Authentic Chuck

(Image from metrophotochallenge.com)

I can't say I know much about fashion. I'm a pretty simple guy when it comes to clothing. I have always been that way. At times I felt strange for not having a desire to wear clothing blasted with company logos, especially in my younger years. But as I have grown, the plain style has grown to suit me well. One thing I enjoy most out of any piece of clothing, is a great pair of shoes. I'm not talking about accessorizing and owning ten different pairs to match my mood for the day, but rather a few good pairs of shoes to get me by until they eventually disintegrate into mangled rubber and canvas. Two styles that share similarities, as well as my appreciation, are the Converse Chuck Taylor lo-tops, and the Vans Authentic. Both are simple, functional shoes that have served their purpose for far longer than I have been able to wear them.

(Image from consumie.com)

The Converse All-Star was first produced in 1917 as Converses answer to the public need of a Basketball shoe. The shoe did not catch on until renowned basket ball player of his time, Chuck Taylor, adopted the allstar as his main shoe for playing in. From there, the shoe grew throughout the world of basketball, continuing to grow until it had become the standard shoe for any serious basketball player. The original All-Stars were a rubber vulcanized sole, with a high-top canvas body, consiting of 16 lacing eyelets, as well as two additional eyelets for ventilation. The shoes most notable feature is the rubber toe cap 

that is a continuation of the sole. 

(Image form Zappos.com)

The vans authentic originated in 1966 as the “#44 Deck Shoe”. The design consists of a “waffle grip” vulcanized rubber sole, a canvas body, and ten lace eyelets. What started out as simple sturdy shoe grew to prominence in the 1970s when skateboarders discovered their perfect fit for the sport. The shoes have been popular amongst kids, teens, men, women, punk rock bands, hip hop artists, and basically everyone in between.

 Both of these shoes share a similar design, as well as use of materials, however, they look signifcantly different. The Converse toe cap and elongated body contrasts with the Van's all canvas and slightly shorter body. The all star originated as a basketball shoe, while vans originated as a leisure shoe that eventually was adopted and praised by the world of skateboarding. Converse also initially started on the east coast, while vans originated here in sunny California. Aside form these differences, the shoes are actually very much alike.

Both vans and converse have developed into a footwear phenomena in terms of the amount of boundaries they have crossed. People from all walks of life have worn these shoes. Both shoes now come in various patterns and colorways, including limited and custom made editions.Both claim some association in the world of alternative music such as punk or grunge, as can be seen in the converse sporting Ramones, or vans equipped bands of modern punk. Although vans originated the skate shoe, converse has caught onto the hype and even has their own skateboarding line and team. 

Converse and Vans have become synonymous with american popular culture. They have covered the feet of millions while those wearing them set trends and broke boundaries. Not only were these trendsetters able to accomplish such feats, but they were able to do them with nothing more than some plain canvas vulcanized shoes tied to their feet.

Communication Through the Remix

Music can be design. Music tries to convey ideas or images through sounds and words which are then interpreted by the listener in their own way. As we go forth in this technological age, music is more abundant, more accessible, and more technologically influenced. But what about the listeners talking back to the musicians themselves? Surely this can be done literally through chats, emails, message boards, or even in person with physical expressions at a concert. But what if the listener was to actually take what they heard, physically change it, then give it back to the initial artist? This is done through the remix.

While anyone can create a remix, the world of the internet has made it so those mixes can be shared with everyone. This ability to connect has made some artists interested in what others would make of their music.Upon release of an album, some artists promote “remix contests” allowing listeners to take a certain song and remix it however they would like. This was most notably done by the band Radiohead on their last album “In Rainbows”. The concept was to allow users to download the separate recorded tracks (ie: bass, drums, guitars, vocals, etc) to facilitate the ease of remixing. The first song posted for the contest (“Nude”) received such a profound response that Radiohead later posted another song from the album (“Reckoner”),to allow for more remixes to be posted and voted upon. This concept has also been adapted by artists such as Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), and Third Eye Blind. Although there are no real rewards for “winning” the contest, the top remixes get the bands recognition.

The idea of allowing fans to manipulate an artist's work is very intriguing. In the case of the band Third Eye Blind, the band released some of the song stems before they had released the album, allowing fans to influence the final result. Only in today's world would fans be able to actually have input on the outcome of an artist's next record. This is truly communication through design; by allowing a musician to create something, give it to their fans to alter, then have it given back in a new shape and form. I feel this will be a continuously increasing event that artists will take advantage of to get feedback upon their work. In the near future we may even see bands writing music with the help of those who listen to it, creating the ultimate form of communication in design.

