*1. What is the most important thing you got out of the interview? How will you use this?
The most important and useful piece of information that I got from the interview I conducted with an interior designer was about how she started her design firm and the struggles that she went through. The advice she gave me on how to handle the struggles of opening up a design firm will help make the process easier for myself in the future.
*2. Which question got the most interesting answer? What question would you ask that you didn't?
The question I asked about her opinion on the NCIDQ certification had the most interesting response. The interior designer that I interviewed is NCIDQ certified so I assumed that she would be in support of people having the take the certification test to label themselves "interior designers". My interviewee believes that people who wish to call themselves "designers" should not have to pass the NCIDQ in order to do so. I was surprised; her opinion sounded like one that would come from a designer who isn't NCIDQ certified.
3. What information received from the interview might apply to other design majors?
Information regarding working with different types of clients, where inspiration is taken from, and starting a design firm would apply to other design majors.
4. What did the interviewee say about work that is recognized in school work?
My interviewee mentioned working with clients and peers while collaborating on a project. In design class we also have to consider our clients life style and preferences while designing a space.
5. What would you do differently?
I would ask more questions about specific design projects that the interviewee has worked on.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Ciulla, What Is Work?
In Ciulla's, "What Is Work" she discusses different ways that the word "work" is interpretted, proving that there is no one set definition of the word work. In one of her chapters titled " Work as an Attitude" Ciulla explains how titling a task as "work" rather than "an activity" affects the way people go about completing the task; it makes the task seem more tedious and unpleasant. As an interior design student I have experienced a small dose of what professional interior designers experience in the "professional world". If Iconsidered all of the time consuming tasks that I have to complete in order to put together a successful presentation as "work" I would never get it all done. I always try to find something enjoyable in the tasks that I have for my design class in order to complete the tasks to the best of my abilities.
In another chapter titled "Anything Can Be Work" Ciulla says that Webster's New Unabridged Dictionary defines work as " the bodily or mental effort exerted to do or make something; purposeful activiy; labor; toil." Ciulla later states that "on the one hand work is necessary and restrictive of our freedom, while on the other hand it is purposeful and creative." The work of an interior designer is toil; it is extremely exhausting and time consuming. The Webster's definition of work comes very close to defining the work of an interior designer. Interior designers spend countless hours working on schemes, drafting, rendering, and creating presentations all to end up with a funtional, purposeful design.
In Ciulla's chapter "The Labor of Our Bodies" she explains that while labor does involve physical activity is not always an extremely strenuous act. She goes on to define the word "laborer" as an individual who contributes to the making or doing of something. This is exactly what an interior designer does. Interior design does involve physical labor, however it is not extreme. Interior designers take an idea or concept and turn it into floor plans and construction documents. These plans get approved by architects and are then turned into tangible spaces by contractors. The interior designer does not physically take part in building the structure but their "work" is what lead to the actual structure.
The chapter "Work That Hurts" Ciulla talks about work and the toil and drudgery that goes along with it. Drudgery refers to work that is dull and minuteness, while toil refers to exhausting, continous work/labor. I would not say that interior design is dull or minuteness but I would definitely say that it is extremely time consuming and exhausting. Interior designers spend hours upon hours either hand drafting or digitally creating plans, and then create presentations that they will eventually present to clients. More times that not the client will not be completely satisfied with the inital design presented to them which means that it is back to the drawing board, literally, for the designer. That is the most stressful feeling because all of the hours put into the original design become worthless. Interior design is very stressful because designers are constantly faced with difficult clients and the issue of problem solving.
In another chapter titled "Anything Can Be Work" Ciulla says that Webster's New Unabridged Dictionary defines work as " the bodily or mental effort exerted to do or make something; purposeful activiy; labor; toil." Ciulla later states that "on the one hand work is necessary and restrictive of our freedom, while on the other hand it is purposeful and creative." The work of an interior designer is toil; it is extremely exhausting and time consuming. The Webster's definition of work comes very close to defining the work of an interior designer. Interior designers spend countless hours working on schemes, drafting, rendering, and creating presentations all to end up with a funtional, purposeful design.
In Ciulla's chapter "The Labor of Our Bodies" she explains that while labor does involve physical activity is not always an extremely strenuous act. She goes on to define the word "laborer" as an individual who contributes to the making or doing of something. This is exactly what an interior designer does. Interior design does involve physical labor, however it is not extreme. Interior designers take an idea or concept and turn it into floor plans and construction documents. These plans get approved by architects and are then turned into tangible spaces by contractors. The interior designer does not physically take part in building the structure but their "work" is what lead to the actual structure.
