sustainable design

1. Metropolis magazine featured an article titled Jet Green in the September 2007 issue. It is talking about an airplane called Boeing 787 Dreamliner that just came out this summer. The article reads, "The carbon-fiber aircraft is 20 percent more fuel efficient and less carbon emitting than its mid size competitors."
2. Architectural Record featured and article titled "Green's the new school color at Harvard and Yale". Its said, "The university pledged that its new Allston Science Complex will emit no more than half the greenhouse gases of similar education and research facilities. " It is great how schools are allowing design firms to only build projects that are good for our environment.
3. Green Source magazine featured an article titled "Chicago, My Kind of Green". In the article, it said that there are 27 LEED-certified buildings in Chicago. This is more than almost all places in the country except Seattle, Oregon, and Portland. This is all because Chicago's mayor, Mayor Richard M. Daley wants to make “the greenest city in America.”
4. Interior Design magazine features many products that are eco-friendly. For example, they have a product called the Duralee Contract Eco-Fabrics which is explained that it "features 100 percent Eco Intelligent polyester, certified cradle-to-cradle Gold by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry."
5. Interiors Source has a chart in the magazine that is "a roadmap for finding products that have met one or more sustainable benchmarks to receive product certification as screened by a formidable team of sustainability experts." I think that is a good way of letting customers know how they can go green on their own.
6. Solar Today features an article titled "Pushing the Limits of Green" which pretty much explains, "Seven trends are introducing new efficacy into the practice of sustainable building. " Trend number 1 is Buildings Reduce Fossil Fuel Consumption, Trend number 2 isGreen Building Moves to the Mainstream, Trend number 3 is building Industry Emphasizes Energy Efficiency, Trend number 4 is LEED Places Higher value on renewable energy, trend number 5 is, Third party funding mechanisms emerge, trend number 6 is National Green Building Code Ahead, and Trend number 7 is Architects look beyond platinum.
7. Dwell magazine issues and article called "Going, Going, Green" and it is about a 29-year old eco-conscious builder, Traci Rose Rider, s a founding member and the current chairperson of Emerging Green Builders (EGB), a branch of the U.S. Green Building Council. "Etablished in 2002 with the goal of facilitating sustainable building opportunities for young people entering the industry, EGB has been hard at work ever since, nurturing the natural talents of promising designers."
8. Natural Home magazine features an article titled, "America's Best Eco-Neighborhood" and it names the top 10 best eco-neighborhood in the country. Believe it or not Asheville, North Carolina is ranked number one on this list.
9. Innovative Home magazine is all about using innovative and earth-friendly materials, using sustainable technology, building sustainable homes, giving green modifications and tips. Having a magazine like this is defiantly a plus because it lets it portray the right and healthy way of designing.
   
10. EcoIQ Magazine features many different types of articles concerning the environment. I came across this one called "Wind Power Capacity Jumps Almost One-Third in 2001". There are many different facts through out the article regarding the wind power. Some are... "In the United States, there is enough harnessable wind energy in just 3 of the 50 states - North Dakota, Kansas, and Texas - to satisfy the country's electricity needs." "An inexhaustible source of energy, wind offers us more energy than we can use." "In the United States, wind-generating capacity is growing by leaps and bounds." "Abundant, inexhaustible, and cheap, wind promises to become the foundation of the new energy economy."

foreign design journals

Domus is an Italian design magazine. The first thing I noticed about this magazine was wow, this is a really nice quality magazine. The thing I really like about this magazine is that it has TONS of modern buildings in it. I love how stylish it looks...its silly to say but I almost just want to jump into the magazine and be at that sight!
Form is a German magazine. I think this is a pretty neat magazine because it has a lot of similar things to an American design journal and a lot of differences as well. I think this magazines allows several different aspects of design, which is good because we, as Americans can learn to be more open minded about design and incorporate ideas from other parts of the world into our work.
The English Home is a traditional English style journal. This magazine has a ton of different home decorating ideas. Everything is very traditional looking. I feel that magazines like this a important because many designs today are moving towards the modern style and turning their backs on the traditional style. With magazines like this still being around, it will allow us to not completely turn our backs to something that is a big part of the design world.

