Design Is Dangerous, You Might Be Drinking It

Warning: Alcoholic Energy Drinks

                                                                                   (google images)

          The current controversy around Alcoholic energy drinks has been the cause of heart attacks, hospitalizations, and drunk teens to accidently kill themselves have all occurred because of these energy drinks’ faulty informational design. 
          At Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J., the administration has banned the drink after the hospitalization of six students who drank multiple cans, according to the Associated Press. It seems for students that the opposites within the drink, caffeine and alcohol, attract and cause some serious consequences.

Brands like Joose, Four Loko, Tilt, Sparks, Max...

          What the drink is designed to do to the consumer is guided at your own risk, just like any responsibility when drinking other alcohol. However, when these alcoholic cans closely resemble any other energy drinks on the shelf, 

                                                          (google images)

at what point do you draw the line? With its bright and colorful image, these drinks are intentionally designed and marketed to inexperienced under aged drinkers.  It is then, that Design can be dangerous. It is dangerous because many people aren’t aware that these drinks are alcoholic. What makes it dangerous is not the 12% alcohol within each can. The human body’s natural reaction to alcohol is to get drowsy, which serves as protection from alcohol poisoning. The danger of these drinks is the caffeine, which allows the imbiber to stake awake and consume more alcohol than they would normally be able to. Its this lethal combination of ingredients that gets you intoxicated, but you feel like you’re okay, …unaware of the potential danger. While it is up to the drinker to be responsible and in good judgment, it is the drinks’ companies that should have a social responsibility to warn of the dangers if consumed. While they intentionally market their product in such a way that’s visually appealing, isn’t it ethical to include the facts within the visual design on the can? If companies don’t start changing their dangerous designs to inform, society will stay unaware and clueless if such dangerous designs go unnoticed. 

Think. Design. Inform.

Design in Society: Bike Life Of Davis California

                                                                                                      (UC Davis campus)

          The invention of the bicycle was one of the greatest deigns known to man, especially in the heart of Davis, California. The bicycle gives the opportunity for travel, ease of transportation, and affordable wheels to get from one place to another, whether it is to school, or to the supermarket. The bicycle saves precious time, and gets the rider anywhere quicker than walking. Because of the creation of the bicycle, living in Northern California, it has made transportation easier in such urban city living. I personally, had gotten into a bad car accident over the summer and originally intended to drive my car to school since I live farther away. Now that my car is smashed to the ground, my bike has made my everyday life a lot easier in terms of getting places. My bike is my utopia. It improves my life and I know for more than half of the world without cars, the bicycle is a form of utopian for them as well.

          The design of the bicycle also helps to improve traveling. A supportive seat can improve transportation comfort, and the medium from which the body was created can give stability and safety. For my beach cruiser bike, it was designed with a basket in the front.

                                              (google images)

          The addition of creating the bike with an attached basket has immensely improved my life. If I didn’t have the innovative designed basket, when I go to the supermarket I wouldn’t have a place to put my bags because I don’t have enough hands to carry all my groceries home. It is because of the design and form of the bicycle that directly improves my daily life for the better along with the rest of Davis students in our bicycle society.

          The bike is so innovational, and yet Davis isn’t the only bike city. There is even a city without cars, a bicycle utopia in the USA. There actually is a place in the USA where motor vehicles are not allowed. Mackinac Island, Michigan. People actually live there. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on the island. Transportation is horse, bike, and foot. 

                                            (Planetware.com)

          While cars may be seen as the “future,” it is no doubt that Davis and Michigan understand the benefits of the bicycle to simplifying everyday life and improving society for the better.

Color Transforms Your Outfit

                                                        (Platinumblondelife.com)

          
          The use of color in fashion design, creates the ability to transform any piece of clothing into a statement about someone, whether it’s their mood, character, or stereotype etc. In the magic of fashion, the key tool of color can transform any outfit from day to night. By changing colors, it can change for any occasion, season, or style. But what ever the purpose or event at hand, it is the connotative perception of clothes that the choice of color creates. For example, bright hues of pink, yellow, and white, are associated with summer and that of a day outfit where as dark hues of maroon, blacks, and browns are associated with nighttime clothing or the winter season.  By the use of picking dark versus light colors and hues, one can transform any outfit to suit the wearer’s needs.

          Since colors have a significant impact on people’s emotional state, the same can be transferred to that through clothing. For someone who is wearing bright colors one day, like yellow and pink, one might view them happy and cheerful, as well as the one wearing the colors will most likely feel a bit happier wearing them because of the mental associations with color. And since color in clothes have a connotative appeal, society has thus established such stereotypes of color and clothes within groups of people, like “Black is the favorite color of Goths” viewing the color black to create a feeling of Goth and intensity (brandingstrategyinsider.com).

          Or how about the sight of reds? Such a powerful color, seen as a “warning” sign on traffic lights and city streets, but when worn as a red dress, this psychological effect is hard to stray away from.

