Wednesday, January 28, 2009

CDC exhibition opens Tuesday February 17th

Design for the Other 90%
February 17 – May 29, 2009

Of the world’s 6.5 billion people, 90 percent have little or no access to most of the products and services many of us take for granted. In fact, nearly half do not have reliable access to food, clean water, healthcare, education, affordable transportation, or shelter. The exhibition Design for the Other 90% features more than 30 projects that reflect a growing movement among designers, engineers, and social entrepreneurs to create low-cost solutions for everyday problems. Through local and global partnerships, individuals and organizations are finding unique ways to address the basic challenges of survival and progress faced by the world’s poor.

Design for the Other 90% showcases designs that incorporate new and traditional materials, and abandoned and emerging technologies to solve myriad problems—from cleaner-burning sugarcane charcoal to a solar-rechargeable battery for a hearing aid, from a portable water-purification straw to a low-cost laptop. By understanding the available resources and tools as well as the lives and needs of their potential users, these designers create simple, pragmatic objects and ingenious, adaptive systems that can help transform lives and communities.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Design students can win …

… or choose to lose and lose VERY BADLY> My office door is available in either case. - Liz
Georgia State University Homecoming 2009 - "The Blue Print: Building the Foundation"
Display your Panther Spirit by participating in Georgia State University Homecoming 2009 Office Decorating Contest. The Door and Office Decorating Contest is designed to demonstrate Panther Spirit through creative endeavor, encourage a team effort, and foster healthy competition. Participants will be judged on use of theme, creativity, school spirit, budget, and collaboration.
Entry Forms are due by Wednesday, January, 28, 2009 by 5:00 p.m.
Get Entry Form and Rules at:
INFO
For more information contact Anitra Patrick at 404-413-1517 or visit the Dean of Students Office, Student Center, Suite 300

Monday, January 26, 2009

Themes for Modernism

I know that Barnard described four themes of modernism:
- self-reflexiveness
- montage
- use of paradox, ambiguity, and uncertainty
- loss of an integrated individual subject.

I am wondering, what is the fifth theme. Seeing it was being asked for the five themes of modernism on the worksheet. If anyone is able to help me, please let me know, I would appreciate it.

- Tres Swygert

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Cross Analysis of Gestalt Design Principles and Barnard's reading

This post is to ad lib on the Modernism reading and how I recently employed one of the five themes in my work.

Barnard discusses the second feature of modernism, montage, as essential cut and paste juxtaposing of unrelated objects to create a cohesive, balanced piece of work. I recently used this technique to explore the Gestalt Design Principles in the context of spatial relationships. Through the use of unrelated elements, I investigated the process of perceived spatial relationships where none existed before. This technique yielding some interesting results and was very enlightening.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Swastika Story

I think it was last week that the class briefly got into a discussion about the swastika symbol that's found on the Buddha's body. Unfortunately, the symbol (though slightly altered) also represent the Nazis. What a contrast, isn't it?

Well something kinda funny happen to me concerning this symbol. Back in the 5th grade, I wore a necklace with this symbol on it everyday. However, it would always be tuck behind my shirt because the purpose of wearing it isn't to show off but to ward off evil spirits (it's an Asian thing). One day, it somehow crawled above its protective shield and revealed itself without my knowledge. Then all of a sudden, my teacher told me to step outside of the class for a bit. He told me that he's a vet from WWII and asked if I knew what this symbol means? I told him it just represents the Buddha. At the time, I had no idea what is the significance with WWII and this symbol. When I knew, I told my parents that I don't want to wear it anymore.

Symbols...they're more powerful than people think.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

We briefly spoke about the Book of Kells last week while reviewing CH 4 and I remembered that this blog that I've been frequenting for the past year or so features this celtic book in an upcoming animated movie that the author of the blog worked on called 'Brendan and the secret of Kells'. Much of the artwork of the movie is reflective of the style of the celtic design found in the Book of Kells: http://theblogofkells.blogspot.com/

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Jessica Helfend, Wm. Drentell at PC, Mon Jan 12

FREE
Join us at Portfolio Center with William Drenttel & Jessica Helfand, Winterhouse
Monday evening, January 12th at 6:30pm
@ Portfolio Center
125 Bennett St., Atlanta, GA 30309

Winterhouse Studio focuses on publishing and editorial development; new media; and cultural, educational and literary institutions. Design work for Teach For All, The New Yorker, Yale University Press, The New England Journal of Medicine, Errol Morris, Smithsonian Archives of American Art, Poetry Foundation, among others.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Museum of Design will host Graphic Imperative show in May

more about the exhibition
May 15 – August 15 (Patron Opening May 14)

The Graphic Imperative is a select retrospective of forty years of international sociopolitical posters. Themes include dissent, liberation, sexism, human rights, civil rights, environmental and health concerns, AIDS, war, literacy and tolerance, collectively providing a window to an age of great change.

Stop-motion Animation

at The Center for Puppetry Arts
Saturday, January 17, 2009, 8pm
Ages 18 and up ONLY
Come enjoy the end result of countless hours of painstaking puppet manipulation captured on film one frame at a time as we celebrate an evening of stop-motion puppet animation. The evening includes Adam Elliot’s Academy Award-winning Harvie Krumpet from Australia, Haunted Hogmanay from Ko-Lik Films of Scotland and more.
Center for Puppetry Arts

Cost: $7; $5 Center Members