Quick Responce

While going back to my first initial Blog I realized I had asked myself a few questions to explore. In a quick response this is what I have gathered:

What is Design?

Design is every thing from the tooth brush we use in the morning to the computer we use to write our blogs. To be a design we must think about the consumer and their needs and connections to objects. It is our goal to create a pleasing experience with each object for the consumer, even if they are not aware of it.

How does it influence us?

Certain designs make everyday tasks possible minimizing frustration, time, and accidental hazards. Good design provides consumers with objects that are used daily creating pleasant experiences when used.

What do we mean when we say Design in Society?

In society we cherish ordinary objects but only because they have a story provided with them. Every object has a purpose and it is up to the consumer to decide if they need certain objects in their life.

Design is impossible to avoid it is every where we look, every where we go, and involved in every thing we do. To be a designer we must think about the consumer putting ourselves in their position. Our process of creating an object is as important as the product. Susan Verba explains that when designing one must “sponge, filter, and voice.” By taking in every experience and situation we are soaking up all options then must determine which ideas are most logical and finally finding ourselves with what we believe is the way of designing. Design is not only the whole design but it also the parts that how each part is put together to create a whole.

Image for my Design 1 class we had to create an image that influenced biking education.

Junk Yard Building- Dan Phillips

There can be a lot learned from Dan Phillips a man who has started his own construction business. But these are no ordinary construction sites. By utilizing materials from other locations rather than hardwood stores Phillips has been able to create a new approach to design. He finds his materials from other construction sites, junk yards and even the side of the road. Because Phillips finds certain materials using them to his advantage, the costs of his projects are much lower. Although some may think that finding martial’s in junkyards to build a home out of may seem junky and filthy Phillips creates new and interesting ways to incorporate this so called junk.

As our landfills grow larger in size each year it is becoming a bigger problem of where to put all the waste created by our society. The materials Phillips uses ranges from wine corks which are used to create floors to bones made into furniture. By using material that are no longer used for there intended purpose brings us to discover unique ways of taking certain objects and using them for a more sustainable purpose.

Along with using corks and bones Phillips creates interesting designs and patterns with the materials he finds. An example of this is in one of his houses that when we look up at the ceiling we see a zigzag pattern that has been created out of picture frame corners across the whole ceiling. Also Phillips uses mismatched bricks, tiles, license plates, glass platters, and mirrors as other materials within the houses construction. Because certain materials are hard to come by in large quantity Phillips takes advantage of representing imperfection, manufacturing it as perfection.

Although one might think that these houses are not safe or reliable they are wrong. Because people live in these houses each home must pass all building codes, meeting all the standards and requirements of suitable living. Another interesting aspect of Phillips house is that to be able to live in one of these homes you must be low income and help build and design the house. By doing this Phillip is making the consumer the designer allowing them to be part of the design process generating a better connection with the final product.

While Phillips cannot change the building industry over night he is doing his part to clean up others unneeded materials, using them to create master pieces and homes for those in need. By using out of the ordinary sort of materials we can look to Phillips for inspiration.

If you are interested in how to get started on a project such as Dan Phillips here are some way to help.

http://phoenixcommotion.blogspot.com/

Article on Dan Phillips by the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/03/garden/03recycle.html

Material objects

What is it that gets us so excited about material objects such as cars, furniture, and even snowboards. As consumers we look at whats new, fashionable, and trendy but we take for granted the intent of the object. For the most part its all about style and how our objects make us look and how others view us on what we own.

While waiting 10 long days it finally came, my brand new 2010 snowboard. Although this might not be as exciting and joyful to some people, to us mountain breathing, tree hugging, powder hounds its one of the best feelings ever to receive a new snow toy. However it is not that simple to just go out and buy a snowboard, there is alot of informational material and understanding of technology that goes into purchasing the perfect board.

