Design Research: Design Journals of Countries of Interest

Japanese Style
I find the Japanese culture to be very interesting and worth learning about. One of the main reasons which I must admit to choosing to study this culture was the fact that my favorite type of food is Japanese. Every time I go into a Japanese Steak House I am fascinated with the design. I know that it is not exactly the same as it would be in the actual country because when in America it is also going to have an American sense of style also.

The Japanese Garden Journal, published by Douglas M. Roth, describes a very interesting overview of the culture's style. I was able to learn that the first main architectural style was shoin but changed and now for the past 400 years the architectural style has been sukiya. This is the style still to this day.

A traditional Japanese house, as considered by the Garden Journal, usually is known for the proportions, the integration of interior and exterior space. Japanese homes and the culture are known for a very clean look that appears to be simple and not cluttered. This is the reputation that they hold and one that I think is useful and beneficial. The typical aesthetic sense is targeted mainly towards a very sophisticated design with very minimal objects in the room. Never would you find a room that had large sofas, recliners, several lamps, a television, and all the things that us Americans typically place in our homes. This culture lives very minimally when it comes to the furniture and accessories that are placed within a room. Something that we are used to that they also take advantage of is the futon. They mostly use a futon as their bedding system. Bamboo flooring can mostly be found in the Western part of Japan although it can be found throughout the country. A typical door and window system is known as the Tategu. This is basically known as the sliding doors and windows that can be found in a Japanese house. As for the site/location as inspiration possibly depending on the overall location of the culture because like stated above depending on the region different materials might be used and different resources can be called upon.

Source: Journal of Japanese Gargening, www.rothteien.com

Swedish Style
Setting a high standard for itself, the Swedish Style of Design has to compete at a international level. The section of the blog will concentrate more closely on industrial design instead a residential concentration. As stated by the source, the Swedish government decided that the year 2005 was the year of Design. With this said it was financially backed with Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications, and the Ministry of Culture.

In Sweden there are two main divisions of designers including industrial designers and free artisans. Some contributions to this division is the new use of materials and an introduction to different manufacturing technologies. This was all happening in a period in the 1950's.

Interior Design of Sweden concentrates on capable designers who have made themselves associate themselves with larger furniture companies. Now though some designers are teaming with smaller furniture design firms because they tend to focus on a more functional accessories.

This journal states that all Swedish design has several things in common and those as directly quoted "are the result of ergonomic judgments inseparably blended with aesthetic considerations." Also quoted that "everyone seems to agree nowadays that beauty is also a function." I actually find this second statement interesting and also the fact that I think that I agree with it. I do think that beauty has a large role and should be taken as seriously.

One aspect that I think Sweden design is known for is "The Nordic Light" and how it is applied to simple shapes, light colored wood furniture, pale colors, and textiles that involve checks and stripes. Swedish design is described as over-decorated and quite rational. Swedish design in the industrial sense should actually be considered international design.

Source: sweden.se

Australian Style
The design style for Australia is a wide range of different designs. One thing that most designers and architects have in common is that they have similar inspirations for their designs. When looking at the buildings we are able to see the history of the culture. Depending on the location in Australia the style of design is can be different. A modernist style of architecture can be found in the northern part of New South Wales, throughout Queensland, the Northern Territory, and the Kimberley. For example in Western Australia the architects are more concerned with their structures not disturbing the natural environment. Most of the structures built had to have considered the climate very greatly.

A quote that I liked from this source is, "Architecture... one word... countless possibilites. It can delight of disturb, change our lives, and finally outlive us... So with a leap of faith, we put our trust in the mind of the architect." Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Program Transcript of episode 1 of Keeping the Faith

The main thing that I found while researching was that the care of the culture's history is very important to the designs in which they come up with. I think this is special and very interesting. A famous building that we all know is the Sydney Opera House.

Source: Australian Government: Culture and Recreation Portal

Definition of Sustainable Design

Dictionary Definition: the art of designing physical objects and the built environment to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.


My Working Definition:
Elizabeth Redmond considers a sustainable design to be when you use the energy that humans already put off, meaning their kinetic energy, and use that towards a design that would take advantage of the energy and actually use it. She has designed an installment for sidewalks that uses the energy from people as they walk across and play with it. She designed this installment to function off of the wasted energy that we humans use by simply walking.
LEED is known as the The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. They provide builders and constructors with the appropriate tools to build environmentally friendly structures. LEED is all for the green houses that are built in a sustainable manner. The image below is of the Ripple Rock Elementary School who hired the LEED company to help build them a sustainable school. The ventilation system was designed so that the air flowed slowly instead of just blowing into the rooms. This helped with the reduction use of energy. LEED would consider sustainable design to reduces the energy used and to use it wisely.

