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Week 15 - Final Thoughts

When considering the future of design, the amount of changes that it will undergo and the influence they will have on Design, makes the potential of the profession too unpredictable. Especially when you think about how many different ways design will keep branching off. As we move towards the future, it is interesting to think about where design will be. I feel that designs the future will become more efficient. Not only this, the advancement of technology is unavoidable and that will only create more space for potential; for instance, when you consider the next phases of virtual reality (VR) technology.

Virtual reality tech now resembles clunky head goggles. As VR tech continues to improve, I feel that its potential will provide a more immersive experience with smaller and more comfortable gear. I also believe that virtual reality art will expand and become another branch within graphic design, which brings the potential of it being brought into education. Along with this, art itself will become more immersive and interactive, allowing people to experience art in new ways. Google’s VR app Tiltbrush, is a strong indicator for this. This app allows you to paint within a 3D space, creating an immersive environment. While still on this topic, I believe that our own environment will change. Seeing how big of an influence modernism has in design, I feel that architecture in the future will start to adopt modernist attributes. Minimalism will further be integrated into design and will become more prevalent within our surroundings.

Another imminent possibility within design is the development of Web 3.0. The potential of this will provide a major shift within the design world. This is especially true since it will be the next steps on how we interact with the internet. Along with this, new disciplines will have to be learned and designers will have to further develop themselves in order to remain relevant. Overall, due to the endless potential within the future of design, society and the world in general will continuously change.

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Week 14 - Your Choice

I would have to say that I enjoyed going through and learning about the many design movements; especially the influence that they provided on Graphic Design as a whole. I feel it is important to know where things stem from, and being a graphic design student myself, I really appreciated learning about the roots of this profession. One of the movements that really stuck with me was the Bauhaus movement. Personally I really admire modernist aesthetics and its simplistic aspects. The Bauhaus movement paved the way for modernism, in design as a whole and the many components contained within it; for instance, typography and architecture. After being exposed to this movement, I especially see its influence in the world around me. Modernism is very prevalent and I see it in a big number of signs/ads/posters and structures. Honestly, I never really paid attention to architecture. After learning about it and its history, I now view physical structures through a different lens. I noticed this while driving through downtown Milwaukee. While I was in my car I realized that I wasn’t just looking at buildings as just buildings. I now saw the diverse architectural styles contained within the city. Overall, learning about the many design movements and their influences really opened my eyes and changed my point of view on the world.

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Week 11 - Graphic Design

In this week’s reading, we learned about what it means to be a “Citizen Designer.” A citizen designer is “A professional who attempts to address societal issues either through or in addition to his or her commercial work” (425). I learned that as of recent, many designers have publicly struggled with the pursuit of an expanded role for the profession in society. These designers feel that limiting themselves to ordinary client/designer relationships focused on solving aesthetic problems is a narrow way to look at things. Rather, they feel that this profession must bring forward the most urgent problems of contemporary society; things that range from “…global climate change to treating and preventing HIV/AIDS” (425).

Through learning about citizen designers, I began to realize how relevant they are. Overall, I feel that their main goal is to benefit the world at large. The mindset of a citizen designer can be seen to be rooted in William Morris’ ideologies. We previously learned that Morris was the leader of the Arts and Crafts movement. He believed that “…high quality design could serve as a beneficient social force to reform the ills of the Industrial Age” (425). This very concept came back to surface during the twentieth century. However, it was reconceived as commercial work being seen as a distraction towards a designer’s commitment to social change.

A huge issue pertaining to the concern of citizen designers is the trend of sustainable design. Drawing from our book, it is generally defined as “…the balanced use of natural, social, and economic capital for the continued health of the planet and future generations” (425). After reading the “Sustainability” section on page 425 and 426, I learned that this trend revolves around issues regarding our environment. With that being said, this can be seen in the shift from print to the web. As our society moves towards a digital era in graphic arts, sustainability “…represents the type of organic change that has enormous positive impact on the environment” (425 & 426).

Being a graphic design student myself, I feel that every designer should embody the ideologies behind a citizen designer. However at the same time, I do feel that it does not have to fully encompass their overall work. The mindset behind a citizen designer all in all, is to benefit the world as a whole. I feel that bringing prominent issues to the surface through design, can slowly bring improvement on our society altogether.

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Week 10 - Graphic Design

After having learned about the Bauhaus movement and its overall aesthetic, I became interested in it. With that being said I found this week’s reading on Bauhaus typography, “Type at the Bauhaus” (230-239), particularly interesting. I learned that Bauhaus adopted an essential component of modern graphic design, which was rational and geometric letterforms. They believed that sans-serif type was essential. This idea was broken down into three main points. The first point was due to the fact that sans-serif typefaces were the only ones able to express the ideas behind the ‘machine age.’ Secondly, these typefaces lacked any nationalist associations and acted in a unified way during the post-war era. Lastly they believed, due to its simplicity, it was the best type used for photography.