Stove Top Simplicity

 

I love coffee. It has surrounded me since the day I was born. My earliest memories consist of my dad brewing large 6-8 cup pots every morning (for solely himself), drinking about half of the pot, then leaving the rest to possibly be devoured later. Throughout my childhood I remember there always being coffee in the pot, and always that strong aroma in the air. In the beginning of college, my sister introduced me to espresso . Not only did she show me espresso, but also one of the most ingenious/iconic inventions in the world of coffee. The Bailetti Moka Pot.

This stove top espresso maker made by italian designer/engineer Alfonso Bialetti in 1933 quickly became popular throughout Italy and across Europe. Today it is still a staple in Italian kitchens and homes, as well as present on display in the London Science Museum. The simple look and design consists of a 3 part aluminum pot: the base which is filled with water, the metal filter which holds the ground espresso, and the top chamber which collects the piping hot steamed espresso. The pots come in various sizes, allowing for a single shot, or up to 18 at once.

I find the look of the Moka Pot very unique. It's flared straight edges and formed spout give it looks of a cross between an hour glass and a tea kettle. The simple aluminum and black coloring makes it look sleek, but also made for everyday use. Besides it's looks, the best feature of the Moka is that it actually works! Such a simple concept executed appropriately and with style. I highly recommend these to anyone who enjoys coffee or espresso. Even if you don't, just get it to give your average kitchen a little bit of italian culture.

Design From Without

As a designer, it is essential to use your surroundings to find inspiration. One can only look inside for so long before needing to expand upon their creative potential. In recent years environmentally sustainable design has become a major focus, requiring designers of all types to look to the natural world for ideas that convey beauty with sustainability and functionality. An outstanding example of this is the design of the California Academy of Sciences located in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA. The main design was conceived by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano.

 

The museum incorporates many sustainable elements such as a natural cooling system, solar power, natural lighting, and insulation made from recycled blue jeans. However, the most standout part of the museum rests right on top. The 197,000 sq ft. roof is covered by several hills emulating the San Francisco topography. These hills also conceal the large structures within the building including a planetarium, a four story rainforest, an aquarium, and a natural history museum. The roof also incorporates1.7 million native plant species chosen specifically for the region. Piano said of the design that "it was meant to look as if it had grown out from under Golden Gate Park”. The roof design is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also serves several sustainable purposes. Having a roof made of soil and plants vs. asphalt, reduces the heat within the building by 10 degrees. The roof also captures rain water to be reused, converts carbon dioxide into oxygen, and reduces the overall amount of energy needed to heat and cool the building.

This design is truly fascinating, as well as a perfect example of seamlessly combining a museum with the natural park environment. Piano and his team were able to realize a truly innovative way of combing nature with architectural design. This combination shows the major influence that the designer had to pull from the environment, thus finding creativity from without.

A Fine Soup

On October 6, 2010, Design 001 at UC Davis cooked up some soup... of the stone variety. The concept of stone soup is to create something with the collective effort of a group, in order to benefit all who participate. For desgin 001, this involved seven individuals bringing their own materials to combine and create a piece of artwork. In many ways it felt reminiscent of a kindergarten activity, but not in a negative way. This activity allowed our group to get to know each other better as individuals and designers, as well as work together to make something out of (almost) nothing.

Upon selecting our location for working, we unloaded our materials onto the lawn and observed our newly formed junk pile. Materials ranged from paper bags and cardboard, to old bike tire tubes and glitter glue. In a situation such as this, we took the standard design approach and decided to start sketching. However, upon glancing at the materials in front of us, we decided against sketching and thought it would be more efficient to dig in and start shaping our work. Upon showing the group a large piece of brown packing paper that I brought, there was an instant reply of “That would make a great tree trunk”. From that simple idea our project goal was formed. We would create a tree out of  junk.

In order to create an upright tree trunk, we decided to use a nearby lamp post as our means of forming it. As we wrapped, someone decided to intertwine the bike tubes with the tree, giving a “vine” effect. Before long we were wrapping and stuffing materials all over the trunk in order to create a “Recycled Junk Tree”. As the process continued more and more ideas flowed, such as creating branches from paper bags and cardboard tubes, as well as leaves from green coupons in a coupon book. The culminating figure in the piece was a cardboard box wrapped around the base of the post, in order to give the effect that this junk tree had grown right out of the box of junk.

Upon completion, we took a step back to realize we had just created a concept, and built without much planning or strategy. Although this may not be ideal design practice, it is a perfect way to stir one's creativity and expand it through the ideas of others in the group. That is what our stone soup was about: utilizing group creativity to create something that would benefit each individual involved. Once the activity was over and we ventured to observe other groups designs, I couldn't help but constantly think of new ideas of ways to improve our piece, as well as entirely new concepts for the same materials. It was truly a valuable experience for exercising one's creative mind.

