design and inspiraton of ein liebliches girl

Feedback: Nicole

2012-02-08T19:46:00.001-05:00

Nicole delivered a super fun space. I am reminded of Aliceand Wonderland somewhat because of the color choices and the style ofrendering. The space is full of and impactful with color, which is a great conceptin a music library.

The columns have been given a face lift and actually make abig (positive!) impact in opposition to what they were like previously. Thistake on structure is interesting. She really played up the horizontal structurehere and celebrated it. While making them stand out, she made them an integralpart of the space; I would not know they were structural columns. This was asuccess I think. The next step I think would be continuing the idea on thefloor as she has done on the ceiling. The space almost feels top heavy so tocontinue this installation on the floor would help balance that.

The nodes in the space are placed in this grid like system whichhave positives and disadvantages associated with it. First of all, it provides structureand defines the area which is great in assisting with boundaries, but I thinkit might be too structured. With all these flowing curves, introducing squareareas breaks up that concept.

The next step I would suggest is in reference to quiet andloud sections. I love that it has a café area (I might have to incorporate thatin my design!) which goes along with the social aspect. But the actual libraryis social as well. I think that quiet, listening areas should be established.The curved panel divider is slowly traveling in the direction of this idea, andjust needs to be further implemented. I am excited to see the next fewiterations!

90 second presentation

2012-02-08T17:41:00.001-05:00

The next step in analyzing and designing the libraries, our class looked at several pieces of writing, presentations, and surveys about libraries in general and then our campus libraries specifically. Aws and I looked a survey entitled: Institutional Effectiveness of 2010-2011. We found many important aspects that definitely need to be incorporated into our final design. The information displayed here made us change our minds in how we thought about a library. We learned specifically three new things: librarians are being trained to better serve in the customer service capacity, technology is being integrated as a vital aspect of the space, and the most asked question is how to cite correctly. Obtaining this knowledge allowed us to explore new instances with our designs. Having 'citation stations' where users could type in a book and having it cited for them would be greatly appreciated, along with a substantial amount of desktops, and a central or easily noticeable customer service area are all ideas we plan to integrate in the next phases of this project.

Library Presentation

2012-02-05T01:13:00.001-05:00

The next step in our library design was to actually design the interior. We focused on a concept and went from there. My concept is Reverberation. I saw that through all the hard angles within the building and site there are three circle areas: the organ recital hall, lobby, and little pond outside. I used radiating circles that reverberate from each of them. These arcs were used for either the ceiling, floor, or pieces in the space. These were my presentation boards:

Questions Answered

2012-02-05T00:18:00.001-05:00

This past week or so has included several wonderfulopportunities to hear and network with people in the design field. We had avisit from Mary Jane Grigsby (President of NCIDQ), heard a presentation fromNick Christopher (an Architectural Designer at Gensler in LA), a presentation fromDebbie Nestvogal (an Interior Designer at CJMW), a visit from Paula Carr (aSenior Associate at tvsdesign), and we took a trip to Durham where we touredthe Freelon Group Architect firm as well as the Durham County Public Library,which they designed. All these opportunities were extremely informative for mein reference to several aspects. Mrs. Carr talked to us about the ways theywent about process work in their firm; how they presented their work, and howthey worked with clients. The most apparent point in her presentation was thattvsdesign was basically formed like our studios are now. That was pretty reassuringto me. Another thing I found interesting and that really blew my mind was thatthey sent off their renderings to China for someone to set up and complete. Thatis still astounding me today. The trip to Durham was great as well. We wereable to hear from several associates about pertinent portfolio information, howthey work together, see the different areas in the firm, and see projects theywere working on. The other opportunities of the week were just as intriguing andhelpful as these two were. Mrs. Grigsby’s talk was enlightening as well. Shewas able to give us information on taking the NCIDQ test after we graduate. Thegreat thing about this is that I don’t have to wait three years to take itafter graduating. We are able to take the first part of the test right aftergraduation! It was a bit daunting to think that in a little over a year’s timeis when this will happen. On the other hand, it’s so exciting!

Intrium critique

2012-02-01T17:39:00.001-05:00

Today was the next critique for our continuing library project. I finally figured out where to go with my design of the space. I took Patrick's words I heart when he said think out of the box. I believe I am on the road to accomplishing that task with my idea of what I call 'pods' in the space. The following sketch illustrates my idea. This is as far as I have gotten: I haven't looked at the scale, relationship to people, or the space yet. My thoughts are to have these big installations really make the space, so we'll see what happens with them.

Design Manifesto

2012-01-28T20:24:00.000-05:00

The ultimate factor in designing anything and everything is to design specifically for users of a space, object, or idea-meeting their needs-and then to make that atheistically pleasing.

-Anna Behrendt

Along with this, I am including a quote from How Buildings Learn by Stewart Brand. It might not be the perfect parallel to my manifesto but on pg 63 he states, "The simultaneous seizing of power and shedding of responsibility by contractors puts the onus on architects to anticipate perfectly all of a building's needs. Nothing is left to the builders, to the client, or to the actual usage." I think that it cannot be this way. Builders, clients, and usage have to be an integral part of the design. These cannot be overlooked or cast aside. Ultimately what is designed and accomplished is for the client/user. It has to be suited for them. Designer's jobs are to aid in illustrating what the client/user expresses to us. If we have not met the need to fulfill the desires and vision of the client/user, I say we as designers have not succeeded.

Classmate concepts

2012-01-28T15:03:00.003-05:00

In looking at other classmate's diagrams from the last step in the analyzing process, I found that Kacie Leisure had some interesting ideas pulled from systems. I thought that her concepts from light and water were the strongest. First, the light diagram was simple and easy to read and relates itself to an actual design layout later. Her first statement here was 'a beacon of light is a form...intended to serve as a guide'. This immediately brings an illustration to my mind about what the space could be. Way-finding in this library is extremely difficult so designing this space with guides in mind could really help connect areas, allowing them to be used to their full potential.

http://www.kacieleisure.blogspot.com/2012/01/systems-conceptual-development.html

In viewing Kacie's water concept, the sub-concept I found was 'flowing'. This goes hand in hand with her light concept in that providing a flow to the space with furnishing placement or design in general could aid in the potential utilization of the entire space.
Right now I have been at UNCG for almost three years and I have not spent time in, let alone, seen the entire library. This mainly has to do with the overall design of the space. Every time I enter, I want to leave as soon as possible. The space is broken up into sections and does not have smooth transitions that would assist to a flowing circulation.

http://www.kacieleisure.blogspot.com/2012/01/systems-conceptual-development.html

The rest of her diagrams were informative, but I believed the two above to be the best in regards to communication with the graphics, information included, and how they pertain to the Jackson Library.

Concepts from Systems

2012-01-28T14:07:00.002-05:00

The next step in our library process was to find concepts from systems of the building. This included lighting, electricity, water, technology, and structure. We were to design diagrams around these concepts, focusing on how they relate specifically to our library. I realized through this exercise that a concept and inspiration do not have to come from outside a project by bringing something new into it, but by looking at the existing and pulling from that. How do certain elements work in this space? How can we make them better and celebrate what is/has to be there?

Precedent Libraries

2012-01-28T13:48:00.003-05:00

While looking at our own libraries on campus, we also looked outside of the city to various libraries around the world. The libraries I analyzed were Library of Papyri, Abbey Library St. Gaulen, and Bibliotheca Alexandrina. I found these libraries to be so different from each other in the way they are designed. I focused mostly on diagrams to capture my point but still stuck to the seven categories from our campus libraries. I have included several diagrams from the analysis. They have little blurbs to aid in understanding the concept as well as the library name. First though, I have shown the summary page for each library which include photos from the actual site.

Music Library Light Analysis

2012-01-28T13:33:00.002-05:00

One of the major projects this semester is to design one of the two libraries on campus. Before actually designing the space, we are first analyzing it from the inside out and then the outside in. Our first step in this process was to look at the of the space. Each person had one out of seven categories: users, systems, circulation, transition/boundaries, materiality, furnishings, and sensory experience. I was given systems which I then furthered narrowed down to lighting. I felt this was the most important aesthetic system in the space and the one that needed to be looked at the most. I made a section of the space and showed the intensity of the light in the work area as well as the book stacks. The light path and source are slightly over exemplified in my illustration because I wanted to make apparent that this lighting situation is not the best and could be (will be!) changed for the better.

Material choices

2012-01-26T01:09:00.001-05:00

In choosing material choices for our libraries, we stepped back and looked not at how they were applied, but the materials themselves and attributes that went along with them. We were given the time-old marriage cliche "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue" in regards to our four materials. I would say that in deciding on a color scheme and the types of materials were easy but when it came to those parameters, it was tough! The four I finished out with were lace (something old-and out of the box), energy tiles (new), iron (borrowed from Abbey Library St Gaulen), and wallpaper (blue-though not necessarily on the wall). I feel that my material scheme comes together first of all by the actual materials themselves. I believe the delicacy of the lace stands in stark contrast to the hard, rough qualities of the iron and since these two were black and white, color needed to be introduced. This was accomplished from the two other materials, blue wall covering and green energy tiles. They each have their own unique texture they can bring to the space. Those were the realitively obvious comparisons between two. Now to switch them. I believe the lace has a connection with the wallpaper in that together they promote a sense of calmness. The opposite goes for the iron with the energy tiles. Though the tiles will bring sustainability into the mix, they also bring in some life into the space. They provided a type of light, a fun pop of color, and reference to a new, youthful outlook to the future. In contrast, iron has been a strong statement in many spaces for several centuries now and provides a look back, a nod if you will, to older times along with the lace.
Now secondly, my materials came together in the form of my deliverable. The lace and energy tile were included in my box which is meant to be the blue wall covering enclosing them while representational iron tied them all together. I wanted to illustrate that they could work together in a seemless way and still make an impact alone. Each one has a specific use and part within the grand scheme of things, just as would happen eventually in the space itself.
Conceptually I believe that the materials combine to form an insight from the past and inspiration towards the future. The colors ingraved within the materials were very important to me. Blue was a thought even before the parameters were given because it promotes productivity as well as calmness. The other color included in the materials palette is a spring grass green which encourages success and therefore is important within a library space. A common user travels the space believing for success in finding correct information for a variety of projects. These tiles could further encourage student success and cause an increased use of the space. Lace and iron are the ones that really bring that old fashioned, antique quality to the space, again, allowing for the fusion of the past and present to come together in a wonderful harmonious composition.

Response to Parametric Modeling

2012-01-17T22:36:00.000-05:00

Parametric modeling makes digital modeling easier and more efficient for the user. It assigns real-world behaviors and attributes to the model. For instance, if the pitch of the roof is changed, the user does not need to be concerned about having to go in and change the height of the walls. Parametric modeling programs do that for you. It revises so you don’t have to. Parametric modeling also provides a schedule for the project, keeping each component of the model in a category: doors, windows, etc. If these parts are changed in the graphic model, they change in the list. Even if they are changed in the list, they are changed in the model. Not having to do steps twice makes modeling so much easier.
Having this assignment to complete has really helped me in that I see how simple parametric programs such as Revit can be and that has loads of potential in the future. Revit is so user friendly. Want to draw a wall? Draw a wall. For me, it was great because I drew the wall exactly as I thought I would draw it. There are some set backs to BIMs, and those have to be dealt with. Some would say transitioning from a 2D program like CAD to a 3D program would be difficult. I enjoy that it has no layers and no cross-references as I previously stated. No layers means more time in my mind. Also, the fact that you can go back and forth quite effortlessly from 2D to 3D is fantastic. This allows you to see a perspective version of the project, as it would look from all angles. This is really a great feature. So, pulling from my previous Revit experience as well as the tutorial I have worked on and completed, I cannot find any annoyances of the program as of yet. This opinion might change in the future, but I am going out on a limb and saying that I enjoy Revit now and therefore intend on using it extensively in the future. Having heard that Revit is being used in big time Architect firms, it is safe to say I would like to continue to learn and grow in this program for future reference.

Summary of Computing in Architectural Design

2012-01-10T22:00:00.000-05:00

This article gave a brief informational history of computing in Architecture. It was interesting to see how far it has come to help in design. Towards the beginning, computing took on two categories. One was specifically for mechanical engineering and the other exclusively for the construction industry. After these programs were initiated, a tidal wave occurred in programming. There were constantly people coming up with new and better advances. Industries began to see immediate advantages of having this illustrative software for their designers. They were able to see new things that before people would have to draw. And this time, it could be accurate. These programs were beginning to be used not only now for visualizing the design in an illustrative form but to actually help with figuring out building solutions.
Another way computing helps in design is the ability to communicate quickly. No longer do people have to be in the same room or even the same city to talk and see ideas. They could even be a part of a meeting from their own home if they would like. In more advanced computing, the computer or program has the ability to do specific tasks for the user. The example given in the article is to tell the computer, "design a staircase between these floors" and it would. That blows my mind that we have come so far even today.
Taking this one step further and looking outside of using a computer as a tool in design is that of day to day activities. Computers are used in security systems, automatic doors, cell phones, car systems, etc. There are little computers everywhere doing big jobs and most of those jobs never even cross our mind. Our cars have a plethora of computers running every second. All we do is turn the key and put it in drive. That is what makes it so interesting. The fact that technology has become so ingrained in our culture astounds me. I believe that is what hit me the most in this article.
Knowing where computing has come from has shown me that this shouldn't be taken for granted but to be used with tremendous gratitude. Computing is such an important and vital role in our culture today. It has come so far, but I bet it will go farther. It will be fun seeing what comes next in the computing world of design tool as well as a help in life. Being a part of the process is truly a great opportunity.

