Design in Society: Computer

The Apple 1 computer, created by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in March 1976, was one of the first computers to be out in the market and be available for human usage. This was the beginning design that has led to greater and better things and started a revolution of computer brands such as Acer, Compaq, Dell, eMachines, HP, Sony, Toshiba and of course, Apple.
The new modern version of the Apple 1 computer can be considered to be the Macbook Air, a thin laptop computer that has definitely had a makeover.

On the left, the Macbook Air is shown to be a thin computer with a very 21st century look to it. Computers in general have been a great asset to society with workload. The computer has helped many with PowerPoint presentations, homework, communication and many other programs that a computer has, are being used nationwide by billions of people. Not only is the computer helpful for workload but for communication as well thanks to the internet. Computers are used for the internet to stay connected with work, school, friends, family etc.
The design of an actual computer is something beneficial to society in which a computer's design contributes economically. Aesthetics of a computer is helpful appealing to the consumer, based on the color, size, and other designs that might be added to the computer to seem better than the others. The design of the computer of course augment the cost of the computer as well, helping increase the economy.
A computer in general helps move cycles easier and making life faster for many such as typing an essay on a computer and saving it rather than using a typewriter or writing by hand and then having to re-write the whole thing later on. As the years go on, computers will become more futuristic and will end up helping society even more by typing faster or being faster on the internet.

dG

Design is Dangerous: Technology

Normally when someone thinks about design, it is perceived as a positive impact on society. Although for a huge percentage of the time this definition is correct, design can be the end of society. Technology is something that I personally believe is a dangerous design altogether. My opinion is addressed in the movie "Wall-E" and the following clip emphasizes what we, as humans, can transform into if we let technology take over (fast forward to 1:05). Although the movie is a fictional story, this part of the movie makes a lot of sense when it comes to technology, seeing that it is taking over the people and that without their chairs, the people are useless, so useless that they can't even lift themselves off the floor when they fall. Technology is advancing quickly and we as a society are not ready; new iPods, new phones, televisions that are compatible with internet, cars that can park themselves, etc. The whole design of the advancing technology is supposed to help the average human lifestyle by simplifying their daily routine but the danger here is that technology is making life to simply for human beings, making them useless to society such as no longer seeing the craft of homemade meals without something that is already pre-made, or not being able to park our own car because our car is already programmed to do so. The whole idea that we are being taken over by technology is something that is repulsive to me
and the idea that we are also so open to these objects taking us over because we are blinded by the aesthetics of the product. Society is blinded by the "prettiness" of the new iPods and their features, the new Lexus and the ability of parking that it holds or the new robotic toy that can clean after you; humans are in danger of being taken over by technology, if it hasn't taken over already.

dG

Color Transforms

David Choe, muralist and graphic artist. In my mind, he defies color with his beautiful murals. Being an artist that has his artwork seen from the United States to Vietnam, he shows vulgarity by giving his art an aesthetic spin. Like many of this murals and artworks, Choe uses color to bring his pictures to life and give them bigger meaning. In the picture to the left, there is a woman that is surrounded by black, white and grey while her face gives off different color vibes, drawing the audience into her face. Referring to Josef Albers' book "Interaction of Color", there is a play of brightness in Choe's artwork. Color intensity is something that every human eye craves and looks out for in artwork and Choe does deliver with this piece. The color intensity is not really found in the black, white and grey until the colors are mixed but the real intensity is shown in the woman's face. Colors defy this woman, bringing more brightness to her lips, looking luscious and plump and her eyes have a distinct brightness. As Albers points out, there are different tastes in color when it comes to different color. For me, the lips and the eyes are the main parts of the painting that attract me to the painting altogether. I see colors differently from someone else because I can see a reder red than someone else that is seeing the same picture as me. Knowing that there are different view of color in this painting, society can see this design to be universal, one that communicates to different human eyes. This can be considered to be universal because of the many people that this painting can appeal and the different brightness or intensities that they might experience. I thank David Choe for his painting and I encourage him to continue with his work to make more paintings that can connect with society and have more communication through them such as color, pointed out by Josef Albers.

