and others say these are just ways for companies like Facebook to pump stock prices and enthusiasm about their company during a time of increased scrutiny. While the Metaverse idea that Meta (Facebook) is proposing may seem outlandish, one thing is true; we are increasingly creating and integrating reality with the digital spaces that we enjoy on a daily basis. 

(image source: https://futurism.com/the-byte/zuckerberg-captcha)

With the pandemic essentially shutting down much of in person communication, we saw the rise of Zoom becoming the new normal mode of communication. On top of this, games like Pokemon Go (as mentioned in the lecture) and other games on the Oculus have been slowly growing in popularity. Not to mention the fact that it seems as though a vast majority of games that are popular these days are live and less solitary in nature. Finally, there is also the rise of cryptocurrencies and the purchasing of digital goods that have no tangible qualities. This includes game skins and other items available for purchase in games. 

I think when we put all of this together, we can see that an important piece of new/emerging media is how we are inching towards a form of a metaverse that is essentially a second reality that we invest in, work, and visit, in a way that holds nearly as much influence as the real world. 

Again, I do not think that Mr. Zuckerberg’s version of this Metaverse is exactly accurate (nor do I think they will be the ones pioneering the way in the end), but because of everything mentioned above, I do think that emerging ways of building on existing artificial and augmented realities will play a crucial role in the web3 era. Not to mention that it will most certainly influence how we approach remote working/learning, spending digital money on digital products, and enjoy the next frontier. 

(image source: https://www.today.com/health/how-stop-doomscrolling-its-affect-your-brain-t188725)

TikTok

When I downloaded TikTok, I was soon taken with the idea that I had inadvertently downloaded the algorithm that will eventually take over humanity during the singularity. All jokes aside, as a Computer Science student, I was in awe (and fear) of how amazing that product is at predicting what I want to see and delivering an experience that was very enjoyable if addictive at the same time. 

I am highlighting this as a form of new media because of a few different reasons. First, the design of the UI. It is simple, the scroll up or down and only left or right to further checkout a profile is quite sleek. On top of this the eternal scroll holds power over its addictiveness because you always want to know whats next. Second, the short form media it serves. While I think that YouTube has become almost obnoxious with how long some videos are, and Vine back in the day too short, TikTok has a rather goldilocks zone of being just right. This includes the options of something being only a few seconds or a couple of minutes. 

This second point is the most important as I think it is giving rise to a new and fresh way of mini vlogs. For example, something crazy happens to someone like a Karen having a tantrum in your place of business. That person will upload an initial video with little context, then post two or more parts explaining the situation and giving back story. This way of telling a story that includes bursting into a situation to get you hooked and then explaining it afterwards is quite enjoyable (and sounds like Strini Writing Theory from the professor). Stories like these go viral all the time and have even grabbed the attention of traditional news media in the process. 

In conclusion, TikTok is an important example of new/emerging media because it is altering the way that people tell and document stories as well as altering how people vlog everyday events. 

Smartphone Cameras

While smartphone cameras are not new in any reasonable way, the specs and execution of these cameras are really becoming something to marvel at. Whether it is the exceptional cinematic mode or AI powered photo compiling of the iPhone 13 Pro, the zoom abilities of the Samsung S22 Ultra, or the night mode of the Pixel 6 Pro, one thing is true; these cameras are becoming more and more sophisticated every year. While this emerging technology is exciting, I want to highlight how this influences the way we create different media. 

(image source: https://www.dpreview.com/articles/6780391159/all-apple-iphone-13-and-13-pro-camera-upgrades-explained)

These cameras allow the average person without the budget for a DSLR or Adobe Lightroom to create impressive and clean pictures/videos/media for Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc. with the help of a couple of filters or free editing apps. 

If you go look at anyones Instagram right now and scroll down to the beginning of their digital existence, you will see a very strong gradual increase in quality as the years go by. In some cases too you will also see the sophistication in editing, video fx, or other aspects increase as well. 

(image source: https://www.demilked.com/iphone-11-triple-camera-memes/)

While it is easy to poke fun at the outlandishness of how these cameras are presented at product launches or the increasing number of cameras on the back of our phones, one thing still holds true; we are all getting better at creating content that looks less “amateur” every year. An interesting example of this can be seen in the video below. 

(video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj0poXLG_P8) 

The guy literally filmed a pizza commercial with his iPhone, what more proof do you need?! 

In the end, I am excited to see how the devices we carry around everyday can aid us in developing new and better ways to express ourselves creatively. 