Final Light board

2011-12-10T03:29:00.001-05:00

This is the text I have included on the board:

my design statement:

By infusing several of my recent projects into one, I designed this light fixture. My design process began with inspiration from the orbital patterns of an atom where electrons follow various paths to form continuous circles. My piece abstracts that orbital pattern, forming the birdcage shape it is affectionately known for. Its odd yet structured shape allows it to have the opportunity to be placed in a variety of settings.

materials:

1x4 oak board

24 curved hollow metal rods

32 straight metal rods

8- #9 3/4”- screws

3- #9 1”- screws

1 lamp

socket

wiring with plug

1- 3/4”x3/8”galvanized bushing

1- 3/4” galvanized coupling

2- 3/4” galvanized flange

1- 12 galvanized pipe

1- 1 1/2” nipple

17 1/2”x 12”- mylar

Inspirations from Materials, Methods and Design

2011-12-10T03:24:00.001-05:00

Sketch Series 5 and 5.5

2011-12-10T03:20:00.001-05:00

Photometric Exercise/Quantitative Analysis

2011-12-10T03:16:00.001-05:00

Incubator Project

2011-11-12T19:41:00.001-05:00

Between the due dates for the groovystuff project, we were assigned another to work on. In the suites on campus there is a retail space that is not being utilized. We were asked to design a piece of furniture to go in this space, while thinking about what the space would ultimately be. This is my final board for it, along with some process work along the way.

my first iteration; now what material do I use?

the material I used was cardboard tubes.
I loved my first design, but had to go with an inexpensive material.

Essay for Social and Behavioral Analysis

2011-11-12T19:34:00.001-05:00

For this assignment, Ichoose to analyze my own room. I am consistently in this space and thereforeknow about the circulation and the functions that occur. Making observationshere is quite simple since I have experienced what works and what doesn’t. So,my room’s function is whatever I make it to be. In this case, it is a place tosleep, a dressing room, study area, and relaxation space. I am the only one touse this space, so it does not need to be too large. The lighting conditionsare, well, at a minimum. I live in a fairly old structure and it has no lightfixtures in the bedrooms. When I moved in, I had to bring a floor lamp and atable lamp. There are two windows that let in natural lighting, but they aren’tperfect (I will get to those later). The furnishings in the room compliment thefunctions. A bed for sleeping, a dresser for clothes, a chair for studying, anda TV for entertainment/relaxation are all necessary. There is only oneentrance/exit and although this works, there could be something else that wouldhelp the space. Overall, it works okay for what I need it for but, theredefinitely could be changes. Here is a plan of the space with dimensions:

The layout of the space is how itworks for me. There are other configurations, of which I have tried, but Ienjoy this way the best.

Here are a few volumetric rough sketches of the space:

· The visual environment is comfortable. I like myown space to be a further extension of character and personality as well as aplace to go and relax. The colors are warm and inviting. The walls are painteda bone color, which makes it easy to change the ‘decorations’ if needed. Myfurniture is all various dark woods. The color pop in the room is my quiltwhich has many patterns and colors in it, leaning more toward red tones. Theroom is quite bright during the day and warmer after dark because of the yellow-tonedlamps in my light fixtures.

· Since there are so many angles in the space,noise is constantly being bounced around. It is not annoying since I don’t haveloud, already obnoxious noise going on in the space but, if there were to beyelling and such, I can tell that would be a problem. The house is located inclose proximity to the street and train tracks, so it receives much trafficnoise.

· In reference to the olfactory space, I do notsense a problem. It smells like me. Each person that would come into the spacewould find it that way.

· The thermal space is interesting. Since thisroom is upstairs, it gets much hotter than the lower level. The vent for theheating and air is above my bed.

· If someone else were to walk in the room, theywould learn about me. They could see what I like and therefore what I don’tlike.

· All of these things come together to provide acomfortable space for me. The big thingthat hits me first is the colors in the space. These really define me as aperson; simple with points of interest.

· Each one of these effects are something nice tome, whatever sense is being utilized, and they form a wonderful, peaceful spacefor me.

· I feel that the smell factor has been overlookedand de-emphasized. I do not think it is important for there to be one type ofapparent smell in the space. It would then be over-emphasized. I think my smellis a compliment to the room, not a huge statement, which is fine by me.

· The lighting in the original structure of thespace was over looked completely but I think they way I have added it to thespace does the job well.

As far as changes to make in the space, Ihave a few. First of all, I would have a lighting fixture/fan on the ceiling.It is entirely too hot and keeping the air on all the time is not an option.Right now, I have a free standing fan set up at the foot of the bed, but it istoo close to me and not aesthetically pleasing. The light sources I have nowwork somewhat; they are at different levels and areas of the space. A tablelamp that has a warm glow for reading next to my bed and a floor lamp thatprovides more overall light for the rest of the room are what I use now. Forthe noise in the space that sneaks its way in from outside, I would installcurtains alongside the windows. Thicker material would probably be better. Thiswould absorb some of the noise while providing more privacy, visual appeal, anddiffuse the strong amount of light that sometimes shines in the morning time.The entrance to the room is in the only available location unless the entireupstairs was to be re-configured. The aspect I would change about it though isthat of the bathroom door. The entrance is in the hall before you reach myroom, yet it would make better sense to have put the door in my room, next tomy room entrance. No one else uses this except me and there is a guest bathroomdownstairs. It makes no sense to me that the door is in the hallway. There iseven a blank wall in the bathroom that has more than enough space for a door.Throughout all of these changes, I wish that the room was changed even more, thoughthis would affect the entire upstairs. I can really see how interiorarchitecture would have helped in this situation. No way that the architectdwelled on the layout of furniture very much if at all. He/she built it to becute and have ‘character’. This is where we come in. We can make it lookappealing on the outside and function smoothly (along with appearance as well)on the inside.

GroovyStuff Project

2011-11-12T18:18:00.001-05:00

The past month or so has been crazy with work. I have been working on a project for groovystuff in my studio and that has really taken up my time. The piece I have designed is a chandelier using teak pieces from their inventory. It has been a fun process, with two models made. Here are some pictures of this time:

beginning ideations

first model

first boards

second model with board

2nd board

Vanstory Lighting Company/Gatewood Building Tour

2011-10-13T15:00:00.002-04:00

Sketch Series 4

2011-10-13T00:33:00.001-04:00

In Sketch Series 1, you observed the light zones in the GatewoodStudio Arts Building.

In Sketch Series 3, you measured the illuminance levels andmaterial reflectances of a chosen space in the Gatewood Building.

For Sketch Series 4, in groups of three, note the type ofluminaire in the space you measured in the last class. Observe the following:

Type of luminaire (uplight, downlight, etc.)
Mounting type
Lamping
Construction
Manufacturer (if possible or find the closest match online)
Study the photometrics of the luminaire: lumens and lighting distribution
Material and finish
Lensing
Function (fixed, adjustable, etc.)
Ballasts
Environment
Shielding

Draw sketches of the space to show the existing luminaires.

identify the purpose of the space
identify the purpose of lighting, including an identification of ambient, task, accent, and sparkle lighting.
describe the effect of each luminaire in the space.
based upon your observations and reflections, provide recommendations for improving the lighting environment.

Suggest changes to the lighting quality of the space. Illustrate with sketches. Visit at least two other places.

Studio Stairwell
a. Type of luminaire (uplight, downlight, etc.)- semi-direct

b. Mounting type- bracket (wall mount)

c. Lamping- fluorescent tube

d. Construction- rectangular shape with one side glass, 2 lamps

e. Manufacturer (if possible or find the closest match online)- LAMARlighting

f. Study the photometrics of the luminaire: lumens and lightingdistribution- semidirect

g. Material and finish- brushed aluminum

h. Lensing- transparent glass with serrated bottom

i. Function (fixed, adjustable, etc.)- fixed

j. Ballasts- 2lamp ballast

k. Environment- circulation stairwell

l. Shielding- none except for the serrated bottom

a. purpose of the space is for circulation

b. ambient lighting

c. it provides a significant amount of diffused light

d. I wish there was lighting closer to the ground to better seewhere to walk.

Dining room

a. Type of luminaire (uplight, downlight, etc.)- multi-directional

b. Mounting type- screw in

c. Lamping- incandescent

d. Construction- tungsten filament housed in glass

e. Manufacturer (if possible or find the closest match online)- GE

f. Study the photometrics of the luminaire: lumens and lightingdistribution- illuminates the table

g. Material and finish- brushed metal

h. Lensing- glass

i. Function (fixed, adjustable, etc.)- fixed

j. Ballasts-

k. Environment- dining room (chandelier)

l. Shielding- none

a. purpose of the space is for eating

b. task lighting

c. the lighting illuminates the table for eating but also the restof the room.

d.I think the lamps should have a type of shield. They produce somuch glare that you cannot look directly at the fixture from any angle.

Kitchen

a. Type of luminaire (uplight, downlight, etc.)- multidirectional

b. Mounting type- screw in

c. Lamping- incandescent

d. Construction- tungsten filament housed in glass sphere.

e. Manufacturer (if possible or find the closest match online)- GE

f. Study the photometrics of the luminaire: lumens and lightingdistribution- gives a soft glow, not enough to light the space thoroughly atnight.

g. Material and finish- frosted glass

h. Lensing- frosted glass

i. Function (fixed, adjustable, etc.)- fixed

j. Ballasts- glass

k. Environment- kitchen

l. Shielding- none, though the glass is semi-transparent, acts as ascreen to diffuse the light.

a. purposeof the space is for preparing food

b. tasklighting

c. itgives off a glow of diffused light and is supposed to provide ample amount oflight to perform tasks.

d. Thistype of fixture and lamp does not work in the space. Every time you turn to thecounter, your shadow falls over what you are doing, making the light completelyuseless. I have to turn sideways half the time to complete the task at hand. Iwould install a type of track lighting around the space along with recessed andtask lights underneath the cabinets.

Sketch Series 2

2011-09-28T23:46:00.000-04:00

Nikki and I observed a few fabric samples in various lighting and made an analysis of the environments.

Sketch Series 3

2011-09-28T22:00:00.000-04:00

In my materials and methods class, we learned how to measure lighting by using a light meter.

Isolux diagram of the 4th and 3rd floor stairwell

light meter we used to measure the strength of light;
it felt like ghostbusters!

Light Box

2011-09-15T01:06:00.003-04:00

In my materials class we were instructed to build a light box of sorts. The group I was situated in decided to engage in an exploration of color. Just a few weeks ago we attended a lighting lecture that showcased various color and lighting techniques. I believe this is what inspired us to continue with color in the realm of light. Our box is all white with many slides that allow movement and encourage interaction. It relates to color in our own environment everyday in that we are exposed to it and can manipulate it how we see fit. This can be in simply turning lights on and off, wearing sunglasses, closing blinds, etc. The slides work in this aspect but as more of a color play, which our board (and therefore the entirety of our project) is aptly named. Enjoy our board!

Daylight Saving Time essay

2011-09-01T00:52:00.000-04:00

I wrote this 250 word essay about the possible side effects of Daylight Saving Time.

There has been some debate about Daylight Saving Time and whether it’s even necessary. Conserving energy as well as enjoying the natural sunlight were the main reasons behind this event so, it is interesting how people have developed a dislike for it. This is not for lack of reasons though. There have been many disruptions since Daylight Saving began. The one found in The Claim: Daylight Saving Time Can Affect Your Health is right in the title. Within this work the author referred to a study where 55,000 people (that is pretty impressive) had negative effects in the sleeping realm when observed around the time change. I understand this; it takes time for your circadian rhythm to adjust to the new time of the clock. However, I do not agree with the article in terms of the change being unhealthy. The way I think about Daylight Saving Time is in terms of time zones. I recently traveled to California and when I arrived, I found myself yearning for sleep before a normal bedtime. This was the affect not only of the traveling but because of the amount of time the sun’s natural light was shining. For the next few days I could tell I was more irritable. I tried to combat my tiredness by staying up later and rising earlier. Within a couple of days I was on California time. The article states that time change can result in “restlessness, sleep disruption and shorter sleep duration" as well as “change and increase in heart attacks, suicides and accidents”. I have to say that the first few side effects can be true but heart attacks and so on, is farfetched in my mind. I would not discontinue traveling across time zones just because I could have the potential of having a few restless nights.

Aspects of Lighting

2011-09-01T00:47:00.000-04:00

The following is a paper I wrote for my methods, material, and technology class about the various aspects of lighting. Enjoy!

Lightingforms our days and yet we can take it for granted. We need light to thrive andto work. Without it, whether it is natural or artificial, we accomplish only alimited amount of tasks. It can be observed and analyzed in many instances: byclimate, in a place, with nature, time, and task. All of these help us to gaina further understanding of what lighting truly means. Not only to us asindividuals but in society as well.

As touched upon in Light Revealing Experience, we know things as they are introducedto us in our own society. We cannot understand accurately, for instance, thelighting of another climate or culture until we see it and experience it forourselves. There are physiological and temperate reactions to light indifferent climates. As an example, the Gatewood building has an interestinglight situation. On the third floor the glazing continues the height of thewall, which is gorgeous outside looking in. It has a beacon or soft glow,drawing you into the building. However, in the summer the sun shines sobrightly into the space that the windows have to be covered. This makes youreflect on why the windows are actually there in the first place if only to becovered in the end. It goes back to the designer’s intent. The architect musthave been so keen on the outside concept that he/she did not want to thinkabout changing the functionality of the inside.