Because brand names such as Burton, Ride, Rome, K2, and many others all offer multiple types of boards it is very difficult to know where to start looking. While riding under the chairlift looking up it is easy to get a feel for what is the most popular brand. After the brand has been chose the decision making is not over, that was only the first step. Now its is time to select what kind of riding is gonna be happening, downhill, jumps, rails, and/or powder. All of these different types of riding are taken into reason when creating each and every board.

While some people only look at the detail and artwork on the board, there is much more that must be considered such as flexibility, length, pop, and many other aspects of riding. Because every rider is different it is important to understand the technology of the design of the board, not only the art work on the surface.

High Renaissance Ideals

During the High Renaissance art leaned towards the direction of neo-Platonism. Neo-Platonists believed that philosophy and Christian belief were of the same on a higher level. Along with the up rise of Neo-Platonism, ideals of calmness, order, and rationality develop into an expression throughout the course of the High Renaissance. Such ideals are expressed in, School of Athens, by Raphael. Raphael’s knowledge of human powers appears evident in his painting.

Through Raphael’s expression of calmness his panting portrays a realistic impression. While examining the painting a sense of relaxed emotion is represented throughout the characters. Raphael’s illustration creates an organized calmness through the mind. By having small groups of people gathering together creates a feeling of collaboration through the conversations being held by the characters. By having little commotion we are able to see the thought behind each individual expression and motions. For example on the right side of the painting we see a group of people gathered around a man presenting an idea to the rest of the group. The expressions of the group members are ever so lightly articulated but we see that they are not in question rather they are expressing a deeper contemplation of their understanding to the subject matter. By using such composures of a natural mind expressing calmness emphasized the true thought behind the characters reactions. Although the painting represents separate sides we see them evenly expressing the same ideals, understanding the reason between both.

As a result of his exploration through order Raphael expresses a division of neo-Platonism in his painting. Through his use of symmetry and proportion, Raphael produces a balanced representation of Plato’s and Aristotle’s theories. While analyzing the image we see that the painting is symmetrically divided, representing the two theories on one side or the other. On the left side Raphael illustrate Plato among other peers who fallow his theory of a high realm. The meaning of high realm in a way is said to be that god is the creator of man; he is the base on all knowledge. Where as on the right side standing next to Plato is Aristotle. While Plato’s half demonstrates Christen belief, the side with Aristotle represents his theory of the real world through observation and experience. His ideas are based off of math being the base of all knowledge. Although the two sides are proportionally equal they use a sense of geometry and comparative balance creating a practical relation between neo-Platonism. This is shown by having each follower of the two philosophers on each side of the painting that which they practice. By dividing the groups Raphael used practical arrangements to produce an importance of order throughout his painting.

Another ideal Raphael represented in school of Athens was rationality. Although Raphael painted the building in the background before it was complete, the overall scale is a close resemblance once built. The use of liner perspective to calculate the measurements was a geometric device used to accurately generate an image of practicality. For instance the building is of much larger scare compared to the characters that occupy the ground levels. In real life the ceiling is around 40 ft tall, Raphael’s art piece embodies this. Many other characterizations in the building portray proportional numerical geometry. This is demonstrated in the arches repeated with hexagons suppressed in the material to create a pattern and use of geometric shape. By using mathematical measurements to create space Raphael’s ideals of rationality are established in his painting creating a real life experience, and a technique for others to fallow and improve.

Raphael is known well for his works done in the high renaissance era. He demonstrated an ability of realism by bringing forward ideals into his art such as explained. The painting School of Athens, is a masterpiece that helped shape the understanding of human emotion and natural world.

Experience Design

Although we all wish we could live in a Utopia it is unrealistic. However as designers we must think about how our actions influence the way we live in the present as well as how our designs will influence the future. During a presentation by Nathan Shedroff at UC Davis on November 18^th 2009 he informed the audience about sustainability. By introducing sustainability into the way we think about design Shedroff asked the question, “What is sustainable design?” While thinking about his question it became apparent that there is no such thing, nothing last forever and we want new and innovative objects constantly. But as Shedroff kept going he purposed three questions for us as designers to think about, for the rest of our lives.

