Journal 10: Final Thoughts on Course

          I really liked the Design 200 course overall. I think I learned a lot and built on previous knowledge. The way the class was formatted with lectures, guest speakers, videos, and projects didn’t allow the class to get boring for me. I especially liked the videos that were shown throughout the class and it made me more interested in design. I also liked the little tid bits about the design world that we were given such as different design programs, Prezi, and other events going on in the design world. I didn’t really dislike anything about the class to be honest.

Reading Reflection 04 - Chp. 9-10

Chapter 9

            Chapter nine focuses on the topic of Contexts. The first sentence states, “…three areas of contextual influence are relevant in to the design practice: the professional organization of design, or how designers view themselves; the business context in which a majority of design practice is located; and, in addition, the level of government policy…” Throughout the chapter the three contexts were explained more in depth and examples were given. One of the examples that stuck out to me the most was James Dyson’s vacuum. “Dyson has become a market leader in the United Kingdom” and has overcome companies such as Hoover and Electrolux. One of the most interesting quotes at the end of the Dyson example stated, “…big companies were once small companies with ambition.”

Chapter 10

            In chapter ten the future of design is focused on. Technology has already transformed design with all the different design programs and ability to create with such great detail. It’s exciting to think about where new technology and other developments will take design. The question of what a designer’s role would be was also brought up. For example, “…whether designers function as form-givers… or enablers.” The question of will the future products produced be determined by commercial companies or by users was also discussed.

            I liked the example the book gave about Fiskars and how they changed their product for the better with research on how the product was used so they could make it more safe and efficient.. They were so successful that they were able to expand to other product categories. I think other companies should follow Fiskars and try to design more for the user rather than being more concerned about money.

Journal 08

I chose to focus on the legal issues in design because I feel it’s very important to protect the work that you put so much time and effort in. The lecture briefly touched on contracts, patents, trademark, copyright, and liability. The lecture in general caught my attention because I never really thought about the legal side of design and now that it’s been brought to my attention I realize how important it actually is.

“Intellectual Property”

            The AIGA website defines copyright as “a statutory protection granted to “original works of authorship.” This category includes everything from “published and unpublished fiction and non-fiction” to “drawings and other designs” to “musical performances captured on records, tapes, disks, ect.” to computer programs. It is important to know “titles, names short phrases, facts, anything written or created by the U.S. government and utilitarian works” are not protected by copyrights.

            I think this is a great source since AIGA is a well-known and credible source for designers. It also laid out what was and was not protected under copyright laws.

The article talks about copyright, notice registration, infringement, and fair use. It also discusses trademarks, registration, duration, infringement and trade dress.  

http://cpm.aiga.org/content.cfm/intellectual_property

“Legal Issues: Intellectual Property”

            This article discusses more about designers working with clients and how they need to protect themselves in real world situations. The frequently asked questions section I found to be the most interesting. I like that the answers were to the point and easy to understand. Contracts were discussed and helpful hints of what should be included in a contract.

http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/resources-and-events/designers/guides/legal-issues/

“Copyright Issues in Logo Design”

            The article “Copyright Issues in Logo Design” focuses on what the title states. It’s geared towards font design and copyright issues. For instance, “…we CAN NOT edit a font and sell it to a client as “mere lettering” for the font.” If you did you would be using characters from an already copyrighted font and it would then “exist separately from the typeface itself and therefore make it illegal to sell on as a derivative of the typeface.” Later on the article goes on to give tips on what you could to in order to no violate copyright laws.

http://justcreativedesign.com/2009/01/14/logo-design-copyright-laws/

http://www.dynamicgraphics.com/dgm/Article/28832/index.html

“Protect Your Legal Rights”

            The article starts off by talking about young designers and how many times they don’t have contracts with their clients. It grabbed my attention in the first sentence because no one wants to put in their time and effort to be ripped off in the end. I like that it was easy to understand and the legal terms that are used are explained fairly well.

http://www.dynamicgraphics.com/dgm/Article/28832/index.html

“Design Rights, Legal Terms…Learn Everything”

