Process PDF

Refined Accordion Book

   I chose the french door form for my refined model. I changed the form ofthe book so that it would be thinner lengthwise and more compact, or condensed. I also added a cardboard back and cover to echo the choice of keeping our letters cardboard. The first fold you open shows the definition of the word condense and the book condenses down onto our group picture behind our natural installation.

Photo Essay Reflection

   The most rewarding part of this project was the photo essay. After creating our large letter forms it was extremely rewarding to see them on campus and watch each class evaluate them.
   The actual creation of the letter forms seemed daunting at first, but was not as difficult as I expected. Even though it was not very difficult, we did underestimate the amount of time it would take to create the letters.
   After thinking of several locations, we decided on one natural location and one urban location: outside the design building and in the library. Deciding not to paint our letters helped them blend in more naturally between the trees at our first and primary location. We wanted the word condense to look as if it had been there for some time and evoke the idea of a fence or a bike twisted and overgrown into a tree. To create this idea we placed it between two trees and added leaves underneath and on top of the letters.  The only problem with this location was that we had to wait for the shadow of Budig to retreat. Otherwise, I think it was our most effective location.
   In the library we did three other installations: an elevator and two different placements between the bookshelves. The elevator generally is a generally uncomfortable place and people are condensed into it. To evoke this feeling we set our letters all the way against the wall and tried to make the light
treatment intimidating and eerie. Our other two installations at the library were between the stacks, where knowledge is condensed into books and books are condensed into rows. We spread our letters out across two rows of shelves for one and spaced out the C, O, and N and condensed the D,  E, N, S, and E for the other to reflect this.

Installation Selects

Photo Essay Reaction

   After reading Chapter 2 “Documents” I have a better appreciation for photography as well as a better understanding of its origin and how it evolved into what it is today. I was
most surprised to hear that it was not considered an art form at first. The quote from Lady Elizabeth Estlake saying photography is “beneath the doing of real artists” was especially surprising to me. I also learned the different uses for photography over the years such as helping document important events, the documentation and exploration of the human form, the documentation of
technology moving forward, and the study of social class.
    I found the “Photo Ops” reading more helpful in relation to this project. The sections on different ways of showing ideas through photographs helped me to decide what kind of location to place our letter forms in. The section on framing was especially helpful in choosing our natural location. The trees framed the word, drawing attention to it and giving it context without
overpowering it.
    The part of this reading that resounded most strongly with me was the idea at the beginning of the reading which said that photography has “altered creativity.” Photography has changed the way the world perceives information. A photograph can add texture, color, shape, shadow, and add context to the subject. Photography adds an extra dimension to any works they are included in.

Project Reflection

    From this project I learned that words have power in design. Each word has
connotations and denotations that can effect how the reader reacts to the overall design. By exploring and magnifying those concepts visually a stronger reaction can be achieved. If an individual did
not know the meaning of a word and saw it visually represented at one of the installation sites they would most likely understand its meaning through the way the letters were formed and where
the group chose to installation site. If this level of comprehension was achieved by a person who did not know the meaning of the word through our visual representations, I would call it a successful representation of a word.
   I also learned more about typography through the “Parts of A Letter” reflection. This helped me understand the vocabulary of typography as well as the differences between each font, which aided in the selection of a font for the large letters. I also learned more about photo essays through the photo essay reflection. After reading it I felt I had a better grasp on how to create a successful photo book.
     The part of the project I found most difficult was finding a simple but unique way to visually represent the word during the preliminary activities. At first I could only think of obvious ways to represent the word condense. After class critiques and seeing everyonelse's work I realized that the concept did not have to be loud and obvious, as long as it was effective. This helped me to later create more effective representations in the refined compositions.
   I also found the creation of the accordion book to be a challenge. I struggled to decide on a complicated way to represent condense, but after I decided that it was more simple word, deserving of a more simple concept, I found it easier, although the physical creation of it was also a challenge. I think mapping it out more on paper before trying to print it or put it together would have helped with this problem.
   Even though I struggled with these aspects of the project, the creation and installation of the word was my favorite thing I have done in Think & Make. I enjoyed learning how to construct the
letters as well as deciding how to place them in each location.

Parts of a Letter Reflection

    Learning the vocabulary and origin of typography is essential to design. Knowing the letterform component parts can make it easier to identify and correctly use specific typefaces. Serif fonts illustrate the largest range of these terms. The three different types of serifs are traditional, modern, and slab. To identify a font as a serif font notice the short strokes that finish off the major strokes of the letterform and identify the brackets, or curving joints between the serif and the stroke.