The chapter "Work That Hurts" Ciulla talks about work and the toil and drudgery that goes along with it. Drudgery refers to work that is dull and minuteness, while toil refers to exhausting, continous work/labor. I would not say that interior design is dull or minuteness but I would definitely say that it is extremely time consuming and exhausting. Interior designers spend hours upon hours either hand drafting or digitally creating plans, and then create presentations that they will eventually present to clients. More times that not the client will not be completely satisfied with the inital design presented to them which means that it is back to the drawing board, literally, for the designer. That is the most stressful feeling because all of the hours put into the original design become worthless. Interior design is very stressful because designers are constantly faced with difficult clients and the issue of problem solving.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Lange, "Want To Buy A Valentine?"
Perspective 1: There actually is emotional significance in giving your beloved a valentine made
by someone else
In "Want To Buy A Valentine?" Alexandra Lange argues that hand crafted Valentine's day cards have more meaning and value than cards made by someone else, or e-cards. Lange's argument is that the thought and effort put into making hand crafted cards is what makes them more meaningful to the individual recieving them. The thought behind the design is what shows the individual how much their loved one cares for them. However, this does not mean that the people who give their significant others cards from a drugstore or online site like Etsy do not care about their partners. These people may not have the time to actually craft a valentine for their loved one. Instead they show their love and appreciation through pre-made Valentine's day cards. Their is just as much thought put in to picking out the perfect Valentine's day card as their is in hand crafting one. Another reason why people may choose to buy their loved ones Valentine's day cards as opposed to making them is because many people either find it hard to come up with an original creation to express how they feel, or just don't have the skill to actually hand craft a valentine. Most pre-made valentine's just look nicer and many come with very loving quotes/messages on the inside. Just because the words written in the card were not written by the individual buying it does not mean that the message is not true. The thought behind choosing the perfect card with the perfect message is what gives the "generic" pre-made Valentine's day cards meaning.
Perspective 2: Is card-swapping of Valentine's Day is truly meaningful or just a commercialized holiday that everyone takes part in simply because we're supposed to?
Valentine's Day is definitely a commercialized holiday. The fact that there is a day to for people to tell their loved ones how they feel is a little ridiculous; it takes the meaning out of saying "I love you". People should express how they feel about each other because they truly want to, not because there is a holiday that tells them to say "I love you". Valentine's day is just another "holiday" to remember and chance for the greeting card industry to make money. I am sure that greeting card sales dramatically increase around Valentine's day; along with chocolate and flower sales. While it is nice to have people express how much they care for you on this day, I feel like it is a little forced and is more of an opportunity for the greeting card industry to boost sales.
In "Want To Buy A Valentine?" Alexandra Lange argues that hand crafted Valentine's day cards have more meaning and value than cards made by someone else, or e-cards. Lange's argument is that the thought and effort put into making hand crafted cards is what makes them more meaningful to the individual recieving them. The thought behind the design is what shows the individual how much their loved one cares for them. However, this does not mean that the people who give their significant others cards from a drugstore or online site like Etsy do not care about their partners. These people may not have the time to actually craft a valentine for their loved one. Instead they show their love and appreciation through pre-made Valentine's day cards. Their is just as much thought put in to picking out the perfect Valentine's day card as their is in hand crafting one. Another reason why people may choose to buy their loved ones Valentine's day cards as opposed to making them is because many people either find it hard to come up with an original creation to express how they feel, or just don't have the skill to actually hand craft a valentine. Most pre-made valentine's just look nicer and many come with very loving quotes/messages on the inside. Just because the words written in the card were not written by the individual buying it does not mean that the message is not true. The thought behind choosing the perfect card with the perfect message is what gives the "generic" pre-made Valentine's day cards meaning.
Perspective 2: Is card-swapping of Valentine's Day is truly meaningful or just a commercialized holiday that everyone takes part in simply because we're supposed to?
Valentine's Day is definitely a commercialized holiday. The fact that there is a day to for people to tell their loved ones how they feel is a little ridiculous; it takes the meaning out of saying "I love you". People should express how they feel about each other because they truly want to, not because there is a holiday that tells them to say "I love you". Valentine's day is just another "holiday" to remember and chance for the greeting card industry to make money. I am sure that greeting card sales dramatically increase around Valentine's day; along with chocolate and flower sales. While it is nice to have people express how much they care for you on this day, I feel like it is a little forced and is more of an opportunity for the greeting card industry to boost sales.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Kwun/Walker Thesis
What is Kwun's thesis?
Kwun's thesis is that the controversial fashion designs/choices made by Lady Gaga are not haphazard choices but are influenced by architectural concepts and structures.
How does she/he prove this thesis?