dG

MacBook Air, the 2010 Generation

Recently, I was watching television at my dorm and the new Apple commercial seemed to pop up. The commercial was endorsing the new Apple product, the MacBook Air, a refined laptop that was sure to leave people speechless. This new addition to the Apple family is introduced in an advertisement on television and YouTube worldwide (shown above) focusing on one and only one main concept of the laptop, the design. As shown in the clip from YouTube, the video's simple message of the laptop is that it is sleek and that can be easily transported from one's hand to the table. In the beginning, the ad moves the camera around the sides of the laptop, showing some of the features that it includes such as USB connections, the charger input, and the connection for headphones. Showing these features in the clip assure the consumers that although the design of the MacBook Air has changed, Apple has confirmed that they are still including the same features to the new laptop as the other laptops that Apple has to offer. Also, the side show that the laptop goes from thick to slim, a different design that Apple has tried for the MacBook Air, something that can be definitely attractive to the consumer's optic sense. The hand in the video, holding the MacBook, demonstrates the slender features from a personal experience, coming from the person that is holding the laptop, once again, proving to their audience that their product does meet the features that they promised. The action of opening the laptop with one finger shows not only the slimness of the MacBook once again but it represents the weight of the screen, one that might be lightweight and simple to open. In the end of the video, there is a 180 degree turn in which the camera turns to display the screen and the profile of the MacBook and the name of the product, finishing the video.
Society was ready for the MacBook Air and Apple was by all means, in the right position to satisfy society. The MacBook Air's design attracts its audience simply by the title of the product. MacBook Air is such a tantalizing name in which leaves people questioning, "Why is this laptop called the MacBook Air?" but after looking at the commercial or at the advertising, one answers their own question. "Air" is part of the name because the laptop itself is lightweight and "MacBook" because of the brand, Apple. This is one item that connects conveniently to society for many of the features that are embedded into the product. We, as a society, like simplicity and the MacBook Air seems to satisfy those needs for a consumer, based on the actual design and the functions of the laptop. Design-wise, the MacBook Air helps by being so lightweight, something that is beneficial to people such as travelers, lawyers, college student, business people, etc. Focusing on the functions of the laptop, the MacBook has a battery life ranging from 5-7 hours, has Flash storage, a great track-pad/mouse, etc. In general, the MacBook Air has connected with its consumers with advertisements and the new slim design of their addition to the Apple family.

dG

http://www.apple.com/macbookair/

Nicki Minaj and Will.I.Am star in their new music video, "Check It Out" (the above clip), a new song that is popular in the United States. Within the video. Will.I.Am and Nicki Minaj not only connect to the population of the United States but made their music video connect with the Korean population. There were many instances where the Korean culture was shown in the design of the music video. One of the instances includes the Korean clothing. Being a fan of both Nicki Minaj and Will.I.Am, I am aware that the clothing that they both wear in the music video is not typically affiliated in their wardrobe. The clothing design as a whole is colorful and the design is more intricate especially in the hat and in the jumpsuit. Conversing with my design group in class, we came to the conclusion that the jumpsuit that Nicki Minaj wears in the middle of the music video can be seen as propaganda for a movie that is coming out in December by the name of "Tron". Although the jumpsuit has Korean roots, this was seen as propaganda simply because of the futuristic vibe that the suit gives out, which "Tron"focuses on. Korean is also optically seen in the music video from the 3D words that pop out, emphasizing the last words that are said by either Nicki Minaj or Will.I.Am. Focusing on society, this music video combines Korean and American mannerisms, united both countries into one culture wise. Nicki Minaj and Will.I.Am are communicating to their audience that they are open to other traditions and cultures, augmenting their chances of getting more view from different cultures simply because of the new Korean connection that they make.

