amykmetals

Liesbet Bussche

2010-02-07T13:12:00.003-05:00

www.liesbetbussche.com
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/10/10/liesbet-bussche-urban-jewelry/

PUMAS that rule

2009-09-05T17:40:00.003-04:00

just some images i like

2009-09-03T16:03:00.003-04:00

second life process shots

2008-12-10T23:18:00.002-05:00

examples of good branding

2008-11-20T11:11:00.032-05:00

PUMA
-reliable product
-user friendly website- helps to build customer interest and trust . website is clearly and linearly designed, matches the product, straightforward solid design.
-continuing relationships with other established designers (Alexander McQueen) add to credibility of brand and product.
-Puma designs a variety of products same design aesthetic and quality is consistent.
-Detail oriented, in design and in sale. (email after order telling you you are cool and confident, who doesn't like to hear that)

CONVERSE
-Chuck Taylor/One Star logo instantly recognizable
-Longevity of the traditional Chuck taylor style has built customer trust
-Product is reliable and consistent
-Wide variety of product choice/ diverse design within each style makes buyer want to buy numerous items, even within the same style of shoe or apparel
-100 artists/100 visions for a better world- artists seek to work with converse because of its high profile and credibility
-design your own shoe feature engages customer

ARTHUR HASH
-consistency of product
-cohesive and recognizable design aesthetic
-product appearance in a variety of venues
-packaging consistent with design aesthetic, additional piece for consumer, added product encouraging customer to buy again because of exceeded expectation

KID ROBOT
- consistent design aesthetic
- consistent product quality
- collection of sets, mystery, motivates customers to buy numerous items
- recognizable logo and typeface

DOSH WALLETS
-they are beautiful
-website is inviting, informative
-consistent design aesthetic
-components of wallet are consistent, and distinctive (size, design of compartments)

KARIM RASHID
-consistent design aesthetic
-recognizable across a very wide variety of products
-clear design mission
-desire to incorporate good design into the average individual's daily life

BANKSY
-mystery of identity of designer creates interest
-cohesive design aesthetic, content of work
-social commentary many times including humor
-presentation consistant

MARCEL WANDERS
-Marcel Wanders experience
-variety of products
-distinctive design qualities
-product includes story, information about design process making customers interested in product
-unexpected material choice, unexpected process of creating product

MEGAN AUMAN
-material choice is a large part of brand, memorable within market work is placed in
-recognizable imagery
-design aesthetic is recognizable across a variety of objects
-the product is desirable in numerous venues

TORD BOONTJE
- easily recognizable design aesthetic/imagery
- consistency across a variety of products
- just in using website there is a sense of being in tord boontje world
- detail oriented in terms of product quality and total presentation of product

APPLE
TIMBUK2
IN CASE
ALESSI
DAMIAN HIRST
TOM DIXON
FRANK GHERY
LUCY AND BART

2008-10-03T23:51:00.002-04:00

i'm envisioning this project having two phases. Phase 1 is having the jewelry rapid prototyped, and the phase 2 being getting those forms molded and cast in some kind of green material. Getting the forms cast out of cork would be great, not sure if that will be able to be accomplished or not. there really is not anything i have found cast out of cork on a jewelry scale, which is great if i can figure out how to make this happen, but also is sort of unhelpful because there is not really a precedent to follow. Some type of ecoresin would also be an option. if i could get things cast out of cork it seems like the aesthetic and the material the jewelry is made out of could work as a design boom product, depending on cost. Also i feel like jewelry made out of cork or ecoresin could maybe work in a setting like the charles and marie design site. that site really seems to favor clean concise design. I really like alot of items on that site.

i'm going to be adding to this post.

research on rapid prototyped jewelry

2008-10-03T22:48:00.003-04:00

As a starting point I have looked at the work of Phil Carrizzi, Doug Bucci, Rebecca Strezlec, Janet Huddie, and Anthony Tammaro. Basically I am looking for the type of forms that resonate the most with me, in relation to the material that they are printed with. Meaning, I'm taking note of the scale, thickness, and amount of detail in a piece and looking at the finish or material in relation to those elements. Aspects like transparency of the material, build pattern, or finish, whether it is just sanded or polished. I talked to Janet via email about her experience and she reminded me of the importance of checking a specific material's capability for detail, which will be important with the forms I am creating. It seems like different materials have a more pronounced build pattern, although some of the work I looked at has been through sanding or other finishing process after being built.

i'm going to continue to add to this post

design and production

2008-10-03T20:50:00.004-04:00

My original plan for the design and production product line project was to get drawings that i have already been working on laser cut out of steel to produce a jewelry line. I really like the drawings that I have worked out, but I felt a little bored with only taking them the one step further. Simply getting the forms laser cut instead of cutting them out by hand. I think that the drawings I have could be really interesting interpreted 3 dimensionally. I'm in the process of using the same shapes and modeling a jewelry line in Rhino which will then be rp'd. I'm thinking to then to make molds of the rp'd work and have pieces cast in some kind of green material. As of now I'm not sure what exactly the price point of this jewelry will be, there are too many production cost unknowns, although I do have approximations based off the known production costs of other rp'd objects.