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 11 – Graphic Design

Citizen Designer - “a professional who attempts to address societal issues either through or in addition to his or her commercial work.” (Eskilson 431)

This concept is something that was mentioned in this week’s reading and further elaborated on in Chapter 11. Looking at those who were mentioned as examples of citizen designers and putting them in the concepts mentioned above, I realize that this is something I have had much interest in but had not known the name of. When it comes to someone mentioned such as Shepard Fairey (p. 374), I have been a long time fan of his work, missions, political persuasions, and artistic pieces that push those ideals. I even included his work in previous posts for these reasons. Another individual mentioned that I also enjoy is Banksy (p. 374). So, for me personally, I am thrilled to finally have a term for these individuals. 

When it comes to who these people are, what they do, and why it is important, I think it comes down to a couple very simple but incredibly powerful points. the first is awareness. 

The Citizen Designer has the ability to create awareness around an issue that may not have been known before or sheds light on social issues that haven’t been brought to light with the same tangibility that art can. This Medium article I came across highlights Banksy’s work in this light. This is one huge reason why the social commentary of Citizen Designers can be paradigm shifting in the messages they bring. 

The next point that I find particularly interesting is that of their ability to make something go viral in our society. This ability to go viral is essentially what creates their relevance in the messages they bring with their work. The mediums of art and design speak to a part of human nature that moves beyond click bait articles, PSAs, and information campaigns. Using simple images, words, and summarizing symbols, a message can be broadcasted to the general population with a message that moves the culture faster than an 24 hour news channel can. Mobilizing a population that has been united behind a message under the banner of something created by one of these citizen designers. An example of this can bee seen in Shepard Fairey’s Obama image or the various artists contributing to the Black Lives Matter movement. 

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 10 – Graphic Design

Cuneiform

Cuneiform is always such a fascinating part of history and human technological innovation to me. Specifically the fact that it is a physical example of one of the earliest solutions to a problem, a lack of physical records, that became a part of modern human existence that is so essential it is impossible to imagine living without it. Also, the fact that we can also read these tablets and understand more about the past through them is astounding. In the prescribed text, it displays a picture of a Cuneiform tablet from c. 1750 BCE that “records the complaint of a trader named Nanni, who claims he was shipped the wrong type of copper ore and was unable to get satisfaction from the seller” (Eskilson 13).

Even further, the  evolution of the advent of writing paved the way for the Code of Hammurabi which became the basis for written law. Later on we can see the further evolution of this being used for literature like the Epic of Gilgamesh. This point is interesting to me because I sometimes wonder how many stories were lost to history before this technology was invented as well as the inverse; how many stories were saved as a result of this?

Lastly, the lack of any type of familiarity with the style of the writing looks so alien to modern eyes that it is also just so interesting to look at that. Mostly made of various triangles, lines, and dashes, it lacks all the nuance of modern writing (like the concepts covered in this weeks lecture and PDF documents), but all the necessary sophistication and information.

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complaint_tablet_to_Ea-nasir#:~:text=The%20complaint%20tablet%20to%20Ea,the%20oldest%20known%20written%20complaint.)

Posters and Typography

In the given reading about posters and typography on page 114, something simple but interesting stuck out to me. Where many previous eras of type and graphic design seemed (to me) to make use of powerful images with text describing/ornamenting the images OR using large block text words alone or with a coinciding image to go along with the message, these images used both. What I mean by this is they they mix a simple image that without context would not have much meaning outside of an interesting art piece with very clever meaningful messages. A good example of this is Saville Lumley’s “Daddy, what did YOU do in the Great War?” Poster from 1915 (Eskilson 115). If you took away the words, it would be a quaint picture of a man lounging with his children. With the powerful text at the bottom and specifically the “YOU” in the sentence, the poster conveys an incredibly powerful message and psychological trick. In short, the use of strategic sentences, emphasis in the text itself (capitalization, underlining), and appropriate fonts made text the most powerful point of a poster without the use of large abstract fonts and font sizes.

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daddy,_what_did_you_do_in_the_Great_War%3F#:~:text=%22Daddy%2C%20what%20did%20YOU%20do,The%20artist%20was%20Savile%20Lumley.) 