   Each font has a base line, which each letter sits on, and a cap height, the measurement of the upper case letters, taken from the base line to the top of the character. Fonts are also measured by X height. The X height is the height of the lowercase X starting from the base line. Letters that rise above the measurement of the X height are called ascenders and letters that fall below it are called descenders.

   The different parts of each letter also have a specific vocabulary. The horizontal bar in capital letters like A and H is called a crossbar and the middle, top of capital letters that come to a point like A and W is called the apex. Capitol letters such as C have what is called a barb at the top end of the letterform. The final, the front and beginning stroke of a letter, and the terminal the bottom and end stroke of a letter, characterizes lower case letters. In lowercase letters like p and c the lower curve of the letter is called the counter and the upper curve is called the bowl.

   After reading Parts of the Letter I have a better understanding of letterforms and the vocabulary they entail. This will help me identify fonts and discuss the specific parts of them that I like or dislike and explain my views with intelligent reasoning.

Steven Heller - Graphic Designer

 

 

Steven Heller

   Steven Heller was born in 1950 and is the author and co-author of over 100 books focusing on illustration, typography, pop culture, and design. His most notable achievements are being an art director for the New York Times for 33 years, receiving the AIGA Medal for Lifetime Achievement in 1999, the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame Special Educators Award in 1996, the Pratt Institute Herschel Levitt Award in 2000, and the Society of Illustrators Richard Gangel Award for Art Direction in 2006. He is currently co-chair of the MFA Designer as Author Department, Special Consultant to the President of SVA for New Programs, and writes the Visuals column for the New York Times Book Review. He also lectured for 14 years on the history of illustration in the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay program at the School of Visual arts.

  

Condense

con·dense

[kuhn-dens] verb, con·densed, con·dens·ing.

verb (used with object)

1.

to make more dense or compact; reduce the volume or extent of; concentrate.

2.

to reduce to a shorter form; abridge: Condense your answer into a few words.

3.

to reduce to another and denser form, as a gas or vapor to a liquid or solid state.

verb (used without object)

4.

to become denser or more compact or concentrated.

5.

to reduce a book, speech, statement, or the like, to a shorter form.

6.

to become liquid or solid, as a gas or vapor: The steam condensed into droplets.

Prototype Interviews

   The interviews about the first prototype, conducted by Naomi and I, showed that the new product appealed to most demographics. Only three out of ten participants said that this product did not appeal to their
demographic. The adjustments to the handles are rope also received a mostly positive reaction. Doug commented that the “handles really feel good, [but the rope] needs to have a little more inertia” and Christina, 27 stated, “the handles [and string] are a good size.” Although most reactions to the handles were positive, Jason, 21 felt that the handles were “too big.” Isaac, 18 felt that the overall feel of the rope was good saying, “its pretty good physically [and] its long enough for me.”
   When asked their opinion of the added features, the speakers and LED lights, all participants reacted positively. The new features received
reactions like, “that’s pretty awesome,” Isaac, 14, “that’s pretty beast,” Isaac, 18.
   The conclusion the group reached after reviewing the new interviews was that we needed to make the handles lighter and less bulky to match the weight of the rope. We then went about finding a different material to put on the ends of the handles to lessen the weight. We also found that we had successfully reached our target audience.

Origional Object Interviews

   The interviews about the original object, conducted by Naomi, Kylie, and I showed an overall consensus that the rope was cheap and flimsy. Erik, age 18 remarked that the rope was “just terrible quality.” The two other main complaints were that the rope was too short, according to the adults, and that it became tangled, according to Lenora, age 10. The rope was only an appropriate size for Dayton, age 8. Erik stated that if the length problem was fixed by making the rope adjustable both he and his shorter sister could share it.
   Most adults said that they rarely used jump ropes, with the exception of Ben, age 23, who claimed that he uses them “probably once every five years.” When asked what could make the rope better or encourage them to use it Shiela, age 63, suggested a rope made of wooden links and Ben stated that if there was a jump rope party he “would be down.” Bryan, bodybuilder, age 19, suggested that if the rope had lights and speakers he would consider using it after previously stating that he “never” uses jump ropes because he “doesn’t do cardio.”
   The conclusion that our group reached after reviewing the interviews was that the quality, weight, balance, and length of the rope needed
to be improved. We also took Bryan’s suggestion into consideration
when thinking of ways to make the rope more appealing to young
adults. After reviewing these interviews, we decided to make young
adults our target audience.