2008-10-03T20:17:00.004-04:00

I really want this wallet. It's silicone, so its flexible, and it has compartments for everything. I like it. It is designed by Steven Gates.

2008-09-20T16:57:00.002-04:00

Did you know that Graham Hill, the founder of treehugger is on Ponoko's advisory board? I didn't know that. Kind of interesting.

i just bought a sweet new book

2008-09-19T19:19:00.006-04:00

This book in.tangible/scapes.s is the new addictlab designer compilation book. This volume is about "innovative technologies applications". This is a sum up of the topics the book discusses."Innovative technologies’ applications landscape is an infinite, intangible and often mysterious domain. “Artscience”, bio-art, nano-design, interactive design, experience design, alternative energy, applications on the borders of design and science emergency design and tools, eco-materials, biodegradable plastic, health & security. Science and creativity, science for all, open sources… Sustainable development needs R&D. Scientific research needs innovation and imagination: an ideal bridge to foster cross-disciplinary exchanges and spread out scientific and technologies development." Sounds cool. There are collaborations in the book with MOMA, Domus Academy, Philips, V2, Science Gallery Dublin, and Design Incubation Centre Singapore. I don't know anything about some of these organizations so I'm going to go do some research.

2008-09-19T19:19:00.002-04:00

sometimes i get frustrated because there is so much to know and so much to do. i can't move fast enough. i'm really glad i want to keep trying.

example of laser cut cork

2008-09-15T21:38:00.006-04:00

I have read precise detail is possible when laser cutting cork, although there is a slight charring on the edges of the cuts.

project green design

2008-09-13T21:32:00.007-04:00

i am making a set of cork bracelets cut out of 1/8 inch cork which I am then dyeing various colors. (pictures to come)I have researched other cork jewelry and also cork objects-bowls, chairs, stools. So far I found a few pieces of cork jewelry on Klimt02 that are interesting, although they are a different type of work than what I am making. I also liked the cork cuff from Studio 1am that was on project/object some months back. This work really is the only that has appealed to me, much of the other work i saw was not very innovative, I found that alot of people use wine corks to make jewelry in a very uninteresting way.
Below are
José Carlos Marques
Necklace: Square Root 2007
Cork

Gisela Ribeiro
Necklace: Galáxia 2007
Cork, silver, steel

Leonor Hipólito
Pendant: Transplant. Stomach 2007
Cork, polyester

Eija Mustonen
Brooch: Untitled 2007
Textile cork, silver

my brother is a dramatization actor!

2008-09-13T21:15:00.005-04:00

my brother ben and his boyfriend ernie got parts in the reenactment of a woman's murder on some animal tv show. ernie plays one of the murderers, and my brother plays the parts of a volunteer searching for the body(the woman was dead in the desert) and then later the part of a forensics lab scientist.

2008-06-15T22:30:00.004-04:00

jesus opened up a restaurant a couple miles from my parents house....i'm just saying

good quote

2008-06-03T22:43:00.004-04:00

..."If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves."-BB

Design

2008-05-10T16:09:00.001-04:00

There is an extreme amount of good design coming out of Western Europe, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany, so much so I’ve had a hard time really organizing information, every design site or event or designer leads to a ton of other links and cool stuff. I guess that’s one the benefits of blogging about it, I can always go back and add more info, keep a running record of research-sort of the point of a blog I know. In the way of Belgian designers, I’ve liked looking at the work of Dries Verbruggen, Hans-Christian Karlberg, and Arne Quinze, Raphael Charles, and the series of reMix objects. Designers I’ve looked at from the Netherlands are Bart Hess, Esther De Groot, Kiki Van Eijk, and Saar Oosterhof, and the Material Sense group. From Germany I liked the work of Anna Borman &Selma Serman, and Marc Mann. From France I looked at Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, and Phillipe Starck. I also liked Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola’s furniture line, Urquiola being a Spanish designer working in Italy.

Design

2008-05-10T15:58:00.010-04:00

Dries Verbruggen and Claire Warrier created the Unfold Project, and is an ongoing investigation involving 3D mapping of the human body. These computer generated maps are then translated into flat planar patterns that are later fit back together like a puzzle. The research resulted in a line of jewelry which due to the way it is constructed is reflective of an individual's unique body structure. They also created a chair design that can be seen on designboom that is constructed by punching out flat cardboard pieces and then fitting them together to form an Eames-like chair.

http://www.hck.be/
Hans Christian Karlberg created a line of furniture I like which incorporates forms that are used in prosthetics. The tables and chairs he designs are sort of nondescript other than one or two elements added that are directly taken from prosthetics. This line is meant to bring attention to the people that require these devices, to make their illness or illness in general something that is not covered up and hidden.

Raphael Charles
vases made from 35mm film, resin and polyurethane

The ReMix series of objects are created from discarded or broken objects that are reworked into objects of with a new and sometimes probably more useful purpose. The main mission of this series is to promote a sustainable lifestyle by creatively reusing existing objects and materials. I couldn't find any pictures online at all of the work, its in one of my addict lab books, which i will let people look at anytime.