Sources: metropolismag.com

Matt and Tina Ford, designers and architects, have designed a series of homes that are site specific for Houston, Texas. These homes have been designed in a way that they retract the extremely hot heat that the sun gives off in Texas. The purpose being that they are trying to reduce that amount of air conditioning that is being used. The walls have been described as having a tin foil effect wrapped around the exterior. This being the device that makes the sun bounce back off and not bring heat into the house. The singles on the roof do the exact same function. Matt Ford has been quoted saying, "The greenest thing you can do is a tight design." With this he is means the best thing that can be designed in a sustainable way is to design everything in a way that energy is being used in an efficient way. Take advantage of the power that the sun gives off, reduces the energy that is being used in side the house.
Source: www.dwell.com
Gensler Architects are all for sustainable design. They are known for designing the first office building to be considered a green design. They used raised flooring, air systems beneath the floor, natural day light, a natural ventilation, and shading done in a solar manner. I would consider this to be their personal definition and approaches to sustainable design because they seem to use these techniques to accomplish a sustainable design. With this said the considered using good quality air indoors when they designed dwellings.
Source: www.gensler.com

The drawing represents the perfect house by the standards that the Sustainable Design Group has created. As labeled in the picture of the house they suggest to use solar panels, a solar oven for the kitchen, a rain water collection container, a waterless toilet, solar hot water, a compressed brick wall, and a natural ventilation cooling system. The Earth Home and the company which created it claims that they offer affordable, comfortable, healthy, durable, hurricane and earthquake proof, fire proof, fire proof, termite proof, energy efficient, self sufficient and environmentally sustainable. Through all of these words is how this company considers sustainable design to be defined. I actually can not imagine how it would be to live and function in a house like this. It would be quite a change from what most of us are used to.
Source: www.sustainabledesign.com

The General Services Administration's Sustainable Design Program defines designing a sustainable dwelling as the reduction of the consumption of non-renewable resources, the minimizing of waste, and a creation of a productive environment. Their mission is to basically better the environment through several different tactics that include water conservation, and better the quality of the indoor environment. They also consider sustainable design to reduce all of the negative aspects of the environment.
Source: www.gsa.gov

HOK, a design firm that displays sustainable dwellings, claims that they please their clients through a environmentally responsible design. I have found that most of these companies and firms all have the same approach to sustainable design because they are all for bettering the environment. Like the others researched above HOK has certain goals that define their approach to this situation. They included limiting the consumption of resources, improving the building performance, and promoting health.

"Nearly a hundred years ago we made a promise-that we would act as stewards of the environment. Since then, we've been dedicated to serving our customers in a way that never becomes a disservice to our planet. We believe that, big or small, every action that safeguards and retores the environment is significant. By inspiring lasting, meaningful action we can all benefit from lasting, meaningful results."
The above quote was said by the James P. Hackett, the president and chief executive officer of Steelcase. I think by this quote defines their approach towards sustainable design because they describe it as any action that can be taken to better the environment.
Source: Steelcase brochure

The Scarpa and Brooks firm is built under the structure of a married couple. While designing a house for themselves they decided that they were going to see how they could best apply their knowledge of green design. With this knowledge they created a solar powered structure that looked like a very high end design but also a house that paid very little bills because of the solar power. This couple sees the solar architecture to be the solution to sustainable design, also known as green design. Their definition would be that sustainable design would be taking the advantage of the sun and benefit from the energy it puts up.
Source: www.dwell.com

An artist named Vigil and his wife Brandy LeMae, a designer decided that they were going to build themselves a house and they decided that they wanted to be sustainable and environmentally friendly. They describe sustainability to be using materials of the environment and not using by-products instead that will gradually destroy the environment. This couple also used pre-cut and manufactured wood. I think their approach is a very useful approach and I think others should take more advantage of it.
Source: www.dwell.com

Design Research: Graphic/Media Design

Harris Teeter Catering Brochure
I appreciate the colors on the brochure because they are rich and they all seem to work together. The colors resemble the foods that are being displayed in the images. Inside the brochure are about twenty different images of platters that create several examples of vertical datum lines. For some reason I was really drawn to this brochure I think because of the colors and maybe the food. I believe this brochure was designed very well.


JCPenney coupon
I like the fact that the information for the sale is enclosed in a gift bag image. The thing that I do not like is the gray background. I don't know if it is supposed to look like glitter because the first image that came to my mind was the fuzzy screen that appears on the television when the connection is bad. The gray seems too dull although this does help the red gift bag to pop a little more. This coupon is representing a holiday sale and so I guess this is why the background is silver because I guess some people consider silver to be a Christmas color. This to me is not a Christmas color in my opinion.