Bauhaus

The functionalist type that came as a result of the Bauhaus style is quite simply, as I see it, the invention of the modern type as we know it today. Reading through pages 230-239 (Bauhaus) and 286-319 (International Style), we can essentially see the evolution of how so much of the modern world looks in terms of print, media, document writers, text messages,… Along with this comes the sense of satisfaction and order associated with the mathematical symmetry and layout found within it. The idea behind the internationalist ideals underlying these styles regardless of language is fascinating to me not just in principle, but also because of how its universality became a reality for so much of our modern experience.

Ray Gun

As someone who might be a little older than some taking this class, the portion of Contemporary Graphic Design on ‘Grunge’ (Eskilson 357,358) really hit home for me. The appeal to my more punk youth and the impression that Grunge had on me in my teens feels very much at home with the section highlighting David Carson’s Ray Gun. Namely, the ideals taken from Bauhaus in the typography mixed with the “edgier alternative to the middle-aged leader of this genre” (Eskilson 357). These concepts almost seamlessly put together the rebellious, forlorn, and reactionary ideals of the music scenes in the 90’s into a form of typography and graphic design and I find it absolutely riveting in its execution. Also, the text also mentions that “Carson often highlighted his lack of formal art education” (Eskilson 358), which encapsulates the DIY mentality of many art forms seen within the underground art, music, and media scenes of the era.

(image source: https://community.vfs.com/oomph/tag/david-carson/)

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 8 - Industrial Design

1. Supreme Brand 

Something I have noticed so far in the semester is how the Supreme brand really takes a lot of influence from Bauhaus whether it is intended or not. What mainly sticks out to me about this is how they have made use of two very important Bauhaus principles. First, a simple and clean type that makes use of all capital letters and is relatively non stylized in any way that isn’t functional. Second, they use the type itself as the basis for the logo itself. No fancy/complex drawings or graphic images, just the logo. The brand has essentially made the most out of this style as well by creating an industry that brings in millions in apparel sales simply by putting their name on something...or more like anything since they have some seemingly random products with the Supreme brand stamped on it. 

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_(brand)) 

2. Shower Head 

I recently got a new shower head and I have been very pleased with the functional design and the features that it brings. In short, there are two shower heads, one attached to the pipe in the wall and the other connects to the side of the main head by a clamp and a hose. On the main shower head there is a switch that can control which shower head the water is directed to while the second (handheld) head has a ring around the outside with a small lever that allows one to choose the type of stream that is preferred. Here is a more detailed diagram and further notes: 

3. My House Layout 

I live in a small house on the Bayview/St. Francis border area and as we have been reading about universal design/architecture, I couldn’t help but notice the simple yet extremely approachable design and layout is executed in the house. First, the outside is a simple (and kind of boring) A Frame style without any real ornamentation as it was a mid-late 20th century house built on somewhat of a budget. Second, the house has a total of three bedrooms even for how small it is. The layout is simple and makes extraordinary use of every bit of space. Like I said, the house is very small and one would not expect it from the outside to have three bedrooms. The “upstairs” is essentially just a loft. It is one long connected room that is finished but has the shape of an attic. I have actually been to a number of other houses with a similar layout which leads me to believe that this was an intentional design to appeal to many different home owners. I can also say that if that was the goal, it was accomplished, the others I know with similar layouts all have different familial, marriage, and roommate statuses than I do and it appeals to everyone for some similar reasons and other very different reasons. Unfortunately I don’t have pictures of this topic since doxing yourself on the internet isn’t usually the best idea. 

4. Command Strips 

Speaking of houses and upgrades, while I was recently putting up some new art on the walls, I was essentially reminded of how easy that can be with Command Strips instead of having to nail things into the wall. A simple design that solves the problem of holes in the wall is really a small pleasure that makes a huge difference. Here is a more detailed diagram and some notes on the topic: 

5. St. Francis City Hall 

An example of great Industrial Architecture and Design in my own community can be seen in the St. Francis City Hall. It is city hall, the Fire Dept. and the Police Dept. all in one building, but in various sections. The middle of the building is a circular center piece that pulls everything together. One one rectangular half of the building jutting off one side of the circular center is the Fire department and the various garages, office, and living areas that go along with it. The other rectangular shaped building jutting off on the other side is the Police Department and their associated areas. I am not entirely sure where the city hall and more municipal areas are in this building, but I believe it occupies somewhere within or near the circular center. I think this is an awesome example of industrial design for the reason that all the main municipal authorities are located in one space that makes for easier cooperation between local government entities. Not to mention it also makes it easier for the general public when trying to seek out those entities. 