Thelighting involved within the interior has to be considered along with thenatural light from outside. This electric light has been connected to increasedcancer rates as seen in Influence of Architectural Lighting on Health. Thestudy was observing night-shift nurses that had been under electric and solarlighting for an extended period of time. This type of lighting, a task lightyou could call it (especially in this scenario), was the only light availableto them. This cannot be helped in our day and time. With the technology we havewe can work harder and longer, even through the night if necessary, using thesetask lights. It is unfortunate that these lights that give us more time seem topose a health risk that could potentially slow us down in the long run.

Timein our culture is an extremely important concept. This is how we plan and goabout each and every day. With the passing of time light changes as well.Colors of the light can go from blue, morning light to warm, golden in theevening. It can mean the change or continuation of the seasons as Light Revealing Experience suggests withthe Gamble House door. The point to recognize with time is that it continuouslymoves. Our bodies are in tune to this changing and moving when we allowourselves to be a part of it. At some points during the year, especially in therecent past, I would be working in the studio all day and all night, sometimesnot even leaving for food but having it delivered. From the information I haveread over the past few days, this does not seem to be healthy for my body. Weas a functioning human beings need to experience the change and continuation oftime. We should not be cooped up inside looking out at nature happening. Weshould be taking part in it.

Connectingnature with the inside has been a concept tried and tried in design. Light Revealing Experience refers to FrankLloyd Wright, how he was a huge believer in architecture thriving alongsidewith nature. In fact, most of his structures incorporated nature somehow intothe design. I think that by involving nature in the interior, even throughabstract means, people have a sense of belonging, a feeling of familiarity.Everyone has had experience with nature in some way shape or form. The sun,rain, wind, etc, evoke a common, natural place that has to be real.

Allaround the world light is seen in different forms and variations. Light Revealing Architecture gives awonderful example of how a winter day in Boston differs from one in Seattle.Light reflected snow brings a cheery, bright atmosphere to the day whereasSeattle’s light could be hazier and have less brilliance. In class we spokeabout how place as well as climate can affect glazing. In this situation, withthe difference in the vibrancy of light, that must be considered in the processof designing. You cannot possibly design one building to be placed in both ofthese regions. That simply put, would not work. The size and location of theglazing is extremely imperative to the design.

All in all, each aspect of light touched uponcoincides with one another. Somehow or another they all need to be consideredand included within the design process. Light affects everything we do dailyand as such, we should think about it more readily; especially in designfurther down the road.

Final Individual Board

2011-05-02T12:35:00.000-04:00

This was my final individual board. Our group collaborated with each other to layout the template of our board. Each person would have the same general layout, adding our unique style to individualize it. The similarities between all of the boards really brought our presentation together. If each had been designed uniquely with various differences, the final critique would have looked truly disheveled and unkempt. I liked our standard, crisp way to present our project. At the same time, I am superbly relieved that this project is over!

Reflection

2011-04-29T14:35:00.001-04:00

Looking over the semester, I can see that my design style and technique has grown exponentially. Achievement has been made on most of the goals I set for myself, though some are more obvious than others. I certainly worked on myself, figuring out the best place for me. I realized that utilizing my time with interior design work (furniture placement, textile choices, etc.) helped me out drastically. It aided my mind to stay on task and allowed me to fully enjoy the work I accomplished in the end.

I began strong and steadfast with time management but unfortunately, that took a detour. My class load started cutting into everything else in my life and before I knew it, my time was slipping away from me. Next semester, I realize that I need enthusiasm whilst in the middle instead of only at the beginning. The going was good but that momentum has to continue in order for me to excel and enjoy my work.

Working -well- with others was the biggest, most important lesson I learned. Situations were not always easy or happy-go-lucky, but they were vital in the growing process. The opportunity to work with eleven other people has never been made available to me before. Although times were rough at points (deciding on design ideas, distributing jobs evenly, that last week), it needed to be done; a definite help for the future. Individual work happened to be the easiest for me by far. I only answered to myself and I knew the quality of work that met with my standards. Writing out the layout of my space was a monstrous task to undertake. It would have been easier to write after the project was ‘over’. It was difficult transitioning from individual to a group. Checking in, delegating tasks, and making decisions were strenuous, but after a while became easier. The group of six showed me that group work could actually be fun. I feel into a groove with those people and we worked really well together. That brings me to the last group. That was so interesting. There was an immense amount of work to complete, but with a plethora of people to exert their time, it did not seem like a lot at all.

Writing was obviously an integral part of this class. I feel that I was forced into some of the assignments, not truly squeezing out what I could have while working on them. I do think it is easier to talk about someone else’s work opposed to my own, maybe because I have put so much into every aspect instead of seeing it the surface for the first time. Regardless, writing is crucial in allowing ideas to flow and to communicate with others. Because of this reason, I continue to work determinedly on it and hopefully, no, scratch that; I will get better.

I have seen that I can work faster and more efficiently on aspects I fully enjoy such as designing the interior of a space. I have been able to do this well digitally, the skill that I will continue to hone.

Illustrator Rendering

2011-03-15T21:49:00.006-04:00

This next rendering is from Illustrator. On this time around, I thought it would be fun to try something completely out of the box. Literally. I took the walls down and left nothing but the stairs from the wire frame. I throughly enjoyed this working on this rendering more so than the other because it has a whimsy and fantastical atmosphere surrounding it. The things I can improve on are the light rays. I have not figured out how to get them to have the streaks like the background does, but I still think they turned out fairly well. I really enjoy the hanging flower pods. I think they add much depth to the scene, though I need to continue (yet again) to work on the shadows of the pods, specifically where they would fall.

Photoshop Rendering

2011-03-15T21:06:00.004-04:00

In my digital design class we are working with various programs to produce renderings from only a wireframe. We are to include entourage: color, texture, scale figures, etc. We could manipulate the wire frame into anything we wanted. With this first one rendered within Photoshop, I decided to take a more artistic approach instead of photo realistic. I turned out quite interesting. I think something I will continue to work on is shadows and light sources as well as the context. What is behind the windows? I kind of took the easy way out and put a gradient of blue with that area.

Jenga 5.0 Charrette

2011-03-15T17:56:00.001-04:00

The charrette we engaged in on Monday was quite illuminating. It was revealed to me (whilst in the process) that lack of time is not a crutch; it is, in reality, sometimes an unavoidable obstacle and greater help. You are able to exert your brain to go, and even exceed that extra mile. The first group (Beaucoup) that we conversed with allowed the flexibility and balance that our group needed to thrive in order to produce an optimum result. We all proposed some intriguing ‘seed’ ideas, ones that could take off and grow big. You might think ‘wow; she came up with that opinion pretty quickly’. In reality, I realized this after we met with the second group (Jive). I could see, subtly at first, that we weren’t jiving (no pun intended!) with this group. None of us were truly enthusiastic about the joining of our groups. Whether it was from really diverse concepts or that we were tuckered out from the previous hour charrette, who knows. Regardless, when we came together, the attitudes seemed focused on just completing the assignment. Do not confuse this with believing it is not a good outlook; on the contrary. It is the best stance to have, however, in this case it was done with hardly any flourish; and I like flourish (it’s more fun)! We all jumped into our individual assignments and worked, completing them in a timely manner, but not actually doing our best design work (at least in my opinion).

The deliverables I completed were the following:

Beaucoup parley - concept sketches

Jive stint- statement (but really a paragraph) of approach

Jenga 4.0

2011-03-14T20:43:00.003-04:00

This is Jenga 4.0. We were required to have only one deliverable; we could choose what that could be. Do not let the ONE deliverable allow you to think this was by any means easy. Our focus? To showcase one thing that best demonstrates the key design idea. In thinking about feasibility, one photo or model would (most likely) not do our design justice. Our group decided to put together ONE board. We included as many things as we possibly could, as you can see. I have to say that I am extremely proud of this board. I think the layout is great; everything is alined in a grid format, making it easy to follow the progression of our 'powers of ten ' theme. It is divided here into two parts by the thin vertical line. On the left are the drawings that showcase the complete composition of the structure. You then move to the other side of the line and it begins on top with the four exterior shots. Each of these continue down the board, further into the building, looking at the sections and then the perspectives. Beneath these are the diagrams of individual concepts included within the structure. Even though each one of us was working on different parts of the board, the colors flowed together well. At the beginning, I had some difficulties of really putting my heart into this project but, towards the end, things came together nicely.

Jenga 3.0 Process

2011-02-16T13:37:00.007-05:00

We are in the process of combining three individual spaces from the class into one big unit, complete with public areas for people to commune together. Here is a diagram that I am using to show how we laid out the top floor vs. the bottom. The circulation is also articulated here by dots and arrows. I have included a narrative of the circulation and feeling of the unit as well. I am excited to really push down the gas and get moving on the actual interior design work.

Our whole unit is comprised of three individual private spaces. As they come together, a circulation pathway manifests itself within the inner area. This is a two story area and can be entered two ways. Enter one way and you are near one of the private spaces, a stairway, and a reception/office space. If you come in the other way, you are close to the second private space as well as another staircase. If you proceed to travel up the stairs, they lead to the second story. This area includes a door to the other private space, a restaurant, casual seating, and an outdoor terrace. The private and public spaces are married together in a number of ways. Materials are an important factor here. Throughout all of the spaces, the concept revolves around slants, protrusions, and dynamic flow.

Another beginning part of our assignment was to illustrate main concepts of the book we read. Each of us in our group made an individual collage of ideas and interpretations of our book. The one I had the pleasure to read was the Ice Palace that Melted Away by Bill Stumpf. It was a fun read. Stumpf expounded upon better designs of several well known objects and experiences, which was quite interesting to me. I catch myself thinking quite often how certain things would work more efficiently, and he shares in my breaking down of details mind-set.

Jenga 2.0

2011-02-13T11:21:00.006-05:00

We all made another model! For this stage in Jenga, we were assigned one space to continue with; the one that held the most promise. We added an addition to either the top or bottom of that original space. My space was the 'in' the edge. So I continued with the same concept and translated that to an upstairs space that included another sleeping area and a work place. Overall, I think I really came through this time around for presentation. I had all the deliverables and more. That was what I was proud of the most. I divided and conquered all the requirements! As far as the layout of the board, I needed to take into account that all of the drawings were to scale. I could not make them smaller to fit better on the page. I had to work around it, figuring out the best way to communicate my ideas with several large drawings. At first, I wanted my perspectives to have a little color. Alas, at the end, that was not plausible. So I ended up having black and white, but think it turned out quite well; a happy accident!

As far as the class as a whole goes, I think we definitely stepped up to the plate and hit a triple. It was not quite a home run, but we came close. We still need to be aware of our layouts. I feel that they need more seasoning and flavor to them. Right now they are just the plain meat. So, we need to think about them along the way, not just at the end of the process. This is the same as our design process as well. We now know to design and produce at the same time. One does not come to a halt because you begin another. I am excited for this next time around; we are working in groups! I haven't worked with the people in my group yet, but it looks promising!

Here are some photos of the last phase in the project:

final stages of model...scale figures!

ClassmateCrits

2011-02-01T23:27:00.012-05:00

Our class finally finished a part of this Jenga project. Here is what a few of them had up their sleeves:

Kacie Leisure began with a wonderful concept. 'Well-up' was the basis of her three rooms. She tackled the project in this way: the burst effect, elevate, and feeling. Beginning with the skinny room, she thought of the final burst whenever something wells up. The focal point and most interesting object (a column in this case) within this room showcased that process quite well. It began with shelves with space in between that gradually got smaller the higher you went. At the very top, it 'burst' into one long shelf. It was interesting the concept of bursting or exploding was flipped. Bursting is usually thought of as one thing becoming many. In this case though, she seemed to pull it off. In her next space, the square one, she focused on the elevation part of well-up. This manifested itself within the architecture (of course!) of the space. She incorporated all of the utilities of the space thoughtfully in these solids. Then the third space focuses on the actual feeling of welling up. She explores how it would look in a physical form and with many curves and luxurious fabrics/textures. For each one of these rooms, she made a model to coincide with it. These were made using the laser cutter. Kudos to her! The drawings that helped make out the space the best were the axonometric ones. You can see how it really made it easy to delve into the space.

Justin McNair showed an interesting perspective of his word as well. Spark was categorized into three other variations and then expounded upon. The three rooms were as follows: tension of striking something, the center or nucleus of that point, and the rawness of materiality. The tension room was quite interesting. He put the kit on edge, using much diagonal lines to showcase movement within the space. I think this was successful. The center, or nucleus of the spark exuded itself within the next space. Everything seemed to spread from a single point. Unfortunately with the last room, the connection with spark was not quite made. He did a great job of making it coincide with materiality, but no spark for me! All of his deliverables were informative, but the axonometric drawings really speak to the concept of his rooms and allow you to really be in the space.

Rooms with an Edge

2011-02-01T18:16:00.007-05:00

I wanted to go through my rooms quickly, as if you we walking through the space, just to give a little more experience to the actual space.