Bart Hess is a designer from the Netherlands who merges technology and fashion. His work melds form into the contours of the body, making it look as though his forms are growing outward from the body. Hess is working with Phillips design probes team to create a concept called Electronic Tattoo in which a tattoo "traverses across the landscape of the body moving and morphing with touch and gesture".

Ted Muehling

2008-05-03T00:19:00.006-04:00

Ted Muehling is an American designer who studied industrial design at Pratt University and has been been designing for over twenty years . Muehling's designs are mainly inspired by nature like plantlife, insects, and shells, and take the form of jewelry, candlesticks, bowls, vases, salt and pepper shakers, and dishes. Muehling has designed for Lobmeyr Glassworks, Porzellan-Manufactur Nymphenburg, and Steuben Glass. His work has been shown numerous times at the Cooper-Hewitt, the Renwick, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. Muehling's designs reference the natural objects he is inspired by through distilled form and decoration. Muehling's work as described by Akiko Busch in an article for Metalsmith "tends to reflect his training as a jeweler; there is a deep connection with the human form, an engagement with and awareness of the body."

Tord Boontje

2008-04-26T21:12:00.006-04:00

Tord Boontje is a designer from the Netherlands. Studio Tord Boontje produces a wide variety of objects in many areas of design such as packaging, interior design, furniture, jewelry, greeting cards, textiles, tableware, watches and eyewear. Boontje has worked with Droog,has done work for Swarovski along with Alexander McQueen, created pieces for Target stores, collaborated with the textile company Maharam, and has worked with Artecnica, a design group that focuses on meleding art and technology. Boontje acknowleges and utilizes new technologies in the construction of many of his objects. The use of technology is not utilized to exalt the process, but used as a means to create work that is considerate of the user's physical and aesthetic needs. Technology isn't used just because its available and can be used, its used in a way that furthers Boontje's ideas. This is can be seen in Boontje's Inflorescence collection. Like most of his work, this series of drawings is inspired by nature, this grouping of work is described on Boontje's website as "an experiment to see how the computer can be used to draw flower patterns". The patterns are randomly generated, and can then later be used to create 3-D objects using technological processes such as stereolithography.

Marti Giuxe

2008-04-20T23:26:00.003-04:00

Marti Guixe is a Spanish designer who creates a variety of objects, including furniture, clothing, games, and objects for the home. Guixe has also had a long working relationship with the Spanish shoe company Camper, and has designed numerous stores for them. Guixe also has designed some objects with the Droog collective such as the Do Scratch lamp, the Private Chair, and the Do Frame tape. Guixe first studied Interior design and then went on the study Industrial design at Milan Polytechnic. Guixe also does a variety of food projects. Each of these projects are designed in such a way as to give the user information about what they are eating, cues to when they should eat what item and during what activity, and instructions on how to go through the process of eating. Most of Guixe's designs are in some way humorous, and seem to cut straight to the object's function, keeping the user and their needs in the forefront. Guixe seems to design objects based on the human need for the object, whether it be physical or emotional, many times paring down unecessary design elements or considerations. Many of Guixe's objects, the method in which they are designed, employ a directness that gives the user a more intimate reltionship with the object.

a few Dutch designers

2008-04-20T22:55:00.008-04:00

Core 77 listed the 10 upcoming Dutch designers to look for, among those whose work interested me the most are Yvonne Laurysen, Thjis Bakker, and Fredrik Roije.
Yvonne Laurysen works mainly with textiles, her working process relies heavily on experimentation with materials. Her Cell rugs are constructed of pressed industrial wool, creating cell-like patterns referencing her interest in science/molecules and cell stucture. Laurysen along with Erik Mantel make up LAMA, which sells Laurysen's textile works, and Mantel's furniture designs. Laurysen and Mantel also developed a new alternative material to fur, Furore. This material is porous and is described as being similiar to expanded metal. There is also information about Furore on www.transmaterial.net.
Thijs Bakker seems to be best known for his Concrete Chair, a chair Bakker designed in response to a self-imposed set of design constarints, the chair had to include concrete, but still be lightweight, apparently Dutch law indicates that chairs cannot weigh more than 25kg. Bakker soved the problem by using a plastic foam and then dipping it in concrete which gave him the result he wanted.
Fredrick Roije has worked for Droog, and also has his own design studio Roije. His collection of Spineless lamps is particularly interesting to me, each are unique in their form, but they are part of line. Roije produces this on a larger scale while still maintaining one of a kind features in each piece.

