Journal 4

Cars

Buildings

Home Appliances

Misc.

 

Assignment 3

Clue 01- Barcelona Chair 

This is the Barcelona Chair in the KSA library. The chair was designed by Mies van der Rohe for the German Pavilion that was designed for the Barcelona International Exposition (which is how the chair gets its name.) I like the simplicity and elegance of this chair and as you can see, it may look small but it definitely is very comfortable and roomy! 

Clue 02 - Cross Check Chair

 The picture to the left shows Miriah on the Cross Check Chair reading the Design Solutions magazine. This chair which is located in the KSA library was designed by Frank Gehry. The bent wood material and fluid design is representative of his design style and shows his interest in using relatively inexpensive industrial materials to create his designs. I wrote about Gehry for Assignment 02, so it was interesting to find the chair I posted on my blog last week in the KSA library. To see Miriah read Design Solutions on her own blog, Click Here.

Clue 3 - The Wexner Center

This is a picture of Jocef testing the limits of Peter Eisenman's design for the Wexner Center. The Wexner Center was designed to fit between two existing buildings and is a deconstructive design based on a grid that Eisenman created of the city's street layout (you can see the grid in this photo). Though it is a well-designed structure by Eisenman, it began to leak in a few corners a couple of years ago and had to be renovated. The Galleries in the Wexner Center are also very interesting. To see Jocef comment on his own experiment with the Wexner Center, Click Here.

Clue 04 - The Math Building

This photo of the Math Building designed by Philip Johnson shows the geometric details of its design which speak to the postmodern aesthetics of his design. Johnson was from Cleveland and graduated from Harvard. His designs for the Math building and the SEL library are great additions to the OSU campus. 

Clue 05 - Main Library

Acock and Associates were responsible for the design and renovation of the Main Library on the OSU Campus. The beautiful new design eliminated the secondary wings that had been added to the original design due to various additions throughout the years and unified the building to its original shape. Also, the new open look of the library is designed to accommodate studying and research rather than housing books and shelves. This is representative of the changes in the concept of a library as a place to gather information rather than to house information (the library now houses half the number of books that it did prior to the renovation but has more "technology rooms" and study rooms for the students). However, this photo shows the statue that is centrally located in front of the original section of the library and greets all the visitors.

Course Reflection 2

The past two week seem to have passed more quickly than the first two. The two lecture classes about Accessibility and Environmental Design were very informative. I often think about OSU’s approach to accessibility on campus and find it very strange that they manage to make it so complicated for the user. Most of the old buildings you find on campus have a side or back door that has had a very “out of place” ramp added to it for accessibility and code agreement purposes. Also, the seating patterns and doors in the classrooms are often not compliant with code. It seems that designing for accessibility in a new building is much easier than trying to integrate it into an existing structure and I think as designers we should be thinking of solutions that provide answers to problems like this.

I have to say that much of what we heard in the second lecture for Environmental Design involves topics that are controversial in nature and very popular these days. I found the videos to be the most interesting and my personal favorite was the one on bio-mimicry. It is fascinating to see that nature (with all its complexities in design) has so many small and simple lessons to teach and how these simple lessons can make dramatic differences in the way we design and use the world around us.

The video on IDEO’s work environment and design practices was very interesting. I think that these days most design firms have adopted a similar format of work environment for their offices. The ability to work and share ideas freely has become a standard for design teams and I think this is most apparent in industrial design firms where the designers are open to any idea and test most of them to come up with a finalized design that integrates the best of these ideas. One of the reasons I chose to study design is because I’m not very fond of traditional offices and work environments and look forward to graduating and working in a design firm that may be similar to IDEO in some ways.

The scavenger hunt for buildings and designs around campus was fun. It helped us to get to know our group members a little better and involved us with the OSU campus. I hope we’ll have more assignments similar to this one in the future.  

Works Cited

Achievement.org. 07/07/2010. Academy of Achievement: a museum of living history. 04/17/2011.

Gehry, Frank. Architecture of Frank Gehry. Basel : Wiese Verlag, c1989.

Kolehmainen, Aila. Esa Laaksonen. Drawn in Sand. Helsinki : Alvar Aalto Museum, 2002.

Ray, Nicholas. Alvar Aalto. New Haven : Yale University Press, 2005.

Mies van der Rohe, Ludwig. Conversations with Mies Van der Rohe. New York : Princeton Architectural
Press, 2008.

MoMA.org. 2009. Museum of Modern Art: MoMA Collections. 04/16/2011.

Trigueiros, Luiz. Mies Van der Rohe. Lisbon : Editorial Blau, 1999.