            The beginning of the article discuses the fact that many graphic and web designers don’t pay too much attention to copyrights and legal terms, but it is very necessary. It proceeds to define terms such as copyright, disclaimer, copyleft, royalty-free and may others. The article also discusses the importance of contracts and what to do if someone is using your design. I like that a real world situation where design plagiarism happened. It was really interesting to see the possible design plagiarism in designs. I also found the section on photographing and legal rights to be interesting because prior to I hadn’t really found much about it on the other sites. 

http://www.webdesignshock.com/design-rights-legal-terms

Course Reflection 4

Class 13

            During class 13 we were introduced to the Coleman project. We met with our group for the first time to start brainstorming ideas for the product we would be creating for Coleman. We started off by defining how we viewed Coleman, existing products, and current users. From there we tried to come up with a target group and some problems they have that we could find solutions to.

Class 14

            In class 14 we were shown an example of a previous group's presentation. We also ran our ideas by our teacher to further refine our project. We talked about our product, targeted customers, what problems we were addressing, and why Coleman would be addressing this need. We also began sketches for our product.

Class 15

            Our group continued to work on sketches for our product and fix design issues we had. We began our PowerPoint during class 15 along with kiosk ideas.

Class 16

            We had our last group meeting in class. We finished our product sketches and continued to work on our kiosk and packaging. At the end of class we set up a time for our last meeting outside of class where we would tie up lose ends before our presentation Monday.

Reading Reflection 03 - Chapter 1-6

Chapter 1

       The way of thinking that "...is focused on making a product and getting it to a customer quickly and cheaply without considering much else" is hurting our environment and us. Companies should be a little more worried on the bigger picture rather than trying to make a quick buck, since these products, that they most likely use too, will end up hurting them in the long run. 

       So many of the products today are designed for use during a short amount of time so new products would have to be bought. Another issue with the way products are designed to the “one size fits all” standard. For example the book talks about the design of detergents. Makers of detergent just add more chemicals so that in any circumstance the detergent will work.

Chapter 2

           “Recycling is like an aspirin, alleviating a rather large collective hangover… overconsumption.”

The scariest thing I think was that chemicals found in our plastics today and other products have endocrine disrupters that “appear to mimic hormones and connect with receptors in humans and other organisms.” Research has focused on these chemicals causing cancer, but little is known yet about all the other effects they could be having.

            I also was unaware that products to be made from the things we recycle have a lower quality because many of the things we recycle were not made to be used over and over again.

 

Chapter 3

            Eco-effectiveness was the topic in the third chapter and a topic that designers should take heavily into consideration. “…eco-effectiveness means working on the right things- on the right products and services and systems- instead of making the wrong things less bad.”

            I really liked the cherry tree analogy. Cherry trees create fruit for many organisms to eat; their fruit and blossoms decompose once on the ground and eventually turn to nutrients for other organisms and soil. If only humans could design products like the cherry tree where nothing is going to waste.

Chapter 4

            The first thing that grabbed my attention in the fourth chapter was when the authors talk about early on in different cultures people worked with nature instead of against it and how this has drastically changed. For example, the Nile River would overflow each year and leave a rich layer of silt after it receded to help fertilize crops. In 1971 the Aswan High Dam was built and the river no longer has a chance to flood and fertilize the surrounding area.

            “In addition to biological wastes, people began to pour all kinds of things down the drain: cans of paint, harsh chemicals to unclog pipes, bleach, paint thinners, nail-polish removers.” I can’t imagine how many chemicals and toxins are in our water thanks to all of the things we pour down the drain thinking were disposing of it. Of course if products were designed in a way the book talks about, so that everything can be disposed of or recycled properly we wouldn’t have that problem.

Chapter 5
"The vitality of ecosystems depends on relationships: what goes on between species, their uses and exchanges of materials and energy in a given place." I think all designers need to take this into consideration when designing. If products could be made to work with the ecosystem rather than against it the environment would be much better off. Not all ecosystems are similar and what may work in one may not be the best solution in another ecosystem.

