A Second Experience

Going back to the Nelson Art Gallery to refresh my memory, I expected myself to be reminded but not again fully moved by the beautiful quilts. However, upon entering, I looked upon each quilt with an even greater appreciation--awing me all the same. Even though all of them beautiful in their own unique way, the same quilt caught my full and utmost attention. I decided this one was my favorite and captivated me the most because of its relatability to my life and its personality (if this quilt were a person, I would want to be their friend!).

In creating quilts, pattern--the repetition and basis of a design, and rhythm--the beat or meter of the design, have a lot to do with how the design is interpreted by the viewer and therefore, influences its construction. Viewing a piece is a total body experience--taken in by all the senses--whether optically or perhaps haptically. I could feel the plush warm corduroy with my eyes even though not tangibly touching the piece.

The quilt’s pattern was haphazardly organized. The squiggly lines of many different bold colors captivated my eyes and reminded me of a beautiful sunset. They were constructed in a pattern of juxtaposed blocks of horizontal and vertical lines. However, these lines were not parallel. They flowed and weaved back and forth. This created a natural rhythm to the piece--that of a calm flow of nature. Even though the quilt obviously did not talk, it exuded a kind of song. The song that went through my head was Joshua Radin’s heart-felt melody, I’d Rather be with You. These elements united the piece while making it unique.

(To listen to the song on Youtube, click here!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIADdtY9pQA&feature=fvw)

(Thanks for the photo go to http://nelsonga.ipower.com/archives/Sharecropper%27s%20Masterpiece.jpg)

Continuity in Design

While debating what to blog about on this clear, lovely fall morning, I looked out my window at the new dorms across the courtyard. Even though their being dorms makes it relatively hard for them to have much stunning architectural detail and general style/bells and whistles considering economical limitations, these clean fresh buildings were rather atheistically pleasing.

The clean modern lines and form of the building are complemented by many large glass windows and steel over-hangings. This creates much unity in the building and creates a continuity that translates to the viewer as being an organized well-constructed and thought out design. It is not cluttered or overcrowded with unnecessary patterns or accessories. Rather the consistent repetition of the windows and accessories on a set grid allows the eye to know what is coming but is not so repetitive as to be boring to the eye.

The change and uniqueness of the first story from the grid of the rest of the building makes the building more interesting to the eye instead of just a straight, overly repetitive, lined building. As a designer, I believe it is very important to find just the right balance of repetition as so it is not too boring nor overwhelming.

Color also comes into play in the unity of this design. The muted sunny beige consists of the bulk of the building is framed by the neutral modern grey brown and subdued cream complementary colors. This adds to the modern, clean feel of the building. However the colored tiles of the first story add an edgy feel to the modern subdued feel of the building. All of these elements add to the overall feel of the building and how it communicates to the public.

Valuing the Whole

“The whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts.” This phrase basically sums up the fundamentals of Gestalt psychology: a theory in which the nature of our perceptions is studied and analyzed. This Berlin school of thought looks at how the brain strives to solve and create unity in what it views.

This is true for both 2-D and 3-D images. Pulling from Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics, he describes how two circles and a line enclosed in an oval is understood to be a face. This mental schema of a simple face allows the image to be less photographic and more universal. The brain is “connecting the dots” to see something that it recognizes. This also can occur with a simple image of three lines, not touching, but in the shape of a triangle. We see a triangle because the mind automatically closes in the gaps and finds unity in the form of a triangle in the three lines. This shows that the mind is always seeking out to see something it knows.

This theory can also apply to tangible pieces. For example, take IDEO’s newly designed shopping cart. Taken out of their context and apart from the final product, the pieces used to assemble the cart would just look like a plethora of shiny pipes some wheels and hooks and baskets--nothing like the interwoven, grill shaped panels we conjure in our minds when thinking of the classic shopping cart. However, when put together, the seemingly disconnected products form a new sleek cart that supposedly will solve some of the problems that the classic cart causes: theft, safety, shopping behavior, check-out speed, etc... Applying Gestalt psychology to this concept, the mind values the end product considering its function-ability and helpfulness.