Photos were obtained through the Knowtlon Digital Library. https://ksamedia.osu.edu/

Assignment 2 - Part 3

Frank Gehry (1929 – Present)

 Frank Gehry was born on February 28, 1929 in Ontario, Canada. Gehry completed his architectural education at the University of Southern California in 1954 and began his apprenticeship at Victor Gruen Associates. In 1962 he established his own firm and began experimenting with various architectural styles. Gehry was interested in the possibility of design with industrial products such as aluminum that were readily available and cost-effective. His line of industrial corrugated cardboard furniture called Easy Edge was a result of this interest in building with inexpensive industrial products.

Gehry’s work was first noticed when he designed and built his own home in Los Angeles, California which led to a few small residential building commissions. However, his most well known and praised design to date is the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain which was completed in 1997. Gehry’s other noteworthy designs include the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles,  the California Aerospace Museum, and the American Center in Paris, France.

Frank Gehry is one of few architects who reached a notable level of fame and recognition during their lifetime. His ability to turn “paper architecture” into a unique and personal style that engaged and interested his clients in his architectural experimentations has been the key to his success. As a contemporary architect, Gehry is also one of few designers whose work is well documented in digital format. Videos, photographs, and biographies of Gehry document his career from its early beginnings which is not common for most great architects. It has been very interesting to see, hear, and learn about his designs and design processes from him.

Disney Concert Hall, LA

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain

California Aerospace Museum

Corrugated Chair from Easy Edge Series

Cross Check Chair

Assignment 2 - Part 2

Alvar Aalto (1898 – 1976)

Alvar Aalto, a Finnish architect and designer, was born on February 3, 1898 in a small village in Central Finland. Aalto’s homeland and upbringing influenced his style of architecture throughout his career. Over 40 years, Aaltos architectural style evolved with the times; starting with a style rooted in the classical architecture (at times close to National Romantic architecture) and continuing to a functionalist and modernist style of architecture. However, his architectural style always combined the use of natural materials and organic forms.

Aalto’s exploration of rationalism and modernist ideas led to the design of the Paimo Sanatorium which included the design of the buildings, furnishings, and materials used in the sanatorium. This allowed Aalto to showcase his work in furnishings and eventually led to international recognition that earned him commissions in the United States. Between 1933 and 1950, Aalto designed some of his most noteworthy architecture including Villa Mairea and was showcased in Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne in Paris and the World’s Fair in New York.

The significance of Aalto’s work lies in his ability to surpass various architecture styles and combine his appreciation for the natural environment and the abundances of the machine age to create versatile designs. I chose Alvar Aalto because I wanted to learn more about his connection with the modernist movement and how his designs relate to various other architects of his era. I found his ability to mold his style into the architecture of his time to be inspiring and admirable. Alvar was also a unique educator in the sense that he did not involve himself with formal education but was a believer in apprenticeship and experiential education. 

Finnish Pavilion Installation - Venice, Italy

Baker Dormitory at MIT

Paimio Chair

Stacking Side Chair

Cantilevered Stacking Chair

Tea Trolly No. 98

Assignment 2 - Part 1

Mies Van Der Rohe (1886-1969)

Mies Van Der Rohe, born in Germany in 1886, was an influential architect and designer of the modernist movement. Mies, son of a stonemason, had no formal education in architecture but started his educational career under the guidance of Peter Behrens while working in his office. Mies’ architectural style was reflective of Behrens teachings regarding Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s stripped style of architecture and his interest in the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie style of architecture. Mies spent half of his career in Germany where he was commissioned to design buildings such as the Esters House, the German Pavilion in Barcelona, and Tugendhat House. While in Germany, Mies also worked at the Bauhaus where he collaborated with Walter Gropious on his ideas and outlook on architecture.

The second half of his career was sent in the United States where many of his works still survive. His move to the United States also sparked a shift in his architectural style. Mies focused on the design and building of skyscrapers rather than residential structures. Lakeview Apartments building was one of the first tall buildings designed by Mies and was significant in both its architectural design and its interaction with the urban surroundings.

Mies, alongside Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier, was one of the pioneers of modern architecture. After World War I Mies sought to establish a new style of architecture that would be representative of the spirit of his age and respond to the technological advancements of his times. In order to achieve this new style of architecture, Mies emphasized the appearance of materials used in the building process such as steel and glass by avoiding ornamentation that was a reflection of the past. Further, the use of steel as the structural core of his buildings allowed the use of curtain walls and open plans that were unique to modern architecture. Mies and his modernist contemporaries focused on the use of simple geometric forms for their designs and highlighted this simplicity of form both in structure and aesthetics.

The theories and ideas developed by Mies helped revolutionize architecture and continue to be taught and researched by students and architects today.My interest in interior space design prompted my interest in Mies. I had seen photos of the Barcelona Pavilion and was very interested in the use of materials in both the interior and exterior of the building. Also, Mies has designed some of my favorite chairs and is one of the pioneers of modern architecture. I find his style of architecture to be calming and accommodating though it may seem cold and uninviting at times.