According to Noubikko, who has a list of popular colors and how our emotions respond, it is important to note how color has been established in society to not only be seen, but felt. For example, in response to the color black : Severe, mysterious, sophisticated, glum, depressing, deadly.

                                                                               (google images)

          For the color pink: Soft, innocent, delicate, feminine, delicious.

                                                    (google images)

           
          And for the color yellow: Sunny, bright, hopeful, optimistic, joyful, clear, positive, alive.

                     (google images)

          While all colors have such emotional ties, it is then in the fashion cycle of seasons which these can be articulated. Color is crucial in fashion seasons of winter, spring summer, and fall.

Summer Think clear, contrast and bold colors.

Fall Think soft, cool, slightly grayed colors.

Spring Think bright, fresh and lively colors.

Winter Think deep, dark and muted colors.

          So it is in the shades and hues and seasons that color transforms our clothes into statements, emotions, and concepts of fashion.

Fashion Forward Sponges

(Steel scrubbing sponges turned into a metallic cloud chandelier-Daisuke Hiraiwa)

         Green Design will save our world. So why not join in the fashion forward fun of turning everyday objects into extraordinary pieces for your home? Daisuke Hiraiwa does just this, and uses such creativity and conceptual art of the everyday item theme and transforms them into "green" masterpieces. Hiraiwa uses Sponges as his media to create chandeliers. With his great ethics, as a designer he is a great example of sustainable design can still look fantastic and chic. This example of design, reveals an item that once cleaned the dirty kitchen sink is now transformed into a beautiful chandelier, hi-lighting a sponges form and texture and emphasized by the way the light creates a brilliant sparkle and glow coming from the inside of the fixture.

          Daisuke Hiraiwa keeps a consistent theme and has created numerous chandeliers made of diverse media. Another one of his brilliant pieces is made of recycled plastic spoons. Below, the beautiful continuation of the cascading spoons are accentuated by the light which shines through.

           Looking closely, you can see the added aesthetics of crystal rhinestones on the spoons, meant to resemble that of a chandelier. Also, each spoon has been punctured by tiny holes to allow light to filter through them in breathtaking ways.  He seems to work in negative spaces, and his spoons are strung together into a series that sway and flow, refracting and dispersing the light source. Hiraiwa creatively bridges conceptual art into the realm of green design and creates a gorgeous conversation between the two. So not only does a sponge clean the kitchen, a plastic spoon for a disposable backpack lunch outing, but these everyday objects can be triggered into the design world of artistic appreciation. Soak up every imaginative idea possible like Hiraiwa does and bring the ordinary into the extraordinary. 

Ergonomics of Auto Design

          With respect to ergonomics, automotive design is very successful.  Car companies build a car based on emphasizing such ergonomics. Car engineers design cars based on safety, comfort, its ease of use, performance, and aesthetics. While car design is created through ergonomics, it is how well car companies perform this task (in design specifics), which makes them the best.

            Design is a goal-directed problem solving activity specifically for the automotive design. It is an interplay between what the company wants to achieve and how they want to satisfy potential drivers.  So they convert customer needs’ and requirements of us, the customers, and gear the way they design our automotives to fit our life, and hierarchy of needs.

  futurehi.net

            For safety, cars are designed with proper seat belts on every seat, and airbags for emergencies. Even the body of the car is geared towards safety, and the heavier the car’s interior, the ultimately safer if an accident were to occur.

            They also make the interior of a car for comfort. From leather seats, and cushioned headboards, to comfy elbow rests, cars are very comfort-minded when designed for success.

(top 50 luxury car interiors)

         
          Many companies focus on ease of use.  How easy is it to steer the car, add gas in the tank, merge lanes, steer, see in your rearview mirror, drive smoothly, put keys into the ignition etc. All of these regard to how easy the car is to use, and if all answered yes, the car scores high in this element of ergonomic design.            

            Performance wise, is the car a reliable transportation you can count on to not die in the middle of the freeway? Engineers focus heavily on making sure their auto design will perform properly and accurately.

            In the aspects of designing a car, there are many steps involved. There entails occupant packaging (where the car’s body in standardized position is measured).  Then engineers will use computer-aided design of a car to simulate driver behavior and measure vital design components such as reach, visibility, comfort, posture, biomechanics, and strength. This test enables the designers to make driver oriented decisions about cockpit design within the car. Then comes visual aspects in vehicle design, automotive seat design for sitting comfort, physical aspects of the car design, design of symbols for automotive control and displays, and informational aspects of vehicle design.

  Image from coolgadgetconcept.com         

         
          And what would a car be without its fancy, top of the line, visual aspect to drivers. The aesthetics have become a driving force in our society as the “look” of a car is emphasized in today’s car obsessed world. And the designers know that so they focus on the visual aspects to make you like it. These include not just the colors and shiny windows, but also the air bag warning signs, comfort, usability, seat belts, the collision avoidance system, traction, brakes, navigation systems, GPS, the vehicle interior, pedals, controls, etc. Although many would see these aesthetics as unnoticed parts of automotive design, these are actually part of a car’s aesthetic design despite if you knew it or not.