Chapter 6

             My favorite part of chapter five was the beginning where the Ford River Rouge plant was discussed. The factory began their "disassembly" line during the Depression where workers would strip each car of it's products. The factory became so large that it overtook hundreds of acres, but over the years the facilities started to age and became outdated. Much of the factory became unused and because of this the company had the opportunity to incorporate eco-effective thinking. Rather than abandoning the factory and starting new somewhere else they chose to make their factory better by using eco-effectiveness. They used green plants to remove toxins and other harmful things coming from the plant in the soil. They also wanted to have a green roof and parking lot that could absorb and maintain storm water, among the many other things they did to make the plant eco-effective. I think it's great to read about real life situations where eco-effectiveness is being used. Hopefully in the future we continue to move towards this type of design and continue to better our environment.

Journal 07: Peer Dialogue

Alicia L

            Her letterform assignment pictures were so creative and unique. It was really cool where she found her letters. I really liked E and A. I also found her three possible home good products interesting because they seem like something you wouldn’t normally see in a traditional home they’re more out of the box designs. I completely agree with Alicia’s statement, “I found C2C to be energizing and I could relate/involve myself in McDonough’s writings.” Once I started reading I couldn’t put the book down because it got me interested in the topic and kept me interested throughout. She also mentions reading Design: A Very Short Introduction and becoming bored with the book. I have to agree, at the beginning I was really into learning more about design, but as the book went on it just lost my interest.

Kelly B

            Kelly mentions the Design Circle presentation in her course reflection. I also took the same things from the presentation, learning more about each program and the advice to JUST DO IT! regarding the entrance exam. I think the presentation helped to motivate me a little more in my endeavors to get into the design program. She also found the Design: A Very Short Introduction to be lacking in the department of holding your attention but was a fan of the Cradle to Cradle book. I found the section of the video Rip! A Remix Manifesto interesting when “Brazil broke medical patents on HIV/AIDs that defied United States international property laws in order to make a cheaper medicine that could benefit a lot more people,” as Kelly says. I can’t believe that we’re more interested in protecting our ideas and money than we are about helping save others lives.

Assignment 04: Letterforms

"Q"

"U"

"n"

"H"

"C"

"O"

"I"

"L"

"M"

"V"

"X"

"Y"

Journal 06: Online Scavenger Hunt

Retailers specializing in outdoor camping and recreation products:
REI
Gander Mountain
Bass Pro Shop
Dick's Sporting Goods
Cabela's

Trade Show/ Exhibition booths from outdoor recreation and sporting industry:

SIA snowsports trade show

OutDoor trade show in Germany

ISPO sporting goods and sports fashion trade show

Working Definition: An indoor home good is a product someone uses inside their home to make activities more efficient or make the space more aesthetically pleasing.

Retailers specializing in indoor home products:
Homegoods
Ikea
Pier 1 Imports
Bed Bath & Beyond
Crate & Barrel

Trade Show/ Exhibition booths from the indoor home goods market:

Kitchen & Bath Show

NeoCon furniture trade show

Building & Interior Trade Show

Images of home good products:

Bedding

Lighting

Furniture

Course Reflection 3

            One of the topics discussed during class nine was color. Having had a color theory class before helped me to better understand this lecture. I thought the most interesting thing that had to do with our color lecture was the associations and moods that go with certain colors. For instance, blue is viewed as peaceful and calming whereas red is viewed as power, anger, and danger just to name a few. It’s so cool that just by changing a color you can change someone’s mood or their associations to colors.

            Later we talked about some of the business and legal issues dealt with in design. I think everything discussed was really important because it’s not something I would think about just being a college student, but once we get into the real world were going to need to know how to protect our ideas and designs.

            We also began to watch Brett Gaylor’s video, “Rip!: A Remix Manifesto,” during class nine.

