Thomas Berry

Kevin, Laura, and I volunteered to make a post card for a gentleman buy the name of Thomas Berry whose video we watched in theory hour last Wednesday. Below is the process we went through to come up with our design. The end result will be posted shortly.

Earrings

Depicted below are earrings that I designed while in Honduras this summer. Lord willing I will be able to make them in the wood shop this semester if our professors ever give some room to breathe. They will made out of mahogany and I can not wait to see the result.

Shelter/Bus

The goal with our shelter/bus was to maximize the ability to transport as much food as is achievable, to provide for as many people as possible. The image on the left shows a retaining wall in which will be stored sustainable goods. The picture on the right shows a shelving unit that will be used to to store tools, food, and other miscellaneous items that may be needed. In addition to the shelves, the seating arrangement is shown for the few volunteers needed to distribute the food and water. The second illustration shows the storage containers for the water that being stored underneath the bus. The water will be renewed by catching rain water through the roof as well as pipes that can pull water from a local water source. This water will be purified by using a ceramic filter, which will then store the water in the containers below.

Shelter/Bus

Bubble Diagram

Codes all in one

Shelter/bus

Guerilla Marketing (Radio Commercial)

Have you taken the time to visit the surrounding community of Greensboro. Have you seen the needs in our community. A city is only as strong as the weakest link. The second year Interior Architecture students in the Community By Design Studio at the University of North Carolina Greensboro have researched our community and have seen a few of its needs. One of those is a shelter for the many bus stops around Greensboro, and we are proposing to design a bus shelter to help bring people together and start making a difference by helping those in need. . It takes just one willing person, one helping hand, or one caring heart, to bring people together to make a big difference. To learn more visit our community Blog at Communitybydesign.blogspot.com.

Guerilla Marketing

Guerilla Marketing

Library Table (Mars)

My Artifact
The Herter brothers’ rosewood and mother of pearl library table was designed in 1882 for William Henry Vanderbilt, for whom they also designed and decorated a mansion on 5th avenue in Manhattan. The table itself was encompassed within the mansion and centrally located as a hierarchical landmark within the library. However, the presence of this table is not limited to its location. The Metropolitan Museum of Art explains that the sole purpose of the table was not to be functional, (though it had the ability to), but rather was to be the embodiment of power and prestige as a piece of sculpture to Vanderbilt himself (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1). In class, we have discussed the fact that, throughout history, people have been alluding to and pulling design elements from the past and incorporating them into design today. The library tables’ lion-paw shaped feet, overall shape, and stylized palmettes are all elements reminiscent of the Roman Empire. Furthermore, the wreaths enclosing a star in each corner of the tabletop parallel designs from the Napoleanic era. It can be clearly seen that this table served as a powerful symbol for Mr. Vanderbilt during his time, as well as a symbol that draws heavily on the past.

Similar Artifact
A similar artifact, a center table, was also designed by the Herter Brothers in the late 1800’s. As with the library table, the center table is very ornate with carved, ebonized, inlaid and gilded maple as well as gilded bronze fittings. Some may say that this table could have easily had just as prominent a place as the library table had, since the Herter brothers often designed for prominent clients within the U.S. including the White House.

Contrasting Artifact
Contrary to the library table is the lava lamp. Though not primarily used for illumination the lava lamp was a symbol of modernity fundamentally used for decoration. It was also associated with the drug culture of the 1960’s because of its aesthetic similarities to hallucinations commonly associated with certain drugs. In light of this information one can see that the lava lamp served an entirely different purpose than that of the library table. The table symbolized power and prestige for one man, while the ubiquity of the lava lamp represents a culture that is self-destructing.

Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. “American Decorative Arts.” 2008. Sept. 21, 2008. .

Codes + to avoid a mousetrap

Being required to consider another’s needs and activities in one’s design was a new experience, and was at first found to be nothing less than inconvenient. It was a vehicle for an ample amount of onerous research. In accordance with the research, this requirement, to consider others, has the ability to deduct from or entirely change ones design by rearranging or dictating new measurements in one’s ideation. However, while evaluating others needs may be time consuming and frustrating, we found it to be a necessary and beneficial evil that brings new life to design.

In light of our above experience, it is important to define design before giving designers advice on the subject. Design: To decide upon the look and functioning of (a building, garment, or other object), typically by making a detailed drawing of it. (Apple Dictionary) Since designers impact the function and the appearance of an building, garment, or object, it is imperative that designers ruminate about their targeted market. Primarily, universal design should be a vital characteristic in a designers work. We all share life on this earth and we must work together and consider others to survive, connect, and harmonize.

Since others are important for design, America has established codes as a requirement. These codes are here to aid, and guide designers throughout their designs as well as help one to consider the needs of everyone. Furthermore, since some of these codes are based off of Davinci’s scale of the human body, they help the designer keep their designs at an comfortable proportion.