On the Edge- This is the first space of the three. The thought I had behind this one was that you were constantly on the edge, either figuratively (about to figure out something) or physically (like on the edge), and wanted to explore and find out what was on the other side. As soon as you walk in, you are left with no choice but to go forward. There are walls on either side, with fogged glass in strips every so often, giving you a glimpse of what is behind the wall and causing you to want to understand the blurred shapes. When you reach the wall of windows, you now have two choices. Right or left? You can see a bit of stair to the right and decided to go that way. There are steps, leading up to the loft area. There is a bed right in the center of the room, and it looks as if it's floating. When you are on it, you are literally on the edge in the area. The walls do not reach all the way to the ceiling, making you have to go and look over the edge to the other part of the room. The only thing you can see here though, is a wall and then a red pipe coming up from the space. This intrigues you and you have to go down to check it out. The Bathroom is under the loft area and you check that out before continuing. Something is in the center of the room. You come closer and realize it's a sink, but wait! It is actually a bathtub if you lift the sink part up. On to the other part of the room. You walk out and around the walls, coming eventually to an area with seats, a table, and an old fashioned looking stove. That was where the pipe came from, you think. The room has now been figured out.

In the Edge- This room focuses on mentally being in the edge (between here and there, and having much tension), and is shown throughout with the architecture. When you walk in, the door swings and all you see is wall. This is kind of unnerving, but you continue on. Your eye is drawn to two columns toward the center of the room. These are not ordinary columns. They have steel cables coming from every which way and attach to the walls. You notice that there are several floor changes. The kitchen area is to your right, a straight, streamlined, no frills counter space. When you look closer and investigate, you can see that there is a oven, refrigerator, and sink. They are just hidden. There is a table between the two columns for eating. You continue on and see that there is a sitting area with brightly colored, what I would call 'edgy' chairs. Around the corner from that is the sleeping area. The bed frame has a frame but instead of being a box like, normal thing, it has two corners and that's all. the last place in the room is separated from everything else by a diagonal wall. It holds the bathing area. There are two shower heads in the shower, furthering that idea of being in between. I would also like to point out that the lights run along each level change, accentuating the edges of the various areas in the room.

Over the Edge- For this room, I wanted to look at it as going crazy, where things are not as they seem. When you walk in, the door opens so you see this thing at the end of the room. You figure out it's a tree. Well, an abstracted tree. The roots are shown on the ceiling as blocks and the top of it is on the ground, represented by green carpet. There are pillows on the ground, where it seems comfortable to sleep, surrounded by a lush green forest. Now, the reason your eye went directly to this tree was that there were walls on either side of the door, the angle small and then growing larger toward the tree. So, on the other side of these walls, the world is different than the lush green on this side. It has light, natural colors and smooth textures. The floor is a light wood opposed to the dark green carpet on the other side. Behind one wall is the bathing area. This bathroom holds a toilet and bathtub. There is actually two tubs, one inside the other so that the water can flow 'over' into the other one. The eating area is on the other side and is composed of a circular kitchen. It has everything in it and can be closed. A table springs out from it as well. There you go, a room that has two contrasting themes but yet the idea of crazy rolled into one.

The Edge

2011-01-31T17:38:00.014-05:00

We finally finished the first installment of our three room project. It was an intense work week, but it was worth it in the end. Here are some photos of the process and then the final.

Sketch model of over the edge

Sketch model of on the edge

Sketch model of in the edge

Pieces to cut out using the scroll saw

Close-up of those pieces; the holes on the corners are to help make the turn better with the saw

The scroll saw and my first cut!

All of the pieces left

Victory with one model!!

One of the models; just the bones

Another of the skeletal models; the light effect is pretty interesting

Putting the level changes in one of the models using chip board

The final "on the edge" model, parts and all!

Final "in the edge" model

Final "over the edge" model

Final presentation

Short Narratives

2011-01-20T18:33:00.007-05:00

'On' the Edge

My overall concept in this first room is ‘on the edge’. Upon walking in, walls of different height are flanking the entrance, leaving you no choice but to move forward. There are small glimpses as to what is behind them, but there is a mystery involved, and curiosity is drawing you in. You turn to the right and at the end of the corridor lies an edge of a stair; where could it lead? You have a feeling you are on the edge of seeing what you couldn’t see before. You come to a sleeping area. The walls are short, and when looking over from on top, you see what’s below. However, the other side is not completely revealed. You only see the top portion of a column. So, the entire room is not revealed. You travel down, finding a bathroom under the sleeping area. On the other side, you follow the wall to a food preparing and peaceful sitting place.

'In' the Edge

‘In the edge’ is the statement for this room. Upon walking into it, you find yourself elevated on a sleeping platform and are met with a sense of uneasiness. Though it is an open area, you feel as if you are being pulled every which way. That tension is elaborated by steel cables that form a tightrope-like joinery between the surrounding walls and the two columns set within the room. As you look around, there are several other level changes, all forming diagonal lines, or triangles in the floor. One is in the window corner where there is a meditation area. A food preparing area is located on the opposite side and next to it is a diagonal wall. It closes off the bathing area from the rest of the space. The opening to it begins small and gradually grows larger the further you go in the corner or edge of the room.

'Over' the Edge

In this space, things are not as they seem. First off, you take a step down that was quite unexpected. Then, illumination is coming from the floor, when it’s normally from the ceiling. You notice this column, which you discern as an abstract tree. You realize the floor is representing the leaves or foliage. Your eyes travel up to see the ‘roots’ stretching over the ceiling, at different levels and thicknesses. Around the base are sleeping areas. After this exploration, the stand-alone walls on the edge of the room are a different world and stand in stark contrast to the leafy, lush space. They are bright, crisp, and clean. One wall has the bathing and meditation areas. The other holds the food. The opposition of the two parts relate to going ‘over the edge’. Hatters (mad as) could have a perfectly opposite, upside down day. The next could be on the contrary; vivid, peaceful, and focused. This space defines both of those situations.

Design Auto Biography II

2011-01-19T17:44:00.004-05:00

I wanted to tell a little about my background in design thus far. Since I was very young, I have been tagging along with my Dad at a one man (well, woman) design firm. I would help him with his work: painting, installing, moving, fixing, etc. Along with this, I was able to observe the inner workings of the firm. I believe that this is where my love for design came from. Other experiences, especially taking interior design in high school, helped me to realize that this what what I wanted to do as a career. For my senior project, I made a cabinet with the help of my Opa (grandpa). That was a huge learning experience and I actually used the final product for the IARC application; answering the question, what is something you think to be well designed? I then came to UNCG and began my studies. I found a job at Stein Mart over the summer and learned so much, especially about marketing and selling. At the past Furniture Market in High Point, I received the opportunity to help stage the Asian Loft showroom. They then made it available to work the Market; I sold a vase! That was truly a great experience. I am believing to continue design and love it as much now and in the future as I have in the past.

The photo here is of the cabinet I built with Opa. This product of mine is my inspiration for great craft. I put in the hard work and dedication and it definitely shows.

Yes, ideas.

2011-01-13T20:44:00.003-05:00

It looks like I have come out of that rut I was in! Here is a parti about my ideas...and yes, some are supposed to be upside down.

Ideas?

2011-01-12T13:50:00.004-05:00

I feel that I am in a slump. I have hit a wall of some sort, or is it a solid? Therein lies the answer actually; deciding on what is and is not a solid. There are ideas floating somewhere, waiting to jump or leap (in the case of Nikki) on me. The question is how to get them to come faster. All of this confusion is in my brain at the moment and no doubt I have probably confused you. But the fact is, not all great ideas come when you want them to. They creep up on you when you least expect it and "LIGHTBULB!", magnificence. Whilst all these thoughts were whirling around in my head, I came across these excerpts from books I was leafing through a while ago (sorry they are at weird angles).... and they are, I must admit, so undeniably true.

Design Auto Biography

2011-01-10T20:05:00.004-05:00

I wanted to take the time as well to tell a little about my background in design thus far. I have been tagging along with my Dad at a one man (well, woman) design firm since I was two years old. I would help him with the work he was doing for her (the designer): painting, installing, moving, fixing, etc. Along with this, I was able to observe the inner workings of the firm. I believe that this is where my love for design came from and other experiences helped me to understand that. In high school I thought it would be fun to take an interior design class. That was where I realized this is what I want to do. For my senior project, I made a cabinet with the help of my Opa (grandpa). I used the final product for the application to attend IARC; answering the question, what is something you think to be well designed? I then came to UNCG and began studying design. I found a job at Stein Mart over the summer and learned so much, especially about marketing and selling. At the past Furniture Market in High Point, I received the opportunity to help stage Asian Loft’s showroom. They then made it available to work the Market; I sold a vase! That was a great experience. I believe to continue design and love it as much now as I did in the past.

The photo here is of the cabinet I built. One of my goals this semester is that everything I make have great craft. This is my inspiration for great craft. It does take hard work and dedication, but the end result looks fantastic, and I am proud of what I accomplished in the end.

Goals.

2011-01-10T18:43:00.007-05:00

Hello again! I am back, ready to start a new year and believing it will be ten times better then the last. To start, I want to list out the goals (focusing on design) I believe to achieve this year:

Better Time Management (I think I am doing well so far, I have read half of what is due on Friday and have written this tonight which is due on Wednesday!)
Work whole-heartily on my work even if I am not into the task
Work at how I communicate ideas, which incorporates:

o Drawing
o Rendering
o Layout

Good craft in ALL endeavors, not only wood working
Ask questions and get involved (specifically during class). I think of great things to say after the fact.
Learn to be a strong leader. Not be afraid to speak up and say what needs to be said, specifically in groups.

My strengths as a designer (that I will continue to work on) are as follows:

Anything digital
Carrying out directions and following through.
Choosing colors/patterns that work well with each other

I was told a few more strengths I have:

Organized
Attention to detail
My design style is solid, but curvy and graceful, relating almost to Art Nouveau

Our class took a personality quiz today which was enlightening. It put us into a line with three areas; conservers, pragmatists, and originators. I was in the middle with the pragmatists. We are the mediators that balance out situations. We share leadership willfully but at the sometimes will take everyone agreeing over having a great final product. It was great to see my classmates’ positions in line. It was shown that we need each of the areas to contribute for the best outcome. This was such a great idea for us as a group; I hope to keep using it in the future.

Point Final

2010-12-10T14:57:00.005-05:00

For this final post, I want to focus on relating the new, 'modern' day styles back to the very beginning. First of all, we have seen how architecture has progressed throughout history, whether for better or worse. The overall concept, I think, in class was that of commodity, firmness, and delight. At the very beginning of society (or where we started in class) the people built to achieve commodity for the most part. Firmness is definitely seen as well though, because most of these are still standing today. They built structures to accommodate their needs. For example, Stonehenge was one of the first structures I remember talking about. We are not sure exactly why it was built, but one theory is for worship purposes. In the next several decades, the main architecture continued to be about religion and worship (the Greek and Roman) It was not so much about the homes, but about the experience within -most of the time- large structures that was important (now the Gothic time period). Architecture was in the stage of being built for the community, not so much the individual. Though it was individual in the sense of the person experiencing the space, most of the spaces were large and on a scale that made the person feel small. Important architects were not designing homes for the individual, so the people made do with what they had. They basically took the large, grand size buildings and scaled them down to the size of homes. Let me say, this did not work out so well, especially within the Victorian era (too much bric-a-brac is never good). During the mid 1900s, something shifted. Design began to be more about the people, the individuals themselves, not the huge community areas. The home was focused on more than in the past. Unfortunately, there was another side to this phenomenon, one where the architect/designer could care less about the people and more about the delight of the structure. This is seen big time with the design of the Guggenheim in New York. It looks quite interesting and has a very unique design. But, the concept of rounded edges in a museum was not a good one Mr. Wright. As we deliberated in class, this was a complicated issue to get around while hanging art, or even looking at it for that matter. I feel that it is difficult to engage in an art piece with noise going on about you. Again, that is the case here. There was space in the center of the structure which provided light to all the levels and yet also allowed much noise to travel upwards from the lobby. I do not feel that Wright met the requirements for commodity. In the present day, architects have become quite egotistical. They just want the things they design (specifically in the commercial standpoint) to look interesting, not to necessarily be able to perform well for the humans that inhabit the space. As far as the residential design goes, this has had a huge uprising in the past few years with HGTV becoming a sensation. There are still egotistical designers in this area, but a little less I think because in this case, the people you are designing for have to be thought of, or else they will not hire you again, like Wright. He was not a popular residential designer. He did become famous, but he might have had a more successful career if he listened to his clients.

Anyway, I believe that throughout this whole time, there has been a lot of give and take between who the design is for, but ultimately an expression on the culture of the time, whether looking backwards or forwards.

image found here

I thought it would be a nice bookend to the semester to end how Patrick did will the same image and metaphor. We are still continuously adding to the information that is on our backs, taking with us the old and adding the new. I learned so much in this class about history, the architecture that comes with it, and what that means in regards to the power of 10. I cannot wait to continue on this road of design, incorporating the things I now know into what I design in the future.

Reading Comprehension 7

2010-12-05T02:03:00.006-05:00

We were asked to go to the Weatherspoon museum on campus and look at an exhibit and then discuss it. One photo I truly appreciated was 'Migrant Mother'. This photo was made while the Great Depression was in its prime. You can look into this woman's soul, and I felt that is what I did. I drank in this piece for a few minutes time, just standing there, looking at every character line on her face; I couldn't believe how moving this image was. The way her gaze is so steadfast and furrowed, allows me to be in her thoughts. There is so much there, beyond those eyes, and I want to help ease that hardened look. I believe this photograph genuinely depicts the terrible time of the Great Depression very well. It has become the photograph of that time period, and I can completely tell why. For the more technical side of the photo, there is symmetry because of the two children framing the mother. There is not much contrast, but there is a depth-ness to it. You can see every line, horribly and wonderfully pronounced within the image. The coloring is perfect for the meaning of the photo. I was once told that "painting a person in color paints their clothes, while painting them in black and white will show their soul". This is exactly true here. It makes such an impact in the muted tones.