           We continued watching “Rip!: A Remix Manifesto” during class ten. The video brings up the idea that culture builds upon itself, but it’s hard to build upon it because so many things are copyrighted or legally protected. The main character the video focuses on is the music mash-up artist Girl Talk. Being a fan of Girl Talk myself, I found the video entertaining. I never really thought about the artist violating the law for his music, but Girl Talk would owe around $4,200,000 to clear just one album legally.

            I couldn’t believe that the legal rights of the song Happy Birthday where owned by the company Warner/Chappell and any one that sings it without paying royalties to the company are basically in violation of the law.

            During class eleven we had a few students from Design Circle come talk to our class. They spoke about what design circle is, their experience in the design program, some of their projects, and the entrance exam. I’m glad they showed some of the projects they had done because it gave a more in depth look at what each design major is all about.

            The most helpful section of their presentation was when they discussed the entrance exam. It was really helpful to get other students opinions and tips that had been through the process of applying before.

            Class tweleve was about the design firm Cobego. Three graduates of the university who helped start the firm came to speak to us. Listening to people that graduated from the program and talking about what they’re now doing with everything they’ve learned makes all the hard work worth it.

            It was reassuring to hear that if you don’t get in the first time not to totally give up on the program because there is still a good chance you’ll be accepted the second time around.

Reading Reflection 02 - Chp. 7-8 & Intro

Chp. 7

            Chapter seven of “Design: A Very Short Introduction” discusses identity. I guess I should of expected with all the branding in our society that even countries would be interested in branding themselves, but it almost shocked me when I read about it in this chapter. “Among the most bizarre features of the United Kingdom as the twentieth century faded were proposals to ‘rebrand’ the national image, of how the country was viewed by foreigners, in terms of a more up-to-date concept of ‘Cool Britannia” (Haskett 86).

            I also found the section on discussing cultural differences and how they affect design interesting. For example, the appliance company Whirlpool had to evolve it’s designs to adapt to different markets throughout the world. “With a lightweight ‘world washer’ introduced in 1992, it was necessary to accommodate washing 18-foot-long saris without tangling in India, and to add a soak cycle for Brazil to cater for the local belief that only pre-soaking can yield a really clean wash” (Haskett 89).

Chp. 8

            “A system can be regarded as a group of interacting, interrelated, or interdependent elements that forms, or can be considered to form, a collective entity” (Haskett 97). Imagine having to find your way around a subway station and subway route without having any signs, maps, pictures, or anything else to guide you. I’d imagine that would be pretty difficult. This chapter gives transportation as one example for its need for systems. In order to get around using a subway, signage and type need to be used in a way that users can understand. They need this to find their way to the appropriate place in order to use the subway efficiently.

            I liked how the last paragraph tied into the “Cradle to Cradle” introduction regarding design and the environment. The last paragraph discusses the need for “greater compatibility between the artificial systems generated by human creativity and the systems of the biological world…”(Haskett 111). It later goes on to mention that if we could begin to understand how systems can affect each other and how certain parts of the system effect the whole, we could use design as a solution for the harmful effects these systems have.

Intro

            The intro of William McDonough’s & Michael Braungart’s “Cradle to Cradle” have interested me a great deal. This book has been one of the most interesting books I’ve been assigned to read throughout college. It’s brought up a topic that I don’t usually give too much thought to, but after reading just a small amount of the book it has really persuaded me that environmental design is truly important for the sake of our future.

            In no time at all the book brings up the severity of the effect of today’s products on the environment. I knew society was seriously effecting the environment, but I had no idea to what extent. “Let’s take a closer look. First, that comfortable chair you are sitting on. Did you know that the fabric contains mutagenic materials, heavy metals, dangerous chemicals, and dyes that are often labeled hazardous by regulators – except when they are presented and sold to a customer? As you shift in your seat, particles of the fabric abrade and are taken up by your nose, mouth, and lungs, hazardous materials and all” (McDonough 3).

          Why are customers not warned about the hazardous materials in many of the objects we use day to day? Before this book I had never heard about the amount of dangerous materials probably put into the chairs I use everyday along with the abrasion of these particles just by using the chair. I would personally like to know about these materials that could be affecting my health.