Majors of UNCG
This is a magnet that is meant to remind students of a career fair that UNCG was going to have. I am able to see several sets of datum lines, both vertical and horizontal. The top of the UNCG symbol and the top of the lighter blue polygon create a datum line. Also the text in the light blue polygon and the text directly below create datum lines. The color choice coordinates to the school's official colors. The major thing that I do not like about this graphical design of the magnet is the digital looking arrows pointing to the statement "Save the Date!" I think this is the most irrelevant thing because just just do not seem to fit in. I think the magnet would be much better if the arrows were just removed.



A Weekly Planner This piece of paper is supposed to function as a weekly planner that organizes the events happening through out the week. I was drawn to the planner when I first bought it because of colors that are used. They are very bright and happy colors. I like the reoccurring circles through out the piece of paper. The thing that really bugs me is the horizontal bands of color that separate the different lines to write on. I have found that when I am trying to write on this I have a hard time seeing what I have just written because of the dark colors in the background. I think this would work much better if the colors where faded almost to a point where we could barley see them.



Durable Foil
This graphic was attached to the top of the container of which my mother bought. Personally I do not understand why they chose the colors that they did. The only reason that I can think of is that they are the primary colors. The label has the ellipse, that contains the picture of the product, mimicking the shape of the plate in the main picture of the food. The entire label in fact has several different ovals or ellipses that have some form of unity throughout the entire label. I think the large image being centered and in the background works well but I think that it would have been better if the food was displayed in the product in the main picture.

Seven Devils
This brochure in my opinion is well designed and planned out. The color scheme has been taken with inspiration from the fall colors of the trees in the picture. This is found on the front cover on the top half. The layout on the inside folds are designed in a way that the viewers eye starts in the top left corner and ends in the top right corner. The order of the eyes is as follows: top left down diagonally to the bottom right over to the bottom left and then diagonally up to the top right. Another aspect that I really enjoy is the faded image that has been placed in the background on the inside page. This seems to make the text pop right off it. The entire brochure I believe is equal between pictures and text. There is not too much of either one of the two.

Goody's Advertisement
This article is meant to inform shoppers of the up-coming sales that Goody's will be having before Thanksgiving. The color choices of the ad are red and green with the purpose of this being that it is time to start shopping for Christmas gifts. The ad was designed with at square centrally located that was divided into four squares. Four different types of apparel and accessories are presented in the four different squares. The four topics being men's apparel, women's apparel, junior's apparel, and shoes. I think that it was smart to organize the different categories of apparel into this format. This way easily shows the shoppers what Goody's offers. Besides having the large square on the page it is also filled with large writing about the sale and large writing stating the store in which is holding the sale. Making the text large helps catch the shoppers attention. I think Goody's did a good job of advertising their sale and I am glad they did not place too much information and images on the ad.

Holiday Help
This business card was handed to me as I was walking across campus. There are several aspects that I like about the business card. I really only like the layout, the colors, and the format of the card because with the information presented I am still unable to decipher what the card is trying to advertise. The lime green background color definitely would catch ones eye. I also like the contrasting colors used for the text. Both the white and the black text seem to pop off the green background pretty well especially since they were alternated between the change in text. I enjoyed the business card being in a portrait format instead of the typical landscape format. Other than not knowing what the card was supposed to be telling me I think the card was designed well.

Magic Mountain Mini Golf
This informational brochure in my opinion is not designed very well. Right in the center of paper are the words "super video games". I do not think this text needs to be as large as it is. The video games are not the main attraction at this location. The main attraction is the mini golf itself. I think the font sizes somehow need to be switched between video games and mini golf. I do have to admit that I think the green and the black work well together on the brochure. It is simple but it still catches your eye. The image of the dollar bill at the top is not a good image because overall it is too dark and the text that is placed on top can hardly be read.

Real Estate Sales
This brochure that is meant to advertise a real estate company that rents cabins. I think the colors of the brochure are way too vibrant. The yellow and blue are the only two colors that seem to go together and they don't look too great in this situation. The only thing that I like about this brochure is the images placed in the center. I like the grid of four pictures because it looks uniform and clean. The smaller thumbnail sized images that are centered in the middle of the larger four add a nice touch. They do not seem to be interrupting the larger images. The larger images are of landscapes and the smaller images are of the rental cabins. I think that I would have made the larger images of the rental cabins if this is really what they are trying to profit off of.

