Assignment 5 - Reflections 2

I recently took photos of the process that I have so far on my lamp shade. I have done 20 skins as well as 9 refined models of possible constructions. Right now, I am pretty certain that I will continue developing the spiraled, draping model as my final.

Assignment 5 Reflections

I'm enjoying this project so far. It is very different from most of our other projects we've done this past semester. I like how it is pretty crafty and requires a lot of creative skill. I'm happy with the way my skins have turned out and am expecting to come up with some cool structures for the lamp shade. So far, I will experiment with a spiral form, a flower shape, and a cylinder shape. The skins that I will work on are fringing, slicing, poking, and crumbling. I hope to come up with cool and innovative lamp shade designs!

Typography Color Compositions

Assignment 4 - Reflections 3

We've decided on some locations which I posted earlier. Overall, our group agrees that Wescoe beach will probably be the best location. This is the busiest area of campus where there are always tons of students, events, and kiosks selling things. We think that if people were walking through our letters it might appear as being 'disruptive.' We will try several different ways of setting up the letters at this location. Another place that we think will work well is inside the library or a lecture hall/classroom. Both are quiet, structured spaces, so just the simple act of taking pictures would be disruptive, let alone the huge, neon word being placed in that location! Here are some pictures of us getting started on the construction of our word...

Assignment 4 - Possible Locations

Me, Andrew, Katlyn, and Katherine have come up with some neat locations for presenting our word. Since our word is 'disrupt', we want to be as 'disruptive' as possible. Possible locations are the library, Wescoe beach, a cross walk, inside a bus, and inside a lecture or during a class. We are painting them bright, neon pink and orange. I'm excited to see how the pictures turn out!

                                                 

 

Assignment 4 - Reflections 2

Today in class we worked with our groups on our type project. So far, it's going really well. My group is me, Katherine, Katlyn, and Andrew. We have a good mix of people -- some graphic, industrial, and photography majors. I think this will really help out for the assignment. Andrew is going to lead with the construction of the letters and Katherine is going to help out with the actual taking of the photos once we place them in the right location. Our word is 'disrupt' and I am so excited about it. We've been discussing a lot of possible places where we could present the word and coming up with really creative ideas. So far, we are thinking of putting it in Wescoe beach because it's such a busy spot. Other ideas are in the dining hall or in the library. We want to paint our words a bright color - probably orange or lime green - to really make it vivid and distracting. I think we are very fortunate to have such a cool word to work with. Next week we plan on finishing up the construction and then we'll be ready to take a lot of neat photos.

Assignment 4: Group Definition

dis·rupt

–verb (used with object)

1.) to cause disorder or turmoil in: The news disrupted their conference.

2.) to destroy, usually temporarily, the normal continuance or unity of; interrupt: Telephone service was disrupted for hours.

3.) to break apart: to disrupt a connection.

 

–adjective

4.) broken apart; disrupted.

Assignment 4: Reflections

So far, I am really enjoying this project. It is a lot different from assignment 3. It's been fun creating different ways of representing and portraying my word (which is 'support'). It definitely lets my creative juices flow and allows me to put my own input in as well. I also really enjoy using Illustrator and pathfinder for this project. However, I am still having difficulty with some of the techniques in forming typography. The shift technique in which you divide the word in half and drag part of it and the transparency technique are pretty hard and I can't seem to get them working. Hopefully, the class critique today will help and I'll be able to get some advice about finalizing my representations and getting help with some of these processes. Color is another part of this assignment that I have been enjoying. I picked three hues, blue, red, and yellow, and have worked them together to present my word in an attractive way. I hope to revise some of my representations and make them the best they can be for the final project.

Assignment 4: Support - Definition

sup·port

 /səˈpɔrt, -ˈpoʊrt/ Show Spelled[suh-pawrt, -pohrt]

–verb (used with object)

 

1.) to bear or hold up (a load, mass, structure, part, etc.); serve as a foundation for.

2) to sustain or withstand (weight, pressure, strain, etc.) without giving way; serve as a prop for.

3.) to undergo or endure, esp. with patience or submission; tolerate.

4.) to sustain (a person, the mind, spirits, courage, etc.) under trial or affliction: They supported him throughout his ordeal.