(Thank you for the photograph courtesy of http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_20/art04_20/0420pe_ideo7.jpg (in reference to IDEO’s sleek new shopping cart).)

Target goes Green

Sustainability seems to be the word and motto of this generation. Finding eco-friendly solutions to save the planet and “go green”. These ideas need to be embraced by all generations and be the approach to commercial as well as residential living in order to make way for life-style changes that will positively impact our planet.

This concept seems to be well received in the design world relating to and influencing many fields including the automotive industry (hybrids, electric cars, etc.), architecture (an example being the reusing and reinventing building resources such as old shipping containers), and rethinking everyday appliances (Energy Star, solar systems, etc.).

Just recently I visited the new Target in the town of Davis. Personally Target is “my happy place” where I like to go if I am bored or feeling down. The happy red colors that pervade the space act as a de-stresser and always make me leave with lifted spirits.

The town of Davis has really embraced the “going green” concept. And this new Target is no exception to the trend. The new Target building is LEED certified, in other words a green building. According to the U.S. Green Building Counsel website, being “LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings,” concentrating on energy and water savings, selecting green building materials, and providing high indoor environmental quality.

Some people argue that it’s not enough, considering Target only is certified at the lowest, bronze level. However, this brings into question when will everyone ever be fully satisfied?? Target took a step in the right direction and did not settle for the cheapest most economical way to build their new store. This behavior from large corporations needs to be rewarded and encouraged if we are to move the entire society towards better green living. The company embraced the design resources available to this generation and made the right decision to “go green”.

(Thanks for the picture go to http://fullyarticulated.typepad.com/sprawledout/images/2007/06/19/davistarget.jpg)

Functionality as the base

Today when I was at the UC Davis ARC, admiring its beautiful construction, I realized that I was analyzing its design. The architects had to take into account that it had to be both functional and beautiful and the same time.

Functional in that the building serves a purpose--as a mini-store, with office buildings, waiting area, and a fitness gym. Also functional in that it needs to keep standing and not leak or break or fall apart. I believe these functional elements are a key to every design whether it is a large building, such as this, or a small piece of artwork; it had to not fall apart and serve its purpose.

But the beauty must always be taken into analyzing a design, in other words the aesthetics of the design. The ARC’s open ceilings and it’s construction with much glass and steel give it a very modern open feel. This goes along well with its functionality of a fitness gym. When I am working out, I do not feel claustrophobic and overwhelmed by all the other sweaty bodies. The open air atmosphere letting in multitudes of light allows for a very calming outdoor atmosphere but still being social and indoors.

The functionality of a piece is the base of which a design is built. Without the building blocks, the design would fall apart and would not be able to be appreciated to its full extent.

(Thanks for the picture: http://ucdavismagazine.ucdavis.edu/issues/sp08/graphics/arc_exterior.jpg)

Society: Influencing to be influenced

Like I said before, design is everywhere. But the ideas and inspirations for all these have to come from somewhere. These ideas can be influenced by anything that the creator comes into contact with--either in the present or references to events in the past.

Before the idea forms there has to be a need. To meet this new found need, designers then come up with the idea. This idea then forms--being shaped and influenced by the designers surroundings and elements that come into contact. These influences must be found outside one’s self.

These influences could be anywhere and are everywhere, natural or another’s manmade design. The simple swaying of a tree branch in the wind, the shape and angle of a chair, the ripples of a leaf falling in a pond or the dynamics of a passing car, simple everyday events, all could influence a designer’s existing idea or give birth to a new one. I can not tell you what influences designers. It is different for every designer, for every idea, for every circumstance.

The diversity of society drives and influences the very designs that are created for the people’s need or pleasure. I come to the conclusion that society is the inspiration that drives those to create for it. Society is influencing to be in turn influenced by the outcome--the design.

Keeping the communication flowing

Design is a subject that is meant to be shared with other people. Whether you are talking about its meaning to you, or critiquing its craftsmanship, or telling your significant other about an interesting piece that you were drawn to, design fosters communication in one form or another.

The other day I completed a group project where our group had to create a piece with random crafting objects we brought from home. There were no guidelines--we just had to create something. I throughly enjoyed this project. We talked about the random media and how it could be used to enhance the overall look of our project. After brainstorming, we jumped right into the construction of our design concentrating on textures.

