9/11 Tribute

Make History is a website created by the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum.  It is special because not only does it collect photos and stories from those who witnessed the tragic events, but it also sets up a photo comparison.  This comparison shows a present photo of the tragic scene laid upon a picture of what used to lay in this area.  I think this is a representation of the situation that is very upsetting to see but also forces viewers to not forget how serious and emotional this was for everybody involved. 

http://www.core77.com/blog/technology/make_history_gathers_911_stories_over_streetviews_14617.asp

IN CLASS NOTES 9/10

FACTUAL = denotative (information design)

example: sources

SUBJECTIVE = connotative

example: poetry, music lyrics

Legos

Lego has had to step up its game in the past few years because of major sales decrease.  They have been doing better but five years ago they were in a crisis.  Competing with all the new digital technology and less expensive action figures brought their sales rate to an extreme low.  Since then they have had to increase production rate 50% and get their ideas into reality in less than a year.  This is something that seems like common sense but its not everyday you think of the classic companies that are struggling through the technological advances.  Lego is even coming up with a video game and maybe even a movie to try to keep up with times and technology.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/business/global/06lego.html?pagewanted=1&ref=design

American Idol

It was announced tonight that Ellen DeGeneres will replace Paula Abdul as the forth American Idol judge.  Paula announced a few months ago that she would no longer be a part of the show and is moving on to other things.  While Ellen is a very successful woman I wonder, does she know a whole lot about singing? I guess she could judge on personality and stage presence but other than that I am interested in seeing what she can come up with.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/ellen-degeneres-to-become-fourth-american-idol-judge/

Colorful Cars

I love the look of these cars! A new company SkinzWraps applies complicated vinals, such as these, to cars.  I love this idea because I love crazy colorful things like this and am also interested in the work they must have to put into this.  One of my friends loves cars and explained the long, tedious process of painting one to me.  Also explaining why most cars are boring, yet traditional colors because of time setbacks.  This new vinal procedure is perfect for someone who wants an edge to their car and has a little extra cash in their pocket.

http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/vehicle_graphics_too_complicated_for_paint_jobs_thats_a_wrap_14581.asp

Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel's mother passed away when she was a young child. This lead Coco to her beginnings in tailoring because her mother was no longer around to do it for her. She learned to be a seamstress at a very early age. Chanel spent most of her childhood life in an orphanage which also lead her to gaining her own sense of independence. The first job she got upon leaving the orphanage as a young adult was working for a nearby tailor. This not only made her some money but was an opportunity to meet more and more people in the fashion industry. It was through these people and the fashion and design lifestyle itself, that her interest in the design field skyrocketed. She spent a lot of her alone time designing her own clothing and hats to turn her creative dreams into a reality. She was a hard worker and put her personal style into everything she was designing.

It was in Paris that Chanel was able to open her first store. After long hours and tedious designing, her store was deemed unsuccessful. She was forced to shut it down and move onto something else. Even after this, Coco kept her passion of design in mind and kept full confidence in her work. Therefore enduring this challenge, a usual setback, was nothing but encouragement for the young designer to push on. She was determined to prove herself as a designer and show the world what she could do. Chanel then opened more stores in numerous other locations. Americans became fans and consumers of her work feel in love with it, thus soon making America her largest market.

Chanel saw elegance in pure simplicity. She focused on simple designs and made them elegant even with less-than-favorable resources and fabrics of the time. The simplicity of her designs is even translated into the condition of the Chanel line today. Some designs have stayed relatively similar because they are not only beautiful but practical. Also, being the first designer to attach her name to a fragrance, its not a surprise that Chanel's No. 5 fragrance is still in existence today just the way it was in 1921 when it was released. It is said that Chanel was still designing at the time of her death in 1971 at the age of 87. Coco's line lives on and makes a statement on today's fashion world. The newest line is The Chanel Fall/Winter 09/10 line. It keeps Chanel's original simplistic design technique and mixes it with a modern edge. Young fashionistas compare a Chanel bag or article of clothing to such important things like an engagement ring. Not only did Coco have a fantastic passion for fashion and designing but she is also seen as an inspiration to those who wish to follow their dreams. She had heart in all that she did and thus climbed up the ladder to success reaching levels even she couldn't have dreamed. Chanel was not given much opportunity at the start of her life but most the most of what she was given. Her collections are still huge in today's fashion world and are continued on and respected by many.

Sources: http://www.hotcakefashion.com/?q=coco-chanel-biography

http://cocochanel-blog.com/

Chanel Soliaire by: Claude Baillen

Autonomobile

This newly designed "car" fascinates me.  Not only does it require less money and energy to operate but it does virtually everything on its own.  It brings you wherever you need to be and even allows you to select a scenic route if time permits.  Seeing something like this on the road may seem unrealistic as compared to modern-day traveling but it is something that I feel could make life a lot easier for those with daily commutes.

Article URL: http://www.core77.com/blog/featured_items/the_end_of_driving_mike_and_maaike_introduce_the_autonomobile_13908.asp

Hot Yoga

There is a new type of yoga developed by a 63-year old yogi designed to help people sweat away toxins and stay flexible.  It is done in a room at 100 degrees, sometimes raising to an even higher level temperature.  I've never been huge into yogi or even exercise in general but this seems like a perfect way to not only gain flexibility but to also focus purely on your body.  I believe a class like this is perfect for time away from the real world to focus on oneself and definitely something I might want to look into in the near future.  

Article URL: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/09/02/health/nutrition/20090903-physical-slideshow_index.html?ref=fashion

Flying Machine

Ever since I was little people have been talking about flying cars and machines.  I was always fascinated by it and wondering when it would happen.  I'd hoped to see it in my lifetime and it seems the time may have come. This image shows the machine known as the Icon A5 that may make my childhood dreams come true. 

Article URL: http://www.pantopicon.be/blog/2009/01/08/flying-machine/

Student Input on Company Developments

In Dave Malouf's article, "Case Study: Freescale Netbook Design at SCAD," he explains the divergence between students at Savannah College of Art and Design and companies in the real world.  Being a professor in the industrial design department he believes that working through issues a real company experiences is a great environment for creative thinking and further learning.  I was unaware as to how interactive research can be for industrial design, or any design for that matter, can be.  His students went full-throttle into the research aspect of their projects and designs before they began the layouts of their final products.  This interests me in seeing how much thought and societal research goes into product design.  There is an obvious difference in how different age groups think and interact with each other and technology itself, changing the main focus of any design.

Article URL: http://www.core77.com/blog/featured_items/case_study_freescale_netbook_design_at_scad_by_dave_malouf_14241.asp