Design is Dangerous

Ipods are one of the most popular portable media players used today. There are a variety of models and generations, but one thing still stays the same, iPod ear buds. Since the ear buds are included free with the iPod, many people continue to use them not knowing the hidden potential dangers.

iPod ear buds are made cheap and are not meant to last. Many people have to constantly replace their iPod ear buds with new ones because of the fact that they keep breaking. Since the iPod chords are very long, they tend to get tangled up and snagged onto almost anything and everything, this is how many ear buds break. But this is especially dangerous when the ear buds are in the ear and the cord could potential hook onto a moving object, then it can pull the person along by the ears, possibly causing accidents. Also producing cheap ear buds that break easily produces excess waste, which is damaging to the environment. Broken ear buds can harm wildlife. Because of the iPod’s design, the long cords can easily get tangled and caught onto animals.

In the past, the ear buds came with a slip on soft foam cover to fit over the ear bud to make it more comfortable to place inside the ear, but this was an ineffective design. There was nothing securing the foam cover on to the ear bud, so it often fell off and people would loose them, creating more waste into the environment. The foam cover did not do any good for people’s ears either. The foam covers easily collected dust and dirt, and every time people placed it into their ears, they were clogging their ears with dirt, dust and bacteria, impairing their hearing.

In terms of iPod ear bud’s design and noise cancellation, it has none. For this reason, many people like to turn up their iPod the maximum volume to cover up outside noises. This does not only disrupts other surrounding people because they can hear the music from three feet away, it is also damaging to the ears. Listening to loud music periodically causes hearing loss over time. When the main audience of iPods consists children, teens and young adults, as they mature their hearing ability will have been negatively impacted.

Credits: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/

http://www.techpowerup.com/

Design in Society

Apple has consistently changed the world of design with new personalized products that improve the way we live our lives. This laptop design was made specifically with the idea of human use in mind. When designers created this product they took into consideration our human interactions with the object; how we would view the object and most importantly use the object. Designers aim to create a product that is versatile, dependable and efficient. In many ways the Macbook Pro design meets these factors. Though there is no perfect design, the Macbook Pro design is utopian because it aims to improve society.

Unlike many other laptop designs, the Macbook Pro was made to be reliable and dependable so that people do not have to worry about their laptop crashing when they need it the most. Though it maybe a bit pricey, it is well worth it in the end to save the stress and hassle of repairs. The Macbook Pro is very versatile, whether you are a student or working at the office, or an artist, the consistent design is capable of a variety of things. This is what makes the design so successful. The versatility allows tasks to be done much more quickly and efficiently. This is what makes the design very effective and functional for people. Time is very valuable and efficiency is key in this fast paced society that we live in. What is great about this design is that it opens up so many opportunities for people to learn, network, research, create and so much more. This design is utopian because it is a valuable tool that can be used to aid us in almost anything we do.


Credits: http://bindapple.com/

Color Transforms

If I were to imagine the color red, chances are that the red color that I had imagined would not be the same red as the person next to me. In the book Interaction of Colors, Josef Albers discusses how color is constantly changing and it is almost impossible to see a color alone by itself because it is always seen in relation to the colors it is surrounded by.

The green grid on the left appears to be different than the green on the right, but in actuality both greens are the same. It is the surrounding color that deceives our eyes into seeing them as different shades. It is said that color is understood through experience. When we compare and contrast different colors it helps us to understand their interaction and can learn to apply this to design. 

Interior designers often work with color and must observe how colors interact within a space. When interior designers are designing, they must take into consideration of how the space will be perceived as a whole. Color themes are often used because a certain combination of colors can portray specific feelings and moods that are desired within a space. A combination of green and white colors in the design below give an earthy-feel and peaceful appeal to the room below. 

Credits: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/
http://www.dalemasfuerte.com/

“Zero” Messenger Bag

When manufacturing products, many people do not realize how much was thrown away, in order to create that product. For example, in manufacturing clothing, much of the excess leftover fabric is simply thrown in the trash after the final piece of clothing is made. However, one company is breaking that cycle by sending a message of sustainability and creating a product with zero waste.

