Design in the Library

Design really can touch every element of your life. When at the library I noticed that every book tells a story based on its cover design. Of course, everyone has heard the old adage “don't judge a book by its cover”, but it is no secret that everyone does. This is due to the design of the cover page. Once again, my little-girl-idea that design=fashion=clothing failed me; and I could not have been happier to make another design discovery, or rather, realization.

For instance, I'm here looking at a book for my sociology class, and due to the design of its cover I can generally categorize it as a informational book or textbook.
This is an immensely helpful design because imagine my dismay if I was to search the library for a fantasy novel with adventures and romances, and every book looked like my sociology book. It would not be as easy to tell which book I want. I might be stuck desperately searching for a wonderful romantic story between this sociologist and that one. Oh, calamity!

Even the design of a book cover in the genre you prefer can help you decide between this novel and that. I'll be the first to say that when searching for a good read I'll pick a novel with a man and woman kissing on the cover over one with a man is a space suit and a gun. If a cover is creatively layed out, instead of just a beautiful image it includes a great picture, an interestingly placed title and different elements on a cover, this design will pull me in.

Comparison and Contrast

When comparing the clothing worn by women in the pre-WWI and post-WWI eras it seems that clothing was not only chose for practical purposes, but as ways of expression as well. Not much has changed in the fashion industry since then in terms of the basic reasons why women wear what they wear.
Prior to the start of World War I women wore long dresses with narrow waists and were full at the front (which became known as the “pigeon breast”). Shoulders were broad with large sleeves, and the dresses had stiff collars. The style of the 1890's-1910 was the traditional womanly figure, or the “hour glass” figure. Also, this was the final showing of the corset as a necessary part of every woman's daily outfits.
After World War I women began to change their appearance. This became the “Flapper era”, when women began to show rebellion against the fashion traditions of the time before the war. “Three important factors converged which would have an impact on American fashion: the ending of World War I, the feminist movement, and improved production methods”. Women wore cropped hair styles and short skirts. “After World War I women's fashions reflected a new more carefree attitude”. The corset was neglected and dresses were made that showed the natural waistline, or sometimes no waistline at all as with the “shift” dress. Because of the major growth in the clothing industry after the war was over, dress designs were simplified and mass-produced at lower prices. The flowing dress style was adapted by most women in society. Designs were made more practical and fitting with the desire for a carefree lifestyle after the war.(http://books.google.com/books?id=hRHUOxramGEC&pg=PA45&lpg=PA45&dq=flapper+dress+1920+feminist+movement&source=bl&ots=fJraBnPD6_&sig=nZ0w-5Ai06NxinloQeYspBokwX0&hl=en&ei=3LO7TPHCII24sQPNv4zzDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Design as Conversation

At first mention, I thought this statement was a bit of a stretch. Sure, design could be a form of communication just as conversation is, but it could not be so broadly conceptualized as to encompass all that conversation is. I failed to see design as conversation because I considered conversation an entity that involved two sides, and at first I did not see the other side half of the conversation; I only saw the Designer.

I realize now that design is a conversation between the designer and the consumers. The designer cannot simply make an article of clothing or a graphic in a motion picture, the creation must be acknowledged by its audience. Even if the design is received poorly, with everyone who sees it going on a ten minute rant about it's disappointing qualities, design is still a conversation. An unhappy conversation, but the designer made his or her point and the recipients gave their thoughts on the topic.

Without the recipients design would be nothing. We design in order to make society run easier, be it easier on the eyes or an easier way to pick up the water bottle because of the design of the grip. Most recently the redesign of the GAP logo showed how vital the conversation of design is. GAP felt the need to create a fresh new logo. This may have been because those in charge felt they needed a new look in order to keep up with the young, up-and-coming store, but whatever the reason for the change the viewers were not buying what they were selling. Within a short time span the population made it known how little they thought of this new GAP logo, how they thought it was both unattractive and unnecessary. Following these complaints, GAP retracted the new look.

Another design conversation would be the that which Lady Gaga has with her audience. With all of her eccentric looks, Lady Gaga is certainly making statements. The singer is attempting to send messages to her viewers both through her music and through her attire. At the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga wore a dress made of meat. This choice is a perfect example of the miscommunications that can come with the conversation between the designer and the recipients. Lady Gaga chose to wear the dress to protest the military's “don't ask, don't tell” policy, but some who viewed the dress, not understanding the message the designer was attempting to get across, sent angry messages to the songstress. “It's certainly no disrespect to anyone that's vegan or vegetarian… it's [saying], 'If we don't stand up for what we believe in, if we don't fight for our rights, pretty soon we're going to have as much rights as the meat on our bones”(http://www.holamun2.com/news/quote-of-the-day/quote-of-the-day-why-lady-gaga-wore-a-meat-dress-to-the-vmas), Gaga told Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show.