There was another photo that I really liked as well. It is called Olivia. The photographer must have used a slow shutter speed for this one because her skirt is blurred, showing movement so vividly. Again, it is in black and white. For this one though, I would have liked it in color. I could see the twirling skirt made out of a super bright color and it being a crisp spring day. I diagramed it as follows:

I think, as I stated before, that the photo exudes movement in a circular motion. My diagram shows the constant flow of going around and around, almost as if it were going right out of the box. It uses much repetition, that's where the movement comes in. It is intriguing to note that the movement happens on the bottom of the photo. The top 2/3 of the image is quite stagnant and so therefore the movement at the bottom third really catches your eye. This concept makes your eyes travel through the photo. Great job on the photographers part. I thought this was a wonderful photo with plenty of joyful spirit.

Reading Comprehension 6

2010-11-16T23:13:00.014-05:00

1. A common theme of the early twentieth century found in Roth, Harwood, and Massey set the tone for an understanding of styles in architecture and design influenced by fine art. Selecting either Arts + Crafts or Art Nouveau, TRACE the influences of the selected style in more than two nations. In your answer, you should include evidence from the readings and at least two annotated images as support for your analysis of influences.

I am choosing to look at the Art Nouveau style in America, France and Germany. America does not jump on the bandwagon with this style because they are not into 'the style's associations with decadence, the erotic, and socialism' (Harwood 484). The main places that you see this style become apparent are in art glass, ceramics, decorative painting and specifically lighting by Louis Comfort Tiffany. So this style mainly stayed within the confinements of accessories here in America.

Image found here

Now for France, people embraced this style. They wanted to stay above the curve of design and so introduced schools to teach Art Nouveau. Many people thought that the style helped with living conditions. It was then configured into the design of private buildings.

Image found here

Though Germany was searching for that national identity, they did not gain it with Art Nouveau. The movement of Art nouveau there was called the Jugenstil (young style). These young people focused on the interrelations of designer, craftsman, and manufacturer. This eventually led to the inspiration of the Bauhaus school. Germany was also like America in the fact that this style had a minimal effect on architecture and more on artifacts.

All of these nations, whther focusing on architecture or more on accessories, they began with quite fluid, moving, curvilinear non symmetrical aspects and transition in 1900 to having more straight linear moments within the design. Some of them (like the Glasgow School of Art's library shown below) even to the point that I could hardly tell they were considered to be during this era.

Image found here

2. Originating at the Bauhaus and in the work of LeCorbusier, the so-called Modern movement deeply influenced design and architecture of the twentieth century. The great debate raised by this new approach to design involved the presence of the machine in the design process and final products. SPECULATE about the implications of “machines for living” and the famous dictum “less is more” on design today. Use at least one ARTIFACT, SPACE, or BUILDING in your answer, providing a salient image (cited) and annotation to help bolster your argument.

To figure out today, we must first look back to past years to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. He designed the German Pavilion in 1929, around the sole fact that less is more. Harwood states that Mies’s stlye is “severely plain, geometric…that relies on careful proportions, precise details, and opulent materials rather than applied ornament for beauty.” I think this is stated quite well and depicts the intention of the space. I think that Mies possibly wanted to show that even through this time of depression, things could still be beautiful without lavish furnishings and decorative accessories, things people could not easily obtain during this time. Looking now to the present, I believe we strive for this same concept; at least I do. I would rather save and live comfortably than splurge on big ticket items or many various items. I make do with the things I have and try to use them as efficiently as I can. I would love to do this in design, as I have seen already. I believe there is a show on HGTV that incorporates using the same things one already owns to revamp a space. Reusing your things to save big!

Machines help to save time and money. In the German Pavilion, machines were used as we learned in class to help form the onyx walls. I am sure it saved money by the pieces being manufactured, but someone, a person, still had to install these pieces, therefore ultimately requiring human help. Some machines, like stoves or even microwaves allow us to get things done faster that would have taken longer a few centuries ago and required actual burning wood. In this case, without these machines, how would we go about our daily lives? How could we cook without them?

Image found here

This image of the German Pavilion articulates what I was referring to in the above writing; the de materialization of the space, the simplistic 'less is more' motto is shown very clearly I think.

3. From the assigned pages in Roth, Harwood, and Massey, SELECT an image that you believe explodes the notion that Modern interiors and objects were black and white. Fully RENDER your own design exploration of that image through color, material, and light and appropriately annotate and cite the image to prove this point.

The original image:

Image found on pg 506 in Harwood

Rendered Image:

CHAIRS

2010-11-13T19:00:00.001-05:00

During my History and Theory of Design class, we had an assignment where we drew and identified chairs every other week. It was a great way to learn these chairs, to be able to know them in the future. I have already seen some of these in my day-to-day life and it's awesome to be able to really know what the name is and who the designer was. Here are all 50 of mine:

Alternatives Summary

2010-11-11T18:54:00.007-05:00

For this post and the one below, I am obviously summarizing something. That is, I am drawing from other students and opinions from what we learned in the past two sections. Now then, here it is: I choose to look at three people, who are Nikki, Corry, and Dajana. All of them seemed to be on the same page in this unit. They thought that rules had to be broken in order to gain new ground. This is so true. Nikki shows this nicely with her image of a theater (I think it is).

She talks about this image and aptly states that, "If we did not have people like this [wanting to break the rules] then in the world of architecture we might still be living under four beams and a roof." I think this to be a great connection back to the image but as well to the unit. While Nikki spoke on the broader scope of things, Corry and Dajana took a slightly different approach. They decided to talk about specific buildings and their impact on the design period.

I learned one thing from this exercise which was that the creativity of the Baroque and Renaissance period was appreciated so much that it transferred over to the Americas. I guess I had not thought of it in that light. I agreed with Corry though, when he talked about how reflections are always going to occur, just slightly differently than the were in the first place.

Reflections Summary

2010-11-11T18:52:00.003-05:00

Within the reflection unit, we learned that the past styles come back in later years. Nikki, Corry, and Dajana all agreed with me, though they had some of their own interpretations that came along with it. Dajana stated that the one era that was looked back upon was the classical times, and this stirred up much debate on what exactly 'true design' was. I thought this was a good point because everyone has various ways of looking at style and I feel as if architecture is constantly trying to get sorted out. Nikki talks about the new world and the new architecture that came to be there like (Corry referenced this by talking about Monticello; the temple on the hill, as Nikki said).

The Americans needed some powerful style that encompassed firmness, boldness, and strength. so guess where they looked? The classical period! We are continually traveling back and making what was old new and revitalized. Corry provides the perspective that even though architecture is reflected, that could be bad and not good. I believe that goes well with Nikki's idea of the New World. That architecture said power, but I think that if they really wanted to show they were independent, they would have thought up and executed their own style of architecture.

Unit Reflection Point

2010-11-08T16:51:00.005-05:00

This unit we focused on reflections of the past and conversed about revolutions. The industrial revolution is one of extreme importance but the political revolution also impacted design in a big way. We learned that revolution consisted of several concepts that relate to how or why revolutions happen: reform, renaissance, revival, rotation, and cycle. All of these make a critical statement to the functionings of a revolution. It is all a continuous cycle; after all, a revolution is the end of a cycle and a beginning of another. This reminds me of The Lion King. If you will permit me let’s be kids for a second. I have a quote that helped me put this concept of cycle in perspective.

“Mufasa: Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.
Young Simba: But, Dad, don't we eat the antelope?
Mufasa: Yes, Simba, but let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life.”

In our design world terms, we can call it the ‘Circle of Design’. And it’s all true what Mufassa said, we just have to put it in perspective according to architecture and design. Over the years, we strive to see a certain style grow. Then we ‘eat’ that style; we want it gone, and a new style comes into play. Yet, that style that was eaten might come back and bite us. We remember then what that old style was and say to ourselves, “Huh, that was a great style, but let’s make it different; let’s make it better.” This is the same concept as well with how fashion continues to loop back around to the styles that were popular years and years ago. The -almost- identical thing is happening. There are so many connections, can you see them? Everything continues to come back around at some point or another. The thing is though, you can never conclude that exact time when it will come around again, for better or worse.

In this case, the industrial revolution was in reaction to new materials being made faster and easier which, I think, can be related back to when concrete was invented. It helped to make those arches easier and then prompted the ‘era of the dome,’ so to speak. But the main materials covered in this revolution were glass and iron. Various designs could now be made that before were just dreams. These new manufacturing inventions helped to ultimately make these structures come to pass: the Eiffel Tower, Biblioteque Genevieve, Burlington Arcade, and the Crystal Palace, among many, many more. The only limitations were how much money you had and how much space you occupied. This is actually slowly becoming the trend in architecture as we continue in time, but the people used this concept in different ways. I will talk more about this though within the next Point essay.

I think that this photo represents this unit well. Some things are reflected, but the reflection is not exactly the same. It might even be better in its own artistic form.

Reflection: Clock

2010-11-01T20:25:00.008-04:00

This is my clock project. I enjoyed coming up with the idea and executing it. I chose to do the form space shown by word (LATE). I played with this idea by using the white rabbit from Alice and Wonderland and his famous saying, "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date" which also relates back to the time/clock theme. I put this in Castle Howard's interior. We learned that the interior stayed in a gothic style, while the exterior showed the new style, which was the Renaissance. So I am stating that the interior was 'late' in it's revolution, unlike the outside. As with each of these projects, we needed to include nature, material, people, and symbol. The ways in which I included nature, material, and people are fairly self explanatory, but I will elaborate more. The hedges (nature) are specifically drawn from the garden outside of Castle Howard. The people are shown with the white rabbit and the woman garbed in 18th century (the year when the castle was built) fashion. This time period is the beginning of people doing their own thing and figuring out how they want things to look. This project is symbolic of this concept. Maybe the Howards liked both the Gothic and Renaissance style. Also, just a side note: The text is not quite centered in the middle of the image on purpose. The castle is divided, like I stated, between the two styles, and therefore having a non-copacetic feel to it, just like the words in the image! I really like this project, and I had fun with it; though now I can't get that phrase out of my head.

Perspective

2010-10-27T10:26:00.004-04:00

This was my perspective project. I have included where I started at the beginning so you can see my design process, if ever so slightly. My thoughts on this project, especially since it was a 'perspective', was that the Neuschwanstein castle was to be the main focal point, the inspiration and symbol, if you will, for Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella castles. They both were Disney's perspective of Neuschwanstein castle, capturing the fantastical and romantic aspects. As you can see, I included Cinderella and Prince Charming in the final. Prince Charming has already thrown a snowball at Cinderella (you can see it on her dress) and now he has another one, so she is running away. I thought this would be a cute antidote, considering that at one point the castle was used for a getaway, to relax and have fun!

Unit Alternatives Point

2010-10-25T14:53:00.004-04:00

Throughout the alternatives unit, I felt as if the cathedrals were a very important topic and focus (good cocktail party conversation!). We saw how these buildings, structures, or art pieces illustrated what was happening within the time periods there were built. Many of them, specifically the Amiens Cathedral, were designed according to the golden rule and then added to in what seemed complicated, but truly was not. Watching the animation, it seemed as if the layers of the structure just continued and continued. Just looking at the now standing structure, you would not be able to say this is how it was designed (layout wise). You would however, be able to look at it from the ground up and see exactly how it fit and worked together. It is just amazing. I feel that the design of these complex structures eluded and translated to what was happening within society. Things were starting to happen, just as the artists/architects/designers on the outskirts of the Roman towns put their own spin on it, the same thing was happening here. The designs of the structures were branching off from what the normal architecture would have looked like. The religious people were attempting to make the church beautiful to draw people in. They did not rely on just what was taught to bring in people, but were enticing people with its beauty. They were changing or altering the way people viewed the church. Several key points about that enticement are as follows: there was an upward lifting sequence transforming to infinity, flickering fragmented glimpses, and the crossing square as the organizing geometric matrix. The organizing geometric movement was seen virtually everywhere in the cathedrals, but it was also used in other buildings as well.

Basic shapes are extremely important in everything. They are so simplistic, but when they are played with and altered from the original form, can turn into something very interesting. This is true not only in the Cathedrals we saw, but in other buildings as well. The Chateau Chambord is a nice illustration of this idea. On the bottom, Roman influence in seen everywhere your eyes travel. This is pure, simplistic shapes. On the top though, what you can see from far away, shows the gothic, the newer architecture. Putting them both together though, is a statement all its own. This takes what has already been done and (here’s that word again) alters them into something that has a completely different meaning than before, when they were used originally.

Shapes continued again along with stacking at the end of this unit when we discussed the Palazzo Medici. I learned from class and outside, how this was a nice transition to the reflections unit. First of all, the home defined society and its movements quite well. The most vivid example was how there were three floors or layers to the building. Each one served a different purpose and you could tell that by the stones, the material used for the structure. The stones at the bottom were very rough, where the peddlers and servants (working class were) but as you traveled heaven wards, the stones were smoother and more refined, as were the people. This elevated process showed that refinement or alteration was on its way!

http://www.usolution.com.sg/images/thinking_out_of_the_box_3_1_01.png

I thought this picture was a great illustration of this unit. It was all about thinking out of the box, and coming up with new things to try. Designers thought of alternate ways to show something in a different light. They put a new spin on things and I know it will continue.