Design Research: ten interiors

A Marble Bathroom
I think this the most beautiful bathroom that I have ever seen. I would absolutely love to have this bathroom in my house. The entire room seems to just glisten in the image. I believe this is because of the reflective marble, shiny silver hardware, the glass shower door, and the accent lighting. I like how the arches are repeated several times through the entire bathroom. I find it aesthetically pleasing that the paint color is found in the marble also. The marble just blends in except for a shiny effect that it gives. I think the white bath tub and the white sink look very good with this cream marble and paint. I think that is the right color choice.
Source: www.architecturaldigest.com

The Perfect Children's BedroomI absolutely love this children's bedroom. This is the exact room that I have wanted as a child. These are the exact colors that I would associate with a little girl. This is the cutest set-up for a bed. I am not quite sure if is a bunk bed or the bottom is the bed and the top is a little loft that the child could play in. This room reminds me of something that would be on Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls. This appears to be a room that some elaborate designer would design. Not something a normal parent could think up of.

A Fast Food Restaurant Gone GoodI find the transformation of this fast food restaurant into a nicer dining venue to be a great success. This photo taken at night really helps set a mood of a nicer feeling. I would not think that this used to be a fast food restaurant. I like how the flooring matches well with the wood that makes up the booths. A also like how the front legs of the booths are made with the black metal pipes instead of the same wood. I think the sage green of the material of the cushions and the curtains works very well with the lighter colored wood. My absolute favorite thing about this sitting situation is the lighting at each of the booths. The light bulbs at the top of the black poles is very unique but also aesthetically pleasing. I have never seen this done but it looks very cool.
Source: www.metropolismag.com

A Very Modern Kitchen
I absolutely love this kitchen because of the overall design and the color scheme. I think that the dining room in the glass room is a very clever idea because to me it seems like it is a display box. When I think of dining rooms I think of something elegant and somewhat dressed up. This is why I find it interesting that it is displayed through the glass wall. The only thing that I find wrong with the kitchen and with several of the kitchens I have commented on is that I think it best functions in magazines instead of a real working kitchen. I do not think anyone could keep the kitchen clean at all times.
Source: www.wallpaper.com

A Modern Tract Home
I actually am quite fond of this living room mostly because of the color schemes. The whites, grays, and blacks work very well together. One of my favorite aspects is the ceiling to floor white curtains. They just seem to brighten up the room and in a special lighten the darker accent colors. The thing that I do not think looks very good is the railing coming up the stairs. It does not fit in with the color schemes. I think the owner of the house could have just as easily changed the railing out so that a new one could follow the color scheme a little better.
Source: www.dwell.com

The Family Style KitchenPersonally I do not like a single thing about this design of a kitchen. I do not see how any family could function within this room. There is practically no work triangle and if there is then it can not technically be considered one because the sides of the triangle would be too long. The black wood stove to me seems to be out of place. It looks like someone randomly placed it in the middle of the floor. The only main that thing that I am able to understand and comprehend is the design of table in the image. I can see how it can fit into the particular style of the kitchen, only is really of the suroundings.
Source: www.dwell.com

St. Bartholomew's Church
I personally do not like the arrangement of this church. I have grown up knowing that pews are supposed to be in a church not some futuristic leaning chair. The church itself is very beautiful. It doesnot bother me that in the renovations of the church they changed some of the walls to bring out the dry wall slightly. In my mind I can imagin some darker wood pews preceding down the nave of the church. I just do not understand how these very modern chairs can fit in with the context of the original church itself. They just look out of place.
Source: www.wallpaper.com

Nestle Building

This is the Nestle Chocolate Building in New Mexico. This is definitely not what I would expect a chocolate factory to look like. In fact this is actually the area that visitors would arrive and tour. I think that the room is too white and overwhelming. I think all the different angles of the ceiling and the structure are interesting, unique, and original to this building only. I like the black accents so much that I think a little more could have been added to counter balance all the white. I would love to visit this building sometime.
Source: www.wallpaper.com

A Modern Kitchen
There are aspects about this interior that I like and dislike. The main thing that I like is the dining table that is shaped in a unique "L" shape. The wood that lines the top surface of the table works so well with the white base. The intention was to make the wood appear to be levitating and the white base to blend in with the flooring and walls. This attention to close detail makes the work even better. I have to admit that I do not think that the stainless steel counter tops fit into the rest of the design as well. I would have loved to have seen either a brown color similar to the tabletop or even the same material as the table top on the counter tops. One disadvantage to the white flooring, walls, and cabinets is that after using the facility one time they would all be damaged if caution was not used in the preparation of a meal. Another neat aspect about the table is that when looking at it, like from the angle in the picture, our eyes tend to follow the horizontal piece that looks to be pointing to the glass window and the view which can be seen form the table.
Source: www.wallpaper.com