Without the proper communication between designer and those who view and use the design the world of design would come tumbling down. Just like in any good conversation between two parties, messages need to be clear and well put together in order to have a successful interaction.

My First Real Outlet

When I was about 15 years, I was googling 'boho style' one day to get ideas for my own wardrobe and I came across a website that has become an important place of visitation whenever I get an urge to design. Polyvore became a place I visited every day. I could spend hours putting together an entire outfit, from boots to earrings, and then another whole hour designing the layout of my piece.

Now that I think of it, I was really exploring two of my passions when I thought I was simply feeding my impulse for one. My fashion design side loved to put together the perfect skirt with the perfect necklace, and I loved making just the right background and layout so that the entire product that showed up to the public looked all spick and span.

Before I even attempted to use a sewing machine and create my own pieces out of actual physical materials, I turned to Polyvore to sate my thirst for fashion and design. The great thing was that Polyvore provided an almost limitless library of clothing and they were actual pieces of clothing found in stores and boutiques around the world. I enjoyed the possibility that if I were rich I could just set off on a plane and buy an entire outfit that I had just put together. The idea that the outfit I just designed could actually be worn by someone out there, was oddly liberating!

Once I got more into the idea of design as a career, I used the Polyvore site less and less because I didn't like the fact that the pieces of clothing were already out there. Someone else had designed these beautiful dresses and scarves and I was simply borrowing them; I was personal shopping for my own little virtual, invisible paper doll. I wanted to be the one who designed the actual shirt that I found so gorgeous. I was just dressing a manikin on Polyvore, and while at one time I actually thought I would really love to actually do that for a living, I had moved on and was aspiring to bigger and better things.

I recently revisited Polyvore after a long period of absence and am once again enjoying the designing the outfits I can throw together on a whim or with much thought. But now I know I'm enjoying it as a great hobby. I thank the Polyvore site for providing a stepping stone for my creative identity, and I hope it will continue to provide the same outlet for some young designers/artists out there in the future.

Creativity from Without

Before this Design course I had always considered the most beautiful art to be the result of someone looking deep inside his or herself and bringing what they found there out into the world in a beautiful way. However, this thought of finding inspiration from what we see, feel, touch, and taste all around us is just as important as the creations inspired from within. Along with this realization came the one that I had already been creating by this method of inspiration.

While most of my artwork has been inspired by the emotions that I see under my own skin, I've always been moved by the work of the internationally renowned entertainment company, Cirque du Soleil. Both the acts and the costumes of the productions that Cirque puts on take my breath away, and one day I hope to watch them perform live.

Though their stunts inspire the most intense emotions of fear, passion, and joy, which can all be tapped to create a work of wonder, it is their expressive faces under all that color and the way their bodies form unprecedented shapes in those vivacious costumes that have inspired my paintings and even my poetry.

The way the colors and layout of the costume, whether the make-up or the outfit, intensify the emotion that the performers are portraying proves what an immense role design has in such a famous industry. I paint more expressively, with wider and wilder brush strokes and more passionate abandon, after recently viewing a Cirque du Soleil still shot or youtube video. I believe some of my best work is inspired by the vibrant hues that cover the entire scenes on the Cirque stage.(http://www.sweetspot.ca/SweetLife/gifts_and_occasions/8321/cirque_du_soleil__cirque_2009/)

"Stone Soup" Project

“Design is about collaboration” said my Professor Housefield. Since we've been small we've all been taught to share. Neighbors share cups of sugar. Countries share resources when it is beneficial for both parties. To sum up, sharing for the benefit of all has, pretty much, been carved in stone for our society.

In the story of Stone Soup, the soldiers create camaraderie out of exclusion and mistrust. Joy is made from a multitude of people taking their knowledge and resources and adding it to the massive pot of stewing, tasty creativity. With this Stone Soup project of creating a piece of art out of unused objects, garbage, and neglected bobbles, Housefield applied the same principle to Design. Without cooperation and collaboration, both the act and the product of design would be sold to the world without its best foot forward. When working together on a project, Designers conceive a myriad of brilliant ideas and details that might have been overlooked had not that one specific person been involved in its creation. We help one another to produce the best we can produce.

In my group's project, each person gave a unique touch to the piece. Without Gina's impressive leadership skills and general positive attitude our creation would not have been constructed with such ease. Taylor created great little additions to the model with her glitter-covered cardboard cutouts. Valerie provided the glitter glue that became our go-to tool and Libby decked out an entire side of the piece with her intricately placed green strawberry containers. Tanya, Chinh, Alyssa, and I all put in our two cents with the construction of cardboard stairs, or the addition of a flag on top, or a decoratively wrapped Martinelli's bottle with a ping pong ball glued on top. Suiwa provided a laugh as well as the finishing touch with the little stuffed duck she placed on top of our masterpiece.