dG

RUNAWAY

Kanye West, worldwide known rap artist and record producer, has moved on to greater and better things. He recently wrote a song called "Runaway" and he made a 35 minute video based on his new song. The video tells the story of a woman bird that seems to have fallen in planet Earth where she is lost in the mannerisms of the planet. Kanye stars in his own video portraying a character that finds this woman bird and helps he become one with society and take part of the human society. Throughout the video, Kanye West shows many angles of nature and dance, connecting to society and linking to the woman bird on her experience of planet Earth.

Although Kanye West is an amateur director, this is a perfect example of design in society. Before even starting looking at the video as a whole, the design of the woman bird, such as the wardrobe for the woman bird character, was a great design altogether; the feathers, the makeup with the long, white eyelashes, the sleek hair. The wardrobe was well designed to fit Selita Ebanks, model that portrayed woman bird, hugging her body. With this nice, fitting clothing design, Kanye was smart enough to fit the wardrobe with Ebanks' character, a woman bird that is lost and does not fit in with the rest of society, connecting with people in the audience for not connecting with society by either being different in their personality, clothing etc.

Moving on to the rest of the video, there are many scenes in which nature is placed randomly in the video and there is a connection between the woman bird and nature. Here, the design of society is seen in the video to be calm since it is shown the deer in the wild, sheep and birds are in there natural habitat or that they are helpful in connecting with the woman bird. The design is that there are animals in a calming environment, Kanye West's house, provoking the audience to feel calm with the woman bird.

dG

Collision of Word and Image

Posters. Physically, they can be made from paper, cardboard or a nice writing surface, that include writing of some sort. Posters can be attractive to the human eye either by the decor of the poster or by the writing. In this poster shown, the writing was what intrigued me and this is the reason why I have decided to include this picture in my blog. The sign is held by a girl which states "Why is it that as a culture we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands? More love less ", something that I am very strong about. Gay rights is something that I hold very dear to my heart and after reading this poster/picture, I felt my heart sink, something that the creator of the poster might have wanted his/her audience to experience. I remember that I had to read this picture multiple of times before I said, "They are so right."

The complete design of the poster connects not only to the audience but to the society as a whole. Even though the poster is not that decorated or appealing to the human eye, the message that is written in the poster is enough to make an audience question this and give their own opinion. Our society, at this point in time, is either accepting of the gay society or against the gay society and this poster just questions our society; are we really that ignorant that we are more open to men holding guns and starting violence than accepting a homosexual couple being intimate in public? This simple design of paper, use of marker and colors, evokes so much emotions and connects to society by asking a simple question; design, in this case, rules.

dG

WORD & IMAGE

Brian Fries, author and comic book artist, wrote and drew the book "Mom's Cancer", his and his family's experience dealing with his mother's cancer. The University of California, Davis had the privilege to have Mr. Fries come to the Design 001 class and give a lecture on his book, his experience with his mother and with main points to how he became to be, a comic book writer. The picture above gives an example of "Mom's Cancer", portraying Brian Fries' mother in agony. Although the picture could speak for itself, Fries decided to include words, explaining most of the items that are found next to his mother.
Word and image come together in this picture, where the image shows the agony that the mother is going through and we, as an audience, perceive with our eyes the atmosphere and the items that are found close to his mother. The words that link with the image are extremely helpful, not only to know what he images are but to know the meaning behind such objects. Fries knew that the image was not the only thing that would hook his readers but that he would need to draw them in more by explaining such things like the medicine that his mother was taking. Telling his readers these details about the image evoke emotions towards his mother and him for the hardships of cancer. Altogether, Brian Fries makes sure that image and word come together

in his comic book to express in detail what this journey of a cancer battle, provoking his readers to take part of his experience and to visually take a glimpse in what might be a life burden.

dG

http://www.momscancer.com/