Reading Comprehension 4

2010-10-17T22:46:00.006-04:00

I will unfortunately not even attempt to describe the questions; just look as you will:

3. My interpretation of Girolamo Frescobaldi’s Balletto Terzo. Labeled as requested.

4. I believe that the Baroque period was a show. It was directed by wealthy people that wanted to boost their importance within social circles. Do not get me wrong, I enjoy the Baroque style, with its flamboyancy and naturalism, but it can be a little much. As Harwood states, "this time period flourishes with extravagant balls, receptions, and entertainment. Manners grew more refined in this age of great theatre, music, and opera." I bet it was fun to live in those wealthy circles and enjoy all of that wonderful entertainment, though it would have been horrible to be at the other end of the spectrum.

Reading Comprehension 5

2010-10-17T15:33:00.019-04:00

1. Picking an artifact and relating it to the evolution of design:

During the beginning of the Renaissance, architecture and design were transitioning from the Middle Ages where private spaces were sparse. This affected artifacts as well, like the candlestick. It began as purely simplistic, made out of iron, brass, and other materials, not having decorative features. It was used for light mobility purposes, since the interiors were fairly dark.

The times flowed into the Rococo experience, which is hardly considered a style phase, except towards interiors and accessories. The candlesticks definitely went with the flow of this and evolved more. These newer ones were smaller, curvilinear, and more naturalistic than those of the Baroque or Renaissance before it.

If we were to travel a few more years up the road to the present day, the candlesticks are almost obsolete. We have candles, but not to deliver light to carry around. They are more for the aroma they give off. We do have a modern day candlestick, which I think is much safer; you won’t get burned! It is the flashlight.

I believe the further you travel in time the more light is needed or wanted within the home. We have advanced our lighting fixtures to the point where we rely on electricity and things that are battery-operated. We are continuing to expound more and more on technology that soon we might do away with the candle all together. We have done so already, at least with its original intent, to provide light.

2. Choosing an artifact, a building, place and space of the Eastern 19th century and relating that to Western architecture/design.

Artifact: women's dress-

http://blog.aurorahistoryboutique.com/images/early-1800s-fashion-2.png

The fashion changed dramatically during the 19th century. At the beginning of this century, the dresses were padded, had fluff, and corsets (much like the architecture). Then they came to be about the moral beliefs at the time; being formed more to the body, but graceful and light. People were in general more open and free, not bogged down as they were before. It was influenced, some say, by nature, but was all together meant to be more visually appealing than before. It became easier for goods and ideas to travel across the sea and therefore more women were dressing like the English; they received much criticism for that. So even though we were an independent country, we still looked like the people we separated from. The women did not know where to turn for new design, so they fell back on the English way. If I would have been there, I would have done my own thing and had a completely different look and style.

Building: Monticello-

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/family-vacations-monticello.jpg

Monticello was obviously inspired by Palladio's work. The structural columns being shown relate to his style as well, but show Thomas Jefferson's interpretation of them. The whole building was Jefferson's interpretation of various designs. Since this was built over 40 years, there were many changes and different styles that came into the spotlight influenced the building's architectural details. The dome on top of the structure has been greatly influenced by Europe and the previous design styles. It is seen in many, many structures in America.

Place: Pleasant Cove, Diamond Island

http://www.tfaoi.com/musimage/port9.jpg

This port illustrates the early settler's way of life. Maybe in this area there had not been much growth and building yet. I see that there are people from every facet in life, showing that there was a wide variety that would have lived here. There is not much else to say about them, except to comment on the scale of the place and the people. This is a vast area. The people look quite small compared to the land and the trees. This is different than in England, possibly, where there were more people and crowds.

There were not too many ships coming into this port compared to those in England, at least in this image. The ships from England, come to think of it, would probably not be able to pull up to the shore. You can see that the small vessel in the background needed a paddle boat to get passengers or goods to shore. Maybe the people here didn't want this port to be huge, like the ones across seas. They might have possibly liked the small scale venue; it's less crowded. It would stay less crowded as well, if there were not ships coming and going constantly.

Space: Biltmore Estate Banquet Hall

The banquet hall is a prime example of the Americans stealing from the English. This is also right in our backyard. The furniture is done in the same style as the English, including the lavish extremes of the wood around the space. The tapestries as well were popular in England at the time. I am quite surprised though that the table is not round. I suppose it is a large table, but it seems to me that these people that came over to America and formed this new nation wanted to be treated as equals instead of lower class individuals. This table does not reflect that thinking. I think that they got away from the portraits on the walls, and instead have the animal heads. This could possibly represent the new worlds morals, everyday practice. They had to get food somehow. They did incorporate the portraits like the English with the figures along the top of the wall, I cannot tell if they were carved into the structure or a painting of sorts.

Unit Foundation Point

2010-10-06T01:29:00.005-04:00

A foundation is the most important aspect of anything that requires continual process and growth. Without one, whatever is coming next will crumble. I believe this with all my heart, which is why I tried my best to learn as much as I could with this unit, so that I could get the most out of the ensuing ones. I appreciated that we began with the definition of stacking and how that presents itself many times throughout this unit. The pyramid is full of the stacking concept. The whole structure is stacking stone upon stone. Along with that, the physical exertion of climbing to the top represents the difficulty of rising up the social ladder, a near impossibility during this time. These pyramids established the axes; horizontal and vertical. The horizontal illustrates the life cycle here on earth and the vertical axis relates to the relationship between earth and gods. During this time the Egyptians believed the earth had four corners. The gold that adorned the top of the pyramid threw the light down each of the four corners, traveling to the ends of the earth. I thought of this concept again with my Eiffel Tower project in studio. The structure is actually positioned so that the points are at each North, South, West, and East. I wonder if Gustave Eiffel pulled from this same idea (concept?) when designing the placement of the Tower. I really saw how male and female concepts were attributed to architecture this early in history. I felt that this idea was apparent wherever you turned beginning in Egypt, continuing with the Grecians and then the Romans (the wu-wu!). I am excited to learn if this is incorporated within the next centuries. We learned as well that there were three ingredients that are always included within architecture; these are a porch, court, and hearth. I have seriously debated these over the course of the last few weeks and it is true! They really are an integral part of architecture! What really astounded me when we traveled to Greece was their sense of detail. In everything they did, nothing was forgotten. Every jot and tittle were thought about and made important. Where this made an impact for me was at Athens. The Parthenon is such a significant feat. The columns here were not placed exactly the same distance apart. They had slight variations between them so that the distance looked the same when seen from the entrance into Athens. Also they were not perfectly plumb either. If they were extended above the framework of the structure, they would all meet at a point 1.5 miles above the temple stylobate. I cannot believe someone actually thought about these things and then proceeded to carry them out. Absolutely amazing. Hall states why such care exercised for this building: “…arête, for the home of the goddess required the most excellent materials and most exacting workmanship. It was done because the Greeks could do it.” He goes on to say that yes, the structure is now in ruins, but not by fault of construction. It was all to do with human calamity. Of the ten structures presented to us, included in the cities around Rome, I realized that I could not choose just one I appreciated the most because they are all integral parts of this time period. I look forward to seeing many more of the themes we learned in the following segments: stacking, male and female, elements and principles of design, three ingredients of architecture, and sense of detail.

http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/pyramids-of-giza-gzgrtpy.jpg

I feel that the Pyramids of Giza are a great representation of this unit. They are at the very beginning, first of all, and have many relations to the afore mentioned main themes within this unit.

First Project

2010-10-01T18:52:00.008-04:00

We were asked to do many things for this first project. We were given four buildings to describe and illustrate using 4 methods: 2D, 3D, a word and a paragraph. All of these were to be within the confinements of four 8 1/2 in squares. I am speaking now after I finished the project and I did not include the things I needed to at the time of turn in. That being said, the rest of the assignment was to also include within each one how people, material, symbol and nature are involved. My four structures were

The Baths of Caracalla,

Viipuri Library,

Providence Arcade,

and Bleinheim Palace.

I made a tray out of a frame and used an artifact of the Providence Arcade for the handles. The other ones definitely needed to be more creative, so the next few projects will make up for it. Here is the final...

Reading Comprehension 3

2010-10-01T11:26:00.006-04:00

[1] Look at http://www.uncg.edu/~pllucas/Gothic%20Cathedrals/website%2003.31.08/timelineNEW.html to find the questions. Great graphics!

The architect had high ambitions for Florence Cathedral. If the physical collapse of the building really meant the failure of the church as well, there was pressure to make sure this went according to plan. The people that were a part of this process wanted to see the Church and Christianity rise again. They played a vital role towards the church eventually becoming an integral part of society by continuing to design and reevaluate again and again to make the cathedrals the best. This design included commodity, firmness, and delight. Those that go to church today in huge structures want them to look pretty and be able to accommodate the needs of the congregation. As far as lessons learned, we need to make sure ten times over that our designs can withstand.

Cologne Cathedral is much like Amiens, especially to the plan and height as well as with the flying buttresses and the two towers. The one thing that is different though, is the spires that are entirely Germanic in style. This shows there is a slight variance between the two region styles. All of the similarities unite them together but the small different details make them unique. I feel that the number of towers go back to the male and female concept. With two, you walk through the middle of the towers, which could also signify insignificance while as with one, could signal importance.

The Salisbury Cathedral was able to be built however long or wide the architect wanted because there was nothing preventing it to be so. They were able to have free rein; to not have to be concerned about fitting in with the area around it. I think Amiens was stuck inside this town and it was then the designer’s problem to figure out how it would look best. Salisbury makes more of a statement and is much more regal and majestic because of its landscaping, whereas Amiens is a part of the city.

[2] This illustration from A Medieval Home Companion depicts woman at work in a medieval interior. Unfortunately, the image is closely cropped so we don’t see much of the rest of the dwelling in which she works. Using Harwood and Roth, complete the rest of the scene using words and images to demonstrate your understanding of the domestic medieval interior.

These spaces were not as grand as the cathedrals by any means. As this image shows what looks to be the kitchen, it would probably be less decorative than any other part of the home. The interior of a secular dwelling would have the following: much color, decorated with hangings on the wall, and had (if any) box-shaped furniture. There would have been a patterned stone floor, small diamond-pane casement windows, a wood beamed ceiling, and a large stone mantel. The image I am including is from Harwood and depicts a kitchen, though this one does have a good deal of furniture.

Assignment 2.0

2010-09-29T00:19:00.003-04:00

This next part to the structure project involved us diagraming even more in-depthly. I decided to branch out from the typical one page presentation. Also we were asked to make our diagrams 3D and build models. You can see my models of the diagrams underneath each.

Assignment 1.0

2010-09-29T00:00:00.003-04:00

For our project in Visual Communication, we were asked to choose a building/structure that we enjoy. I choose the Eiffel Tower. Throughout the course of the semester, we are going to explore many aspects of the structure. With the first part of this project, Travis (our teacher) asked us to use diagrams to talk about the structure. I was encouraged to divert away from the iconic triangle power statement of the Eiffel Tower.

Portfolio Showcase

2010-09-28T23:41:00.004-04:00

We were asked to showcase our talents with past work from last year. I decided to use ribbon to help your eye move through the presentation and I am challenging myself to continue that ribbon concept throughout the semester with all my projects.

Compass

2010-09-27T14:55:00.003-04:00

This was our second project in History and Theory of Design. We were to choose an artifact, space, place, or a building from the previous unit. Then we needed to decide whether it was going to be in 2D, 3D, word, or paragraph form. After those were decided, we were to then use our own interpretation of a compass to compose something that included or addressed the following: elements an principles of design, people, nature, material, and symbol. I am quite proud of how this one turned out, considering the last project. I definitely proved that I can do WAY better than before.

Scale: artifact

Form: paragraph

P.S....here is the paragraph in normal format; the 'key' if you will, to my compass maze.

Hieroglyphics (accurately hieroglyphs) are one of the most fundamental illustrations of language from the Egyptians. Some might argue that the earlier drawings seen on caves, such as in Lascaux, are the most fundamental language. Hieroglyphs, though they tell a story, actually form words or sentences from the images and are (what I think to be) the most simplistic form of writing. These images include animals, objects, or things referencing their gods. They were mostly used on papyrus (with ink made from soot, gum, bee wax, and/or plants and written with a reed brush) or on pyramids (carved, with paint). Nature played a key role in keeping this language intact. The Egyptians used natural ingredients for the ink and the writing instruments. Hieroglyphs were utilized for communicating within the society, decorating, and keeping records; we realize that these images are a symbol of the Egyptian’s lives. It allows us to be a fly on the wall and travel back many years to that time period, and learn. As far as today, this language is still amazingly around. No matter what came about in all these years past, some of these artifacts managed to survive, just for us. It shows us what their lives were like; and thanks to The Rosetta Stone it is certain we do not have a Macaulay situation on our hands. No misinterpretation here! Maybe we cannot gaze in as deeply in this society as to those in Pompeii, but it still allows us to catch a glimpse of the Egyptian people’s story.