Kwun supports this thesis by first describing the headpiece Gaga was wearing on an episode of Ellen. Kwun mentions that the headpiece is remeniscent architect Etienne Boulee’s proposal of a cenotaph,funerary monument, for Issac Newton. This comparison between the headpiece and the structure designed by Etienne Boulee is the first way Kwun supports her thesis. Another example of how Kwun supports her thesis in this document is when she describes the red gown worn by Lady Gaga on an episode of Gossip Girl. The red gown was designed with a 30' blood red drape. Stagehands were hidden under the drape of the gown to help Gaga move around the stage without falling. The stagehands play a more important role towards the end of Gaga's on stage; Gaga climbs a 15' ladder, when she reaches the top the stagehands go under the dress, lifting the drape and creating a sturcture for the dress to form to. The description of the function of the dress is very similar to the way spaces are formed in the architectural industry. Spaces are shaped to fufill a certain purpose; for example, a kitchen plan will always include a range, refrigerator, and a sink, without these appliances the space would not service its purpose as a kitchen.
What is Walker's thesis?
Walker's thesis is that the meaning of colors used on packaging are not interpreted the same by all consumers.
How does she/he prove this thesis?
In the beginning of this article Walker explains why the black packaging for cigarettes acts as a danger/warning sign to consumers. Walker mentions that the color black is usually associated with death, danger, and in this case, the effects caused by smoking (black lung, stained teeth,etc.) After talking about the negative connotations associated with the color black Walker questions how the packaging affects sales, calling the Marlboro black packaging "product suicide". Walker continues on in the article with a quote from designer DJ Stout saying,“tobacco companies should embrace the restrictions and make cigarettes look truly dangerous.” Walker gives two different examples of cigarette packaging that would be considered product suicide; one with a skeleton on the front of the pack (design by DJ Stout) and another package that is a 3 dimensional warning label (design by Build). Most people would not be apt to buy cigarettes with a skeleton on the packaging. However, Walker later states that the hardcore, rebellious smokers would be drawn to the dangerous/deadly looking cigarette packaging. Walker ends this article by stating, "It functions as graphic design jujitsu: Yes, this is dangerous, mortally so; and that’s why you want it." (Walker, Package It Black) The choice to use black for cigarette packaging may be to subliminally warn consumers, however all people associate the color black with different ideas; some think of death while others think of rebellion.
Kwun's thesis is that the controversial fashion designs/choices made by Lady Gaga are not haphazard choices but are influenced by architectural concepts and structures.
How does she/he prove this thesis?
Kwun supports this thesis by first describing the headpiece Gaga was wearing on an episode of Ellen. Kwun mentions that the headpiece is remeniscent architect Etienne Boulee’s proposal of a cenotaph,funerary monument, for Issac Newton. This comparison between the headpiece and the structure designed by Etienne Boulee is the first way Kwun supports her thesis. Another example of how Kwun supports her thesis in this document is when she describes the red gown worn by Lady Gaga on an episode of Gossip Girl. The red gown was designed with a 30' blood red drape. Stagehands were hidden under the drape of the gown to help Gaga move around the stage without falling. The stagehands play a more important role towards the end of Gaga's on stage; Gaga climbs a 15' ladder, when she reaches the top the stagehands go under the dress, lifting the drape and creating a sturcture for the dress to form to. The description of the function of the dress is very similar to the way spaces are formed in the architectural industry. Spaces are shaped to fufill a certain purpose; for example, a kitchen plan will always include a range, refrigerator, and a sink, without these appliances the space would not service its purpose as a kitchen.
What is Walker's thesis?
Walker's thesis is that the meaning of colors used on packaging are not interpreted the same by all consumers.
How does she/he prove this thesis?
In the beginning of this article Walker explains why the black packaging for cigarettes acts as a danger/warning sign to consumers. Walker mentions that the color black is usually associated with death, danger, and in this case, the effects caused by smoking (black lung, stained teeth,etc.) After talking about the negative connotations associated with the color black Walker questions how the packaging affects sales, calling the Marlboro black packaging "product suicide". Walker continues on in the article with a quote from designer DJ Stout saying,“tobacco companies should embrace the restrictions and make cigarettes look truly dangerous.” Walker gives two different examples of cigarette packaging that would be considered product suicide; one with a skeleton on the front of the pack (design by DJ Stout) and another package that is a 3 dimensional warning label (design by Build). Most people would not be apt to buy cigarettes with a skeleton on the packaging. However, Walker later states that the hardcore, rebellious smokers would be drawn to the dangerous/deadly looking cigarette packaging. Walker ends this article by stating, "It functions as graphic design jujitsu: Yes, this is dangerous, mortally so; and that’s why you want it." (Walker, Package It Black) The choice to use black for cigarette packaging may be to subliminally warn consumers, however all people associate the color black with different ideas; some think of death while others think of rebellion.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Kwun/Walker
1) Do the written descriptions of the physical subjects [Gaga's outfits, Bauhaus
architecture, cigarette packs, etc.] actually "show" them to you? Or do you need
visual images? If those descriptions fail, how do they fail?If they 'work',
how so?