(image source: https://www.businessyab.com/explore/united_states/wisconsin/milwaukee_county/saint_francis/east_howard_avenue/3400/st-francis-city-hall-414-481-2300.html) 

6. Stylus Placement on Tablets 

As a Computer Science major and a general tech enthusiast, I am always interested in the many ways that hardware engineers solve various issues and innovations that come along with technological progress. One of these innovations that have come along in the past decade is the prevalence of tablets and their various accessories such as keyboards and styluses. All the major tech brands have come along with their own functions of not just stylus features, but also storage for ease of use and storage. Some of these companies have engineered ways of keeping it out of the way but close by, while others have kept it only a few inches from reach. Here is a more detailed foray in to this concept: 

7. Electric Drum Kit 

For many in the Covid era, new hobbies and improving at old hobbies became less of a way to break to monotony and more of a way to maintain sanity during some of the more isolated moments of our time. In my case this was learning to play drums. Previously a loud boisterous instrument that struck fear into our neighbors just from seeing someone move it into their house has now become something you could play in an apartment building with no recourse. Using the technology we have available and some simple but effective structural design, we now have the ability to play drums anywhere. Something I really enjoy about electronic kits is how you can adjust almost every aspect of it to your personal preferences. From the angle of the drums on a left/right axis, to how close or far they are from you directionally, to even how your kit sounds with the module. Every aspect of these kits make playing drums available to everyone regardless of living situation with a pretty basic design. 

(image source: https://www.amazon.com/Alesis-Nitro-Electronic-Snare-Cymbals/dp/B07BW1XJGP)  

8. Vacuum High Power Trigger 

One example of industrial design that pops up on a regular basis in my life is that of the high power trigger in my vacuum. While most vacuums usually have a different setting or extra button for high suction, this one has a small trigger that allows the user to pull for higher suction and release to turn it off. No permanent settings, just when you want it. It is kind of hard to describe with words so I made a diagram and some further notes on this specific topic: 

9. Apple M1 Chips 

Something that has absolutely floored me in this past year has been the advent of the Apple silicon chips that have put amazing power in devices that previously weren’t capable of it. While this is amazing engineering, it is also amazing design because at the end of the day, much of this kind of engineering is essentially just designing flow of information and power to various places in more efficient ways. This specific example is rather complex, so I will let an expert describe it in this article I found. 

10. LED Strip Lights (and Connectors) 

I would probably lose my millennial card if I didn’t bring LED strip lights into this. After all, making your spaces “vibey” has never been easier. The process is as simple as cut, click, and turn on. Here is a more detailed explanation of why I find this to be such a well designed product that adds accessibility to something with such a large appeal: 

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 7 - Architecture

In the lecture and readings this week about industrial design and the aspects that are meant to be “universal,” I had a couple specific takeaways. The first of these is that they are meant to be “universal” in style and aesthetics. This could mean colors that blend with others well, design aesthetics that are relatively neutral, and/or work the same way across the board. The second is that universal design needs to be simple in production and application. 

5 Over 1 Construction 

This style of construction is described by mtcopeland.com as “mid-rise residential structures built with a wood frame over a concrete platform, which makes them one of the cheapest options for building apartments or condos. Wood framing is less expensive than steel or metal framing, or using entirely concrete. The concrete base allows builders to construct a building that is one story taller than would normally be allowed for entirely wood-framed buildings under building code. This helps the building owner increase profitability by giving them the option to add commercial space on the first floor with apartments above.” 

This style can be seen in apartment buildings such as Forte at 84South in Greenfield or at the Taxco Apartments underway in Walkers Point. 

Forte at 84South 

(image source: https://jla-ap.com/portfolio/forte-84-south/)

Taxco Apartments 

(image source: https://urbanmilwaukee.com/building/mandel-walkers-point-apartments/nggallery/image/taxco-apartments-rendering-2/)

I think this is a very interesting idea of universal design and style for a couple reasons. First, the construction is an affordable and easily applied to a number of circumstances and layouts. Second, the design is rather fresh and modern as well as looking in a way that could virtually fit any locale. With a couple difference color palettes, this could match its surroundings without having to change much else. This style has also created a “boxy” building that doesn’t look quite as arguably boring compared to other structures from decades past. 