            Another perception of the design process is the variety and type. The elements of safety, comfort, ease, performance, and aesthetics are also connected to the context they are driven in. What type of environment is the car being used? So designers have altered the elements for different terrains, including Sport Cars, family and personal business sedans, and the minivan and off-road vehicles.

            All in all, what the “car” used to be was transportation, a vehicle for humans to get from one place to another not really focusing on the ergonomic design elements. And now, elements like GPS have improved auto design from what used to be interfering with taking one’s eyes off the road, to what now is a voice saving you time and telling you how to get somewhere. With the rise in technology and the competitive industry of the automobile having grasped the importance of ergonomic design, it is this core principal of designing that makes some of the best companies today, the easiest to use, most reliable, safest etc. Thank you ergonomic automotive designers of today, you have created the car to be a more comfortable, easier to use, better performer, better looking, and safer object!

Cake Your Way to the Top

         

(images from Erica O'Brien Cake Design Blog, showing her design process from invitation design, to the sketch, to the cake.)

This woman's bouquet inspired Erica to create this masterpiece..

          A Cake designer is truly the poster child for synaesthetic design. Design is multisensory, and Cake does just that, it indulges both the eye and the palate. We see no point in a cake that is visually appealing but tastes, well, dry and gross. Erica O'Brien Cake Design creates client-driven, one-of-a-kind designs that taste as decadent as they look. Erica O'Brien combines her lifelong love for baking with her design innovativeness in every cake she bakes. The art of cake designing combines a visual experience of art, design, and taste. Touch the ingredients, taste the frosting, see the beautiful decor, and hear the oven baking delicious design.

            While Lauer, McCloud, and Aspelund have their own creative process’, add Erica O’Brien to that list, for even Cake designers have their own design process. “Design doesn't just happen. Designs are conceptualized, created, and perfected. Whether you have a clear vision or just a vague idea for your wedding cake, we work collaboratively with you to discover the designer you have within. We'll help you determine the look and feel of your cake. The inspiration for your wedding cake can come from anywhere: a family heirloom, your invitations, a china pattern, a postcard. After your consultation, we will have a clear idea of your design concept, and will get to work on a sketch of your cake. Then we tweak the sketch until it is the exact cake you want. We want you to love your wedding cake!” While any design interacts with its audience and many times it is the designer communicating with the client. Yet, here, you can see that maybe design should be interactive; the customer should be part of that design as does Erica with her clients.

Could it be that cake designers are changing the boundaries of design in the business setting? Moral of the story: Don’t underestimate your dessert! There’s design baked in it.

The Fashion Word and Image

Oprah's "O" Magazine

           

            Oprah Winfrey is known across the globe for her renowned wisdom in health, spirit, style, relationships, home and garden, food, entertainment, and money. So it is no surprise that she created, “O, the Oprah Magazine,” which includes the power through word and image interaction.

            In this specific advertisement in her magazine, we see as readers, various Lauer, McCloud, and Albers concepts. In a general sense, it portrays a “season of color” which connotes the vivid styles of spring or summer. Every single item is represented in a bright and playful color, with cheap, attention-grabbing prices. However, if we look closely, the page is filled with continuous lines, in very organized frames, balancing both fashion items and descriptions.

            Looking at the color emphasis, scale, and proportions, they all highlight that all the items are “Great buys under $100.” By noting in small text underneath, that it is a “season of color” it is a powerful way of influencing the reader and saying that if you don’t wear bright colors this season, then you will not be “in” style or fashionable. Also, the way they have written the price and descriptions of the products, create unity. They are all put in a bright red box which is a classic color used for power. It is interesting to note what is not included in the frame. The ad seems to be directed at a certain social class because of the cheap prices listed, when Oprah herself can afford much higher fashion designer brands. This must have something to do with the purpose or idea of the ad itself in relation to the intended audience. Oprah instills her culture by appropriated the common colors and styles of African Americans. The bangle bracelets, brightly floral patterned tunic, beaded necklace, colorful pants, and eye-popping shirts all depict the style, colors, and taste of her race and ethnicity. However, there is some discourse when each piece is inspired from other cultures then her own. She is advertising African, Indian, Hindu, and Indonesian fashion, as well as whimsical, vintage, and the fitted-conservative styles. While the ad as a whole looks well blended, as separates, they are all contradicting styles. By combining multicultural styles together, Oprah is using her status and prestige to give a voice for everyone across the map. All in all, Oprah’s fame largely influences the reader’s perception of what is “in” this season, what to buy, where to buy it, and how much it is. Yet it is the cleverness of the way word and image are depicted in her magazine that ultimately make the reader either want to buy these items, or reject her advice.