What is a more sustainable world look like?

What is a more meaningful world look like?
What is a post-consumer world look like?

To answer these questions completely and fully is impossible because they have no one solution or answer. However by being the generation’s next designers we can think about these questions gearing our design toward them, improving the future as well as giving people what they want in the present. Another influential and realistic solution Shedroff brought up was to use our everyday experiences to connect to the consumer creating useful designs. By doing this we as designers can help restore values, making the world a more realistic utopia. As materials build up in landfills creating waste and pollution, the four R’s, recycle, reduce, reuse and rethink become a large part of the design process. By gearing our brainstorming towards these themes we can generate a sense of sustainability bettering our world and the way we live in it.

Nathan Shedroff has written three books on experiencing design. His influence in the design world has been notably recognized and is worth learning and discussing about. On his web page he states, "The most important concept to grasp is that all experiences are important and that we can learn from them whether they are traditional, physical, offline experiences or whether they are digital, online, or other technological experiences." By traveling around teaching his thoughts to others is helping us as designers find our own inspiration gearing us towards a better future. Thank you Nathan Shedroff for speaking at UC Davis design program.

(http://www.nathan.com)

Use+Design=Objectified

The film Objectified directed by Gary Hustwit is a documentary based on the design and use of everyday objects. While viewing the film they discussed about standardization and how things are created to conform to everyday life. A question that was presented stated, “How can we design a better experience?” As designers our goal is to improve the experience for the consumer, allowing a pleasant reaction to the object

without even knowing it. Since it is important to understand the needs and wants through experimenting ourselves, it is a necessity to understand how certain objects influence our daily routines. For instance in an inf o com mercial I saw the other day was a tooth paste dispenser (right) that allowed you to only have to place your brush in the slot and the perfect amount of tooth paste would be applied to the brush. Because this device creates a hands free sensation it generates a delightful and less tedious experience with putting the tooth paste cap back on and applying the paste to the brush. By designing objects like these designers are thinking about the consumes needs, simplifying and improving everyday task.

Along with relating to the consumer and their needs we are informed in the film that our objects mean so much to use because they have a story behind them. If we did not have a connection to our object we would not care about how things work, making things easier or being comfortable. As designers we do not only create the form of an object but we design them to benefit our every day needs. By creating things that become better with time and use, consumers constantly refer to specific objects generating a standard in everyday life. As we think about the objects that we could not live without it is easy to see the impact design has on our society and how we revolve around them.

Color Schemes

Because we do not see in black and white, our perception of the world is based on various color schemes. While the basic color wheel begins with the three primary hues of red, yellow, and blue, others are generated through the mixture of certain color combination's. Along with a wide range of different colors the concept of contrast and value can be applied to manufacture difference in tones and shades of hues.



For instance in the picture to the left there is not a great deal of variety in color but instead, a distinct range of value within two colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. While applying and integrating colors that are closely related in hues and are adjacent to each other on the color wheel, we understand that the color scheme is analogous. By only being able to select two hues, for instance blue and purple our range of colors is limited. Because this creates restrictions within mixing we apply black and white, generating further options. While looking at the painting we can see the difference in values that were created by adding small amount of black and white to certain mixtures created by mixing the blue and purple together. Along with generating multiple varieties in hues, tones and values, the placement of these colors creates a vivid composition. By placing lighter tones next to darker ones creates depth within the artwork, allowing lighter colors to move toward to the surface and suppressing darker tones to the back. Since certain hues relate to emotion artist use analogous colors to express feelings through certain color schemes.

By mixing the three primaries together in different amounts neutralizing the intensity of the hues we create tertiary colors. Through using red, yellow and blue mixed together our hues become more natural connecting more to the environment and our surroundings. In the art piece to the right we can see that the hues on the color wheel are not present. But we can still acquaint these new colors with the originals through the percentage of how much is mixed into each color. Along with perceiving original colors within the tertiary colors we can see the use of complimentary colors reacting with each other. Even though we have neutralized the hues into colors such as midnight blue and rustic orange by combine them creates a pleasing contrast within the composition. Because warmer colors such as reds, yellows and oranges are brighter they become more presentable, standing out against the cooler tones such as blue, green and purple. Since tertiary colors resemble nature many artist utilize this color scheme creating landscape and environmental artworks.