Reading Comprehention 2

2010-09-15T15:59:00.006-04:00

[1] Hersey describes a grammar for Greek architectural elements based on the idea of sacrifice. SPECULATE about the validity of his argument based on what you know about Greek design and the evidence (both visual and written) he provides. (5 points)

I feel that Hersey is reaching to find parallels between certain things and architecture. However, the parallels he does examine are interesting. He theorizes that columns can mean the foot of the structure, and then in turn, footwork, which is what the Greeks did on the way to sacrifice (dancing). I think that is a far stretch of the imagination. There are other examples he gives as well; the flutes in the column are perceived as rod, staves, or possibly (in the same way the footwork was derived) the throat. The head of the column is stated to be the (what else?) head of the throat and feet formed below. There are decorations on the top of the column, ones that may have been worn on the head for ornamentation (picture 14). I think there might possibly be validity in what he is trying to lay out, the Greeks did think of some amazing things, but I do not know that I would go as far as making these parallels.

[2] Meant in jest, Macaulay shapes a world of the future in which the main character claims meanings for archeological evidence uncovered at the Motel of the Mysteries. EXTRACT what you believe to be the lesson of mis-interpreting evidence and link that lesson to the real world phenomenon of the internet. In other words, EXPLAIN how you might avoid such a blunder as mis-reading evidence when you use the web as your major information source. (5 points)

Misinterpreting evidence can cause people to believe something that is not true. If that is all we have to go on, then we really have to get down to the nitty-gritty facts of the matter to discern what is right. The problem with that as well is that everyone has different interpretations. So, especially with the internet, we have to research and research some more until we come up with the best possible answer. We should not rely on only one source to tell us, yes, this is right. If we are just using the internet as the primary source then we should travel to multiple sights and find the common agreements. But it would definitely be best to utilize books as well. Like you said in class today, books have been looked at and edited over and over again to make sure they are accurate. They are most definitely the better source for correct information.

[3] The funerary temple design of Queen Hatshepsut speaks a very different design language than the pyramidal forms for other pharaohs. From your readings and the ideas addressed in class, RECOUNT possible reasons why Queen Hatshepsut used this building form. (5 points)

There are definite differences between Hatshepsut’s temple and the Pharaohs pyramids. First of all, the pyramids are extremely tall. Like in class, we learned that they are a statement in the middle of this flat desert. They stand out of the landscape with much contrast unlike Hatshepsut’s. Hers fits into the landscape. It is a representation of how the women were looked upon during this society. They are more of a pretty picture with not so much importance. I think Hatshepsut chose this design because she wanted to be different than the other Pharaohs before her. It provides a different statement than the giant, powerful pyramids. It is more graceful and elegant than the pyramids. Roth talks about the temple showing more of a decorative exterior (delicate faceted columns, porches, myrrh tree garden), with more of a woman’s touch than the more masculine pyramids. The temple was also an earthly paradise for Amon. The flat design of the temple could be because Queen was already, possibly subconsciously, level with the Gods. She didn’t have to reach as high as the Pharaohs. Also the stairs are believed to be a symbol of climbing the social ladder of power. It represented women in this culture and Hatshepsut’s aid to them becoming slightly more important.

[4] Although some evidence suggests links between the Egyptian and Greek civilizations, and some building forms and details provide support for that linkage, the two societies produced design responses in great contrast to one another. Select a building type (house, tomb, or temple) from each culture and ELUCIDATE similarities and differences in the two forms over time. Provide an annotated illustration for each selected type. (5 points)

These two forms are quite important to each civilization. They both have columns as the main support, but the design is different and their purpose varies slightly. The Hypostyle Hall was built for the purpose of the high priests and the religious experience received as they walk through the structure. The columns are many and placed close together. The Parthenon on the other hand, is for the worship of Athena. There is a huge statue of her at the end of the room. That means there is a colonnade here (as well as a row outside) to provide that view of her. In the Hypostyle Hall, there is not a statue as the focal point, so this design is not needed.

http://history.memphis.edu/hypostyle/images/hypostyle_karnak_35.jpg

http://www.hotelbackpacker.com/images/parthenon.jpg

[5] Harwood shows examples of Egyptian furniture on pp. 60-61. HYPOTHESIZE about the lightweight nature of Egyptian furniture when compared to tomb architecture, as at the Pyramids of Giza, which many characterize as massive and heavy. (5 points)

Considering that the furniture and pyramid design languages are so completely different from each other, I think that there needed to be that contrast of heavy and light. If you were to utilize the pair of understanding of unit to whole, there would need to be a contrast. If heavy (pyramids) and heavy (furniture) were to be together it would be too much. The same at the other end of the spectrum; light and light would be lacking something. It is just the right amount of contrast between the two styles. Also, I see that there is not as much decorative features on the furniture as there is on the pyramids; for the exception of the throne of Tutankhamen. I suppose they thought that the actual architecture was much more important than the furniture that goes within.

[6] Based on a careful reading of the visual evidence in these two images, DRAW OUT an explanation of design and gender roles as you see both depicted. As this language of urns represents essentially one of the main ways we know about Grecian culture, COMMENT on the validity of such a practice of reading evidence. (5 points)

There are two concepts I get from these urns. One, I see the man in the picture depicted as being waited on, sitting down and resting while the women is standing. He is lounging in his comfortable chair. This shows the men’s relationship to the women as being much more important. Also, the artifacts the men are holding are angled upward, while the women is holding gentler, flowing, circular objects and reaching to touch his. This is definitely referring to sexuality between the two (three in the second urn). I do not believe this is the only ‘fact’ you could go on to tell about society between genders in that time. If it was literally the only artifact in existence from that time, I think it would be safe to say you could come to these conclusions. But it would be best to research the other objects we are blessed to have in our presence to truly come forth with a valid meaning.

http://knowledgebox.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/greekurn.jpg

http://www.treehugger.com/cornucopia-greek-urn-photo.jpg

Unit Theory Point

2010-09-08T00:14:00.002-04:00

During this first theories unit, there were many fascinating ideas presented. I loved that we began with the definition of architecture, and exactly why it was the ‘unavoidable art’. I learned that there were numerous interpretations of that specific definition. Comparing building to architecture was quite thought provoking. It is an interesting concept to think that there are significant differences between the two. One of the most important topics (I think) covered in Judith’s class was touched on in class as well: how the architecture world has the past constantly on its back (like the nautilus), drawing from the history to gain inspiration.

http://www.bmyersphoto.com/BWXRAY/animals2.html

I appreciated how we separated that theory into three parts; containing integrated and finished interiors, continuing same use in existing structure, and changing use in existing structure. Now I have a foundation for looking, really looking, at all architecture and buildings (along with commodity, firmness, and delight; can’t forget about those!). Even that foundational concept was further expounded on during class with the ‘pairs of understanding’, as I like to call them. I will probably rely on these pairs to help guide my looking process towards architecture. I have actually utilized these words since class began in August. They have been applied to studio (the projects we have) and towards my two general classes as well. I found the readings so far this semester, not just in this class, have somehow related to each other. I have to continually remind myself which class the reading is specific to. In English I read about the same concepts Hall had written about; how “man has shifted evolution from his body to his extensions” and how man’s use of space is interrelated to his culture. I love that all of my classes are slowly mixing together. It makes me feel (in my general classes) that they actually mean something and I will be able to use this information in the next few years to come; I am not simply just regurgitating it through class and forgetting after it is over. This inspires me in a way and gears me towards being quite enthusiastic about my classes. Another subject included in this unit was the design cycle. This was interesting to learn about and can definitely be applied to various subjects. While watching a TV show, someone talked about clothes and how the mom had been alive so long her younger clothes were coming back into style. The design cycle! Like I said before, these facts are so absorbing; I really want to find out more. One more subject we covered that I found fascinating was the Stonehenge. All of those theories you shared with us were fantastic and extremely thought provoking. I came home and talked to my roommate about it for about half an hour. These ‘ways of looking’ truly have us thinking differently about the world; why is this the way it is and what does that tell us about those people at that point and time? You really have to use your thinking cap, going back to kindergarten for a moment, to experience all these ideas and to (in the end) gain so many new ones. I value this quote now, “You can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been.” This is a quote that I believe summaries fairly well what this class will continue to expound on throughout the next few months. Cannot wait to learn about the pyramids in Egypt!

Reading Comprehension 1

2010-09-01T01:40:00.013-04:00

[1] Select an object or a building from any time period that you believe meets Wotton’s definition (as cribbed from Vitruvius) of commodity, firmness, and delight. With an annotated image, take care to EXPLAIN the ways in which you see the definition realized through the object or building. Use design language and concepts discussed in class for dealing with precedents.

I believe that the Sydney Opera House meets all of these concepts. Commodity is right in the name. It houses Operas as well as other performances. The repetitive and unique design of the exterior relates to the acoustical abilities of the building. The structure of the building is strong, with a series of tensioned steel cables holding the shape of the shell which is comprised of many Swedish tiles. It has been standing now for forty years, which says much about the way it was built. It has withstood many environmental situations and hopefully will continue to do so. As faras delight goes, the gesture of the curves communicate gracefulness and are seen as a symbol of Australia. The light here, whether it be artificial or natural, it brings even more depth towards the whole effect of the structure. Being adjacent to the water, the Opera House's location adds even more to its beauty. Reflections coordinate with the lighting and the curvature of the structure provide a stunning effect as well. Overall, I do believe this structure meets commodity, firmness, and delight.

http://oursurprisingworld.com/category/australia/http://www.textiledesigning.org/textile20design2000079.jpg

[2] Working from Harwood et al’s concept of cultural precedents, select one of the contemporary textiles illustrated above and PINPOINT the influences you see from the eastern world on the production of fabric in the west. Concentrate on motifs and patterns provided in Harwood’s text.

In the Eastern world, motifs are used for symbolism. For this case, in the Western fabric shown, the chrysanthemums are referring to long life. You can tell there is a definite cultural precedent here, but it has been slightly manipulated to become new and fresh. You can also point out that elements of Feng Shui are being represented here: the blue showing water and the flowers showing the earth, which lends itself even more to the Eastern world philosophy of achieving harmony. This pattern does not form contrast, it is geared toward balance because water and earth go together nicely opposed to fire and water.

http://allfreed.ru/uploads/posts/1111/13071208612479_495009.jpg

[3] When considering perceptions of personal and social space, Hall and others suggest that different cultures have different space needs and attitudes. Most consider that citizens of the U.S. generally feel a need for more space. How does this play out in the classroom in which we gather for iar222?

We know that Ferguson was built in the late 60s - early 70s. Back then the culture was extremely different than today. People were okay with being close to one another. Those were the hippy days; it was all about spreading the love and peace. However, in our day and time, our personal spaces, or bubbles if you will, are slightly larger than those of the ‘hippies’. We actually have significantly larger bubbles. Therefore the space where we meet does not truly accommodate our bubble size, that of the 21^st century. The seats are a bit too close for comfort. You really have to want to know your neighbor, because at some point you will touch them (of no fault of your own), whether you like it or not.

[4] SPECULATE about whether or not there can be an architecture of happiness, as de Botton writes in the work by the same title. Provide a juicy quote that helps give evidence to your views from the passage that you read. Include an annotated image of a happy object, space, building, or place and specify WHY and HOW your example exudes happiness

I believe that there is an architecture of happiness; just not one particular thing for everyone. Within Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students, Ed Sharon Crowley implies that your identity is comprised of your opinion and ideologies which are influenced by your community. People all around the world have different cultures and lifestyles, which means ultimately they will have different views of ‘happiness’. As Botton does not allude to this concept, I will utilize a quote that provides the opposite side of my argument. Botton states that “Even when we have attained our goals, our buildings have a grievous tendency to fall apart again with precipitate speed. It can be hard to walk into a freshly decorated house without feeling pre-emptively sad at the decay and impatiently waiting to begin: how soon the walls will crack, the white cupboards will yellow, and the carpets stain.” I have never been to a place and said, “It’s gorgeous but it will be broken down and ugly in a few years.” That is negative thinking. Life would be so immeasurably dull and depressing if that was the case. I would not want to live that horrible life. This is just my opinion though. The people that Button mention, the religious figures that locked themselves away or would not look at the beauty around them had those beliefs. Their community helped to form those opinions which led to the cementing of their ideologies. They would have looked at that freshly decorated house and thought the same things Button mentioned. This is one room for me that exudes happiness. The overall feel in this room is comfort and richness. The lavish textures along with the warm neutral coloring truly bring peace to my mind and soul. The light is not harsh here; it has a soft glow that aids with the mood. That is what makes me happy; feeling comfortable in my surroundings.

http://clssic-furniturestore.blogspot.com/2010/01/modern-design-decorating-bedrooms-ideas.html

Real Life

2010-05-04T02:09:00.005-04:00

This was from a long time ago...When, in Suzanne's class, we drew moments of this building that was assigned to us. But, we wern't just drawing them, we were to pick 5 different artists and try to mimic their style with our sketches to. Well, I have to admit I did not do a very nice job on some of them. BUT I learned what wasn't my style. I learned that I really like drawing with a smooth, soft pencil and being able to smudge the lines. I have below the 5 of the artists' drawings and 5 of mine. I labeled them so you could tell which is which (though you probably can tell already)!

Michael Newberry

Mine!

Samantha Zaza

Mine!

Barbara Weeks

Mine!

James Hobbs
Mine!

Kurt D. Hollomon

Mine! And my favorite out of all of them!

Process of Studio Design

2010-04-30T16:59:00.024-04:00

We had a major project that lasted a month I think? The class was split up and one half got assigned the loading dock on the ground floor and the other the administrative office on the first floor. I got the latter. Our assignment was to redesign the space for a designer/artist/ photographer/sculpter etc... We were to include a studio space, sleeping area, bathroom, and a food prep area. So we started out by taking measurements of the space and making a plan and section elevations. This is the model of the space.