5.) to maintain (a person, family, establishment, institution, etc.) by supplying with things necessary to existence; provide for: to support a family.

6.) to uphold (a person, cause, policy, etc.) by aid, countenance, one's vote, etc.; back; second.

7.) to maintain or advocate (a theory, principle, etc.).

8.) to corroborate (a statement, opinion, etc.): Leading doctors supported his testimony.

9.) to act with or second (a lead performer); assist in performance: The star was supported by a talented newcomer.

 

 

–noun

 

10.) the act or an instance of supporting.

11.) the state of being supported.

12.) something that serves as a foundation, prop, brace, or stay.

13.) maintenance, as of a person or family, with necessaries, means, or funds: to pay for support of an orphan.

14.) a person or thing that supports, as financially: The pension was his only support.

15.) a person or thing that gives aid or assistance.

16.) an actor, actress, or group performing with a lead performer.

17.) the material, as canvas or wood, on which a picture is painted.

---

Origin:
1350–1400;  (v.) ME supporten  < MF supporter  < ML supportāre  to endure (L: to convey), equiv. to sup- sup-  + portāre  to carry ( see port⁵ ); (n.) ME, deriv. of the v.

—Related forms

sup·port·ing·ly, adverb

non·sup·port·ing, adjective

pre·sup·port, noun, verb (used with object)

pro·sup·port, adjective

qua·si-sup·port·ed, adjective

un·der·sup·port, noun

un·sup·port·ed, adjective

un·sup·port·ed·ly, adverb

un·sup·port·ing, adjective

well-sup·port·ed, adjective

—Synonyms
1, 6. Support, maintain, sustain, uphold  all mean to hold up and to preserve. To support  is to hold up or add strength to, literally or figuratively: The columns support the roof. To maintain  is to support so as to preserve intact: to maintain an attitude of defiance. To sustain,  a rather elevated word, suggests completeness and adequacy in supporting: The court sustained his claim. Uphold  applies esp. to supporting or backing another, as in a statement, opinion, or belief: to uphold the rights of a minority. 3.  suffer, bear, stand, stomach. 13.  sustenance, subsistence, keep. See living.

Reflections 3

Today in class, we had a final critique of each person's posters. I felt like I was a little behind as I didn't have my drawings cut in the right size and I was missing the texture and the function drawings. But, I'm really glad people gave me their advice because it definitely helped me to think about the refinements I need to make to bring the whole project together. Some things I need to do are add a color (I'm pretty sure I'm going to use blue), readjust the size of the drawings within the boxes, put them in the right order (iconic to symbolic), and make adjustments to the overall look of the drawings to make sure they are the best they can be. I have a week left to do this, complete my process notebook, and print out the final poster. Finally this project is wrapping up!

Reflections 2

We're in the middle of the project and I think it's going pretty well. The hardest part about this project is the amount and quality of sketches that we need to do. It's hard just focusing on one small object and trying to create 16 different ways of representing them. It requires a great amount of time, effort, and creativity. I think the final poster will show whether I accomplish this or not. I have most of my final sketches done as of now and have drawn them on Illustrator and I'm confident in my work. Hopefully, the critique today will help finalize my sketches and help me put the finishing touches on them. Overall, I think this project has been very difficult and time consuming, but I've learned a lot and it has allowed me to let my creativity flow.

Reflections

So far, I think this new project has been pretty difficult. I decided to use a stapler as my hand tool. With such a complex object, I'm curious as to how I'll develop all of these different styles of presenting it. It has been hard so far, but fun. In class, it kind of gets old drawing the same thing over and over again for each representation, but I know the final outcome will be really rewarding. I need to stay focused and try to let my creativity flow. This project is really revolved around that because it allows you to really do whatever you want within the guidelines of each parameter. I love the idea and goal of this activity and I can't wait to see what kind of drawings/styles/representations I can come up with and develop further. It has really helped looking at other students work too. Yesterday, we looked through the sophomore's work because they're doing the same project but with animals. Although they are a little farther along in the project, I was shocked to see how amazing they all were! I really opened up my eyes to the potential that I have and gave me more insight as to what other ideas and techniques I could use. I think viewing other student work is a great way to let my mind flourish and get some more ideas running through. I'm excited to see where these next few days of sketching take me....

