Class Group Work Day #2

The second class work day was very productive. After a group homework assignment of going out and simply, eating food, everyone was prepared to work. We collected various packaging from different restaurants around Lawrence and brought them to observe. Here are a few pictures of one of our prototypes.

Class Group Work Day #1

Our object of bad design is the typical, to-go soy sauce packets. The messy, uneasy to open, not enough, sticky packets. Here are a few photos of the group coming up with possible ideas for a new and improved soy sauce packet.

- Rachel

IDEO Deep Dive Video

This video was very entertaining and educating. I enjoyed watching it because as I watched it, I found myself coming up with ideas myself on how to improve the typical shopping cart. For example, not only is it hard to steer, things fall through, and it doesn't move sideways, it also really hurts if it bumps into you! I cannot tell you how many times I've gone grocery shopping with my mom and she has rammed me in the back of the heels with one of those things. It breaks skin and makes you bleed! I feel like the shopping cart was an excellent idea for an object to redesign. 

Entire Project Reflection

Throughout the course of this project, I have learned many things about Photoshop and InDesign. I have learned how to distinguish good design and bad design with the help of Dieter Rams. Don Norman has taught me that some design just needs to be appreciated for its beauty, this theory he has made is a beautiful theory in itself.  People appreciate beauty and it makes them feel better, beauty leaves an impression on people. One of the larger things I have learned is how to use color effectively. There are so many techniques available for designers to create good color schemes. It is almost like a science, and its amazing and helpful. I am so glad that I heard the color lecture because it taught me some important lessons that I will use in my designs in the future.

I think my poster demonstrates good design and color usage because of the simplicity of it. It is a photo taken of a girl shaving, and the angle the photo is taken from is the feet. It is a different view, yet it is interesting. It allows the viewer to see the razor from a different angle, and give them a good idea of the product, how it is used, what it looks like, and what the product actually does. The colors involved in the poster are the blue of the razor, and the tan color of the legs. The text is a simple white, cream color in order to not distract but still be a good addition to the poster. 

One thing I would have done differently about this poster is probably incorporate more Photoshop into the project because that is what I am good at and used to. I have never taken Photography and I ended up liking the edited photo alone, better than my other designs .

The most challenging thing for me was coming up with a good idea for the poster.  Every time I thought I had a good design, there ended up being something wrong with it. However, all the problems were things that I should have noticed on my own. When coming up with ideas to display the razor, I thought of it more as making an advertisement. So I kept wanting a picture of a girl shaving, and it was hard to develop it on my own. I also tried to draw the razor with the shadow of the razor resembling a woman. Since I had never taken a specialized drawing class, this was incredibly hard for me. I could not achieve the image in my head through pencil. I think once I am more educated through the classes I am currently taking, I will be able to achieve my ideas to the fullest.

My ideas about design changed because I had never really considered designing with drawing or through illustration, myself. I have always taken pictures or used Photoshop. I enjoyed the idea, even though it was challenging for me. I learned many news ideas about design, which makes me love it that much more. 

Color Lecture Reflection

The color lecture was something completely new to me. I had learned a few things about the color wheel, but other than that, I was unaware of the science one could use to determine color schemes that would look good together. Initially, the idea of hues, values, and chroma was very confusing to me. However, after photo color assignment, I developed a better understanding for the different uses of color. I understood that a hue was a family of color, the value is the lightness and darkness of a color, and the chroma is the brightness and saturation of a color. On top of these three terms, I learned the different types of color strategies, such as limited palette, the use of neutrals, keying the color, and much more.

10 Principles of Good Design

Dieter Rams’ “10 Principles of Good Design,” or sometimes referred to as the “Ten Commandments” of design, are good principles to follow, I believe. He covers all the bases. A lot of the points he made, I had previously thought of. For example, simplicity. I firmly believe that design should be as little design as possible, simple, refreshing. No one wants to be confused by the design, or overwhelmed. It needs to be original, or innovative, because that is what being a designer is all about, coming up with one’s own original ideas for design. That is what sets designers apart and makes it their own. I also agree that it needs to be honest, long lasting, aesthetic, and obviously useful. Design is much more than something pretty to look at. Some points I do not normally think of are design should be thorough to the last detail and environmentally friendly. Both points are necessary and I am glad that Dieter Rams has helped me to consider those points when deciding whether or not a design is good, and when I design, myself.

-Rachel

First Reading Reflection

 I really enjoyed the first reading. Immediately after I began the assignment, I noticed that many key points the reading was making, fell hand in hand with some of the points I made in my very own paper that I had written to get into the School of Design at the University of Kansas. 

“Design is appropriate to our most significant human activities,” the reading states. Design is the process of making things right and shaping what people need. Design is “shaped and constructed for the betterment and delight for all.” People do not understand how much they rely on design to make their decisions. If they are not delighted in a sense, why would they choose it, use it, or let alone be attracted to it? 

The word “design” is very confusing and complex, the article states, with this I can agree. When I was asked to answer the question, “What is design?” I was stumped. There are so many parts of design. One cannot simply attach a definition for it to be fully understood, observed, and interpreted. 

To give a few ideas of what design is, here is a start: Design is human choice, gives meaning to our lives, it determines what survives. It is a mix of creativity and analytical thinking. It is problem solving, learning, and evolution. Design is a social process, and my personal favorite- Design is a game. “When a good idea that you have put a lot of energy into is finally adopted, it really feels like winning. Designing is highly addictive.” - Professor Kees Dorst

-Rachel

Don Norman Reflection

Don Norman’s video was very refreshing. He shared with everyone his new way of life, which is appreciating design that is beautiful. “The new me is neat and fun,” he stated. He went on to look at various objects like the car, the Mini Cooper. The inside of the Mini Cooper is very pleasant and fun. He said he thinks that things that are beautiful and fun, in fact, do work better. Initially after hearing this statement, I thought, “No, that’s not true.” But then I started to believe him. It is psychological, in a sense, if we are the one’s who opperate the object, the way we percieve it could, in turn, affect how we control it.

My friend, Gina, and I had a great time taking pictures inside the nasty bath tubs of Corbin hall last night for my object of good design poster. Everyone was asking us what in the world we were doing... but we had a lot of fun! Shout out to Gina for being such a trooper. Here are just a few samples of the pictures we took.

-Rachel