Art work by me: Holly Hathaway, Spring 2009 Color Theory

Snuggies for All

As most of us have seen the Snuggie commercials on TV and their ridiculousness in presentation, there are certain overbearing factors to the design of the Snuggie. At first when the Snuggie came out the commercial informed us that we could only get it in three colors royal blue, sage green, and burgundy. Because this blanket like robe has loose sleeves generating easy mobility while keeping you covered, it allows you to go anywhere and do anything, such as change the channel without getting tangled and get up to check on dinner. As the product became more well known and people started talking about it either wanting one for real or just for a joke the company started to incorporated more colors and patterns into their design. But they didn't stop there.

As small dogs are paraded around in women's purses as if they were their child or a prized possession, the company that manufactures Snuggies has come out with a new line of Snuggies. While we flip through the channels or look on youtube.com it is easy to stumble upon the wonderfully entertaining commercials for Snuggies. But now instead of like the first commercial which only offered it in three colors and one size fits all, we learn that there are Snuggies for dogs. By making the Snuggie versatile to fit all types of dogs ranging from extra small to large the manufactures of this product have captures a full rage of dog lover consumers. Because the Snuggie has become so widely known in our society, its design is adaptable and flexible to all sorts of different users, whom wish to stay toasty warm without the hassle.

https://www.getsnuggie.com/flare/next

The Temptations of Human Nature

In the bible it is said that God created man from the soil in his garden, whom he named Adam. Although Adam had everything, God realized he was lonely, being the only human. One night, God took a rib from Adam, creating Eve whom would be his companion for life, telling them to “be fruitful and multiply.” While being allowed to live freely in Gods perfect garden referred to as the “Garden of Eden,” they were told they could eat and go anywhere they pleased, except they were not allowed to eat from one particular tree, the “tree of knowledge of good and evil.” As easy as it may have sounded, only having to avoid one tree turned out to be more difficult than expected, and temptations set in. While going about the day, Eve was approached by a serpent, said to be the symbol of the devil, which came to her side, convincing her to eat from the tree of knowledge. Once she realized what she had done she went to Adam, persuading him to do the same. After God discovered what they had done, he banished them from the “Garden of Eden.”


The story of Adam and Eve has largely influenced our world today and DKNY wants us to believe that they have the new “Adam and Eve,” by managing to work these ideals into modern advertising schemes. While being a well known story, it’s meaning and pictorial image has changed and altered to resemble that of a modern Adam and Eve. As in DKNY’s “Be Delicious” perfume, advertisements use symbolism and iconography to illustrate the temptations of mankind throughout the design.


Because religion is valued largely in society, manufactures capitalize on consumers by gearing advertisements towards important symbols and sacredness. By framing only two humans in an environmental setting within the advertisement, DKNY is representing and suggesting the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. While being the only human at first, Adam felt lonely and incomplete, until one morning when he awoke to Eve laying next to him, fulfilling the emptiness he had felt inside. In DKNY’s advertisement we see a man grinning happily resting his head against a woman, who he has strong affection for. Though pictures cannot speak, we see that his eyes are closed and we get the feeling that he is absorbing the aroma of the perfume the woman is wearing, never wanting to let her go. By connecting our visual perception of the advertisement to the desire of wanting the “Be Delicious” fragrance, DKNY is grasping the audience through appeal so they will want to obtain their product.