Jurgen Bey

2008-04-07T00:58:00.003-04:00

Jurgen Bey finds design solutions by examining existing objects or phenomena and deciphering how these elements can be configured to create objects of more value or purpose. Many of Bey’s designs comment on the importance or value of contemporary production. Bey’s work is many times based on experience and the emotion the specified experience evokes. Bey views his work as investigatory pieces, he converts his own questions about the world and his experiences the objects he produces, and provokes questions about the relationship of humans to objects. Bey is a member of the Droog design collective, and has produced numerous products including Tree Trunk Bench, and Garden Bench. Bey also designed the interior space for Jean Paul Gautier incorporating his wrapped furniture series.

www.jurgenbey.nl

http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/2007/03/designing-criti.php

http://www.vividvormgeving.nl/vormgeverpagina/bey.htm

Maarten Baas

2008-04-07T00:23:00.001-04:00

Dutch designer Maarten Baas designs creates hand made furniture using found materials, waste materials from commercial furniture production, and reconfigured materials from kit furniture like that of IKEA. Baas creates his designs starting by making small hand carved models of each piece. In 2005 Baas began collaborating with Bas den Herder, forming Baas & Den Herder studio, making it possible for Baas’ designs to be produced on a larger scale. Along with these two, 10 studio assistants contribute to the production of the designs. Baas’ collections include Hey Chair, Treasure Furniture, Flatpack Furniture, Clay Furniture, and Smoke. Three pieces of his smoke collection were later picked up and reproduced by Marcel Wanders design company MOOOI. Baas has also worked with Droog. Baas has been commissioned by hotels, restaurants, galleries and museums, various places around the world.

www.maartenbaas.com
www.designmuseum.org/design/maarten-baas
http://www.designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2006/maarten-baas
ttp://www.inhabitat.com/2005/11/03/treasure-furniture/

Karim Rashid

2008-04-04T00:48:00.000-04:00

Karim Rashid’s designs can be found in interior design, packaging, fashion, lighting, furniture, and advertising. Rashid’s designs are a synthesis of a wide breadth of considerations- social, economic, an understanding and attention to global issues and a strong sense and desire to create designs for a contemporary lifestyle. Rashid’s designs are extremely accessible, due to wide variety of clients he has worked with, creating the opportunity for the masses to surround themselves with well designed contemporary objects. Rashid sums up his design philosophy as “Sensual Minimalism”, or design that “communicates and inspires without excess”. Rashid has worked with Timex, Dirt Devil, Bombay Sapphire, Alessi, Issey Miyake, Method, Target, Taschen and numerous other companies and individuals around the world. Rashid has clearly been and will continue to be an influential design figure.

While his designs are definitely aesthetically pleasing, his most common choice of material is curious to me, particularly at this point in time, and particularly because of Rashid’s insistence on remaining current, not relying on past history to dictate design. As I learn more about the seemingly limitless amount of materials that exist and learn about the many green materials that are being used in design, it seems that utilizing these green materials would be a logical choice for Rashid. Rashid makes it possible for consumers to purchase well designed objects at a price point comparable to other less visually pleasing objects and products, making the choice of which item to buy more clear. Why buy a product that is ugly when a similar product at a similar price is available that also doubles as a design element in an interior space. (Ex. Method soap) The same logic would seem applicable for material choice, Rashid is in a position to make sustainable materials more the norm. If Rashid were to design products using green materials, some would continue to pick these products over competing products due to their aesthetics, but some would also be interested in the products based on their material and its implications. Consumers would buy Rashid’s products based on their visual appeal whether they care or not about the environment, at worst they would be unwittingly making a positive choice for the environment. I realize that some decisions outside of the aesthetics of an object are probably left up to the company Rashid happens to be working with, but Rashid does have the power to choose which products he wants to attach his influential name to. I haven’t really had too much luck so far in finding any of Rashid’s objects that aren’t made of plastic, although I absolutely have not looked through any where near all of the products that Rashid has designed and definitely could be missing something.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/02/karim_rashids_k.php talks about Rashid’s kit 24 housewww.karimrashid.com

http://psychologytoday.com/rss/pto-20060307-000002.html interview with Rashid

Interview with Karim Rashid from designboom.com, http://www.designboom.com/eng/interview/rashid.html has a more indepth interview with him.

http://www.dexigner.com/product/news-g7169.html

http://www.purecontemporary.com/pcmv/modernvoice.jsp?mvId=17

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3266148

www.addictlab.com

2008-03-18T23:22:00.000-04:00

Bling bandaids, Fabian Seibert/Suelz Kotlett

www.addictlab.com is basically an international design collective, designers from a variety of fields, fashion, jewelry, industrial design, graphic design, architecture, etc. contribute their work to the site on an individual page, and also can participate in various projects on the site. They also have inspiration books that come out twice a year that address different themes which look very interesting. i bought four. The next book is out in May and is called in.tangible/scape.s, Research on emerging technologies applications. Its a really great site.

Blood diamonds bibliography

2008-03-01T20:29:00.000-05:00

http://www.onesky.ca/diamonds/

http://www.annansi.com/blog/index.php?s=chosan

http://www.ankore.com/bloodstone/article.html

http://www.clarkyboy.com/bling.htm

http://jamati.com/_online/?p=455

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/12/12/diamonds.koinange/index.html

Die Electric

2008-02-17T15:22:00.001-05:00

After watching An Inconvenient Truth industrial designer Scott Amron began thinking of ways to make people more aware of how much electricity they use/are reliant on. The objects pictured in this article are designs that address what other uses electrical sockets could function as if they were no longer used for their original intended purpose. Amron's website is www.dieelectric.org

2008-02-10T22:26:00.000-05:00

This poster was created by a graphic designer named Jelsen innocent, around the issue of conflict diamonds.