The Rock Kitchen
When hearing the name Frank Lloyd Wright we automatically think of something amazing and incredibly designed. I do not disagree with this statement except for this one exception. I do not find the rock bulging into the kitchen to be very attractive. This is a kitchen from the Massaro House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The only thing that I really like about this kitchen is the skylights that bring natural light over the work triangle in the kitchen. Possibly if this same incorporation of the rock was used in a different type of dwelling then I think it would be more functional to the design. Maybe this idea could be used in a restaurant or some kind of resort. I can understand the restriction of sticking to a house because of the location, the natural environment, and the topography of the surroundings. I also appreciate the natural look that was being designed with the rock, wood, and natural light.
Source: www.wallpaper.com

Design Research: ten designers

Frank Lloyd Wright
He is a wonderful designer and architect. I absolutly love Frank Lloyd Wright's designs. He is my favorite designer. He is very famous for his Falling Water house and all of his Prairie style homes which are environmentally friendly. He always designed to complement the environment that the dwelling was to be housed. Just like with Falling Water he designed for the structure to be built over the creek. The materials of the building also were common materials found in the environment of that area.
Source: www.wikipedia.org

Vincent Wolf
He a great interior designer who has his own firm, Vincent Wolf Associates, inc. He designs both residential and commercial dwellings. Some of his major projects have been located in New York City and Florida. His designs are beautiful and well designed. His rooms actually look as if the client could live and function in the room. The color schemes always seem to work well with the environment that surrounds them. I would definitely love to have him design a room for me.
Source: www.thestylegroup.com

Orlando Diaz-Azcuy
He is an interior designer and architect who is from Cuba but now has a firm in San Francisco. He is more of a commercial designer with projects including the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House. His main advice for designers is that art work and different accessories give an interior character. I love the room in the picture above because of the white walls and the wood ceiling and the wooden beams. I think these two things complement each other well. I think his designs are very beautiful.
Source: www.forbes.com


Melinda Sechrist
She is an Interior designer who has also specialized in landscape architecture. She was a member of the American Society of Interior Designers and president of the chapter of Seattle. Her style of design is a cabin or mountain feeling. I really like this cabin look, especially since it is very common where I am from. The only thing that I do not like in the picture above is that the wood appears to be fake, which is very obvious. I think this room would have looked much better if the wood was real and natural. Melinda main goal while designing a room is to create everything in scale within the room.
Source: www.forbes.com

David Reed Weatherford
He is a interior designer whose work looks so elegant and expensive. His designs also have a slight modern look. I love looking around in rooms like this. Davis Weatherford has been quoted saying "Listen to the client for what he says but also what he doesn't say" (Weatherford www.forbes.com). I think this is an important quote because it shows others that you can go beyond the limit. You don't have to included just the things that the client insists but you challenge the things that they did not mention.
Source: www.forbes.com

Vincent Van Duysen
He is a designer that is capable of designing both the exterior of the buildings and the interiors. He designs residential, retail, offices, and different products. I would have to admit that I do not like his work because it is too simple and plain. I don't think anyone could really live and function in rooms and houses like this. Most people do not like completely stark white rooms. His designs look very expensive but something that anyone could complete.
Source: www.vincentvanduysen.com


Michelle Kaufmann

She designs for both the exterior and the interior. Her main goal is to create dwellings that are environmentally friendly. This is why she designs the exterior also. I personally like her designs and her intentions to better the environment. She designs specifically for the location that the dwelling is supposed to be located. The house in the picture above is meant to be located in a urban setting. It is designed for the environment of the urban setting. I love the use of windows that she uses because this helps with the lighting issue in houses. I think she is good designers with good intentions.
Source: www.mkd-arc.com/homes/mksolaire/


Tina Manis

She is an architect for her own firm, Tina Manis Associates. Her firm is based out of New York where she concentrates on residential architectural and not so much on industrial work. She said that she likes to design in a more general way instead of the male rules that we all know. With this being said she does not necessarily have a feminine style instead hers is just a everyday thing. She also stated that she does not let her design be dominated by a certain material but instead she designs from the material.
Source: archrecord.construction.com