Because happiness and affection is associated with love and worship, we as consumers believe that the empty spot in our lives will be filled if we wear, “Be Delicious.” Since the story of Adam and Eve is widely known, DKNY is sending the message people who wear this fragrance will find a soul mate that will stand by our side. Although the man and woman in the image are not naked, contradicting what the bible says, we still distinguish through symbolism that these two are representing that incident and scene in the bible. When Adam and Eve were banished from the “Garden of Eden” they only had each other. By presenting them in the advertisement side by side as, Adam holds onto Eve, we connect the two individuals to how Eve was created. By utilizing the symbolism of the rib and how God took a rib from Adam to fabricate Eve, we associate by the two people standing side by side that woman and men are equal. Along with portraying Adam and Eve, other certain elements are presented in the ad, such as eating the “forbidden fruit,” suggesting the desires of mankind.
Through temptation we let our guard down, allowing ourselves to act outside our moral notions and follow our human nature of wanting what we cannot have. As the woman clutches the green plump apple holding it close to her mouth, we create a stronger connection to Eve and the temptation from the “tree of knowledge of good and evil.” DKNY is similar to the serpent, both cunningly and deceptively convincing us through the appeal of lust and desires to use the “Be Delicious” sent.


Along with the iconography of the apple, DKNY uses type in the image as play on words. While having an actual bite taken from the green apple in the woman’s hand, the words “Take a bite out of life” also appear on the advertisement right below the apple. By doing this DKNY once again is tempting us to fill in that empty spot in our lives with the perfume, taking control of our destiny. Because the woman in the advertisement is our main focal point, blissfully smiling and gazing toward us as the man leans up against her, we see that she is the temptress, displaying the ideal control every woman ultimately wants. Although both Adam and Eve indulged in the “forbidden fruit,” Eve was the one who sinned at first, later persuading Adam with her charm and companionship encouraging him to do so as well. By essentially revealing and depicting the woman as a temptress, we as consumers are envious of her, wanting to purchase the fragrance of the “forbidden fruit” so that we may obtain our own Adam.


Even though it was a sin when Eve took a bite out of the forbidden fruit, she took control of her destiny, opening both her eyes as well as the viewer’s eyes to the influences of, envy and desire. By applying the design of the apple to the perfume bottle we connect the symbolism of its form to the “tree of knowledge of good and evil,” thus convincing women that “Be Delicious” perfume allows them to be the “apple” in his eye. Although Adam and Eve were banished from the “Garden of Eden,” DKNY illustrates through the large bite in the apple, which the woman has taken, holding it close to her mouth symbolizes the “forbidden fruit.” Demonstrating humanities natural instinct to want what we cannot have. However by taking a bite out of the apple, Adam and Eve sinned, connecting us once again to the bible. In the bible it is said that because we are the children of Adam and Eve sin is passed hereditarily, meaning it is in our nature to desire and obtain what we are not meant to have. Due to the iconography relating to the bible and the symbolism of the apple, desire is represented throughout the design of the advertisement, establishing a want for the fragrance. By abandoning our good behavior and indulging in a sense of lost innocence, DKNY like the bible creates an awareness of good and evil, bringing us back to the theme of Adam and Eve.


While images and text send specific messages to the viewer, other elements contribute to the iconography and symbolism within the advertisement. By incorporating the color green in the juicy apple and the background between the man and woman, DKNY brings us back to nature and the “Garden of Eden.” Along with being banished from Eden, Adam and Eve were cursed with painful child birth, hard work, and death but they were not alone. By generating the apple as green its representation is tended for eternity, harmony, and posterity, as if the man and woman were living in a Utopia. While being human we search for completeness, a place of perfection, and our ideal way of life. Since DKNY is aware of this they tempt us to envy the woman wanting what she has, symbolizing through the color that we will find true love, being “Delicious” for the rest of our lives. Because of the visual imagery within the DKNY advertisements the temptation to wear their perfume captures our instinct to crave what others have and wanting what we cannot have unless we purchase their fragrance.