Place of Design

Design serves multiple purposes in our society. This is the reason it encompasses everything around us. While most probably think of design as a means of commerce, it also expands into the worlds of informational, as well as political. Whether or not there is a client involved, a designer is trying to create an attractive, informative, and effective piece that captivates the attention of all who view it.

In business, design is essential. Product design is a constant competition for the next big idea that will sell. A company such as Apple, has consistently put out functional as well as beautiful products. Besides the products themselves, companies need designers to create identities and ad campagins. In Apple's case, this continued along the lines of simplicity, as seen in the white backdrop t.v. Commercials. These concepts are probably most thought of when mentioning graphic design, however, some create designs with less monetary motivation.

Design can serve as a powerful tool in the world of politics. Propaganda and anti-war posters present a view point in a way that simplifies the meaning to the viewer. These posters have been seen in times of war, as well as presidential campaigns. Two examples are the recent Obama “Hope” poster designed by artist Shepard Fairey, and the uncle sam “I Want You (For the US Army)” image designed by James Montgomery Flagg. Both of these images have become icons that every American can identify. Designers have the power to create an association between image and idea in a way that can have a profound impact on societies for years to come

Besides the ideas of business and politics, designers also create images for simple informational purposes: A sign telling us which restroom to use, a sign telling us to STOP, a sign telling us where to go, or a diagram showing us how to safely attach our oxygen masks in case of aircraft emergency. All of these images may appear simple, but thats the point. Simple and effective. We depend on these signs day in and day out, often taking them for granted.

The place of design in society is not a simple question. Truly, designs place is everywhere. Whether or it was created for profit, ideal, information, or all three, it is ingrained in our society.

Hearing Design

As we have discussed in class, design is not simple to define. It can be seen as both a noun and a verb. It can be in the form of a book cover, a home, a water bottle, and much more. In some cases, it can even be sound. Sound design is a media field that does not get enough recognition. In films, sound is often viewed as secondary to the visual aspect. However, watching a film with poor sound (or no sound) can completely change the impact of the work. In today's age, sound design is also used in games, websites, television, and commercials. This creates numerous opportunities for sound designers to create sonic landscapes that accurately portrait an image, as well embellish the actions taking place on screen.

Diego Stocco is a sound designer and composer that takes both fields to new creative heights. Stocco builds his own instruments out of musical leftovers, as well as uses the natural environment as an instrument within its self. His unorthodox approach to creating compositions sets him apart by capturing sounds that may have never been heard before. Diego's website, as well as his vimeo page will give you an idea of the type of work he is creating.

Diego Stocco - Bassoforte from Diego Stocco on Vimeo.

Diego Stocco - Music From A Bonsai from Diego Stocco on Vimeo.

I had first heard/seen Stoccos work from watching an interview with him on a web-series known as “Motherboard”. I then re-stumbled across this work recently, which allowed me to see it in a new light. It made me think more about concepts of design, and how design can even be in sounds we hear. Sound can be similar to other design mediums in the sense that it is something asked for, and is needed to be realized and “Designed” by a sound designer. It needs convey a feeling that will hopefully produce a mental image, or appropriately match a physical image on a screen. Stucco Does this in a fascinating way that goes beyond mere sound effects, but creating new sounds that may have never been heard before.

Early Impact of Design: A Coveted Design

From the moment of birth we are exposed to the world of design. It surrounds us from that moment on as almost everything we come into contact with is designed. This gives us numerous opportunities in our early years to discover the impact of design through interactions with toys, games, movies, furniture, rooms, etc. With all these opportunities, it wasn't until eight years old that I had a truly significant experience with a particular product of design. It was a design by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares.

My uncle Tony introduced me to the electric guitar. More specifically, the Fender Stratocaster. The first time I saw a real electric guitar in person, it was a 50's style white Fender Stratocaster with a maple neck. The smooth gloss finish over the maple neck and ergonomically designed white body was beautiful. More captivating was the contrast of materials consisting of wood, plastic, and various metals, intertwined so as to draw your attention away from the materials, and make you focus on the instrument as a whole.The smell of the guitar was a combination of the polyester coating mixed with the wood, and nickel coating of new strings. A scent that is part manufactured, and part organic. 

(Image courtesy of fenderstrat.net)

Beyond it's appearance, the most important aspect of this guitar is it's sound.The Stratocaster's five way pickup switch allows it to create some of the most beautiful sounds possible on an electric guitar. It ranges from a deep buttery bass frequency, to a hi/midrange twang allowing endless possibilities in between. It is not the most simplistic guitar yet for the features it possesses, it's control layout is organized neatly and effectively.
The design of the Stratocaster has influenced hundreds of imitations trying to achieve it's coveted style. It is a style that made me as well as countless others, take notice of the world of guitar playing. It's combination of aesthetics, physical playability, and numerous sound capabilities make it one of the most popular guitars in the world.