2008-02-06T14:25:00.001-05:00

2008-02-06T13:17:00.000-05:00

texture

2008-02-06T13:15:00.000-05:00

green diamonds

2008-02-05T20:55:00.001-05:00

One organization attempting to address the widespread destruction of farm land in Sierra Leone as a result of diamond mining is One Sky: Canadian Institute of Sustainable Living. Partnered with the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone, their current project enables consumers to contribute a donation or allot a percentage of the purchase of a diamond to go toward the development of restoration of land and the development of a sustainable farming system. Included in the restoration plan there is an emphasis on community participation during both the restoration phase as well as the lands' maintenance thereafter.
Initially, I was skeptical about the way the organization proposed to generate the funds for the project (the sale of more diamonds). This skepticism was most likely present due to the fact that I came across this information in the midst of reading about the murder, mutilation, and torture of millions by rebel troops funded by illegal diamond trading. Although I am aware there are regulations in place to greatly reduce the percentage of blood diamonds in the market, in the context of what I had been reading, buying more diamonds did not seem a very palatable solution for any part of the destruction in sierra leone.
After reading more about this organization, and their other efforts around the world, I better understand their stance and reasoning for using this approach toward funding the project. While the recovery of this region necessitates a larger effort than that of a smaller grass roots organization, this project and others that i'm sure exist are good starting points for education and action.

2008-01-29T22:13:00.000-05:00

2008-01-29T22:10:00.000-05:00

2008-01-29T22:05:00.000-05:00

5 weird/random facts (Thanks for the Tag Rebecca)

2008-01-20T14:05:00.000-05:00

1. As a kid I threw up at some point on almost every single family vacation we took. I've seen the infirmary at disney world twice, sesame place twice, kings island once, i threw up most times we went to the beach...i don't know what was going on with that.

2. I have a not quite yet debilitating fear of accidently blowing things up.

3. I am obsessive about locking doors.

4. I've seen at least 15 broadway shows.

5. I have always thought the smell of skunk smells very similar to the smell of bananas. (too weird?)

2008-01-09T17:42:00.000-05:00

2008-01-04T17:01:00.000-05:00

If you've ever been to Israel and visited Tel Aviv, you might have noticed our country's "national sport," known by the locals as matcot. It's a high-pace game, played-fast-and-furious-like, usually by middle-aged men in their underwear. On weekends the pok-pok-pok sound of the back and forth of the ball, drown out the surf, and frighten passers-by trying to dodge getting hit.

Making matcot a little more modern, is Groovy - a pair of Tel Aviv industrial designers, who like to rethink and repurpose everyday objects and designs. Take the above chair, its sawed out matcot paddles, and tiny ball holder in the top left-hand corner.

Says Groovy’s website: “There is nothing like the combination of words 'retro' and 'active' to describe the activities of Danit and Yinnon Simhi.

“These young designers turn their years of collecting into a real profession using their artistic talent and their imagination to bring old and new things to life. Most of the new products designed and manufactured by Groovy, and infused with humor, and are realized as surprising new designs and images.”

Let's hope they are starting a trend. Too many people are heading to bix box shops, like IKEA, in Israel.

TreeHugger related: Lock Cup from Israel

::Green Prophet

::Groovy

2007-11-29T12:52:00.000-05:00

As Public Enemy #1 Flava Flav likes to say, "Don't believe the hype"

2007-11-04T15:22:00.000-05:00

In Isreal, ultra-Orthodox Jews are becoming a larger and more influential economic group. Due to the characteristics of those in this religious sub-group, tight knit communitites, loyalty among its members, this group has an influential presence in both politics and commerce. Service companies, such as cell phone carriers have tailored their offerings based on the needs of this specific group as have food and transportation companies. The result is a trend that clearly exemplifies the principle of the consumer leading the provider based on their needs. The provider tailors to those needs in order to make the largest profit.

"The Feminine Critique"

2007-11-04T11:52:00.000-05:00

The article "The Feminine Critique" ran in Thursday's Times last week discussing the perceptions and expectations of women in the corporate workplace. The article focused on comparative research done in regards to the public's ideas about behavioral standards of women and men as well as expectations and perceptions associated with outward appearance. Also discussed were the differing views of what characteristics are important in a person with a leadership role in various countries. This research exposed negative perceptions about women in power, as the hierarchy of skills differed in each country, but universally women were perceived as deficient in whatever skill was viewed as most important. One of the most clear aspects of this topic seems to be the differences in how emotional responses from people in positions of leadership are viewed by others, it was shown through the research done that anger in specific was viewed as a strength when displayed by a man, and a weakness or a sign of instability when shown by a woman. Old perceptions about gender roles are still perpetuated through this type of thinking and response which probably stems in part from how a person is raised to relate to other people and how they view their own place in the world.

www.virtualtangible.com

2007-11-04T11:27:00.000-05:00

Check out www.virtualtangible.com, its the show featuring CAD designs Rod McCormick referred to at the lecture Friday night. Really helpful to see different applications of the technology,(creation of varied forms) and helpful in beginning to view the CAD program as just another tool, a way of digitally sketching that allows for resolved 3D design work.