Through cunning strategies, DKNY combines elements of religious icons, index, and color accents, creating a complete package of temptation and desire through the use of iconography and symbolism. Because God told Adam and Eve to be “fruitful and multiply” we as consumers become memorized and tempted into wanting the apple, insuring we will have completeness in our lives and doing as religion tells us. Because the perfume bottle is in the form of an apple it better generates a connection of being fruitful. Along with the form of the bottle having a repetition of the apple on the advertisement, generates a connection to being “fruitful and multiply.” By doing this it is allowing us to recognize and distinguish DKNY’s advertisement as a resemblance to Adam and Eve and “the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Due to the use of these design strategies the “Be Delicious” advertisements capture the eye of every woman, tempting us to fill the emptiness in our life by consuming and wearing DKNY’s fragrance. Although we as consumers see advertisements as routine, these certain aspects within them gear us towards purchasing produces and “taking a bite out of life.”

Figure Ground Reversal

By repeating one form within a grid formatted pattern, we are able to create a two-dimensional composition of both equal positive and negative space. While looking at the picture to the right it is apparent that the black forms generate the positive space and the white forms generate negative area, creating the effect that the composition is of equal proportions. By alternating the form within each square and positioning it in different way as well as reversing the positive and negative reveal a process of the study of Rubin's vase.

Although Rubin’s vase creates two distinct images (two men’s faces or a vase like cup) the image here is a way to generate such artwork utilizing the inspiration of forms and understanding how positive and negative space work together. Because our minds fill in the blanks, we use our natural senses to distinguish certain shapes within images. By perceiving different forms within a composition creates an allusion making it difficult to pin point the original design within the image.

(Rubin's Vase positive/negative case study)

Mimiking a Design and the Prosses

Today Halloween is about mimicking someone or something that your not, just for day. As we decide upon an idea of what to be for Halloween it seems easy to just flock to the stores and grab a costume right off the rack. By selecting a costume from some rack that has multiplied and not an original seems pointless. Isn’t the preparation of the costume one of the greatest parts about Halloween? Although it is time consuming and tedious at moments, just to wear it for one evening it’s the effort that counts. To be able to redesign yourself into anything is the best part about dressing-up.

Well this Halloween Ashley and I had two things in Mind, Thing One and Thing Two. Do you remember Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat? As we grow up we sometimes seem to lose our selves in everyday life, forgetting about our childhood memories. Although we can Google costumes for Thing One and Thing Two, it’s not the same feeling to dress up and portray these story book characters. In Dr. Seuss’s story books we stumble upon many strange and peculiar characters however Thing One and Thing Two are quite the eye-catcher. As we can see they are drawn wearing plain red jumpsuits with only a circular shape on the chest presenting their names Thing One and Thing Two. Another symbol that represents these to is there vivid blue hair, creating a contrast in colors by using blue and red within the same composition.

While thinking about how we were going to portray these unique characters it became apparent to Ashley (Thing Two) and I (Thing One) that the original Thing One and Thing Two were a little boyish. So we decided to design a more girlish look incorporating all the visual elements of these things. Because jumpsuits seemed too frumpy we used little plain red dresses that zipped up the front. Along with the dresses we choose red and white striped socks playing off of the iconography of the Cat in the Hat. But the costume still seemed too plain and incomplete; a plain red dress did not emphasis Thing One and Thing Two, we could have been anything. Now that we had our items of clothing it was time to mimic the famous icon that represented the main focal point of the characters. We placed a large white circle with the letters T-H-I-N-G and either the number 1 or 2 on the chest area of the dresses. Almost done we were missing one aspect to our reinvented Thing One and Thing Two design, BLUE hair. Even though the original characters in Dr. Seuss have wild bed head hair we were looking for a more modern look such as, bright brilliant blue bob wigs (Say that five times fast), thus bringing Thing One and Thing Two into the 21^st century.

After all of the thinking, designing, planning, and preparation of Thing One and Thing Two we were finally the complete package. By redesigning Dr. Seuss’s story book characters it seemed as if we were the real Thing One and Thing Two asking everyone, “Would you like to shake hands with Thing One and Thing Two?” (Dr. Seuss).