Seagram Building - Chicago, Il

Barcelona Pavilion

Esters House

Farnsworth House

Reading Reflection 1

John Haskett’s discussion on design parallels the progression of topics in class. Haskett begins his introduction to “what is design?” by explaining what it is not or what it is commonly believed to be. Haskett clearly identifies design as a necessity for human life and progress rather than a pursuit of trivial human wants and desires. In doing so, he points out the intrinsic values of design and the responsibilities of the designer. He further reinforces the importance of design by pointing out that the human ability to design and manipulate its environment is evidence of human intelligence which makes us unique among all species.

Haskett’s conclusion regarding the intrinsic need and ability of humans to design leads to a history of design as it corresponds to human evolution. He shows that design does not necessarily involve the creation of a new object or idea but can involve the evolution of an object/idea based on the needs of its user. The design of a stone tool made as an extension of the human body, to one shaped to imitate human limbs for functional purposes, to variations of the same object with different material made to withstand the test of function, to an object molded to exceed function and incorporate desire; Haskett’s examples prove the evolution of design alongside human evolution. As the prehistoric man made its way into the industrial age, it no longer needed objects or ideas that are designed to only meet his needs and necessities but those that combine his human needs with his desires and wants. Therefore, designers are faced with the question of “what is function in design?”

As Haskett explains, function can be viewed in terms of either utility or significance. While utility involves the necessities that correspond to the exact physical and utilitarian function of the designed object or idea, significance entertains the desires, emotions, and metaphysical values that the user anticipates in a designed object or idea. Haskett points out that while a design may be focused on either utility or significance, the majority of design solutions embody a combination of both to satisfy their purpose or function.

The design process through which utility is achieved can vary greatly based on the design problem at hand and the preferences of the designer. Haskett uses the design process to differentiate between various fields of design. His focus on object identifies the profession of Industrial Design as one concerned with the design of various objects in our environment. He further argues for the design of object as both an investigation of the functions and purposes it serves and as the creative outlet of its designer. Haskett raises the question of balance in design which I believe is unique to each designer and project.

Haskett’s discussion of communication involves the role of the visual communication designer. He delves into the role of two dimensional design in society starting with advertising and continuing to the extremes of propaganda. It is important to note that while many assume that graphic representation is a universal language for visual communication, the cultural ramification of such assumptions should be considered before finalizing any design decisions. Like any language, the visual signs and symbols used in one culture can evoke difference or opposing meanings in another.

Haskett opens his discussion of interior space design by comparing the visual cues of the environment to those of the 2 dimensional media used in visual communication. Designed environments are manipulated by interior space designers to send predetermined sensory signals that affect our perception of the environment which we many times refer to as atmosphere. Residential and commercial spaces are designed to respond to the needs and wants of their users and we experience these design environments on a daily basis.

Haskett’s discussion of design and its evolutions is very well organized and comprehensive. I’ve enjoyed reading the first portion of the book and look forward to reading the rest.

Journal 3

I started looking at blogs posted by students in the same “face-value” group and the first one I looked at was Miriah’s blog. Her introduction was a summery of what we had discussed in class; however, I did forget that she was interested in a Visual Communication minor. I think Miriah had unintentionally photographed patterns in public buildings and it was interesting to see the similarities between these patterns. The patterns found in the Union, her dorm, and the RPAC all had a geometric motif. I believe this has to do with the familiarity of the human eye with geometric shapes and the ease and comfort this familiarity provides to the visitors of public spaces. Though this may be coincidental, I think that the designers of these public spaces did have a similar reason for choosing such patterns. I also found the traffic lines interesting because as Miriah says in her blog, we don’t often think of the patterns that are around us and how easily they affect and direct our lives. Traffic control signs and symbols tend to use a lot of patterns that subconsciously direct the way we do things every day. Link to Miriah's Blog

The second blog I looked at was Kris D’s. I have to say he easily had one of the most interesting introduction blogs; his writing style which I assume stems from his background in English is very witty and intriguing. However, I also found his choice in patterns interesting. It seems that his collection of Soviet Russia Textile Patterns could fit in with his habit of collecting things very easily. I particularly liked this collection of patterns because their compilation tells a story of the zeitgeist of communist Russia. These patterns convey a history, culture, and an era of change. The collection of textile patterns shows the change from an agricultural society to an industrial one, the evolution of a communal lifestyle, and the creation of a military state. It is interesting to see that a utilitarian object such as fabric can be designed to record and represent such details of a changing society. Overall, Kris’ blog was not extensive but was very interesting. Link to Kris' Blog