   In chapter two of “Understanding Comics” “The Vocabulary of Comics” a cartoon narrator discusses how humans are able to see icons in realistic pictures. As an object becomes more simplified we respond in a different way emotionally. By simplifying an image we also simplify its meaning and describe it in a way realism cannot. Cartoons call this “amplification through simplification.” He goes on to say that objects are an extension of ourselves and become an extension of our bodies.
   In chapter five “Living in Line” the narrator further discusses how visual objects effect us emotionally. He states that in the world of comics the emotional or sensual response that an object or picture evokes in us is crucial.
   After this reading I realized that overly complicated designs are not always the most effective. The concept of “amplification through simplification” really resounded with me and I was especially interested in the emotional response simplifying objects can evoke.

Writer's Toolbox Response

   After reading “Writer’s Toolbox” I now know of many different ways to better my writing skills. Mind maps are the visual representation of ideas. They help to organize and expand on a central idea. Concept maps allow for a more in depth look into conceptual ideas. To make a concept map you begin with a central topic and then add prepositional phrases that describe the topic around it. Free writing allows you to get out every idea you have about a topic, without organization or thought. To free write you simply write for a set time without stopping. Brain writing allows all members of a group to take turns writing about an idea, adding to the diversity of ideas and shared work loads. Word lists lend new ideas about a topic through word association from a central topic. These different ways of brainstorming can help solve problems with a creative mind-set and approach and encourage outside-the- box thinking.

Make It Better Brainstorming Period

Jump Rope

1. Brainstorming

 

Our group chose a jump rope for our object.

We first looked at the object and and decided what we did and did not like about it. We decided that the handles and rope were too flimsy, it was not easily portable, and was it was not long lasting or durable.

This is our mind map which we used to think of ways the jump rope was bad and ways it was good.

Next, we created categories like eco-friendly, color, material, handles, and rope on a piece of paper and added ideas on sticky notes underneath them on ways in which each category could be improved.

 

This is our brainstorming session almost finished. 

These are the temes we ended up deciding on: fun, eco-friendly, and accessability.

Objectified Reaction

   Objectified is my favorite video we have watch so far in this class. Seeing the way people in a field similar to the one I will eventually be in view the world was enlightening. I came into the program at KU with the idea that everything around us has been designed in one way or another, but seeing the way they are designed and how much work goes into every product that is marketed was interesting. I especially liked learning about how and why the exterior of Apple products are designed because the whole Design department uses them on a daily basis.
   Seeing why things are designed in a certain way was also interesting. Design has to be targeted towards the human consumer, so a lot of psychology also goes into designing products. I found this especially interesting because my third choice in major was psychology. When looking at an object you have to consider it's formal relationship, the cultural symbolism of the object, and the way it is used. Through this video I learned what factors to take into account in the "Make It Better" project.

Deep Dive Brainstorming Reaction

   I found the process used to reach the final project in Deep Dive very helpful when brainstorming ideas on how to redesign our group's object, a jump rope. The initial throwing out of any idea without judgement helps to make all of the members in the group feel comfortable and get every possible idea out, no matter how eccentric. I also enjoyed seeing IDEO members work together without a clear leader. This technique was something I had not seen before and seemed to work better than if a leader was designated.
    The final product that IDEO worked was much more efficient than other shopping carts. Not only did the redesign the cart itself, they redesigned the way the cart could be shopped with by adding removable baskets. They took efficiency, aesthetics, and safety into consideration for their design making a product that was not only more useful, but more pleasing to look at. I especially liked the hooks on the cart showing that the process of unpacking the cart was also taken into account. Watching IDEO's process and employing it helped my group come up with the themes we wanted to apply to the redesign of our object: environmentally friendly, durability and portability, and enjoyment.

Objectified Documentary - Notes

Objectify

·      We judge objects as soon as we see them

·      Object speaks about who designed/manufactured it

·      First emperor of china – waging war to colonize

o   Each of archers made their own arrows so they couldn’t share arrows

o   Standardized design of arrows so each arrow would fit any bow

·      From the moment we wake up everything we see has been designed one way or another

o   Every object has a story

·      Japanese toothpick

o   Serrated edge that you can break off to show it was used and can be a stand for it

·      “Every object tells a story, if you know how to read it.” –Henry Ford

·      design tries to understand people and what their needs are

o   my thoughts: I like psychology too and almost majored in it so that’s cool

o   look at the extremes so if you understand extremes, the middle will take care of itself

·      Betsy’s pealer and Sam’s idea

o   Making it work for people with arthritis = good for everybody

o   Rubberized bicycle grip

·      Starting out a project

o   Look at how the object is wrong

o   Develop models

§  Physical and digital

·      CAD – computer added design to make digital

o   Rapid prototyping

o   “lets put great design into every day things and make these gadgets work better”