Quilting

It is said that no two snowflakes are exactly alike. In comparison this also can be said about the quilts that are displayed in the Nelson Art Gallery at UC Davis. These hand made quilts all express uniquely different feelings and emotions when viewed. Their illuminating arrangement and organization of colors and patterns is by far breath taking. As one looks at the quilts it becomes apparent that they more than just a combination of fabric, they are crafted carefully expressing different passions throughout each one. Because these quilts are crafted from scrap materials and textiles they are not perfect or exactly precise in measurements. But isn’t that what makes them unique and exuberant? While closely examining the quilts it is easy to pick up on certain pattern schemes such as repetition of block patterns and the placement of certain elements. However the use of contrasting colors is what really gives these quilts a sense of rhythm. By using wide arranges of value colors combined with contrasting and complimentary colors the quilts display movement and structure throughout the composition. Although the quilts are symmetrical creating an over baring repetition, the color schemes and difference in pattern structure is what brings them to life. Thus, keeping us captured within the design of them. Even though manufacturing perfect produces is the way our society functions and hand made quilt are a dyeing pastime, does not mean that we should look at their flaws. Instead we can learn from the craft of using only scraps to create a masterpiece. With this in mind by producing original patterns and fluidity of expression, in the end will be more personal and a creative design in general.

Sweet Tooth?

Inspiration can be found in many different places from nature to everyday items including food, sweet sugary foods to be precise. While our society idolizes over movie stars and singers, one face reocurse throughout art, more than anyother. Marilyn Monroe was sculpted and then finalized with an exoskeleton of jelly beens. This famous sex icon is made out of 254,093 jelly beans ranging in a variety of flavors, from tuti fruti to buttered popcorn just to name a few. Marilyn Monroe's statue produced out of jelly beans can be located at IT’SUGAR store in Universal CityWalk. This unique method of using jelly beans to portray her every aspect through one element is by far a fascinating design technique. By sculpting her to be curvilinear the fluidity of her design becomes more realistic grasping the viewers interest. Also by tying in Monroe's signature posse it is hard for anyone not to recognize her right off the bat. Famous hollywood icons play a large part in our society from how we act, how we dress, and even how we represent art. This fascinating technique of using candy as the main element has many flocking to IT'SUGAR just to see the 10 foot sculpture. By displaying Monroe's sculpture made-out of jellybeans creates a new mouth watering sensation for the customers that come to the store, inspiring all whom consume these delouse treats.

Popular Icons

While words or objects can mean different things in different context a description of cultural studies does just that. To some it is simply learning and understanding diverse ethnical communities and their behaviors. Although this is logical cultural studies is interpreted as academic research on society as a whole, examining the influences that media has on consumers. While being bamboozled by hundreds to thousands of advertisements a day we give up our individual identities, generating a specific standard of social collaboration. As the main factor in attracting an audience, manipulation and understanding the consumers desires within a design must be integrated as a complete package. Although publicity of Hollywood stars, brand names, and new trends have a large impact on society the design aspect of how to advertise is essential to marketing products. To have a greater impact on the viewer, creativity and innovation are essential to advertising encompassing a majority of consumers rather than targeting a small cliental. Because fame and perfection is admired in our society the generalizations that one must imitate a celebrity’s ideal life style creates an open door for product design through celebrities. For instance, Jessica Simpson is scene in all pro-active advertisements increasing sales. Because her image is everywhere and many can identify with her by also having acne, we fall into the manipulation and deception of the product. Since Simpson is the representative for pro-active uses her image within marketing to trap consumers into buying the product before trying or finding out details about it.
By using multiple design strategies through media to target groups rather than individuals, manufactures have discovered was to produce images that numerous individuals can measure up to. While using popular culture icons such as Hannah Montana and The Jonahs Brothers, close to all children can create a secret identity and admiring these stars. By generating popular icons into design the manufactures and producers target the society into consuming lunch boxes, clothing, and many other material objects. When the media presents trends in fashion, glamour, and popularity we view it as if we could be on top of the world if we fallow all the trends. But in reality of consumer products it’s about manipulating the viewer and creating stimulating designs of famous icons to capture the attention of our culture.