The Microwave 

While it may seem simplistic and boring, that is the exact reason I am adding it to this post. The microwave (to me) is probably one of the best examples of anything “universal.” No matter the brand, the size, or the color, when you see a microwave, you know what it is. The only differences that I can think of is that of a button to open the door, color, or slight variations of the keypad, but everything else is roughly the same across the board. This little box that nearly every household has, fits in every household. It nearly always fits every style as it is also something that at this point in time feels like something missing if it is not in a kitchen. It is because of this reasoning that I think it encompasses the concepts of universal style and design as well as universal production and application. Here is my own microwave: 

The “New” Universal

While there seems to be quite a bit of pushback against this type of style/design/application in my generation, there is no doubt that its prevalence is becoming more and more universal. This is the modern American suburb. Some research tells me that this is called Tract houses as it is a similar type of house built on a tract of land and then divided into smaller lots for those houses. Here is an example of the exact neighborhoods I am talking about: 

(image source: https://bit.ly/3tPwC3A)

(image source: https://bit.ly/3J6LKzX) 

These types of neighborhoods are popping up everywhere in the midwest and across the country. I personally don’t like this style of neighborhood or house, but it seems obvious that there are many that do. I chose to highlight this style and layout because it seems like no matter what state you are in, you will find a neighborhood just like this (or being built in) many suburban areas. I think this fits in more in the universal style and application because of how often we see nearly the same houses being built in these neighborhoods and application just due to the variety of environments these are being built in. Everywhere from the North East, Midwest, the South, and even the west has these developing neighborhoods with the same looking houses. Not to mention that the connotation of these being “cookie cutter” kind of implies the new universality of these neighborhoods. 

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 6 - Architecture

As I drove around the city looking around for locations to take pictures for my Elements of Design project, I made two main observations. The first of these observations is how you can see the various “eras” of the city’s construction if you know what you’re looking for. Many of these eras also line up quite well with the various architectural and design types highlighted in this week’s lecture. 

Cream City Brick

The second observation I made is that of just how prevalent Cream City brick is in many of the more historic neighborhoods and dotted across the city. It seems like something we glance over since we see it on a daily basis, but when i moved here from Detroit in my younger years, I found it very weird to see all these yellow/ivory colored buildings all over the place. Here are a couple examples of Cream City brick buildings in the area: 

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cream_City_brick)

(image source: myself)

(image source: https://emke.uwm.edu/entry/cream-city-brick/)

Churches

As with many cities, I feel like much of the beauty in their architecture can be seen in that of their larger churches. Besides architecture and design, the art on the inside can also be quite elaborate. Two that came to mind when contemplating the lecture material when it came to Renaissance and New Gothic. These two places are Basilica of St. Josaphat and Church of the Gesu. The Basilica is a favorite of mine as I live close to it and tend to see that dome floating above the skyline on most of my usual commutes. 

(image source: https://landmarkhunter.com/126952-st-josaphat-basilica/)

What is interesting about this specific church is that you can see influences of not just Renaissance with the dome, but also aspects of Gothic/Neo Gothic on above the entrance on the right. You can also see the influence of Classical at the entrance with the pillars leading up to that signature pediment of those styles. 

On the other hand, the Church of the Gesu is an outstanding example of the Neo Gothic style with the grandiose posture of the style being displayed inside and out. 

(image source: https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/urban-spelunking-gesu-church)

Neoclassical 

I feel as though it is impossible to create a post like this and not highlight the hulking behemoth of a building that is the Milwaukee County Circuit Court System building. It is quite simply as classic as you can get with the neoclassical style. As the image of justice, power, and synonymous with American governmental buildings, this does not fall short of holding up to those ideals from purpose to design. 

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milwaukee_County_Courthouse)

Flemish Renaissance Revival 

I had to do some research on this one, but I noticed a pattern in the external designs around the city that were present in buildings of very different architectural styles. It is simply that of tall arches cut out and sunk into the building that held clusters of windows. Here is a simple sketch I made of this observation: 

Specifically, it is the tall “arch” looking cutouts in the side of buildings that outline rows of windows that are also sunk into the side of the buildings frame. This caught my eye as I saw this style on industrial buildings, office buildings, restored warehouses (now apartments/condos),... 

So, I looked around and decided that the most grand use of this design that also seemed to fit more coherently with the building’s overall style was the Milwaukee City Hall. 

(image source: https://www.cupapizarras.com/uk/news/restoration-milwaukee-city-hall/) 

Some research told me that this was called Flemish Renaissance Revival and it seems like this style or the influence of this style touches many parts of the city. While I am not entirely sure if that window arch design is specific to that style, it is used heavily throughout the city. In fact, one of the pictures I took for my Elements of Design project had this feature as well. 