Kwun, "Lady Gaga is a Machine for Dancing"
I think that the visual description of Lady Gaga's red gown worn on an episode of Gossip Girl was very successful. The reason why the description of the gown is so successful is because Kwun explains how the design of the dress is influenced by the function. Kwun explains that the blood red gown was designed to have a long drape to disguise the stagehands that were on stage to help Lady Gaga during her performance. The way Kwun decribes how the dress drapes the entire stage while Lady Gaga is elevated 15 feet off the ground makes it very easy to imagine the extravagance of the gown. After reading the description of this gown I was able to easily visualize it; I do not think that this description needs a visual image aid.
Walker, "Package It Black"
The physical description of the cigarette packages were not as detailed as the detailed descriptions of the many fashion choices of Lady Gaga in Kwuns "Lady Gaga is a Machine for Dancing". I found the pictures that were included very helpful; I do not think that I would be able to clearly imagine what the cigarette packages looked like without them even though I know the basic look of cigarette packages.
2) What concepts do the authors point out as being "behind" these subjects? Do the authors effectively prove their points about these concepts? How so?
Kwun, "Lady Gaga is a Machine for Dancing"
Kwun's concept was to show the parallel between architecture and fashion. Kwun wants to make the point that the descriptive word "architectural" can be used in many different industries other than the architecture design industry. Kwun uses Lady Gaga's controversial style as an example of how fashion can be called architectural. For example, Kwun says, "GaGa pushes the very definition of architectural fashions to the extreme by self-consciously treating her body and identity as an object to be packaged and consumed by a mass consumer market. In the process of her meticulous, multi-layered self-construction, Lady GaGa becomes the puppeteer to her own marionette—and the mastermind architect behind her own, multimedia, meta-pop project." Kwun's parallel between the architecture industry and fashion industry is clearly explained and supported in this document.
Walker, "Package It Black"
The concept of this article was to show how colors used on cigarette packaging impact consumption. The color black is generally linked with death, depression, danger, and other negative apects. For some people the use of the color black on the packaging enforces the fact that cigarettes are detrimental to people's health and can ultimately cause death, however, others do not interpret the black used on the packaging as having a negative connotation.
Kwun, "Lady Gaga is a Machine for Dancing"
I think that the visual description of Lady Gaga's red gown worn on an episode of Gossip Girl was very successful. The reason why the description of the gown is so successful is because Kwun explains how the design of the dress is influenced by the function. Kwun explains that the blood red gown was designed to have a long drape to disguise the stagehands that were on stage to help Lady Gaga during her performance. The way Kwun decribes how the dress drapes the entire stage while Lady Gaga is elevated 15 feet off the ground makes it very easy to imagine the extravagance of the gown. After reading the description of this gown I was able to easily visualize it; I do not think that this description needs a visual image aid.
Walker, "Package It Black"
The physical description of the cigarette packages were not as detailed as the detailed descriptions of the many fashion choices of Lady Gaga in Kwuns "Lady Gaga is a Machine for Dancing". I found the pictures that were included very helpful; I do not think that I would be able to clearly imagine what the cigarette packages looked like without them even though I know the basic look of cigarette packages.
2) What concepts do the authors point out as being "behind" these subjects? Do the authors effectively prove their points about these concepts? How so?
Kwun, "Lady Gaga is a Machine for Dancing"
Kwun's concept was to show the parallel between architecture and fashion. Kwun wants to make the point that the descriptive word "architectural" can be used in many different industries other than the architecture design industry. Kwun uses Lady Gaga's controversial style as an example of how fashion can be called architectural. For example, Kwun says, "GaGa pushes the very definition of architectural fashions to the extreme by self-consciously treating her body and identity as an object to be packaged and consumed by a mass consumer market. In the process of her meticulous, multi-layered self-construction, Lady GaGa becomes the puppeteer to her own marionette—and the mastermind architect behind her own, multimedia, meta-pop project." Kwun's parallel between the architecture industry and fashion industry is clearly explained and supported in this document.
Walker, "Package It Black"
The concept of this article was to show how colors used on cigarette packaging impact consumption. The color black is generally linked with death, depression, danger, and other negative apects. For some people the use of the color black on the packaging enforces the fact that cigarettes are detrimental to people's health and can ultimately cause death, however, others do not interpret the black used on the packaging as having a negative connotation.
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