Rickshaw Bagworks is a company located in San Francisco that produces messenger bags that are designed to eliminate wasted material. The bags are hand crafted and are made from post consumer material from U.S companies. The fabrics used in manufacturing are recycled fabrics made with recycled beverage bottles. What’s unique about this company is that even leftover scraps from production are used in the bag’s design, such as for pockets, lining, etc. and even shipping. Nothing is wasted.

Mark Dwight, the founder of Rickshaw Bagworks, began with an idea to create a less wasteful and sustainable bag, and so he designed the Zero messenger bag with zero manufacturing waste in mind. The Zero bags are fully functional with an easy adjustable strap. The bags have a sleek, streamline shape and are available in four different sizes. Mark Dwight has created a successful design that sends the message of sustainability and zero waste. 

Credit: http://www.dailygrommet.com/products/

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/messenger-bags

Ergonomics - Bamboo Pen Tablet

Wacom is the world’s leading manufacturer of pen tablets, interactive pen displays, and digital interface solutions. One of their most popular products appealing to a wide variety of audiences is the Bamboo Pen Tablet.

The Bamboo Tablet's design focuses on the tablet's function as a tool of interaction with the user and the computer. The tablet is popular because of its versatility and capabilities, such as drawing, writing, note taking, editing images, and much more. It allows people to simply use the product without too many difficulties or complications.


Using a tablet is quite a different experience than using a mouse or track pad on a computer. When using a mouse of track pad for a prolonged amount of time, wrist pain is commonly experienced due to strain from a bent wrist.  With a tablet, a pen enables the wrist to rest on the flat surface without bending, which eliminates the strain and allows a more comfortable experience. People tend to also be more familiar with the action of holding a pen or pencil so that it is natural as a pencil on paper. For many, using a tablet for the first time is not a problem.


Another benefit of the tablet’s design is that it enables much more free range of movement than a mouse or track pad. When using a mouse or track pad, motions are rash and quick, and it is often very difficult to make small detailed movements. Tablets excel in precision and detail because of their design. The human hand can easily grip around the pen comfortably allowing full control even in the slightest hand motion. Any shape, line, or curve, is easily achieved with the tablet pen. Many digital artists prefer to use tablets over any mouse or track pad because of its mobility and simply because it is easier to use.


The Bamboo Pen Tablet can connect to any computer, desktop or laptop, PC or Mac, as long as there is a USB port. Tablets can quickly execute actions with quick keys. They are usually located on the center of tablet pen and can be set to keyboard functions. There are also quick keys located on the edge of tablet surface. The addition of quick keys to the design allows the tablet to be customizable to the user, and can speed up productivity. Instead of using the cursor to scroll over and click the option, the user can simply press the quick key button to have the option selected, saving time.


The tablet is thin and flat so it is easily transportable. The dimensions are 9.8” x 6.9”, which is not too large, so it is easy to place on a desk and to store away. The Bamboo Tablet was designed specifically for the human hand's interaction with the computer screen. The tablet design succeeds in being efficient and task appropriate.


Credits: http://www.wacom.com/

Bamboo SK8 Decks

A few weeks ago, when browsing around at the town’s local skate shop, I had discovered something very interesting and new to the skateboarding world. My eye had caught a skateboard deck hanging off the rack, I asked the clerk to get a closer look. I could not believe it. The skate deck was made of bamboo!

The skate deck is made by a new company called Bamboo SK8, specializing in sustainable bamboo skateboard manufacturing. The company manufactures 70% bamboo skate decks in different designs and are currently working on 100% bamboo skate deck models. Their reason for choosing bamboo is because of the environmental impact of producing skateboard decks from trees. Unlike Canadian Maple trees, which take around 40-60 years to grow, bamboo grows much faster because it is a grass, so it grows like a grass. Bamboo is a renewable resource, once harvested bamboo does not need to be replanted, it will grow new shoots from its extensive root system. When harvested, bamboo is cut with a hand axe, not a chainsaw like maple trees, so there is no air pollution. Bamboo also produces 35% more oxygen than the equivalent to standing trees.