2007-10-29T13:42:00.000-04:00

observing color

2007-10-29T13:31:00.000-04:00

2007-10-29T13:28:00.000-04:00

observing color

2007-10-29T13:26:00.000-04:00

social design

2007-10-27T21:43:00.000-04:00

These are bar napkins that picked up last night, i printed information from the research/thoughts i had before about my social problem. Tonight i'm going back to the bar and putting the napkins into circulation, documenting what happens after. The info printed on the napkins are the myths i had put on the pamphlet for project one in a shortened version. i feel like people that are drinking don't like to read alot so i made it a little easier.

i have a sweet new planner

2007-10-27T19:27:00.001-04:00

so i have a sweet new planner....thats pretty much the extent of what i wanted to say about that

2007-10-27T16:48:00.000-04:00

amy knows what time it is...

2007-10-21T16:05:00.000-04:00

The issue of abortion in Britain has recieved heavy scrutinization as the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act approaches. In a message coming from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the issue of abortion is framed as one that has become regarded with too high a level of normalicy. It seems that in writing the Abortion Act, its supporters operated under the idea that abortion was morally wrong and should only be carried out in situations of extreme desperation. The Archbishops' fears are that abortion is becoming seen as a viable option too often. Due to the close proximity of the anniversary of the act, anti abortion groups are preparing for both protest and video distribution of footage of an abortion procedure. Although controversy about this issue is and will continue to be rampant, I think its interesting to note the level of involvement the church proposes to have in the individual's decision to abort. The Act that enables women to legally get an abortion meets approval, but in addition to the guidlines of the law, it almost seems the ideal wish of the church/Parliament is to be able to grant permission to have an abortion procedure on a case by case basis, examining individual circumstances.

the biggest loser

2007-10-21T14:49:00.000-04:00

In the Times this week there was an interesting article discussing many of the possible negative effects of the seemingly singularly positive show The Biggest Loser. For a contestant on the show, the process and results are drastic and life-changing, they seem to happen almost overnight due to the effects of tv editing. For the viewer at home trying to achieve similiar goals as the people on the show, watching the weight fly off contestants can be viewed as confirmation of their own weight loss failure. Key elements in the contestants success are the resources they have available to them on the show (nutritionists, trainers) and the sense of team created by the set up of the show. In reality as opposed to tv reality, most people who are trying weight loss do not have these resources and are not able to devote all of their time to their health. In comparing themselves to show contestants, viewers do not take into account what unhealthy methods people on the show may be engaging in to further themselves as it is a show about getting healthy, but it is also a public competition. Viewers see the end result of massive weight loss and want the same for themselves, they are dissatisfied with the recommended amount of a pound to two pounds a week. The show creates a false sense of immediacy that can discourage the viewer who wants to lose weight. Logic dictates this show like any other reality tv show is entertainment, not at all an accurate depiction of life, but due to the subject of the show and the emotional piece around weight loss this fact can sometimes be confused.

2007-10-14T11:49:00.000-04:00

As the democratization of technology spreads there is also an urgency felt by some government officials around the world to control the information that the citizens can access, as well as what information is put out to the rest of the world. One such example of this is the military leaders of Myanmar's shut down of interent access to their people. Due to huge democratic uprising, the junta shut down virtual access to the rest of the world, further isolating the country, and in turn have increased the amount of political propaganda, portraying it as news or fact. Even in an isolated state such Myanmar, citizens and journalists have been able to get factual information about the condition of the country and its people out to news sources through alternate means of technology. The missing component is photodocumentation of the situation, which in a journalistic setting is one of the most concrete and undeniable forms of recording information. Without record of events, specualtion about what is happening is rampant, and the countires military leaders are more or less free to enact their own agendas, attempting to extinguish the uprising against them at whatever cost they see fit.

Health Care

2007-10-14T11:09:00.000-04:00

Two years ago lawmakers in Minnnesota imposed a $50 limit per year on the amount of food or gifts drug marketers are permitted to give doctors when they make sales calls. In the time since then, many doctors have either routinely refused to meet with drug marketers or have banned their visits all together. On the whole it was found that the amount and the type of prescriptions written have not changed very drastically based on whether or not doctors receive gifts, it was shown however that for children, antipsychotic medication was more frequently prescribed by doctors that had recieived some type of gift from drug companies. Obviously the drug industry is a huge business, with many aspects that seem to overlook what should be the end goal of treating the patient, it is not that surprising to me that drug sales and in some cases drug prescriptions are influenced even on such a low level. At the same time its pretty outrageous that a child would be prescribed antipsychotic medication when possibly not necessary because the doctor received money from a company or the sales person brought some pizzas along with them to their office visit.

Brainstorming So Far/possible formats

2007-10-07T19:43:00.000-04:00

2007-10-07T18:07:00.000-04:00

This is house constructed from items found scrapyards and dumps, illustrating what can be done with recycled and reused materials. The house was built over six weeks and then was up like three or four days before it was torn down and the materials where sent back to recycling plants or salvage yards to be reused. There is more information about it at http://www.scraphouse.org, its pretty interesting.