This is my granite for the countertops.

These are my swatches that I was contemplating for the space...

And these are the ones I choose. The Water Hyscinth is more purple than it looks here; but it definitely has blue undertones. The wood is what I used for the flooring.

My precedents are as follows: Candice Olson as my client, the desks for storage and possible meetings of her clients, the 'circle kitchen', and a purple flower towards the purple in my space and the painting of the flower in my bedroom.

Here is half of my board with the plan and my section elevations.

These are the first perspectives I drew of the space. The other later ones are so much better than these. But these are sketchy drawings.

These are the 3D plans from sketchup, with some changes. I included these because I think it helps to understand the flow of the space better than a perspective that is more like just a snapshot.The rest are perspectives. The first of each pair (which I will number) are the first drawings of the space. I then updated and rendered the next one for my final drawing.

1a.1b. This one is my favorite!!! 2a. 2b. 3a. 3b. 4a. 4b.

5a. 5b. 6a.6b. And this is my final board!!!

In Living Color

2010-04-30T16:12:00.009-04:00

In Suzanne's class a few weeks back, we were first asked to draw a 12ftx36ft space including a living area, dining area and kitchen. We constructed a graph to actually trace the space onto and then use a different media on a 4th of the drawing. So I started (on the left) with colored pencil on bond paper. Then I used marker on charcoal paper. The third one is watercolors on watercolor paper. Then the last one is marker and colored pencil on normal printer paper.

After the first one, we received feedback on them and then were told to get someone else's and make it better. use basically the same space, get inspired by something of the other person's work, and design. I had Michelle's space and She had a picture of the flower on the wall beside the dinning room but I wanted it on the whole wall as a focal point. This is my rendition!

And here is everybody's!

Clue Seven

2010-04-29T09:59:00.014-04:00

After morphing it, in this clue we render the drawing. I used red colored pencil. I started out by using the stippling method, but it wasn't turning out very well so I changed to using longer strokes and shadowing by pressing harder or lighter on the paper.

Clue Six

2010-04-29T09:59:00.013-04:00

The next clue is to redesign the car. We lay paper over the top of the original drawing and morph it into something new and exciting. We need to include atmoshphere and a scale figure! I did a futuristic scene. This before I inked the drawing and gave it a more polished look.

Clue Five

2010-04-29T09:59:00.011-04:00

In this clue, we just need to pick a car, any car, and draw it. Pretty simple huh? I picked a 69 Mustang Convertible; an oldie but goodie!

Clue Four: Changing Colors

2010-04-27T11:27:00.008-04:00

This clue required us to choose no more than 4 colors (neutrals like black do not count) and use them within the space. We were supposed to pay attention to light and shadow. My favorite of these three is the first one. I think the colors work the best here. I think I should get more markers. Mine are slowly starting to fade and I can't use them when that happens.

Clue Three: Weaving it Together

2010-04-27T11:26:00.002-04:00

This clue asked us to pick three of our favorite thumbnails and use incorporate them into a reading nook. We could use them as inspiration for arcitectual details, textile patterns, or wall coverings. Can you see how I incorporated each one to the reading nook?

Clue Two: Processing Patterns

2010-04-27T11:25:00.003-04:00

Clue number two had us go back to first semester where we did the sticks and cellphone project. We choose and object and drew (at the least) 25 thumbnails from it. Next clue we are expounding on that.

Clue Number One: Storytelling in Perspective

2010-04-21T23:28:00.004-04:00

So for our final project in Suzanne's class, we are doing a sketching scavenger hunt! I am excited to do these, especially since she is giving us class time to work and possibly finish them. That gives me time to work on my other project for Studio, which is taking up every second of time I have. But these are the first two sketches for clue one. We were asked to find 2 places on campus that meant something to us in some way and then tell the story, by the picture first and then supplementing that with words. There are some good points of these sketches, but I could probably do better if I could give my full attention to it.....more to come in a few days!

First Design

2010-04-16T20:15:00.004-04:00

We were asked to simply design an open space with a dining, living, and kitchen area. The fist drawing above is the first space I designed. Then, the second part of the project was to take someone elses design, receive inspiration from it in some way, and then design their room again, better than before. Of the second two, the first is the beginning of the second one, which is the final design. I had alot of fun working with markers in this drawing. This is my first big attempt at markers, but I am proud of it!

Field Trip!

2010-04-16T08:05:00.007-04:00

This past weekend our class went to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water. It was a great trip to learn about these vastly different men, and how they both captured something within their designs that still holds them, to this day, to be proclaimed as two of the greatest architects of all time. You can tell from the photos that the styles are quite different from each other. Jefferson continued to look back to the past, drawing inspiration from classical language, while Wright stood out from the pack and designed something completely new and inovative, focusing on nature.

Inspiration Styles

2010-03-01T19:23:00.008-05:00

Continuing with our thumbnails from the previous post, I looked up 5 different artist's work to inspire and imitate within my own sketches. The first 5 here are other artist's work. The second 5 are my own renditions of their work, just manipulated to the sketches of the education building that I was asked to do. I am looking forward to trying out new styles for this assignment. I do not have my own style, persay, and since I am in the beginning stages of drawing, I can continue to work with different styles until I find my own.
The other artist's are as follows...
1. Samantha Zaza
2. Kurt D. Hollomon
3. Keelung
4. Barbara Weeks
5. James Hobbs .............thank you to them!

Thumbnails

2010-02-25T10:38:00.004-05:00

For this assignment, we were asked to sketch 12 thumbnail sketches of moments in the Curry Educational Building. Here are my sketches!

Window Project

2010-02-19T00:40:00.005-05:00

This project was huge! It took up the whole East side of the studio building and we used basically every window on that wall. We were asked to build something capturing 2 moments of light. As well as designing for our own window, we needed to keep in mind our neighbors. I think we did well as a whole. I did pretty well to, I think. I had something else going on at the beginning, but then made it better as I went along in the process. My inspiration was the Stoa. I really enjoyed the angles made by the light that came through the columns, and I wanted to replicate that. On the sides of mine (to further incorporate my individual design with the others around me), I used bond paper with cut outs to coordinate with Audra's (the diagonal) lines. I think that all of ours can make an impact on their own, but then also work together. We were asked to do a sketchup model for this project to, and I am slowly finishing. Since this is my first time using the program, I am going to need more help than I thought. The first is the physical project. The second is my first few hours attempt. And the third is my final product on sketchup.

Wearable Watercolors

2010-01-28T13:26:00.002-05:00

For this assignment, we drew three vignettes using water color and one using both water color and a colored pencil. The vignettes were to include one accessory along with its immediate context. I choose my grandma's necklace, my sunglasses, and Michelle's scarf. I like the similarities between either side of the pages; how they each have accessories around the neck and then are pulled together with the red glasses.

2 Page Spread

2010-01-27T20:19:00.007-05:00

Our second drawing project was to find a 2 page spread for inspiration in a magazine and then make our own rendition of it. Here is my final product. It was not supposed to be an exact replica, we were just taking the same layout and contributing 'first week back at school' things. As you can see, the original layout had grass on the left hand side and then it repeated itself in the lettering of 'hello' on the opposite side. That's what I did as well with the words from the left being transferred to my name on the right. The other things in the layout are fairly self-explanatory.

I think the main point of this assignment was to see the layout, or compostion, in an already printed format. Also, how it works in the context of the magazine. We talked about how Vogue, for example, would have a completely different style compared to Architectural Digest. For me, Vogue is more my style. Somewhat relaxed but then also classy a some points.

2 Page Important Objects

2010-01-27T20:17:00.001-05:00

For our first drawing project, we were told first of all, to choose 5 artifacts that have importance to us. We then 'memorialized' them using a black pen and one colored pencil. We were encouraged to use words and drawings. Our main focus this semester is composition and context, so that was definitely important to incorporate it in our spread.

The New Semester

2010-01-27T19:54:00.003-05:00

The start of a new semester! We got right into it again and we started working with watercolors. I was really excited to start! I had seen the second year's drawings with water color added and it just really adds to the drawing or sketch. This was my first go at it and I am happily suprised

that it turned out they way it did. I am proud of my first attempt...what do you think?

Project #6 cont.

2009-11-29T23:41:00.007-05:00

The first few photos here are my final luminare. The first one is in natural light, the second in complete darkness, and the third is the closeup of the projected light.

Here is the process of my project. As you can see, I started out with a somewhat wider cube and it was quite flimsy. I eventually get to a longer, thinner, and much sturdier container for the bulb. These are my materials I used when working on the presentation board.

Beginning stages of my presentation board, along with my sketch paper.

The final! This is how my final luminare is supposed to be seen, from below.

As I was working on this project, I had to experiment with the cutouts on the end. The first one I used (bottom left-hand corner) did not work the way I expected, so back to the drawing board. I used all of these, going back and forth with them, closer to the light and further away to see the difference. I finally achieved success when I realized that I needed to be using the 'negative' of the cut out I made, not the 'positive'. That was the best moment during my project process.

This is my final presentation board. After having this suggested to me, I added more contrast with the white and it turned out much better than before.

Project #6 Luminescence

2009-11-19T17:27:00.003-05:00

This is my beginning steps of this project. The first page is my idea sheet when we first started talking about it. The second is the cut out I have on the bottom of my box, which I will post soon.

Morning exercise- sketch models

2009-11-10T18:43:00.006-05:00

Today's morning exercise was to practice drawing sketch models. I thought I would post this because I was very proud of the way they turned out, it only being the start of my sketch models. Drawing, especially drawing people, is not one of my strengths. But this morning Suzanne broke the process down, which really helped me. This is just the start, but I can see some improvement from the first sketch to the last. I started in the left hand corner going across and then the bottom left. My favorite are the two on the bottom. :)

Sticks and Cell Phones

2009-11-10T17:42:00.003-05:00

These are photos from about a month ago. We drew so many, many, many mini sketches of a tree branch (of our choosing) and of our cell phones really focusing on contrast. Throughout 300 some sketches, we slowly combined various aspects and details from each to eventually come up with four final drawings (which looked absolutely nothing like a stick or cell phone!). I have posted here my 8 drawings, final four drawings, and then my four models. The drawings I outlined in red so you could distinguish between mine and the others. All of the drawings were black and white (great contrast), which looked absolutely awesome when displayed. On the table, you will notice, are models. Everyone made four, inspired by our final four drawings. They turned out quite interesting. When we had our discussion in class, we choose a model, sketched it, analysed it, and then tried to find the inspiration drawing. Some people actually found the inspiration one, out of all of the drawings pinned up! In case you were wondering, my teacher, Suzanne, is the woman in the one picture. This was an extremely long, drawn out process, but at the end of it all, I learned to really look and see the details of the most common things.

Project #5 Understanding Dialog

2009-11-02T17:06:00.005-05:00

We are still using the 12 skewers and bristol. Tommy says we will soon leave these materials behind, and I'm glad. It has been good learning about these materials though, how to work with them, manipulating in some cases or using the structure they have already. During this project we also learned much about spaces, particularly two spaces, and their dialog. My first concept was 3D and 2D, thinking about an entertainment center and an ottoman, respectfully. But, this sketch model did not convey the use of two spaces very well. Sooooo. I tweaked my idea to form a new strategy, and ideally, a new concept. My new one shows two spaces, clearly defined. It shows destruction, yet structure. You can almost see it as once a complete, sound structure and then it somehow lost that and is caught in the process of decay. It is our class' turn to have our work displayed in the lobby of our building. Our instructors encouraged us to make sure we had extremely nice craft, since it will be displayed. I believe in this all the time, I mean I want my work to look good. But this time I worked even more carefully.

Sketch model

Final (after 2weeks)

Project #4 Unity

2009-11-02T16:15:00.011-05:00

Okay, so I have not posted anything in such a long time! Sorry for that. Our past project was to make anything from 12 skewers and 12 4x6 pieces of bristol board. This is my final along with the collage and presentation board. My concept was inspired by the sun, as you might be able to tell from my collage/parti. The skewers coincide with rays of the sun. As for my construction, I crumpled the bristol and poked it through the skewers. That was quite difficult since (if you have ever worked with bristol you know) bristol is a fairly heavy type of paper. Not easy to fold. But, I did accomplish what I wanted to do, so success! The only glue I used was on the skewers on the base to help with stabilization. Speaking of the base, I crumpled that paper as well, to relate to the sphere above. My presentation board speaks for itself, I think. But, I will explain some if not. The drawings I did myself, full scale. They are in this order starting with the big sketches clockwise: top view, front view, and left view. The smaller drawing in the left hand corner is a perspective view of my project. I chose to have this certain font with the letters close together because I believe it adds to the unity concept. I do have a sketch model from the beginning of this project. I will post that soon!

Scale Figures

2009-10-15T08:26:00.007-04:00

Our assignment this week was to draw 5 interior spaces involving people. These are the product of that exercise.

Project #3 continuing

2009-10-06T17:52:00.005-04:00

In continuation of our last project, we had to draw out different angles of our cube and present it in any way we saw fit. This was my presentaion board, and a photo of when I was working on it as well.

Leaf sketches

2009-09-29T08:29:00.009-04:00

This week I sketched five leaves four different ways.
1. Countour
2. Blind Contour
3. Shadow
4. Negative Space