You maybe thinking “Well, how do these decks perform?” After running the bamboo decks through some tests, they outperformed many maple tree skate decks. The bamboo material has the ability to absorb much of the impact when jumping and resists breakage, making it much stronger than many maple tree skate decks. The bamboo is also very elastic and has a natural rebound resulting in the best pops for tricks. The price range for these decks is also very inexpensive ranging from $20-$30, which is much more reasonable than regular skate decks going from $50-$60.

Bamboo SK8 takes much pride in their product. They are changing the world of skateboarding with their brand new sustainable bamboo skate deck design.  I love the design and concept of using bamboo as a sustainable resource to create a message of environmental awareness, so I had to buy one for myself!


Credits: Bamboo SK8

Word & Image - book covers

In my previous blog, I discussed Brian Fies’s comic Mom’s Cancer, explaining the relationship between word and image and how they are able to communicate a meaning or message much more effectively when used together rather than a using single image or text would. Not only are word and image successful in comic book storytelling, they are also used in marketing and advertising for book covers.

   

Image: Brian Fies

     

Image: Brian Fies

In the comic, Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? by Brian Fies, both word and image are used on the book cover to create a quick glimpse of the narrative, while not giving away the whole story at once. It is important that image and word must coincide to create a message or theme that will attract the reader into picking up and reading the book.

Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? contains two parts to the original book cover. The outside layer includes a paper flap which wraps around the hardcover book itself (picture on the left) and the main cover, without the cover flap (picture on the right). The picture on the left displays a world during the 1940s to 1960s era and the picture on the right portrays a more futuristic and space age time. The two images combine to make the official cover for the book. The cover works by putting the two images side-by-side, comparing and contrasting the two periods of time, which relates to the narrative of the comic. The title, Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow, at the top of the cover ties the two images together by asking a question to the readers. It makes the reader view the page as whole, making them think about the narrative and theme of this of this comic.

Credits: Fies, Brian. Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow?

Word & Image

“Comics books are a lot like rock music,” says Brian Fies, the author of Mom’s Cancer and What ever happened to the World of Tomorrow.

Image: Mom's Cancer by Brian Fies

On Tuesday, November 2, Brian Fies guest lectured for the Intro to Design class at UC Davis. His first book, Mom’s Cancer, was influenced by his mother who was diagnosed with lung cancer. His inspiration came from sketching his mother one day during chemotherapy. Looking back at the sketch, he noticed how the combination of words and image worked together to describe what went on that day.

Image: Mom's Cancer by Brian Fies

Comic books are essentially the juxtaposition of words and images. Brian Fies explained that comics transcend and the words and images must work together to tell a story. Without one or the other the message or meaning will be lost to the audience. During his lecture, he described comic books by using it an analogy to rock music. He explained that all rock music had lyrics and music. When the lyrics are separated from music, the message of the song is not as effective as having both music and lyrics together. Combining music and lyrics together give the song a much more powerful message and have a stronger impact on the audience. The same applies to comic books. The combination of image and words together give much more meaning and depth than having only words without images or just having images without words. Brian Fies chose the comic book form because juxtaposing word and image could easily establish metaphors, symbolism and imagery.

Image: Mom's Cancer by Brian Fies

This is an image from Mom’s Cancer and also was used for the book cover. Brian Fies creates a bisecting border, splitting the image horizontally. The image implies a window panel. The viewer is looking into the window, into his mother’s life of as cancer patient. The upper half of the window marks the mind and the lower half the body. Mind and body are both represented in the text but are separated by the bisecting border in the center. The structure places viewers outside the window, looking in, distancing the audience from fully understanding the hardships and experiences. The combination of image and word exposes the exhaustion and pain of both mind and body.


Credits: Fies, Brian. Mom's Cancer.

Trash Cleaning Trash

In the past, designers were only concerned with functionality and creating products with materials that best fit the need. But now realizing the impact of our existence on the environment makes us rethink of how we must change the way we life our lives. Our relationship with design has changed the way designers must design. Designers must now think and question where the design will end up in the future and how it will affect society. In our ever-changing society, the new constraint of design must not only be functional but also has to be sustainable.