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 5 – History of Design

As I have been reading the designated portions of the text so far, I began noticing the influence of the various evolutions in graphic design and design schools even before I got to this week’s post. I find it fascinating just how much there is to gain in seeing the evolution of the styles, aesthetics, and design choices around us. 

Art Nouveau 

While this is technically not something I see every single day at this point in my life, it was something I saw for my entire life up to the point that I moved out of my parents house. 

My mom enjoys art from the magazine covers that can be seen around the 1890s to around the first World War. Namely, The Ladies Home Journal. She has decorated the house with a couple of these, but I have chosen to highlight the the May 1909 edition titled ‘A Girls Number’:

(image source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/394979829818149514/)

This cover art was done by Harrison Fisher, who was an American illustrator who lived from 1877 to 1934. His work on the covers of these magazines seem to be the influence of French Art Nouveau mentioned in the text on pages 68-73. More specifically, this style reminded me of the style and influences of Sir John Everett Millais (Eskilson 73). 

Russian Constructivism

When it came to the sections of our readings and the lectures regarding Constructivism, I found the connections to a favorite artist and brand of mine becoming more apparent. That artist is Shepard Fairey and his brand Obey. 

Even to those who may not know this artist by name have no doubt seen his works at some point. The way that his art has permeated our culture is only rivaled by few. 

(image source: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/229396/barack-obama-hope-poster)

To me, Fairey has appropriated the constructivist style in a way that feels modern and still relevant decades later. While not all of his work is obviously constructivist, he has a few pieces that mirror the images from our text on pages 190-195 (Eskilson). 

Probably Fairey’s most well recognized image is that of his Andre the Giant with the “obey” text at the bottom. This is also the logo for his brand called Obey. 

(image source: https://logonoid.com/obey-logo/)

This particular image is one that I see almost daily as I am a big fan of the Obey brand clothing and associated ideas. Fairey’s works, brand, and associated grassroots activism proves that the Russian Constructivist aesthetic and style is something that still holds influence on our culture’s art preferences and its ability to mobilize political ideas. 

Bauhaus

This one might be low hanging fruit when it comes to things we use or see its influence on a daily basis because of how obvious it is, but this is the bauhaus type. 

While some of the even more obvious influences of Bauhaus can be seen in our architecture and furniture, I find the typographical influence to be the most intriguing. In a Widewalls article, Ana Moriarty wrote that “To say that the whole graphic design industry owes its life to the Bauhaus movement would be a serious understatement. The Bauhaus typography is especially credited for the development of modern day graphic and industrial design.” 

After learning about this movement, I began to see its influence everywhere from graphic design, advertisements, business logos, fonts in Microsoft Word, restaurant menus,... 

(image source: https://www.behance.net/gallery/27357221/Typography-History-Futura-(Bauhaus-Style))

This Futura font and its subsequent sub styles is a font I have used for an art class, business cards in the past for organizations I have worked with, and at the coffee shop I worked at. 

So, it was interesting to find out that one of my favorite fonts is actually directly related to the Bauhaus movement. Also, I can’t directly confirm this as I had not asked, but one of my favorite restaurants in Bayview has their entire menu done in this font, or something that must be influenced by it as it looks very similar. 

References: 

MLA (7th ed.)

Eskilson, Stephen. Graphic Design: A New History. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007. Print.

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 4 - Found Object

What I found when going for a walk was not exactly an “object” per se, but rather a structure. While I live in a residential area of the city that does not have anything other than houses to look at in the realm of “objects”, it does have a genius bridge. Here are my notes on that bridge:

While the design of this bridge may look very familiar to anyone else from the region, the genius can be found in the factors mentioned within my notes. These are limited spaces, high volume traffic roads, and other adjacent roads that appear just across each side of the bridge. While many areas that use this design has two through traffic lanes across, they also have a longer bridge for directing that traffic. 

So, at the end of the day, the engineering and design implemented to keep everything moving smoothly is the difference between clogging up a busy part of town and everyone getting to work on time. 

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 3 - History of Design

Looking around me, there are some examples of design in my daily life that ranges from mundane yet very convenient, to the beautiful and crafty. Some of these were recent additions to my life but the differences in design has made the things around me more aesthetically pleasing and/or easier as a result. 