As we were working we talked about the possible ways the random design could be interpreted--ranging from serious, a juxtaposition of nature and man-made elements and jokingly, a representation of the masculine and feminine sides of Lady Gaga.

I had just met all the people in my group that day. However, our conversation about the piece flowed very smoothly as we humorously analyzed it. We all found common topic and interest in the design. By communicating to each individual, the design enabled us to communicate with each other and voice our unique opinions and ideas.

Enlightening the Senses

Our world is not purely a visual experience--the scene comes alive through all of your five senses. When experiencing a sunset, the eyes do not just take in the canvas of melting colors. But the smells of the sea spray, the taste of a steaming mug of coffee, and the voices of the waves crashing against the shell-lined shore make the picture whole. Design works in the same way.

Just as nature’s art is absorbed, we experience a design with our entire body. By using all of our senses, it allows the design to be more fully understood and seen more clearly. Looking back on the quilt exhibit, I realized why each quilt exudes a unique character. It is because each individual quilt communicated to each of the senses. The quiet, cool, concrete room created a blank slate, void of influencing factors relating to the interpretation of the pieces.

For example, the stark contrast of the warm, rich, purple velvet juxtaposed against he cold, taupe concrete made me feel like they were reaching out around me and wrapping me up--warm and comforting, I could smell the chicken soup being made with the familiar sounds of my mother’s voice in the background. So you see?? I did not just “see” a quilt but I recalled a memory in it’s entirety.

Design is a full body experience. It enlightens all the senses and makes us recall a certain memory, think about something in a new light, and learn a little about ourselves, someone else, or the world around us.

Pieces of the Past

As I stated before, design surrounds and affects society in every direction turned. But how each individual reacts to their surroundings is completely different, and, well, individual. This is because of the unique experiences and history surrounding each person’s life; your life up to the point you experience a specific design dictates how you will perceive that specific piece.

Recently I experienced the exhibit African-American Quilts: The Saundra McPherson Collection and the Avis C. Robinson Collection in The Nelson at University of California Davis. As I drank in the individuality of the quilts and the beauty of the fabrics which they were composed of, each of the quilts took on a unique character.

Some were warm, welcoming, and worn like an old pair of jeans (coincidentally upon further inspection the medium was actually old jeans). Others looked loved and treasured like an old quilt made by your grandmother with love and care. Reminding me of sunsets, vibrant bold colors consisting of rich velvet and corduroy contradict the delicate and fragile soft pastel yellow and lavender hues of others. Still others bold, black and white with splashes of red made a definite statement juxtaposed by other quilts composed of a heartfelt concoction of meaningful fabrics.

Design has the ability to make an impression on the audience and stir up feelings which bring back memories of one’s past experiences. My descriptions make known a little piece of me to the reader of this blog. However, another person might be affected completely differently from the same exhibit. Pieces are designed for others to soak in and be affected by, because what would design be without a diverse audience to appreciate it??

Design and Perception

"What is design?"

This question was posed to me earlier this week. And it got me thinking, what is it exactly? Because of the broadness of the actual word, design, this poses a difficult task of pinning down a specific definition of the word and the concepts surrounding it.

The element of design exists absolutely everywhere--when sitting at a desk, being in a building, drinking out of a environmentally-friendly, aluminum water bottle, typing on a computer, and even using the bathroom. All of one’s surroundings had to be created or designed by some person at one point in time or another. And these elements are constantly making impressions on those observing them--whether consciously or subconsciously.

In today’s fast paced society, one could argue that there would be no time left for people to be truly influenced by their surroundings because of their complete involvement with school, the workplace, relationships, or playing taxi driver to screaming children. However, upon examining the comfort (or lack thereof) of lecture hall seating, the amount of lighting streaming in through a window, or the reliability of the car zig-zagging across town illustrates that we, as a society, are constantly forming opinions and are affected by the designs that surround us.

So, I know in the course of this blog I will not suddenly have an epiphany and know the exact definition of design. However, I hope I can further explore the ways that design affects our everyday lives and influences our perception of the world around us.