The third blog that interested me was Rain’s blog (I was browsing through the blogs and didn’t keep track of the blog owner’s name, sorry!) I liked Rain’s blog because it was very genuine. I found the introduction post about how she/he became interested in art/design and the journey to Design 200 very interesting. The patterns that Rain chose were unique in some way because of their fluidity. The majority of the patterns chosen by she/he used curvilinear lines and forms which are harder to detect as patterns and present themselves as less repetitious in my opinion. She/he also used some organic patterns which I liked very much. I think Rain was able to identify patterns that are not very apparent at first glance. Link to Rain's Blog

Journal 2

This is an image of the packing material used to ship fragile dishes I ordered. I found the pattern interesting because it's repetitious and uniform in construction but can stretch, compress, or extend to the form that it is wrapping.

This is an image of the material covering my paper lamp. The weave pattern is interesting to me because it's uniform in both the horizontal and vertical directions but the weave can be combined or extended to make the shape that you like.

This is a close-up of my fridge door. This crack pattern is continuous and organic but it's been used to give the fridge a matt effect rather than shine. I find the ability to use a pattern to create not just a "look" but a "finish" to be interesting.

The cracking pattern on the tree bark was intriguing because it was almost like seeing the naturally accuring form of the above fridge pattern. They both are the same cracking pattern but one is much more pronounced and aggressive than the other.

This is the material used to cover windows and make them opaque. I found this pattern interesting because as you can see it's not easy to photograph because it is reflective. The pattern used to create this material is purely derivative of its function. The geometric pattern helps create an undulating surface that reflects the light and distorts the image beyond; therefore, it is used for its functional abilities more than its aesthetic appeal.

This is the material used for a paper lantern. I found the construction process for this material interesting. It does not use a calculated method like weaving, scoring, or gridding; it is simply compressed. The compression cannot be a very controlled process; however, it seems to have created a fairly regular pattern.

I found this photo on http://aquafornia.com/archives/9276. This is an interesting example of a manmade pattern that could be considered almost unintentional. From a ground level, this pattern is nearly impossible to visualize but from an aerial view, it is a fairly regular and premeditated pattern. It speaks to the subconscious need of us as human being to find order in most everything (even our land).

I found this photo on http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2009/04/aerial-photographs-parking-lots.html. A parking lot is something we see every day that is always based on a distinct and premeditated scheme or pattern. But the interesting part about the layout of parking lots is that they are specifically chosen to optimize the number of vehicles around. They again are derivative of their function.

I found this photo at http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1566-0146308. Honeycomb has a very geometric pattern that makes it structural and durable. I think it is also one of the few organically produced forms that is entirely geometric which is very interesting.

Course Reflection 1

The first four classes of this course have been interesting and entertaining. The first class provided an opportunity for all students to get to know each other in a different way. It was interesting to see people try to describe and introduce another student from a 10 minute conversation. It seems you can learn a lot about a person in a short amount of time!

The lecture on history of design not only gave an overview of the past history of design but also showed some interesting connections in the evolution of design throughout the world. For example Industrial Revolution seemed to have inspired designers all over the world to come up with new ideas to manipulate the new “machine” and I think that in some way it lead to the recognition of world renowned designers. However, I am very interested in the World Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago and believe that it affected design and designers in many ways. I wish the lecture had at least introduced the Exposition and its significance both to the American designers and others around the world.

The fieldtrip to the Fine Arts Library and the Architecture Library was in some ways a follow up to the history of design lecture. We had a firsthand look at the history of design and architecture on the OSU campus as we walked from the classroom to the libraries and were told about building designed by architects such as Peter Eisenman and Philip Johnson. We also got to see examples of designs from the Bauhaus school of though/design which was interesting.

The last lecture on the three disciplines of design offered through the OSU school of design was informative. It provided a clear overview of what each program involved and how they are connected in some ways. I’m personally interested in Interior Space Design and would like to hear more about how the curriculum is setup.

About Design 200

I plan to study Interior Design and Design 200 is a prerequisite; however, I'm generally interested in learning about different aspects of design and am glad to be taking this class. I hope to learn more about design theory and the evolution of design in this course. I also would like to learn more about the design program at OSU through this class. As a former student of KSA, I'm hoping to see similarities between the architecture program and the design programs offered at the school of design.

About Me

I'm a returning student to OSU. I graduated from OSU with a B.S. in Consumer Sciences and Product Development in 2009 and now I'm applying for Interior Design. I also hope to get my MBA while completing my Interior Design degree. An interesting fact about me is I'm Iranian but I've lived in the United States for about 11 years now. I also work at a translation and interpretation agency where we provide services in over 70 languages; so I get to meet people from all corners of the world which I find very interesting. I'm very excited to be back in school and studying design!