Ken Isaacs

Ken Isaacs has said "I was always a builder. I would save my money and buy lumber and metal and actually build these projects like the Living Structures. And when you build things, it changes you. You're not just commenting intellectually on something, you're actually putting your energy on the line." I found this interesting about him because I would be the same way. I like to make things for myself so I can say that I did that. Although I find him talented I do not think the Cubes as living spaces are not functionally proper. The picture look like a play set that would be found on a playground. He is innovative and he does think outside the box but in a way that might not be functional. Ken Isaacs believes that the design world needs to take more advantage of the environment and design around it instead of designing for the needs of those around us. I cannot fully agree with this because I think that we do need to design for our needs. We would all be better off if we designed in a more environmentally friendly way.
Source: www.dwell.com



Diane Burn

She has been quoted saying “Imagination is huge for me. All of my interiors make you feel transported to another era.” This would definitely be true because her style almost reminds me of a Victorian style I believe that her designs and ideas are beautiful but are not something that I would choose for myself. Her style is very exotic and glamorous and would probably appeal to the wealthy. One reason I would not choose her style is because of the crowded and cluttered look that she incorporates into her design. If some of the items were removed from the space then I think it would be more welcoming. I do find the colors, furniture, and accessories all to be beautiful.
Source: www.architecturaldigest.com

Design Research: two new technologies

MultiBook

The MultiBook, by Rotaliana, is a new technology device that functions as several things at one time. This device functions as a digital clock, calender, a light source, and three different ports for charging electronics. An advantage to this device is that all the perks of the device itself are centrally located. This object could be placed on a desk as if it were a book laying on the surface of the desk. With this though you would also have a light source for the desk, and clock, and charging ports. Everything functions within one object. I personally like this and would purchase it if I knew that the cords would not be too noticeable because, I would want a viewer to first think that it is a regular book.
Source: www.wallpaper.com



Philips Aurea television

This television is widely being accepted for the appearance that it portrays. This device is a flat screen, which is popular at the time because of the flat look and the amount of space that the object takes up. Many like being able to mount the television on the wall instead of having a piece of furniture for the TV to sit on. The purpose of the design is to have the colors reflect onto the rim of the TV and onto the wall. With this a neat arrangement of colors occur as the colors of the programs change within the television. I personally like this television and the effects it has on the wall on which it sits and the room which it is in. I would purchase this product especially if this is the effect that I would want my room to have.
Source: www.wallpaper.com

Design Research: ten design firm websites

Osborne & Little
This is definitely my kind of web site because of the simplicity but not the kind that you are instantly confused by. I really like the color scheme because the colors themselves are pleasing to me and my taste. The three main colors are black, brown, and a darker magenta. I think these colors work well together especially with the textiles that the company is trying to sell. They chose pictures of furniture that had a similar darker magenta color so that the pictures would be able to look like they belonged with their surroundings. My favorite part about this site is on the main page where you are presented with a slide show type thing that continuously displays images of furniture that is upholstered with textiles from this company.

Poltrona Frau
This is furniture design firm which this exact one is the New York location. I would have to say that I do not like this web site because it is the type that you have to click the enter button. I do not see the point of having to click enter to actually enter to site. Every time I visit a web site of this sort I am all the time thinking that it is out of order or it is still loading. The enter button is usually so tiny that you don't even see it sitting on the page. The only reason that I can think of is that they do not want to just send you straight to the main page and that they want to give you a heads up warning. I do not like this thought because I would just rather go straight to the site. After clicking enter you see a series of three pictures that continuously changing. The only problem is that they did not leave enough time to see all three pictures in one round. I would like for the pictures to run continuously but when the mouse is moved on top of the image then it stops so you can click it and maybe enlarge it.
Source: Wallpaper http://frauusa.com

Baker
This is another example of the type of sites that I am not too fond of. I do not like arriving to the site and being confused on what I am supposed to be clicking. Even though it looks simple it is quite complicated in the fact that clicking once will send you somewhere that will then send you somewhere else. The contents of the web site do not bother me so much as long as I can understand how to get to them. I think that the black and white on the site gives a feeling of elegance. The thumbnail pictures of the furniture are in black and white which ties into the main colors with the elegant feeling. The site has a neat room planning feature that helps fix confusion and able someone to plan out their room.
Source: House & Garden www.baker furniture.com