In summary regarding codes, ergonomics, and proxemics we have entered into a new chapter of design. It is this chapter that will aid and give rise to a careful thoughtfulness of others. Instead of limiting our creativity, as so many have conjectured, these three standards will open new realms of thought. One can let these canons confine them, or one can allow them to set him or her free.

Hurricane Relief Bubble Diagram

Tate St. Bus Shelter Scale Model

Shelter/Bus Scale Model

Shelter/Bus Ideations

bus shelter

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

This past year UNCG recycled over 700 tons of materials and saved over $100,000 by doing so. This is a major incentive for those capitalist companies that are fearful of losing money by conserving energy and making their buildings more sustainable, and thus minimizing its impact on the environment. This is a very exciting movement that is occurring right here in our country as well as across the world. It is a movement that we all can be excited about, and should be excited about. It has the opportunity to effect our way of life for the better, while allowing each individual to take part and possess a pride in knowing that he or she is helping others around the world and his or herself.

GTA Experience

For this assignment I chose to ride the bus first and then read the text so that I could freely observe and experience the bus ride without having any presuppositions. Upon entering the bus I experienced exactly what I expected. I felt like I was on a form of city transportation. I felt the same way on the metro in D.C, the subway in Manhattan, and any other bus or train I use within the city. That feeling is one of defense. One may assume that I speak of self-defense physically, but it is more of a social, cultural defense then a physical one. I am uncomfortable, just as many others are, when they enter a social situation in which they are not regularly exposed to, or familiar with. For example, if I am in the mall and I see a bunch of marines congregating I navigate to an opposing direction from them. Why? Because, even though I am a Marine, I am not comfortable with the culture as a whole. That is not to say that there may be some marines within that group that I may enjoy very much, however, as a whole, the marine community has formed a reputation for being very coarse, and I do not understand why they act the way they do. As a result I try to stay away from that culture. This is what I believe is happening today in our society. There are perhaps more opportunities in our country today for minorities to succeed and to do well than there are for the majority. There is a multitude of government programs, aid, and help for minorities. Consequently, I do not think that racism, per se, is prevalent in America, but rather an overarching discomfort with the culture of minorities. For example, when the Spanish discovered the Aztecs they were appalled because of their customs, courtesies, music, and religious views, which are all aspects of one’s culture.
We see some of this aversion or dislike of another’s culture in the article that we read. However, today we have equal opportunity laws, among others, that require businesses and schools to meet certain racial requirements. There is also aid and help for minorities with regards to education as well as for those enduring hardship. As a result of these laws, it is not the case that minorities do not have the legal ability to engage in the same opportunities as non-minorities (as occurred in the article). However, in place of legal barriers, we see cultural barriers today, with minorities’ cultures keeping them mired in a self-perpetuating cycle.
Overall, the reading did not strongly influence my perceptions of my experience on the bus, because I have read similar articles before and I have solid, foundational, beliefs concerning racism and segregation. However, I did learn about some very interesting ideas. This weekend I interviewed and questioned a few people who were of a minority group. I asked them that if the minorities wanted to be treated more fairly why, when in social situations do they almost always seek out those of their ethnicity instead of trying to make friends with the people they wanted to accept them more. The response was that it was more comfortable for them to be with those of the same ethnic background, but that if one does want change they themselves are going to have to help by going out of their comfort zone. One can understand a culture as much as one wants but unless one becomes one with the culture he or she will most likely not be fully accepted by that culture. For example, if I go to Japan and live there for the rest of my life and continue acting like an American the entire time I am there, I will experience a lot of problems. I might offend them without knowing it, and I probably would not fit in. The same is true for all cultures, not races necessarily, but cultures. They must understand that America has a culture and the minorities should recognize that and understand it. International businesses are great models for this theory, especially when meeting with clients of another culture. Businessmen and women must understand the culture they are dealing with so that they will not offend the other. In conclusion, I believe that Americans will accept seemingly benign aspects of another’s culture even if they do not understand that culture completely. However, if that culture has evolved to evoke fear, discomfort, or negative perceptions in others than the majority will not accept it and reconciliation will be perpetually out of reach.

GTA Experience

Chaise Lounge

Value Study

In this project we were to take pictures of places within the studio that exhibited a multitude of values. These were some of my selections and the one I chose is on the bottom left. I knew the piping would be more difficult so I chose it to further enhance my drawing a shading abilities. We'll see how it turns out.

Refresher Exercises

On our first day of drawing class we were given a list of places to find on campus and compose a contour drawing of. A few of these are the following: a place to eat, relax, and stand in line. The pictures below are my depictions of these places.

1st week

During the first week of Interior Architecture we had to find our way from our home to a pre-selected destination. Along this trip, or wayfinding adventure if you will, we were asked to document our trip and pay attention to the things that aided, impeded, or stood out along our way. This project caused me to look at my own path in life and decide where the signs were leading me within the Interior Architecture field. As a result, I was really able to analyze the nodes, and landmarks along my path to the radio station downtown.