A company called Electrolux AB is sparking a conversation about being more environmentally friendly, with their new design of vacuum cleaners. The vacuum cleaners are fully functional and can suck up dirt from carpet and rugs like any other vacuum, but these vacuums are special in they are made of plastic trash collected from the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean, North and Baltic seas.

The design may seem very ironic at first, in that it is an object that cleans up dirt and garbage, and yet it is made out of something that was once garbage. People may question and wonder how something that was once considered garbage able to be something that is now so functional and useful. And then the conversation becomes about Design. Design is ephemeral. As the world changes, there will always be new problems to solve, new constraints to over come, and the role of the designer is to keep designing products that will help improve our lives and society. 

Credit: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles

Industrial Design - mass production

In 1957, the Coca-cola company began using aluminum cans for its popular carbonated beverage. Now the aluminum cans are being used by many other companies and their beverages, such as Pepsi, Sunkist, Dr. Pepper, Hansen’s, and many others. Whether it’s a carbonated beverage or juice drink, the aluminum can design has been a popular way for people to enjoy their favorite beverage.

The reason why the aluminum cans gained popularity so quickly was because of its design. The cylindrical shape makes it very convenient for consumers to carry around and the cans could easily stack on top one another for easy storage. The aluminum material is durable enough to resist punctures and keep the beverage cool very nicely. The signature “click” when pulling the tab became a trademark in advertising the freshness and crispness when first opening the beverage. Not only is the aluminum can’s form functional, its exterior design became very marketable.

The Coca-cola cans are recognized by their signature red color. The vibrant red color catches our eye and we perceive the color with the emotion of excitement and joy. The white line that waves across the can suggests recreation and relaxation. It gives the viewer the sense that drinking a can of coke will help to relax the mood. The cans are also label with a specialized typeface, called Spencerian script. The logo is written in a cursive lettering style, which is unique in that it was a popular style of handwriting in the mid 19^th century, relating to the Coca-cola Company’s history, being the classic original soft drink.

Through the form and content displayed on Coca-cola can’s design allowed it to be successful in marketing and effective in conveying its concept to the consumers. That is why the coke can had become very popular and the same can has been used for many other products and companies.

Credits: http://images.mylot.com/
http://turanchox.com/

Form & Content: Objectified

 “Every object tells a story if you know how to read it” a quote from Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company.

The documentary film Objectified, by Gary Hustwit examines the role of everyday objects in our daily lives and the people who design them. When we first pick up an object we may not think about how much thought and work was put into that product that we use on a daily base. There is a reason why products are made the way they are, and it is not only for the aesthetic appearance.

Charles Eames from the film Design Q&A quotes, “Design is a method of action. Design depends on constraints.” The action of designing depends on constraints. The constraints come from the context of where the design will be, how it will be used, what will it be used for. The consumer’s interaction with the design will develop a relationship that will determine advantages and disadvantages that designers must work with.

Objectified discusses the role of a designer using the method of design thinking. With the constraints in mind, designers must question what form the design take, considering the visual aspect; the color, texture, composition, etc. The form of the design must also be related to the content, questioning whether or not design effectively communicates the message. It is important that the design must be functional and meet the required needs of the people. It must create an environment where people understand the design and feel comfortable with it. What is good design?

Design is everywhere and we use designed products everyday in our daily lives. Design is ever changing and improving and it is also changing the way we live our lives. Gary Hustwit’s Objectified documentary film, demonstrates the importance of our interaction and relationship with design in society. 

Credits: http://connect.in.com/
http://www.psfk.com/wp-content/

Iconic Icons

Everyday people are exposed to hundreds of icons, from street signs to stop signs, and religious symbols to company logos. Though people may not realize it, icons are everywhere, guiding us through our daily routines. But, what is an icon and what is its significance? According to Housefield, iconography is the pictorial language of signs and symbols and their transformation over time. The word, iconography literally means “image writing.”

Iconography is important in the design world because it enables communication between the designer and viewer. Designers create icons to communicate important messages and meaning to the viewer. When looking at an icon, people are able to identify and understand the icon at first glance than reading a written message. Because this method is very efficient, many icons are used for signs on highways and streets to help us find out way. They are also used to communicate warnings and hazards, to keep people from getting into dangerous situations. Icons can also be used in various situations, even humor.