1. Drum Practice Pad With Snare Sound

This is something a friend really got me into. Essentially, it is a simple practice pad for working on drum rudiments, but it resembles a snare sound when struck. What is fascinating about this to me is that the snare sound on an actual drum is created in a rather complex way that seems impossible for that of a practice pad, but through some clever design, they made it happen. I drew up a diagram and wrote some notes on how it works:

Essentially, the summary of my notes are that the pad is inconspicuously hollowed out in the middle and filled with metal marbles. These marbles rattling against one another allow for the  simulated sound of a snare. On a couple of different products, there is also the feature of a screw that allows you to broaden or shorten the space in that concave for the adjustment of the pitch and looseness of the snare sound as well. Obviously it is not going to be the exact same as a snare drum, but it is definitely a great design that gets a similar sound with a much simpler process than is present on an actual snare drum. 

2. My Ikea Kitchen Table 

I am sure many people have the memories of helping grandma on Thanksgiving or Christmas haul a large piece of wood improperly named a “leaf” into the dining room to add to the middle of the table to create more spaces for people to sit. 

For a long time, the table that Google tells me is called a “butterfly leaf table” has been a genius way to create more space for family and friends, while saving space at other times when such a table is not needed. This always seemed like a nifty product at best for me personally because most of the time you had to store a large piece of solid wood that had to stay unscratched while stored. Someone in my family had a table that stored it underneath the table on some hooks.This was great... until it fell on their legs during dinner after the hooks finally gave out. 

So you can imagine my surprise when I came across the Ikea Ekedalen. This was a table designed in such a way that both my wife and I couldn’t pass up. Essentially, it has the standard slats used on the other leaf tables to pull the table apart and back together, but this includes a safe space under the top to the table to hold the leaf. More simply, the table itself acts like a drawer for the leaf. I have linked the Ikea website above since I was not sure whether I could use those pics. There is also an awesome video demonstration on the webpage as well. 

3. Samsung Galaxy S7 Tablet 

I recently picked up a new Samsung Galaxy tablet to help with school and my private music lessons business. When it came time to find a case/cover, I was less than excited. I feel like cases on phones, laptops, and tablets tend to cover up the amazingly well designed pieces of technology we carry with us daily. What I ended up finding was sleek, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. Here are some diagrams and notes I made about the case: 

Overall, one of the selling points is that the main magnetic flap that holds the whole thing together is also that which protects ad holds the S Pen in place. 

4. Snapchat UI 

Something that I use on the regular and have always thought was a genius design is the Snapchat UI. I made some notes on the topic here: 

Essentially what this boils down to is that while many apps have clean looking layouts, many of them always seem just a little bit too busy. Snapchat has only three main slides and the brilliance can be found not in what they added to their layout, but what they left out. 

5. Nintendo Switch 

While I have to stay away from this during the semester lest I run the risk of falling behind on assignments, the Nintendo Switch is one of the most innovative designs for a video game that has been invented. Historically, there seems to be a difficulty in companies trying to juggle handheld and plugged in consoles. Nintendo bridged this gap by making both in one device. If the device is inserted into the housing, it connects to the TV. Conversely, put the handheld controlled on it and pick it up, it becomes a handheld game. The transition is seamless and the user experience is as satisfying as I have personally ever encountered on a game system. 

6. Daisy Sour Cream Squeeze Container 

Sometimes it’s the simple things that matter. In this case is the ease of something as simple as putting sour cream on tacos. I chose this simply because it seemed like a simple change in packaging design that makes all the difference. Besides, it is much more satisfying to squeeze this on to tacos rather than trying to shake it off a spoon into only one area of the taco. Ever since Heinz began putting ketchup in the squeeze bottle in the 1980′s, there have been numerous additions to the simple idea. This example builds on that concept by using a “bag” type contained so you can get every last bit out like a tube of tooth paste.  

7. Kwik Trip Coffee Lid 

While many coffee cups exist, few have actually good lids to top them off. Starbucks for example offers stoppers in the top, but the lid itself is open unless you take that stopper our and put it back in every single time. Kwik Trip on the other hand has a little flap that makes it resealable. This allows you to keep your drink hotter for a longer period of time while also stopping accidental spills in the car. 

8. Colectivo Bayview 

Building on the industrial style and aesthetic of the repurposed 20th century industrial buildings in Milwaukee, Colectivo in Bayview is one of the coolest locations they have. While much of the building is used by the Bakery, they have designed a cafe around it that provides an easy way to direct customer traffic, plenty of seating, and a seasonal area that can be opened up during summer. 