§  without people thinking about it

·      Dieter Rams

o   Design bonsai trees

§  So birds can fly in

o   Designing nature

o   Design is positive when clear and understandable

o   American company that takes design seriously – Apple

§  Products give a very clear sense of the people who designed it and made it

·      Apple/Design as a story

o   First imac

o   Think how do we connect to the product

§  Gets design out of the way

§  Not just arbitrary shapes, feels almost undesigned

o   Macbook air creation

§  Push themselves on – can we do the job of six parts with one

§  1 part provides so much functionality and enables product

§  important in a product to have a hierarchy

§  an indicator has a value if it is indicating something but if it isn’t indicating something, it shouldn’t be there

·      design moving from tangible to intangible

o   creates conflicts within design

o   3 phases of modern design

§  looking at the design in a formal relationship

·      form begets form

§  symbolism and content of what you’re dealing with

·      the rituals that make up using things

·      cultural symbolism

§  looking at design in a contextual sense

·      looking at human and object relationship

o   cone vacuum

§  unobtrusive

o   dyson vacuum

§  color introduced to it to articulate the various components of the vacuum

o   rhumba

§  relationship is to room it is cleaning, not to humans

§  bionic hamster

·      attach hamster to it and hamster moves it

·      Design’s Relationship to form

o   Design is creating an environment that makes people feel good

o   Removing anything that is unnecessary to create unity instead of discord

§  Close to composing music

·      Designing new things

o   Satisfaction motivates us

o   Goal as a designer is to look into the future and see what is going to happen and not what has happened

o   Design should be trying to offer products that you want to keep and that you feel will stand the test of time

·      Design as an enterprise

o   Design has become a way for companies to add value and charge more money for it

o   Things will be marketed in terms of design in the future

o   Elitism and the idea of design

o   Target

§  Influenced pop culture thinking about influence and culture of design

·      Good design distinguishes you and is a mark of progress

·      Knowing it sets you apart as modern

§  Target lets you buy into good design and good taste easily

o   Good design comes from the need of companies to make more stuff and the reasons why people will buy them

o   Why we wont new things

§  Can do something different

§  Focused on now

§  Not focused on forever

§  Making new now look like then so people will buy the new now?

·      Cars

o   Cars are frozen in time so the observer can look at it and put motion in it by the way you scan it

o   Has to be a reflection of motional energy

o   Cars have a face

§  One expression forever

o   Challenges of car design

§  Assessing what cars will mean in the future

·      Will they be an expression of yourself or fade into the background as just a mode of transportation

o   Real audience is ourselves – why is this the right car for me? – making a statement to yourself about yourself

·      Mass Production of Design - Karim Rashid

o   Using industry to produce serialized goods

o   Techno organic world – organic but using new technologies

§  Physical interpretation of the digital age

o   Archetypes

§  Cameras

·      Film designs the shapes of the camera but our cameras don’t use film anymore so why are they still rectangles?

o   70% of the world is uncomfortable

·      Interaction Design – (name by) Bill Moddridge

o   Obsessive sketch

§  When the poets statements are obviously visible the audience may become uncomfortable

§  Audience wants to be drawn into the poet’s world

§  Things are most natural when you don’t think about them

§  Designers need to be plugged in to natural human behavior

·      Sustainability

o   Trying to produce more and more stuff that we need and don’t need

o   Creating for 10% of people who don’t need more stuff when the other 90% are trying to afford to meet basic needs

o   Have to also design a way that products can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way

o   Most of what you design ends up in a landfill somewhere

§  Doesn’t really occur to us as a society but now to be a designer you have to be aware of it

o   If shelf life is less than 11 months than it should be easily disposable

o   What we do is not how we create the individual design, but what happens after it is done and people have used it

o   Thomas Overthun

§  Toothbrush

·      Small object creates a big piece of landfill only months after it is created

·      Trying to use one handle your whole lifetime

o   Just replace heads

·      Design is a way to systematically ______

·      Design uses mind maps

·      Jane Fulton Suri

o   Looking at people for inspiration

o   Trying to make an empathic connection with people in their context

o   People are not satisfied with what they buy, they change them for their own use

·      Designers as the intellectuals of the future

o   Designers designing scenarios based on objects that help people understand the consequences of their actions

o   Robots

§  As devices become more intelligent make the objects dependent on humans

o   Design connects the world

o   Designers are far removed from the object

§  Object designed in another country

§  Makes the object seem too easy and too superficial

o   Most meaningful objects are the objects that matter and tell your story