10 design firms and organizations

1. Hanson Professional Services Inc.- As soon as you enter the site, they have a page of greeting and welcoming you...which I thought was nice. Also on the bottom of that page are a couple of links to navigate you through the rest of the website. It is very easy to navigate, very straight forward. Although, it is kind of simple and boring. They should probably add more excitement to it.
2. Gensler- Two words...VERY NICE. Their website is consists of beautiful bright colors, designed extremely well...and uses a lot of pictures. Their site is also fairly easy to navigate, and they have all the information that you can on there. They have the portfolio on the site, contact information, a page about Gensler...you name it, its there. This site deserves an A++!!
3. Earth Tech- This website is very professional looking. Also very easy to navigate...and the site in general is really organized. They should probably incorporate more pictures though. I think the best quality of this website is that they give you a plenty of information for you to read up on...This is another website where all your questions would be answered on the page.
   
4. Bechtel- Another fairly well designed website. The best thing about this website is the fact that you can see current projects AND signature projects they are working/worked on--description, pictures and all! It's pretty fascinating...they get points for that. It's also very easy to navigate, and viewer friendly too!
5. Perkins + Will- This website has a modern touch to it. It is designed quite nicely. Although I do wish they had more information on their projects and such. This is another website that is lacking a little in the photograph department. Easy navigation..overall--a good quality website.
6. Perkins Eastman- The good part of this website is that the main page has everything on it. By that I mean, it has the links to everything (ie: background of the company, history of the company, projects, awards, faculties..etc.) right on the first page...so you don't have to dig around the website to search for anything. They also have plenty of pictures--which is another plus.
7. Cannon Design- This is a very high-tech looking website. This website was probably made by a person that really KNEW how to design one. They have many different effects through out the page, but at the same time, its simple and easy to navigate as well..so it works. They have a link to the history of their company and it is really neat how the time line pops up...I think that was my favorite part of the site.
8. Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership- This website is very similar to Gensler's website...except it isn't as bright and lively. It is very neatly organized with a bunch of information provided. The effects on the website makes it look more professional...this is another well designed winner.
9. HMC Architects- Very similar to the previous..it has a lot of effects..really organized..but it is missing some pictures. I really like the color scheme that they picked out for the main page...and how each link you click on, it has its own color scheme. I think that is a very good way of organizing.
10. Carter & Burgess Inc.- This one is not as high-technological as the past two websites. The website is kind of simple, not too exciting. I do like the way they designed each of their pages starting with a certain colored banner on the top. That was very well organized. Except for the lack of excitement, the website is easy to navigate and gives you the information you need.

technology that is being utilized in the design field

1) In the November 2007 edition of Architectural World, there was an ad by a company calledThermaShade. The advertisement read, "We offer a wide selection of energy-efficient products and innovative custom-crafted solutions, including the only thermally broken sunshade, our patent pending ThermaShade." So in this particular advertisement, they were advertising shades that are energy efficient. Although the ad did not explain much about this energy efficient sunshades, I think its a great innovation. The environment is one of the biggest concerns we have today and we should really try and do everything from it going bad.Incorporating sunshades that save energy in projects is a great way to start for the design field!

2) Another advertisement I found in the November 2007 edition of Architectural World, by a company called Eco Intelligence. Their advertisement states, "Eco Intelligence panel, seating, and cubicle curtain fabrics are about to wow you. Not just because they're the first fabrics certified MBDC Cradle to Cradle Gold and 100% non-toxic. But because they're as beautiful and durable as they are healthy and safe." So this company develops environmentally sustainable fabric...which sounds excellent. I think this will be a wonderful innovation as well. As long as it helps the environment, I don't think anything can really go wrong. This is another great way for the design field to start incorporating something that benefits the environment into their work.

10 graphic/media design

So I chose random CD covers that were pretty neat..

This cover is so random...I love it. Theres no actual color scheme...not an actual image they are portraying. It's really weird..but weird in a good way..if that even makes sense.

I really like how there is a black and white piano portrayed on this cover...and I LOVE how imperfect it is. The lines aren't straight at all, nothings really even. I think it's great.

The random bold colors of this cover makes it very successful. I would think it allows it to pop out in the stores on the rack along with the million other CDs for sale. I think that is a great way of selling the CD actually...I never really thought of it until now but having a cover that is really bold will attract the customers...pretty neat huh?