Formally known as the International Typographic Style, the Swiss Style predominated graphic design in Europe. It contains influences from the De Stijl, Bauhaus, and Russian Constructivism movements. Drawing from my interest in the Bauhaus movement, I found the section “New Typefaces” in the chapter “The Triumph of International Style” of our book to be very interesting. To be more specific, I found Adrian Frutiger’s innovative thinking to be interesting. A Swiss typeface designer, based in Paris, Frutiger shaped the typeface Univers. Instead of just modifying an already existing alphabet, Frutiger created this new font with intentions of having it be suitable for typesetting in longer texts. His goal was to create a large font family that had multiple widths and weights, while also maintaining a unified design. Univers is composed of 21 individual weights and each of its fonts is labeled by a two digit number, rather than just names. Making all of the weights commercially available was achieved through the help of Deberny & Peignot, a French type foundry.

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Week 9 - Industrial Design

After having read about Brooks Stevens, I learned that he is regarded as a great influence in the profession of Industrial design. Not only that, he was also a fellow Milwaukeean. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Stevens was always interested in designing and building things. His father supported his passion, and through his encouragement he was a big part of Brooks’ motivation towards the profession.

With that being said, Stevens’ success in Industrial Design really brought Milwaukee to the surface when regarding the profession. Stevens saw how big this new profession was becoming in New York, and decided to emulate successful Industrial Designers over there and bring it into his hometown. As said by the man himself, Milwaukee was “where the business was.” He opened his first office on July 1st , 1935 at 340 N Milwaukee St, and five years later his office accounted for fifty-plus accounts. After establishing himself, Brooks started to do lectures on “Industrial Design and its Practical Application to Industry.” The main gist was that “design would pay for itself many times over.” This theory was proven to be successful during WWII, where market appeal became less important. Stevens’ success during this time was seen in the conversion of military manufacturing into civilian consumer products. For instance, he took the Army Jeep and turned it into a station wagon, then into a stylish touring car known as the “Jeepster.”Not only this, he also became the only Midwestern founder of the “Society of Industrial Designers,” and the first Industrial Designer to be honored with a one-person museum retrospective at the Milwaukee Art Institute.

By the end of his career, Stevens helped shape roughly three thousand products for around 600 clients. His legacy is seen today as a big influence on the profession of Industrial Design. Not only this, he took his passion and established himself in the very town he was raised in, Milwaukee, and put it on the map.

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Week 8 - Industrial Design

Over the course of this semester, we have learned a lot about design, how it came to be, and the many movements that went along with it. As of recent, we were taught how the profession as an industrial designer came to be and the many influences within it. With that being said, here are 10 design observations that I pulled from everyday things around me.

My first observation is of this Swiffer Wet Jet. I feel that this embodies the primary responsibility of industrial design, which is to help produce manufactured items that work well and please the eye; therefore giving a competitive advantage. This Swiffer, in my opinion, is a superior version of a mop. It allows for a more efficient and easy cleaning routine. With a push of a button, located on its handle, the cleaning solution is sprayed out onto the surface in front of you. It also comes with a swivel head and replaceable cleaning pads. Basically an all-in-one mopping system that leaves traditional mops in the dust.

Next, I chose this small round table. Honestly, I chose to include it because I have never seen a table like this before. To be more specific, I have not seen a table that also serves the function of telling time. The fact that this table is not only a surface to set things on, in my opinion, is very innovative and amplifies its design.

Here is a pair of Apple’s Earpods. I use these every day and personally feel that they have the best design compared to other headphones. The all-white design is simple and sleek, reminding me of aspects in modernism. I also appreciate how the earbuds are designed. When listening to music, I find these headphones to be very comfortable and easy to put in. On the right earbud there are buttons that allow you to control your music, making these headphones very practical.

This is a Body Guard Safety Gear vest. Not only is it a piece of clothing, it also serves the function of protection. More specifically, it’s labeled as ‘high visibility apparel’ on its tag. This therefore allows people around you to see you quicker than usual. These are seen a lot in work involving traffic and construction, and greatly improve the safety of these workers.

My next observation was of this Epson printer. I enjoyed the design solely based off of function. It is a wireless printer, allowing you to print anywhere within the vicinity as long as you are connected to the network. Not only is it a printer, it allows you to photocopy and scan items. I feel that this design keeps the consumer in mind by providing multiple functions and easy access, making the process of printing less of a hassle.  