Larson Juhl
This web site consists of one of my absolute favorite color combinations which happens to be baby blue and brown. Similar to the Natuzzi web site this one also has soothing music upon arriving to the web site. This relates to the soothing pastel colors that make their way through the site. Although this site sounds as if it would be some kind of international firm it is really a design firm that designs frames both empty and full. The frames in the images are so beautiful. Seeing these pictures makes me want to design frames. I would have never considered this firm to be considered a design firm. I would have to agree now that I had looked through the site more that they should most definitely be considered a design firm. The ability to navigate through the site might slightly be denied because the main page has so much writing and wording. This is too clutered, which caused me to have a harder time trying to find my way through the site.
Source: House & Gardens www.larsenjuhl.com
ai3
Although Lucy Aiken-Johnson was a speaker for us I was encouraged and driven to visit her firm's web site and see the work in which they have completed. The web site is very simple yet to the point. The web site itself is simple enough that one can easily navigate their way throughout the site. There is not much interactivity which is something that I personally like in certain situations. I think this particular site could use some interactivity so they can get the viewers involved. I like how they have a section titled portfolio devoted to showing the viewers all their work. Since they are still a new firm they do not have much work completed and this is why everything is on the site now. The web site has two main colors that are presented throughout the entire site. The one main color being orange and the other being a greenish brown. I think it was smart to stick to these two colors throughout the entire site because it gives it a sense of unity overall. My main attraction to the site was the simplicity.
Source: www.ai3online.com

Natuzzi
When first arriving to the site soothing music begins to play as you are navigating through the site. This is the type of site that when first arriving you must choose either a country or a language. Then from there you can choose from different headings that include such things as products, collections, or finding of stores. My favorite aspect about the site is that the pictures appear to just be sitting there but when you move your mouse over them they move up and down so you can see more of the image. After selecting the collection heading images come up that look like a short movie or commercial. They are not continuously moving but the people in the picture change positions every few seconds. This is what makes them look as they are a commercial for the firm. I feel that navigating through these types of sites are too much work because you click one thing then it takes you to a list of other things that are then supposed to click something else. So the only main thing I like about this site are the moving images and the ones that you can interact with.
Source: www.natuzzi.com

Drexel Heritage
I found that I really liked the work and the web site of the Drexel Heritage Furniture Design Firm. The web site itself is a little bit more people friendly in that everything is easy to navigate through. Some of the larger firms have the intricate web sites that are supposed to look simple which can be very cool but sometimes hard to work with. When first arriving to the site I noticed the colors that seamed to be reoccurring throughout the site. The colors are a hunter green and a cream colored tan. They were smart to match the colors in the images to the colors of the site. The two main pictures of furniture each resemble one of the two colors. The top one has green upholstered chairs and the second picture has the tan upholstered sofa. This was my favorite thing about the site although it is just a simple touch that was added. The other main thing for their site is a room planning interactive tool. You can go in a choose a room and then change the wall dimensions. Then from there you can choose furniture and place it in the room. Although the site is quite simple I think it has effectively made it's point.
Source: www.drexelheritage.com

Victoria Hagan
I found this website to be very simple, yet successful. When first arriving to the site you see a circle located in the center of the page that is labeled "enter". After choosing this option you come to a screen that simply lists the different categories that the design firm offers on the web site. This is found at the left of the screen while at the right you see several circles lined up which each represent a different picture. I find the reoccurring theme of the circles to be quite pleasing. The circles are gray on a white background. This choice of color helps focus my mind on the central idea. I also appreciate the web site having examples of their work but also the division between residential and corporate buildings.
Source: www.victoriahagan.com

Alias Design
The background is mostly white with the main focus colors being black and blue. The color choice helps ones eye to see these colors off the white first. The site seems to be set up pretty well because the home page is divided into two parts of the firm all by the click of a word. After further navigating into the site I became confused with all the different options that I had to click on. This is the only downfall.
Source: www.aliasdesign.com

Interior Reflections
I appreciate the web site having pictures of their work on the home page. This is what caught my attention when I first saw the site because right off the bat I was able to decide that I liked their style of design. I also like the fact that they include a link to photos of before and after shots of the work that their firm has completed. With this aspect one is almost able to decide immediately if they would like to send work to this firm.
Source: www.interiorreflections.com

Design Research: ten buildings

Delter Shelter

I find this dwelling titled Delter Shelter, by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen architects, very interesting in the fact that the siding of the building can be convertible. A person can rotate a large wheel from the interior and side the paneling to open or close it. One of my favorite aspects of the dwelling is the cantilevered balconies that protrude out from the sides of the house. I find the height to be very interesting because it looks to be in proportion to the surrounding trees. I also like how the top two stories make a perfect square and the vertical panels divide the square in half.
Source: www.oskaarchitects.com

Glassy House

I really like this house by COAST architects because of the mixture of glass and wood exterior detail. The private areas of the house have wood panel exterior work while the rooms such as the kitchen, dining room, living room, and garage have glass exterior walls. I appreciate the equilibrium between the two different materials. I think that the white walls in the rooms with glass walls works very well because at night the light reflects off the walls and creates a glowing effect when looking from the outside. My favorite angle of the house is in the second picture, which is taken from th backside of the dwelling. We are able to see the basement type level that houses the kitchen and living room. When looking at the front of the building we the viewers only think that the house only has two levels which would appear to be a small house.
Source: www.wallpaper.com