The final product could not have been erected without the input of all our members. I'm sure that in each of our future design projects, be they graphic, fashion, or architectural in nature, the suggestions and aid we receive from others who are just as passionate about that creation as we are will cause a piece of design to be produced; one even more ravishing than our cardboard masterpiece!

Combining Passions: First Annual Vegan Fashion Show

In lecture on Tuesday, my professor mentioned a Vegan Fashion Show that is happening today actually, Oct. 2, in San Francisco. At first I didn't really understand the connection and didn't think much about it, but of course, being the astoundingly proficient student that I am, I jotted down the note just for good measure. While sitting in my dorm room and mulling over what to blog about I glanced through my notebook and saw Tuesday's note. With curiosity, I looked into it on the trusty web!

A vegan fashion show! Part of the World Vegetarian Festival. Once I read into it, the concept became truly fascinating! Designers and artists seem to be passionate people in general, but to have someone who is so passionate about multiple things and to fuse those passions into one inspired project is a really beautiful notion.

Karen Brighten Events is behind the organization of the fashion show, and this woman really seems to have her ducks in a row and an eye on the prize. She hopes to bring her dream of a healthy world closer to the mainstream lifestyle and “is committed to reducing the environmental impact that events can have on the planet” (http://sfveganfashionshow.com/?page_id=2). Brighten has teamed up with models and designers who share her goals and interests in preserving humanity by erasing cruelty to animals and promoting harmony with the environment. Laura Collins, the designer for Pansy Maiden, has added her “cruelty-free” handbags to the show and Reco Jeans has also donated their recycled denim styles to Brighten's event.

Both of these designers, among others, are contributing their fantastic ideas, styles, and compassion to the dream that one day the world will mesh looking good with feeling good morally. And though I claim no vegan title, I can say with much enthusiasm, that I admire what these environmentalists are doing; pushing their dreams to the surface with design as a attention-grabbing lead rope into the fray of society.

Continuous Journey Through Design

I love how many options there are in the world of design. When I was little, I thought design simply meant you make something pretty ergo you have designed. And due to my belief at that time that clothes were some of the few truly pretty things out there in the world, I thought Design=Fashion=Me. Isn't it strange how you grow up and see more of the world, your eyes are opened, and suddenly there before you feet are options!

I first noticed that there was more to design in the world than just clothing when I was in, I believe it was, my Aunt's home in Oklahoma and I realized I was so happy just sitting in her living room and looking at the way she arranged her furniture, and the furniture itself; how the wood on the bottom of the sofa was slightly arched in such an attractive way. And the beautiful vintage fainting sofa with the rich green upholstery. Her entire sitting room was like a work of art; beautifully put together, in color, arrangement and furniture form, as well as effectively creating an atmosphere of calm and peaceful grace simply by the choice of furniture and how she placed it about the room. My view of design was expanding.

While in high school, creating poster boards and visual aids for my various book projects and other assignments became a great joy. I quickly realized this was because this was something I was good at. I always received praise for my creative layouts and how my poster was different, not simply for the effort put into it, but because it was so artfully put together. Around this same time I understood that I enjoyed flipping through some magazines more than others (for example, Vogue and the Anthropology catalogue are much more intriguing to look at than, say, OK! Magazine). The way in which these articles and images were placed together on a page was esthetically pleasing in a way that other magazines were not. Design was much, much more than just clothing!

Now that I am starting in the design program at UC Davis, I am understanding even more that design is found everywhere, not just a shoe, or a chair, or a magazine spread, design is all around us.

First Design Experiences

A princess' private chamber; that was the view I saw. Soft pinks, purples, and an overall wash of paisley made my little-girl/budding-designer-self melt into easy comfort. A vast ocean of imperfect wood swept across the top of her bedroom. It was an expanse of nature's notched wood to house her sleeping form. I would close the door that matched the color of the wooded ceiling and immediately peer left. A grand mirror stretching all the way from the fuzzy blue carpet to the above washed brown planks. My small stature was always a picture of aw when I gazed up at this huge reflective wall. Again, I always thought, 'Only a princess would have such a large mirror upon her wall.' The walls of her bower were sprinkled with lilies of white and soft pink. I remember loving to trail my finger across the wallpaper because it had an indescribable texture, like sandpaper but soft; more like the dust that sandpaper leaves behind. On the far side of the room was a mantle made of burgundy and light brown bricks with a small gas fireplace. The scene was made perfect when I would perch on that warm fireplace and watch winter pass through the large windows that took up a majority of the wall from the far corner. An enormous bed took up one forth of the sizable room. Always decorated in the most beautiful bed skirts and linens, the bed was just the right size to engulf a happy little girl within it's perfect and fluffy down blankets. Knowing the joy that it brought to my youth, and spying the overall grandeur, I would not be surprised if my grandmother was inspired, while designing her adult bedroom, by the memories of her own childhood when she was in love with fairytale castles too.