I chose this lamp because of its versatility. The design behind it allows you to choose where you want light to be illuminated. You can bend each of the five arms to where you desire, and choose the angle of where you want the light to shine. This lamp also has multiple settings, where you can choose which bulbs turn on. The flexibility behind this design really puts the consumer in control.

Here is my twin niece and nephew’s chalkboard. I chose this because of how relatable the product is in relation to the customer. To be more specific, since it is a product designed for children, I enjoy how appropriate the design is. It is safe. All of the edges are rounded and made of plastic, in order to prevent injury. It is around 3.5 feet tall, which also makes the height appropriate for children.

This is, unfortunately, only the bottom half of a Stride gum pack. I included it because of how intricate and pleasing to the eye the design behind this pack of gum was. When first opening the pack, I could tell that the design was well thought out. Once opened, each design element contains a connection and has a sense of fluidity. Even after taking a piece of gum, there is a design behind it. It makes you want to observe each and every element within it. The very thorough design with its many intricacies, in my opinion, gives stride a very strong competitive advantage.

Next is my Robeco pen, probably the pen I use the most. When holding this pen, you immediately get a sense of comfort. The shape behind this pen really forms into your hand. It also has a rubber like texture, which I feel gives better grip. I believe that the texture also allows for less perspiration within the hands, making it better for the overall writing experience.  

Lastly, I included this broom and dust pan set. The dust pan is foldable and has a socket that allows for the broom to click into. Overall I feel that this set was smartly designed, it allows for more space when it comes to storing it.

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Week 5 - History of Design

After having read this week’s readings, I found three examples of design from my life that I related to what is discussed in this section of the book. Overall, in Chapter five of our book “Graphic Design: A New History”, it discusses the influence of the Dutch De Stijl and Russian Constructivism movements. Both of these movements pull from cubism and geometric abstraction and are heavily driven by the aftermath of the First World War.

In regards to geometric abstraction, the beginning of chapter five discusses an individual by the name of Piet Mondrian. I learned about Mondrian’s abstract ideals and how he prefers limiting his “…use of formal elements to straight lines, orthogonal compositions…” while also providing a simple palette of colors (179). This brings me to my first example, which is a picture of a wood project that I have recently done. Not knowing that it would relate to what is discussed in the reading, I found that this piece has aspects of Mondrian’s ideals. The first thing I noted was that my project is made up of hard-edged geometric shapes. Going off of that, it is composed strictly of straight lines. Since I ended up finishing the project with a natural stain, it also provides a simple color palette made up of the natural colors of wood.

In the ‘Typography and Journal Design’ section of the chapter, it talks about another De Stijl artist by the name of Theo Van Doesburg. His plan for design in the De Stijl journal was outlined to be typographically and aesthetically austere (180). His designed letterforms contained rectilinear and orthogonal elements, where the words would form a tight rectangular box. The example that I related to Van Doesburg’s aesthetic was the cover of our own textbook. The way the letters were designed on the cover resembles a woodcut design, which Van Doesburg utilized in his work. These letters also follow straight with how Piet designs his letterforms, which I discussed earlier.

The last example that I included was a picture of the entrance to the highschool that I attended, Brookfield Central. I felt that how it was designed closely relates to the Bauhaus buildings as discussed in the ‘Dessau Bauhaus’ section. More specifically, I related my high school’s entrance to Gropius’ plan for the Bauhaus buildings. I learned that these buildings were constructed of the most modern industrial materials: steel, reinforced concrete, and glass (225). Also, they were built in a way that followed the idea of having an austere aesthetic, where each element of the structure is functional and aesthetically pleasing. These very elements can be seen in the picture I provided of my high school. The entrance has an ‘open’ design, which exposes the steel support beams. The wall is also composed of glass panels, which I think gives it a more modern appeal while also being functional.  