While searching through the internet, I happened to come across a group called Improv Everywhere, their motto, “cause scenes of chaos and joy in public places.” When browsing through their videos, I found one to be the most memorable, titled “who you gonna call?”

The video takes place in the reading room of the Public Library in New York City. The scene starts out with 3 people walking into the reading room. They dressed with white sheets over their heads pretending to be ghosts. The audience around them stared in confusion wondering what was happening. A few minutes later, 4 men dressed in uniform suits with the iconic Ghost Busters logo walk into the same room. The men immediately begin to chase the ghosts around the library and eventually chase the ghosts out of the library.

As soon as the viewers were able to identify and recognized the iconic Ghostbuster logo and image, they immediately reacted with laughter and applaud showing feedback of understanding. It was the iconic logo that really brought the audience to comprehend and appreciate the scene. Icons are very powerful in that they can change confusion into understanding almost immediately.

Credits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKB7zfopiUA
http://www.blognewsarama.com
http://www.aceinfowayindia.com

Design as a Conversation

Design is a conversation. A conversation between the designer and it’s audience. It is the

conversation that communicates change.

Last week, the popular clothing company, Gap, unveiled a new logo design. The new logo would be described as more “contemporary and modern” than the original logo. But when Gap unveiled this new logo, many customers were not so thrilled about the change.

On social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, many people criticized the new logo design. Commenting on why Gap would do such a thing, destroying it’s own image by replacing it’s iconic blue box logo with something that was thought to be very unappealing and poorly designed by many. Some would even say that the logo looked like a 5^th grader had designed it.

With today’s evolving social media, the upset against Gap’s logo triggered thousands of tweets and Facebook status updates, even a fake Twitter account gathering many followers protested against the new design. After reading all of the feedback, Gap had followed up and responded, “Ok. We’ve heard loud and clear that you don’t like the new logo. We’ve learned a lot from the feedback, we only want what’s best for the brand and our customers. So instead of crowd sourcing, we’re bringing back the Blue Box tonight.” After less than a week, Gap had swapped back to the old logo.

This backlash against the new logo is a clear example of a designer’s conversation with audience. Gap created a design and released it to the public. The public listened and responded with feedback. Gap responded to the feedback with change. This communication between designer and audience is the most effective way to solve problems within the design world. Especially with our advancing technology and social networking, we are now able to communicate and respond much more quickly and efficiently than before. Our design world is ever changing.


Credits: http://mashable.com/2010/10/11/gap-logo/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/12/gap-gets-rid-of-new-logo_n_759131.html
http://www.whitebirchbrewing.com
http://www.farmersmarketowencounty.com

Comparison and Contrast

What makes an object popular? What makes it attract people’s attention? What makes it work? 

There are many infomercials on television selling special products to fix various problems or products just to create convenience to peoples’ everyday lives. But I always wondered why some products became a success and why some were just a flop. I guess the answer is, it’s all in the design.

One of the products that happen to intrigue me the most was the Snuggie. If you didn’t know, a Snuggie is basically a blanket with sleeves. When I first saw the Snuggie commercial I assumed that it was just a brightly colored blanket. I wondered, “why not just use a regular blanket? It would be the same.” But it turned out, it wasn’t the same as a blanket, a Snuggie had sleeves! I thought, “if you are that cold, why not just wear a jacket? It has sleeves, it will keep you warm.” But I guess some people refuse to wear jackets indoors.

When I first saw a Snuggie, I thought it looked very strange and I admit that I had always made fun of the people in the infomercials because I never really understood the idea behind it. But after seeing it on television after many years, I had never realized how popular it became. And then one day, I had a chance to try a Snuggie and it was not bad as I thought. It even had a pocket! The Snuggie is not a just a blanket or a jacket, but a hybrid of both. I guess the reason why it became so popular was because of its convenience and function. Even though in my opinion it is not the most appealing to wear, it’s function over fashion with this design.

Credits: http://www.snuggiesourcefortwo.com

http://www.pioneerlinens.com

The Ω Curve?

