Homework 3: Nike's Chief of Design Doodles All Day

I enjoyed reading Hoke's insights into his design process, specifically how he branches out into the fantastical by trying to "take things we might not think about as shoe materials" and use them to create new designs. I myself get awfully caught up on whether or not a design or idea is viable before even exploring it (and thereby discovering if it is viable), and it's heartening to read that many top designers allow themselves the freedom to play with ideas that may initially seem too "out there". To some extent it even seemed like industry standard to explore ideas, really give them the respect and time they deserve, before either shelving or moving forward with them. Even concepts that may not flourish by themselves (such as the grass-printed shoe) may still serve as foundations for future award-winning designs.

9/19/19: Rainbow Road

Homework 2: Rethinking the Way We Sit Down

After I watched the video, I came away with two equally important concepts: the idea of aesthetic and holistic design, and the idea that one’s designs should be extremely intuitive for their intended users. Niels described the many aspects he would design in order to complete illustrations of planes. Airplanes are not simply two wings, a body, and a tail after all. How long should the wings be? How heavy the wheels? How deeply curved the windshield? Every detail of Niels’ plane designs were given deep thought, not only regarding themselves as an individual unit but also in how they formed the larger whole. This attention to detail served him well when he went on to design the ubiquitous computer chair we all use today. Many features of the chair were explicitly designed with the user in mind (such as what their body does when they recline back, or what sort of support their tailbone needs while sitting). When he described his processes, the designs seemed like no brainers, but I realize that’s because I live in a world where the chair already existed. It must have been much more challenging before then! The video imparted to me just how importance mindfulness in design really is, and that nothing should be done without reason.

This is Hellgull, comprised of three screaming mouths and one Aye Aye tongue ready to snatch your snacks.

Homework 1: How To Ruin A Great Design

As I read the article, I was stricken by two things: the first was Rawsthorn's hard turn from talking about the kind of functional design that goes into making road signs and markers, and the second was how much she loves logos from the past. When she spoke of the old logos, I immediately had to look them up - I'm just barely 30, and I don't run in many circles, so I don't remember well when UPS changed its logo or even that Citroën is a car company. When I looked at their old logos I realized that they convey more information than their current incarnations. But I think that's true of any advertising of 'then vs. now'. If you read old adverts from the 50s to 80s, there are paragraphs upon paragraphs in many of them. These days, advertisers don't have that kind of luxury time. They have the current consumer's attention for a couple precious seconds, so their logos and phrases must be as efficient as possible. There is, and probably will be, ever more shorthand as we progress through the eras. This is especially true as companies expand their reach (did you know UPS owns manufacturing plants for some companies? They're not the old-timey local delivery service their older parcel-box logo conveyed).

I think Rawsthorn was ultimately taking a stroll through some of the old rose-tinted logo landscape.

First Day Questions

What is your previous computer experience?: I've been using computers since I was 5-6-ish years old

What do you hope to get out of this class?: A working knowledge of Photoshop

What is your experience with Photoshop and Illustrator?: None

Do you have a computer at home? If so dose it have Photoshop and Illustrator?: I do have a computer, but it does not have Photoshop or Illustrator

Do you use a Mac or PC?: PC

What do you hope to do with your major?: Hopefully go on to work for a game studio

Who is your favorite artist?: Hibbary

Who is your favorite musician?: Thomas Bergerson and Ivan Torrent

Tell me something interesting about yourself?: I went fishing exactly once and the only thing I caught was a branch.

Write a five line story?: She awoke to the sound of pounding rain. Gales of wind hurled themselves upon the weak window frame, shaking it to its foundation. And yet, the light of a thought shone dimly in her sleep-fogged brain: if it's raining, the drones won't be out today. The thought comforted her. Drawing her thin blanket up to her chin, she rolled over to go back to sleep.

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