2007-10-07T17:37:00.000-04:00

Campaign to raise awareness about the number of homeless people in Toronto, created by a student, Mark Daye. There are more signs at http://spacing.ca/wire/?p=1723....really good mode of presentation.

Social Issue #2

2007-10-07T16:49:00.001-04:00

Despite repeated conformation from various reputable medical sources that drug and alcohol addiction have genetic components that classify them as a disease, public perception is still divided on this issue. I am asserting an effort to align public opinion with the reality of the disease concept of addiction.

As with any issue worth considering there are two sides to the perception of addiction, those who consider addicts and alcoholics ‘bad” people, and those who consider them sick people. Medical sources such as the American Psychiatric Association, The National Institute on Drug Abuse, and The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, are in agreement that addiction is a disease. In contrast, I have yet to be able to locate any reputable organization that claims addiction is not a disease, through my research I have found that it is only individual psychiatrists and psychologists which quite probably are working from their own biases and motives that make this argument. The core issue debated is whether or not addicts and alcoholics are making the choice to pick up a drink or a drug or are compelled to do so by biological factors. That this issue is even discussed adds to the stigma surrounding it, stigma that doesn’t exist around other diseases like cancer, which is unequivocally viewed as a sickness the sufferer is powerless over having. This stigma still exists obviously in part simply due to information that is circulated telling people addiction is not a disease, but is probably compounded by the side effects of drug and alcohol addiction. From an outside and uninformed view, it sometimes seems as though the addict is consistently choosing to poison themselves and because of this is making disruptive/illegal/socially unacceptable choices. In addition the standard treatment for the disease is unlike any other, the most effective being cognitive therapy in combination with 12 step groups, there is no pill or procedure to cure addiction. As I stated earlier I feel that those claiming that addiction is not a disease are working from their own personal biases and motives rather than medical fact, but I suppose I am too to an extent. It is important to consider both sides of the issue, and valuable to have an understanding of the opposing viewpoint in my efforts to change them.

Sources that claim addiction is not a disease
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90688&page=1
http://www.slate.com/id/2171131/nav/tap3/
http://sciencethatmatters.com/archives/6
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/p0210pt.html - this guy is an idiot

Sources that claim addiction is a disease
http://www.psych.org/ -within this site there are numerous articles outlining disease
http://www.nida.nih.gov/
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/
http://www.nida.nih.gov/about/welcome/aboutdrugabuse/chronicdisease/ - explanation of biological aspects of disease
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction - talks about terminology, how it adds to confusion about the disease

2007-10-07T15:00:00.000-04:00

This image is also from a REBAR project in San Francisco, it addresses the poor design of the city's South of Market area. This area was designed with little consideration to space for any public areas, thus the remedy to this problem necessitates the redesign of the street patterns. The image here is referred to as a "full scale mock-up" of what ideally should exist on the streets of this area, drawing attention to the problem and aiming to get the attention of the city's government.

2007-10-07T14:17:00.000-04:00

This pic is from PARK(ing) day, a one day event centered in San Francisco, but also in many other cities where artists and activists and citizens gather and temporarily transform parking spots into parking space sized parks. The event is orchestrated by a San Francisco arts collective called REBAR.

2007-10-04T21:08:00.000-04:00

www.coolpeoplecare.org, has alot topics we've been disscussing in class, also www.socialdesignsite.com has a ton of stuff about social design some of the catgories are art, systems for living, cultural based, web based, social experiment, anyway it has alot of info i haven't looked through all of it yet but it looks like there's alot of good stuff.

2007-10-03T14:11:00.000-04:00

this is a really clever way to make a statement about an issue through altering an existing advertisement, it doesn't deface the ad and its very effective and simple.
http://backspace.com/notes/2007/01/24/x.html

2007-10-03T13:38:00.000-04:00

I thought this post about changes barnes and nobles has made or is making to their website was sort of interesting, http://bokardo.com/archives/what-barnes-noble-could-have-said/#comments. I think it addresses issues that are imortant to consider when I am figuring out the format to my next social design problem. Basically its talking about how even though barnes and noble has redesigned their site, they haven't made it any more beneficial to their customers, and they haven't made any strides as far as setting themselves apart from other online bookstores. What barnes and noble has not done is put themselves in the mindset of the customer. This reiterates to me the importance of the presentation of the information in my project, the issue i'm addressing has already been addressed in many ways from both sides, i need to think about what about the presentation my information sets it apart/engages and thus informs people. I think the issue i'm talking about has the potential to easily become preachy and could also be an uncomfortable topic based on bad personal experiences for some people, i need to figure ways for the most amount of people to see information, and also present it in a way that that will meet people where they are as far as their opinions.