Lampo Leong, a professor of art in painting and drawing at the University of Missouri, Columbia, visited UC Davis last Thursday to give a lecture on his theory on the visual forces of the Ω (Omega) Curve. For those who may not know, Lampo Leong is an internationally acclaimed painter, calligrapher, and multimedia artist. He received his BFA in brush painting from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in China, his MFA in painting from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco, and his Ph.D. in Art Theory and Practice at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing.

Lampo Leong’s theory focuses on the shape of the omega curve and how it exists in architecture and the composition of many artworks tracing back to early history from both eastern and western art. He points out similarities such as the omega shape appearing in ancient Chinese calligraphy, also reappearing in early European paintings. The specific shape of the omega curve create tension and energy versus a straight line. This is why many artists have intentional compositions with hidden omega curves. Relating the idea to Chinese calligraphy, he explains how omega curves create flow and movement where our eyes can travel and follow and that is what makes calligraphy so appealing to people.

After the lecture, Lampo Leong gave a quick calligraphy demonstration. Calligraphy is a combination of visual and performance art, where the shape and curves reflect movement and feeling. It is the coordination of the mind, heart and hand to create a line that carries strength, energy, and the spirit of the artist.

Credits:

http://web.missouri.edu/~leongl/Biography%20file/bio%20text/EnglishBiography/BiographicalSum.html
http://www.flickr.com/groups/worldtrekker/discuss/72157603516527143/

http://www.corbisimages.com/Enlargement/AX050876.html

Creativity from Without

Where’s the creativity? Where’s the inspiration?

Believe it or not, artists don’t get inspiration by staring at a blank wall all day. They go out and see the world. Experience things. Artists can get inspired everywhere and by anything. Contemporary artist, Lisa Hoke is inspired by the colors of everyday objects. Sculptor and photographer, Andy Goldsworthy is inspired by the environment. These are only a few examples, but all artists get their own inspiration from somewhere or something. Where do I get my inspiration?

I get my inspiration from various things. Sometimes it can be from my favorite hobbies or interests, or even everyday experiences. Even little observations from everyday happenings can spark a whole new fascination. For example, one day after playing guitar, I set my guitar pick down onto the desk and couldn’t help but notice how the shape resembled a tooth. I imagined it as a monster’s tooth. So I took all of my picks and laid them out on to the desk and moved all the pieces around, and then it turned into a guitar PICK MONSTER!

Sometimes when looking for inspiration, I like to listen to music. Though I may not always understand the lyrics or what the song is about, I listen for the feeling and tone of the song. I usually create stories and scenes imagining what it could be about. Every time I listen to the song there is a different story playing in my mind, so if get inspired by an idea, I sketch it out on paper. This is the most effective way for me to find creativity.

Usually whenever I find something that interests me, I think to myself “What if it was like this?” or “Wouldn’t it be cool if…?” My mind wanders and daydreams of all the possibilities. I love being inspired because you may never know where the creativity will lead you.

Stone Soup

A soup made of stones? Not exactly.

 Stone Soup is a book illustrated by Marcia Brown. The idea of stone soup is that everyone is contributing a little bit of something that they have into something much greater. So we recreated this idea of stone soup within our design groups. Everyone brought in various items and our objective was to all collaborate to create and build something using what we had.

The first question that came to mind was, “What are we going to make?” Though we may have not realized it, but we went through something called the creative process, which involves activities such as thinking, looking and doing. “These three procedures can stimulate the artistic problem solving process.” as stated in Design Basics by Lauer and Pentak.

First we looked at the items that every group member had brought. Then we started to think, “What could we make with these?” We looked through the items again and brainstormed a bit, sketching out a plan and discussing amongst ourselves. The most difficult part was trying to decide on what to create as a group because many of us had different ideas and opinions, but once we decided on an idea, we started the building (or doing) process.

As we continued, we would run into problems, “What can we do next?” Then we would turn to this creative process again by looking and assessing, then thinking and solving, then doing. Not necessarily following in the exact sequence of looking, thinking, and doing, but jumping around and sometimes almost doing them simultaneously. The creative process is continuous process, whenever there is a problem the creative process is a way to solve it. 

In the end, this is what we created. The idea was based off of replicating a deck of cards, specifically the king card.