Why I Chose Graphic Design

I chose to major in Graphic Design at KU. My main influences for deciding to pursue this is art. I have been an artist my whole life and I have also loved to paint and draw. However, I have never wanted to be a true "artist" as my profession. I want to have more of a commercial career where I can create an specific image for a specific client. In high school, I took many different art classes (drawing, painting, design, digital art, AP portfolio) and found that I enjoyed more being told what to create for a desired assignment or task than being inspired and producing a piece through my own thought and influences. That is the main difference between Fine Art and Graphic Design, and design is the path that I want to follow. I would love to work for a magazine or an advertising firm - somewhere that I can use my artistic and design abilities on layout projects or producing attractive images or logos for a client. My dream job is to be the art director for a magazine or design album covers for musicians. I would also love to be in a big city.

Interviews

Interview Questions:
1.) Do you think this is a well designed object?
2.) Do you think plastic is a good material for this object? Is it a good size?
3.) What do you think is good or well-designed about this object?
4.) What would you do to improve this object?

Peter
1.) Logistically speaking, yes. However, it looks a little light to hold open a door of a dorm.
2.) It could probably be bigger and the plastic feels flimsy and feels more rubbery than plastic.
3.) It looks like a door stop.
4.) I would fill in the gaps with a heavy object/material (cement or clay) and put a rubber pad on the bottom so it doesn't slide when you put it under your door. I'd put another layer on the top to grip the door better.

Sofia
1.) Yes, most doorstops look like this and appear to be designed like this.
2.) Plastic isn't good and it's a little small to hold a big wooden door.
3.) The shape is good and I like the ridges on the bottom.
4.) I'd make it heavier and make the slope a little steeper so it will hold heavy doors better.

Joey
1.) No it doesn't work. It might work better on carpet.
2.) Bigger is always better. And wood would be better. It's also not recyclable.
3.) The ridges on the bottom. That's about it.
4.) I would make it out of wood. I'd make it heavier and available to work on different surfaces.

Michael
1.) Yes. It's good for carpet but not anything else.
2.) No and no. It needs to be bigger.
3.) It's clear.
4.) I'd put some bad ass designs on it. Like make an Ed Hardy line or something.


Lisa
1.) No. It's definitely too small. The shape is good but it's too light.
2.) The plastic needs to be less flimsy. The size needs to be bigger, although the heavier material would make it work better even if it's still a little small.
3.) It's attractive and the ridges on the bottom are good.
4.) I'd make it with a different, heavier material.

IDEO Deep Dive Summary

IDEO is a very successful advertising corporation mainly because of the great technique they use, called the Deep Dive technique. This company focuses on learning from a group of people and ideas. They find success in throwing out all different drawings, concepts, ideas, forms, or words, whether they are wacky or boring. They build on these things and connect the dots from each others mistakes or achievements. Ultimately, this sort of "jumbled mess" of new ideas forms a great design. I loved how this company seemed very playful, fun, and relaxed. That seems to be the right way to work in a design setting. If it were strict, sterile, and boring, nothing exciting or innovative would be achieved. They also bring together a very diverse group of people to work on a project. On the shopping cart project in video, for example, the team consisted of a marketing expert, therapist, artists, and others. They choose a leader that is not necessarily the "expert" of the design project or has the highest seniority, but one that is organized, good working with groups, and puts in as much in put as everyone else might. The deep dive concept that IDEO uses seems to be a great success for them - they produce around 90 newly innovative objects a year.

The deep dive technique is a process. Each member of the team plays a significant part in this process and each member must bring something to the table. This consists of ideas, research, drawings, thoughts, and more. As a team, members must first recognize the client that they are producing a design for, and the client must understand them as a company as well. The team must then observe and research the current ways the public uses the specific object. Nothing can be improved or changed in a more innovative way without first seeing the object as it is now. Brainstorming is done easiest when the designer puts his or her thoughts on paper visually for all too see, share, and discuss. A successful, newly designed object will come from all of the drawings and prototypes that a team or each of its members can create and share. The most successful designs are ones that come from a playful, active, broadened, and focused environment and a group of designers who know and practice these techniques.

My 5 Objects

- silverware holder
- desk chair and recliner
- clorox wipes container
- iHome and remote control
- small umbrella