2007-10-02T00:10:00.000-04:00

I feel like the components to my project are good jumping off points for a more evolved plan. I’m happy with the information I compiled in the brochure I made. I like the idea of the necklace, or some type of symbol representing the subject I’m addressing. Having a blog is obviously a good way to disperse more information so I’m going to start updating it with more info. I’m still interested in doing mini street interviews, I think that is an interesting way of finding out information about how addiction is viewed.
One of the main issues I had in completing an effective project is time management problems, I feel like I could have gone about finishing the project in a more organized way. For the next project I need to make up smaller goals that are spaced closely together so the project keeps moving forward continuously. In the next project I need to be more aggressive in terms of getting information out, meaning blogging a lot and devising effective ways of dispersing the brochure I made, and considering other formats that this information could be presented. I feel like brainstorming sessions would also be more helpful for me if I were more organized, if I had a more thoughtful presentation of exactly what I want to say in regards to the issue obviously I would get more focused help in finding good solutions. Basically I think the issue is a valid one to address, and the information I have thus far is good, but I fell short in both the visual presentation of the ideas and in the dispersal of the info.

street walking

2007-09-21T19:06:00.001-04:00

so today i walked around downtown towson for a couple hours asking people to answer questions about alcoholism and addiction and mostly all i got was hot and sweaty (in hindsight wearing corduroy pants on an 80 degree day was a bad choice). this subject makes alot of people really uncomfortable, most people said they themselves had a problem with alcohol or drugs and felt like they couldn't answer any questions, or other people just simply did not want to answer any questions once i explained what i was doing. one guy literally ran away from me. i did have a really good conversation with a homeless guy named chuck about his experience wih alcoholism and he answered one of my questions which was cool. so sunday i'm going to try getting more people to answer some questions. in terms of the collage presentation, i was thinking of using peoples' answers to my questions in combination with images and quotes or headlines i pull from news sources, the collages are going to be sort of rauschenberg inspired.

2007-09-21T00:15:00.000-04:00

you know i think that last idea is a little too limited, i think instead of just staying in the art building i'm going to get other peoples' opinions too and then just post the collages different places in towson and baltimore. so the plan is to tommorrow walk around downtown towson, the student union, the art building, and maybe hampden(sp?) just because i know where that is and get people to fill out my slip of questions.

2007-09-20T21:57:00.000-04:00

instead of that last idea for social design i'm thinking now of going back to more of my original idea of the posters and asking people to write down their knowledge/ impressions of alcoholism as compared to other diseases. i'm going to use a different format, instead of the posters i'm going to make individual slips of paper asking for peoples opinions, and then incorporate them into a collage. i would probably ask people that are in the art building to do this, i would be posting the collage in the art building as, you know, art, so it seems appropriate to ask people here for their opinions.

2007-09-17T22:32:00.000-04:00

i think maybe for the social design project i am going to simply post alcoholism facts around the campus. facts that are more interesting and obscure ex. alcoholics have the same relapse rate as people with asthma. i was thinking of cutting letters out of contact paper.

2007-09-17T22:23:00.000-04:00

2007-09-14T20:56:00.000-04:00

This site has a news video about a water conservation campaign in Denver. i would just post the video but???? Anyway its sort of funny you should watch it.
http://cbs4denver.com/local/local_story_240214501.html

2007-09-14T20:27:00.001-04:00

Social Issue:Addiction

2007-09-14T17:08:00.000-04:00

The social issue I'm planning on addressing is addiction, more specifically the perception of alcoholism/substance abuse as a disease. Currently, addiction of this sort is accepted within the medical community as a disease, but outside of this context, I feel that it is many times not treated as a disease, but as a problem one should fix or overcome internally. When thinking about the disease of addiction as compared to other diseases, it is not difficult to understand skewed perception. Addiction is unique in that it is essentially a self-diagnosed disease, one that from the outside appears to be merely a pattern of poor decision making, instead of a disease stemming from both genetic and environmental influences. In this way addiction is similar to other diseases, cancer, diabetes, etc. which also are influenced by the same factors. The continuation of the idea that addiction is merely a result of glaring individual character defects is perpetuated by what I feel is dangerous information circulated in books, magazines that assert alcoholism specifically can be curbed or "overcome" through some sort of elaborate program of controlled drinking. This idea both prolongs the suffering of alcoholics and promotes the idea that their actions are largely by choice. This issue is made more difficult to correct because of information like this and the fact that the number of active alcoholics and addicts far out number those in recovery, thus more people probably have had experience dealing with the frustration of the socially unacceptable behaviors of an addict, rather than the behaviors of an individual in recovery.

Notes from the readings

2007-09-14T15:21:00.000-04:00

The global market as it currently exists largely excludes those who do not possess financial means or educational opportunities from becoming a part of by almost exclusively designing items to facilitate access to those who already have it. Design is considered many times in the context of the latest technology which is a positive and necessary thing, but is really only effective and beneficial to those who already have the technology and education to implement it. Design is considered with the intention of export, rather than considered within the context of materials and processes indigenous to a specific region. The globalization of technology enables poorer countries to have the potential to become producers, through access to the internet, which enables them to gain the knowledge and means to apply it. The downside to this is this technology requires a new set of skills and education to effectively use it. Consequently there is a disconnect between knowledge, technology, and skill sets. The exhibition that we are going to see in a week at the Cooper Hewitt, Design for the Other 90%, addresses these problems, showing examples of designs that consider the needs, available materials, and skill level of people living in less prosperous parts of the world, enabling them them to better sustain their immediate economical system, and consequently become contributors to the global economy.

Enameling Samples

2007-09-14T13:24:00.001-04:00