After finishing our project, I had a walk around to see what other people had created. It was pretty amazing to see what other groups had created. Here are some of the other design groups work.

Trailers

What makes a film trailer capture its audience? A few days ago when browsing through youtube, I came across a trailer for a film called Buried, directed by Rodrigo Cortés. Viewing the trailer for the first time, I remembered the importance of first impressions as discussed in lecture as we viewed a short introduction to the film Amélie, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. I had never watched Amélie before, so there were many thoughts running through my mind about this character; like who this character was, what were their interests, and what kind of person they were. Similar questions arose when viewing the trailer of Buried for the first time.


Does this film seem interesting to me? Am I willing to go a theater and pay to watch a film like this? The design of the trailer is very important because it gives a first impression of the film to the viewer. It can determine whether or not people will show up for the film on opening day. The most successful trailers will engage the audience, showing them little snippets of the film to make them wonder and want more.

The reason in choosing this specific trailer was because it seemed very different from the typical trailers that I would normally see. I found the design very fascinating because it used no footage from the actual film itself, it only displayed still images captured from the film. If you have not seen the trailer already, you may think that it will be very slow paced due to the still images, but it is not. The way that the trailer is designed, the images are moving, turning, flipping, appearing and disappearing. The progression is controlled by a set of lines that travel throughout the screen. The lines move in all different directions, changing to colors, increasing with speed, and are cued with sound effects. These are the aspects of creating an environment of intensity and suspense. Also, as the trailer progresses, little bits of information and clues are being revealed through the dialogue, creating mystery and suspense within the narrative.

These are the characteristics of trailer that really made curious and interested into finding out more about this film. I would say that the designers were successful in capturing and engaging the viewer. This was a definitely a good first impression for me. I think I will be seeing this film sometime in the future.



Credits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWVoUBgVcf8&feature=player_embedded

First Encounter

When I think back to first encounter with design, the first object that came to mind were my old pair of roller skates. The first time I saw a pair of roller skates I was a bit confused because I had never seen anything like it before. I thought it was very strange as to why there were wheels connected to boots. I tilted my head in question and was a bit skeptical, but at the same time I was curious as to how it worked.

Looking at the pair of roller skates for the first time, I noticed the bright red shiny material on the exterior of the boot and felt how smooth it was. I spun the large wheels and I felt its rubbery rough texture. I rolled the skates back and forth and felt how fast and smooth it rolled. I noticed how little pieces of dirt collected on the wheels as I rolled them over little bits of sand and rock on the ground. These were some of the characteristics that really fascinated me and later motivated me to try the roller skates.

The roller skates provided a new experience that was an alternative to walking. Putting on skates for the first time made me feel uneasy and a bit scared too because it was something I was totally not used to. But with skates on my feet, I soon learned that could move smoothly with sharp turns and swerves on concrete, which proved to be more efficient than walking. Like wings to help you fly into the air, skates help you glide freely along the pavement without a care. The more I skated the more I grew to love it. And even now, I would rather trade my pair of shoes for a pair of roller skates anytime.

First Impressions

Though some may say, “It doesn’t matter what you look on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.” Though it is true, what is on the inside matters, but what appears on the outside also matters.

During class, we viewed a trailer of a film called objectified. As quoted from the film, “When you see an object, you make so many assumptions about that object in seconds. What it does, How well it’s going to do it, How much you think it’s going to cost.”

I agree with the statement from this film because I think it is very true. I also think that these assumptions do not only apply to objects, but they can apply to people too. No matter how hard we try to resist from judging other people based on their appearance, it will always be in the back of our minds to judge them somehow. I think it is in human nature because our minds are wandering to figure out, who is this person, when we don’t know them yet, so we make automatic assumptions.

That is why first impressions are so important. It can determine our futures, whether or not we get that job, or make that new friend, or meet our true soul mate. The same can be applied to the design. The design of an object can determine whether or not the consumer will buy the product. The consumer will automatically make assumptions about that product before they buy it. Is it attractive? Useful? Interesting? These are things to consider. Not only are first impressions are important for people, they are also important for design.



Credits:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9E2D2PaIcI&feature=player_embedded