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Week 4 - Found Object

For this week’s journal entry, I decided to include this mop set as an example of something that contains an element of design. I chose this as an example because I noticed that it possessed multiple features that served a different purpose. The first thing that I noted was the size of this mop set.  The bucket seen in the provided picture is about two feet long, one foot wide, and one foot tall. With that being said, it serves the function of saving space. This can be useful especially when regarding storage. Having the bucket be smaller in size also means that it is lighter, which provides it with better mobility. With the topic of mobility at hand, the bucket also comes with 2 sets of wheels along the bottom. I am not quite sure what the name of the wheels are, however they resemble the ones found on a computer chair. They allow you to move the bucket around in all directions. Probably the most prominent feature of this mop set is the circular silver part on the left side of the bucket. I am unsure what it is called, but this portion of the bucket allows you to remove excess water from the mop. After dipping the mop into the water and cleaning solution (on the right side of the bucket), you attach the bottom of the mop onto the center piece of the left side of the bucket. After doing so, you unclip the white handle (found on the green part of the mop) on the mop and push down. This brings me to yet another feature of this mop set, which is the ability of the mop to spin. This aspect goes hand and hand with the silver portion of the bucket. When pushing the mop into the silver circle while it is unclipped, the mop will start spinning and with the power of centrifugal force, all of the excess water gets wicked away. When done, you simply re-clip the mop and start cleaning. Overall, I enjoy the multiple design features that this mop set includes. It provides a user friendly approach and not only is this set functional, I also enjoy the overall aesthetics provided by the organic shapes and simple colors.

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Week 3 - History of Design

After having read the first two chapters in the book ‘Graphic Design: A New History,’ I learned about the earlier stages of design and its evolution during that period. These two chapters focused on design in the 19th century, also known as the Victorian Age. The expansion in the field of graphic design is also discussed through the impact of the industrial revolution, the invention of photography, the explosion of printing technology, and the rapid growth of font types and sizes. I learned that critics on design during the Victorian Age would say design was lacking in both a practical and theoretical sense. Things were not designed, rather they served a more functional purpose. This sparks the Art Nouveau movement, which was discussed in chapter 2 of the book. People involved in the “New Art” movement wanted to provide a fresh visual vocabulary that celebrated vibrant urban life. They believed that New Art should consist of a universal style that is not specific to certain design styles. Reading about the multiple designers of the 19th century, their ambitions, and how they paved the way to graphic design in the modern world was great to learn about. That being said, I found 10 examples of design in my daily life.

This is the clock that I have hanging on my room wall. I like that it contains artistic qualities while also being functional. This clock is designed in the shape of Vietnam and has the Vietnamese Heritage flag in its background. It also contains the three major cities of Vietnam (Hanoi, Hue, and Saigon) along with imagery pertaining to each of them. To be honest out of all of the clocks I’ve seen in my lifetime, this would have to be at the top. This may be biased since I am Vietnamese.

Here is a pencil sharpener that I have. After observing it I mainly noticed the functionality of the design, which is obviously to sharpen pencils. I liked that this pencil sharpener was designed so that you can twist the top off in order to empty pencil shavings. Referring back to a previous pencil sharpener that I had, it was designed so that the top popped off. I was always left with an explosion of pencil shavings. That being said, it was smart how this orange sharpener was designed since it allows for less mess when emptying it out.

The sign for this shopping strip particularly caught my attention as I drove by. The choice of font in the neon portion of the sign really intrigued me. Personally, I enjoy type that embodies handwritten qualities. I also feel that the use of complimentary colors in the sign further enhances its ability to grab your attention. The choice of designing it with neon lights also allows it to be seen at all times of the day.

I also noticed the design choices of my shoe rack. Shoe racks are designed in a way so that allows you to save space. Not only that, it also helps with organization. I feel the person that designed this shoe rack wanted it to be easy to assemble/disassemble. It comes in six pieces, four racks and two sidepieces that allow it to stand up. This reiterates the function of it being a space saver.

After reading about the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the field of graphic design, I knew that I wanted to include my car as an example. The Industrial Revolution set the stage for many innovations in graphic design, industrial design, and architecture. During this era, the steam engine created greater productivity and led to the mass production of products. That being said, almost every car today is undergoing mass production through various makes and models.

I also chose this pull up bar as another example. The intention behind the design of this pull up bar was to allow an individual to do a variety of workouts. More specifically, it allows you to do different styles of pull ups, pushups, and it also assists with sit ups. For pull ups you simply hook it to the top of a door frame. Placing it on the floor, like in the provided picture, allows for pushups. For sit ups you simply place it on the floor, like for the pushups, within the bottom of a doorframe. I really enjoy the multifunctional quality of this particular pull up bar.

This is a Nike windbreaker that I own. As seen in the picture, this jacket is threaded with a reflective material. Not only does it provide style, it also serves as a form of protection. This is especially true at night when it is harder to notice people while driving. The reflective threading really catches your eye and grabs your attention, making you easier to spot.

As I was walking through the Milwaukee Art Museum, this chair caught my eye and really sparked my curiosity. The first thing that came into my head was ‘What is this made of?’ When reading the card containing its information, I noticed that the choice of medium was something that I have never seen before. The artist Joris Laarman composed this chair using thermoplastic polyurethane. Despite the bizarre medium, this chair is very successful considering the beauty of its repeated patterns and its functionality as a chair.