The Grassy House I personally am not fond of this house because of the exterior appearance. When flipping through design magazines we only see very creative designs of houses that are only made up of glass windows. We never see just normal houses in these magazines. I do have to admit that the glass walls are very interesting and that if they were truly functional then I might have the desire to incorporate this design more. This type of house can only be found somewhere in a paradise type setting where no one can be found in the immediate surroundings. Like the house in the image it is set up in the mountains with nothing surrounding it. This might be nice for the rich and famous but not for the average person who lives in a populated neighborhood or a suburb. My main question is "How can someone really live in this house?" I imagine this house being for a couple without children. The main reason that I do not like this house is the grass on the roof. I think this looks tacky. The only aspect that could be interesting would be that from a plane or in an areal shot you would not even see the house because of the grass.
Source: www.dwell.com


The Beach HouseThis house/studio designed by Carol A. Wilson first caught my attention because I thought that the building was set back in the woods somewhere in the mountains. After reading I found out that this house/studio is located at a beach but hidden the trees. I was first attracted to the wooden tree trunks that run horizontally across the entire building itself. My eye was then attracted to column type object that is supporting the building. The reason that I like these too aspects is because I am from the mountains and am able to appreciate the planning of the grade of land and the natural beauty that can be incorporated into the design. I can picture this building in some other mountain setting instead of on the coast.
Source: www.dwell.com

Condos in L.A.

I do not find this building by Pugh + Scarpa to be appealing. I can understand the original intentions to create a modern and contemporary look. To me though I do not think that it fits in this environment and the surroundings. The harsh angles seem to be out of place. Maybe if they were situated in a different way then they might work better. The only aspect that I like about the condo complex is the platform bridges that connect the two buildings.
This is shown in the second image.
Source: www.dwell.com

Walt Disney Concert Hall
I love the abstract appearance that this building takes on. I think that Frank Gehry did a great job with the design of the building. I can’t begin to imagine how much money it cost to build and construct this building due to all the abnormal shapes and all of the curving lines. The application of the exterior material is beautifully placed and designed. I find the color choice of silver to be aesthetically pleasing to my eye and surely to others. I am fascinated by the design that I would love to spend time in the building trying to figure out the construction techniques and how the building was put together.
Source: wikipedia.org

The New MuseumI find this building to have a very interesting look. It almost seems out of place because it is located in New York with buildings that look rundown and of dull colors. I appreciate the building being white because it adds interest and appeal. It would definitely catch ones eye. The different layers or stories seem to balance themselves due to the different placements and positions. I love how the sun shines on one side of the building creating several different variations of white. This building would definitely catch my attention and make me want to go in and see the inside. Source: designcrack.com


The Crayola House
This house has a reputation of being the Crayola house or the Lego house. This house first catches ones eye by the bright colors that are used as accents on the exterior. Then one might notice the symmetry of the house. This house is completely symmetrical and helps to create a center of attention. I find the symmetry to be quite interesting but not something that would prefer any of my designs to look like. Typically I prefer for things to be symmetrical but not anywhere as symmetrical as this house. I think that the actual design of the house is quite beautiful but the color choices are a downfall for the overall look. Instead of using all of the colors I think the designers could have focused on a few main colors even if they were bright.
Source: www.architecturaldigest.com

Mount Hotham House
This house is beautifully designed because of the connection that it makes to nature. The main aspect that makes this connection is the window because they are large and have no interruptions between you and the outdoors. The designer stated that his design is opposite of a typical Frank Lloyd Wright design. I particularly like the inside of the house better than the outside. I think this is because the overall design of the house wants you to stand inside and look out but feel that there is no separation in between.
Source: Wallpaper: International Design Interiors Lifestyle, www.wallpaper.com

Falling Water: Frank Lloyd Wright
I know that everyone has heard of Frank Lloyd Wright but I have a love for his designs. My favorite work by him was the design of Falling Water. I find the cantilevers to be incredibly designed and well thought out. The fact that this house was designed to be located on top of a creek is quite amazing. I love the feature of the house, which allows one to walk down a flight of stairs to the creek. This house also seems to fit right in with the surroundings. I love the contrast of the vertical sections and the horizontal cantilevers especially with the use of the different materials.
Source: www.wright-house.com

Zine of Products

This is a zine full of ten different products. The objective of this assignment was to do design research and work on page layouts. The project was fun to create. I tried to keep a constant theme or look throughout the entire zine.