Pop Art

While media took over traditional art and its beauty artist embraced the change creating a new style of design. Around 1955 during the post war in England artist started a new movement, known as Pop Art. Artist such as Richard Hamilton created collages consisting of only mass-produced imagery. Media such as popular icons, specific brands, and house held appliances were mounted together creating an over all combined efficient. Because art tends to echo the period contained by its style the modern mass culture of advertising is portrayed within Pop Art.

By using widely known imagery the viewer becomes personally connected with the collage. Techniques of using what society is socially aware of set the emotional tone for how Pop Art is portrayed. By using images such as a tootsie pop, canned ham, and popular shows Hamilton draws in the viewer by means of understanding modern comforts. Although each individual element is of a different media image, the placement of how they are laid out generates a successful design. Because Pop Art was directly connected to society media elements, Hamilton was able to produce real world imagery through his collages.


Image and other information provided by :

Eighteenth to Twenty- First Century Art. 3rd ed. Vol. 6. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2009. Print. Pg 1151

Piet Mondrian: 2-D and 3-D

The non- representational paintings created by Piet Mondrian are by far amongst my favorite works of art. His abstract designs are created solely by imaginative focus where as most designs are derived through natural objects. Mondrian’s two-dimensional canvases consist of three fundamentals, vertical lines, horizontal lines and colored or neutral rectangular shapes. Within his paintings Mondrian employs the same technical style consisting of the three primary hues red, yellow, and blue along with the three neutral shades black, grey, and white. By combining all of these elements Mondrian achieved stability and balance through defined placement of color, size, position, and grouping.

While Mondrian’s ability to create visually stimulating designs through perpendicular lines and rectangular shapes, his imaginative format indicates harmony and minimalism. Although Mondrian’s work was solely on canvas however other designers have taken this method of abstract art applying it to three-dimensional objects such as, architecture, fashion, and other types of design. In society we look for the new “it” item and as designers our objective is to produce stimulating essentials for the everyday consumer. By utilizing mesmerizing design one can reprocess similar configuration into different mediums, creating an everyday representation of art.

Focusing on Societies Demands

It’s too much, use less, and make it "new". When do we stop and how much is too much? As a designer we must keep this all in mind. We are here to provide for the society, they are the consumers. By being a designer our goal is to focus on the needs and wants of consumers. Because they are the target audience , it is the goal of the designer to create solutions to the world of design dilemmas. Being a designer does not mean that we are the only ones in control, guiding the society. The society also plays a large role in the process of design; they are the one that must respond to our product making it fully affective. Although elaborate decor and ornamental features were popular in previous decades, the modern era is upon us meaning minimalism and simplicity.

By living in a fast paced society surrounded by a world of technology we don’t take the time to appreciate elaborate and detailed designs. We live in a world of large businesses and advance manufacturing, allowing quick production in significant amounts of objects. Although we can not predict the future, our objective as designers is to provide for the society staying one step ahead.

Inspiration: Outside Themselves

Finding inspiration can be said to be found within ones self and the feelings that need to be released. But how does a creator find inspiration outside themselves? While living within a society geared towards the “IT” factor, inspiration outside ourselves can be found no where or around every corner. Its all about where we look and what engages our creative side. As we examine famous artist such as Andy Goldsworthy (above) who has drawn his inspiration from nature, it becomes apparent that his understanding of the beauty that is nature turns out to be pure genius. Although nature is a large inspiration on our society, other artists create just as appealing designs.
For example, in Joseph Cornell’s (left) box designs we are able to grasp the intuitive motivation within a space. By having the understanding that he is a pack rat, it is apparent that by keeping everything and anything is where his inspiration is derived from. Because inspiration varies from person to person, different items and things enlighten our thought process and interests. As designers it is our principle to think outside the box, grasping concepts outside the standard design. Although it might be more difficult to pin point where our inspiration comes from, eventually our designs strength of character will guide us on the path of inspiration outside ourselves.