Another example that I chose was my calculator. All calculators are designed to make math simpler for the individual. They make the process of mathematics exponentially quicker and allow you to avoid the dreaded process of doing it by hand.  This specific calculator, a TI-83, allows you to do more sophisticated things such as graphing, plot charts, programming it to do certain functions, etc.

The last of my examples is the case for my phone. I have always enjoyed slimmer phone cases over bulky ones. However, I learned my lesson the hard way through a shattered screen and camera lens with my previous phone. While searching for a phone case after buying a new phone, I set my eyes on this particular one made by Otterbox. This case provides my preference of a slimmer look while also being very sturdy and protective. This case has a hard backing and instead of it being a super slim fit, it provides space between the back of my phone and the back of the case. The edges of this case are also lined with a type of rubber, which further enhances the protection. Overall, the design of this phone case pleases my personal tastes while also providing me with better protection.

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Week 2 - Design Thinking

After having read “Design Thinking” in the Harvard Business Review, I feel that I have gained a better understanding of what design is. I would describe design as a form of problem solving. In the first lecture we learned that design serves a higher purpose and/or function, rather than just being an expression of an individual’s vision (art). That being said I would define design as, ideas to a solution which take into account people’s needs and desires. In regards to my idea of design as a form of problem solving, a designer must learn what it takes to meet the desires of the public through the form and functionality of their own ideas.

In this week’s reading Tim Brown defines design thinking as, innovation “…powered by a thorough understanding, through direct observation, of what people want and need in their lives and what they like or dislike about the way particular products are made, packaged, marketed, sold, and supported” (“Design Thinking”, 86). That being said, there are a lot of good examples of products that display the process of design thinking. As mentioned in the ABC News “The Deep Dive,” dental floss is one of those products. Dental floss was invented, however design thinking takes place in the plastic box that contains the floss. It takes the consumer’s needs into consideration by allowing them to tear the floss off into a desired length. Another example can be seen in the iPod. In “Design Thinking” it is brought up that the iPod was not the first MP3, however it was the first one to be delightful (Brown 92). I feel that the design thinking behind the iPod was very strong, considering how successful Apple is today. Brown states that the needs of every individual will increase as we come closer to the future (“Design Thinking”, 92). Products will become “…complex combinations of products, services, spaces, and information. They will be the ways we get educated, the ways we are entertained, the ways we stay healthy, the ways we share and communicate” (Brown, 92). I believe that the iPod embodies the idea of this very quote.

In his article, Brown discusses a design thinker’s personality profile. I feel that this concept is something that is worth noting. He talks about what it takes to be a more successful design thinker by listing five traits: empathy, integrative thinking, optimism, experimentalism, and collaboration. This list amplified my own understanding the term design thinking, and can be seen clearly through the IDEO team in the ABC News “The Deep Dive.” The whole team embodied Brown’s list of design thinker personality traits, through the process of trying to design a more functional shopping cart. By watching their whole design process, each trait is highlighted as they make their way to the final product. That being said I feel it is important to understand design thinking, and Brown’s list of personality traits greatly represents what it takes to become a good design thinker.

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Week 1 - About Me

My name is Tri Nguyen and I am currently a sophomore here at UW-Milwaukee. Going into college I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the arts. Since I was young, creating art was something that I enjoyed and appreciated. Whether if it was an art project in school, or a sketch in a notebook. After practicing and honing my artistic skills throughout my years prior to college, I’ve noticed that I specialize in certain areas of art. My strongest area would be anything related to black and white. By that I mean pencil drawings, charcoal, or ink. I’ve found that after years and years of taking art classes, that black and white drawings come to me with a sense of ease. It is easy but I also really enjoy creating in this area of art.

With that being said I chose to pursue a career in Design and Visual Communication, and this class is needed in order for a DVC portfolio submission. To be more specific, I wanted to learn what it takes to apply my own works of art in the clothing industry. I have always admired the aesthetic of streetwear and would consider it a big part of what inspired me to pursue my desired career. Knowing my own appreciation for art and admiration of streetwear, I chose to combine the two and make it into something that I strive towards.

As of recent, there has been nothing that I’ve bought where design was a major deciding factor. However, I do believe that how something is designed will heavily influence the choices that an individual will make. Everybody has their own tastes and one thing will be more eye-catching or functional for each individual. This can be seen very clearly in the clothing industry. One may love Nike apparel and hate Adidas apparel, while another will be the complete opposite. To go even further, two individuals can both love Nike shoes but stay in completely different departments. One of them may only buy their skateboarding shoes, while the other only goes for the basketball shoes. That being said, I do consider design to have a major impact on the choices people make.