9. Jeep 6 Cylinder “In Line 6″ Engine

The engine on my 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee made it to this list due to the immaculate engine that can be found in it. When I was buying this car, my wife, who was a mechanic looked it over and told me that it is a must buy because of this engine. Here are some notes I made on this engine: 

10. Ford Explorer Seats 

My wife recently got a new car and something very strangely specific stuck out to me immediately; the shortness of the seats. In many cars, the forward length of the seats always made the car feel rather cramped and made leg motion awkward. This is especially noticeable when driving. The mobility granted by such a small detail definitely adds to the sense of security and mobility while driving this car. Here are some notes and diagrams I made about this:  

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 2 - Design Thinking

Design is the means by which good ideas become great innovations. Whether this is functional design, or in the realm of aesthetic design, products that are designed better win out over those that aren’t. In the assigned reading Design Thinking, Tom Brown, CEO and President of IDEO says:

“Often the emotional connection to a product or an image is what engages us in the first place. Time and again we see successful products that were not necessarily the first to market but were the first to appeal to us emotionally and functionally.”

Brown also pointed out how Thomas Edison was a “genius” not only because of his abilities to invent like no other, but also due to him thinking in terms of design as a first principle along side the invention. He describes this concept in this way: 

“Thus Edison’s genius lay in his ability to conceive of a fully developed marketplace, not simply a discrete device. He was able to envision how people would want to use what he made, and he engineered toward that insight.” 

Later in the article, Brown brings up an example of this idea by highlighting the iPod vs. MP3 player. He discusses how the iPod may not have been the first of its kind, but it was undoubtedly the best of its kind. I would also add an example that is interesting to me because the principle remains, but didn’t work out due to unrelated issues. This example is Netscape. Netscape was favored initially over Microsoft’s Internet explorer due to its better design. More specifically, many found Netscape easier to use and a more enjoyable/approachable experience comparatively. Although this fits the idea mentioned above about design being king, Internet Explorer ended up winning what became known as the “browser wars” due to business practices that put Microsoft in the middle of a lawsuit. This example comes from information I got from the podcast Business Wars, a short history on how this played out, and an article from the Guardian I found from 2002 during the lawsuit. 

Brown’s point about the “emotional connection” you feel to a well designed product is the most significant point for me because it is how I choose many products in my life. As I mentioned in my About Me post, this really comes up when considering the hardware and software choices I make. For a very long time I have been a very dedicated Apple user even when they may not have been technically the most innovative or current. This is in large part to the philosophy of Steve Jobs.

“Design is the fundamental soul of a man-made creation that ends up expressing itself in successive outer layers of the product or service.”

- Steve Jobs

It is this philosophy that has led Apple to release some of the most satisfying products in the tech world. For example, the Apple “ecosystem” truly is something marvelous because while I am writing this post on a MacBook, I can message those who send texts to my phone on this device. At the same time, AirPods will seamlessly switch from connection to my phone to my Mac as I move from one to the other. It is this kind of consumer interest design that keeps Apple on top in the consumer market and in my own daily preferences. 

[chandlers-designsurvey]

Week 1 - About Me

My name is Chandler Sievewright and I am a Computer Science student here at UWM. I am a private music instructor teaching bagpipes and was a barista for many years until this past year. Recently I began taking drum lessons as a way of staying busy during the pandemic and have been thoroughly enjoying that addition to my list of hobbies as a result. 

I decided to take this class because last semester I took the Digital Arts 118 class and very much enjoyed the practical skills gained from it such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. On top of this, I found the level of insight gained in the realm of aesthetic and the execution of various artistic ventures very helpful even as a CS student. As someone who would like to break into the UX/UI world of the tech world, I think this class will really help as I try to gather the skills necessary to one day build good looking apps, websites, and interfaces. After all, it all begins with learning the concepts behind design. 

Even further, I find design dictating the way I make many consumer choices in my daily life (usually technology) whether it is the apps I use on my phone, or the hardware I choose to run those apps. A specific example of this would be how I opted for a smaller Samsung Galaxy tablet instead of an iPad Mini (besides the cost difference) because I thought the way the home screen looked on the new Mini running IOS 15 was just sort of clunky and not fully thought out. To be more specific, the apps on the home screen layout appeared to be pushed into the center of the screen and leaving an entire half inch of screen that wasn’t even used. I would describe this as looking almost like I transferred my phone home screen on to a larger device without proper expansion to fit the that device. While I think the android also has some design issues as an Apple person, they are far more minute than that of the iPad. In short, due to a design feature I personally found annoying, I ended up purchasing an android product for the first time. 

All in all, I greatly look forward to this course!