When I first saw this cover, the first thing that came into mind was BLIND CONTOUR!! ..with color. I think this is a very cool design...very different but it is nice. The simple gray background contrasting the bold red, green, yellow, and blue is a success.

The red shades that create this cover works well. The contrast of the red and the very deep red is the key to its success . I also think the design of the background is good that it is not so overbearing.

The colorful bold colors go very well with the dull off white background. Depth is shown well by the girl in the middle being bigger than the rest. I really like chaotic this cover is.

Red, white, and black...the three colors used to illustrate this cover. It is very simple, but I think that simplicity is what works on this cover. All of the colors are evenly used..which is nice.

This is one of my favorite CDs of all time! The big record that is illustrated on the cover really gives me the image of the "greatest hits" for some reason. Shading (the reflection of the light on the record) is used very briefly, which gives the picture more volume.
I love the back and white portrait of the city. Depth and perception is very well shown, it looks very real to me. The minimal use of color equals success for this album.

Honestly, I've never even heard of this person before...but when I was looking around for album covers, I came across this one I really liked how media deign was incorporated into a real photograph. I don't think this cover is designed THAT well but I just really liked the idea of using a little bit of both...real photo and media design.

10 interior environment

For an interior environment, I chose to do series of bedrooms...I chose out 10 bedrooms, some of which I like and dislike.

This room consists of shades of gold and beige. To me, I feel like this room is too bland. I am not a fan of those lights hanging from the ceiling, I do not like the night stand either. This room needs a little bit more energy. It needs a color that will spike this room up more. There is way too much beige, and all I could say about this room is..BORING.

As you already can tell from my other posts, I am a huge fan of modern design. Although this room may be a little bit simple, I really like how clean cut the white makes this room...and the little accents of color that is spread through out the room works very well. The wood in the ceiling and the walls balances out very well with the white that is spread along the room and the bed. Overall, I think this bedroom deign is a success.

When I first pictured the two colors beige and teal, I thought to myself..ew, that is a horrible combination. But it really goes well together in this room. I feel like the white in the bed helped a lot by not making the room look so overwhelming. I think the colors are REALLY well balanced throughout the room.

I think having red as an accent color is GREAT. Especially when red goes against white and brown. The red accent chair along with the red wall balance successfully, and same goes with the brown accent pillow and the furniture. The lighting of the room is perfect for this scheme. I think this is one of my favorites out of all the bedroom designs I've chosen.

This room is very Asian-themed. I'm not really sure if that's Buddha in the background..it sure looks like it though. I think the colors are balanced out well through out the room but the curtains are a bit much for me. The room doesn't look so cozy, it actually looks a bit uncomfortable to be in because the surroundings are sort of intimidating.

Another modern styled room--I like a lot. Something about a bold accent color on white or even black really does it for me. I really like how an item can make the room look completely different...just like this one. I feel like without that orange pillow, the room would look a bit incomplete. That strong accent really finishes up that final touch.

I think this room is designed very successfully. Although this room only consists of neutral colors, and none of the strong bold colors which I usually like, the lighting and the texture of the walls makes the room look lively. This room gives me a warm cozy feeling. I really think the designer did a great job of choosing the wall texture and the lighting!

I do and do not like the design of this room. I like it because of the color scheme...I think those colors go along very well with one another. I do not like it because I feel like the red is overbearing. There is so much red that it makes it seem like there is too much energy..and not so relaxing. Relaxation is very much needed to be considered in a bedroom and with too much energy coming at you, it is never easy to relax.

I really enjoy the pureness and the elegance of this room. The white along with the shades of blue balance out really well. I think the big windows allowing natural sun light to pour in the room really effects the success of the design.

I think that this is the coziest looking room out of all. The light green and the pink gives that effect, and the shelf in the back allowing you to personalize the room also plays that role.

10 architects

Name: Marcel Breuer
Marcel Breuer was also a furniture designer along with being an architect. One of his most outstanding works is the Cleveland Museum of Art. It is very elegant and classy looking, which lets it become an eye catching structure. I really like this building a lot..looking at pictures makes me really want to go and see it in real life.

Name: Ieoh Ming Pei
Ieoh Ming Pei is Pritzker-Prize winning Chinese-American architect. His work, Louvre Pyramid located in Paris is absolutely GORGEOUS. Especially at night when all the lights are on, it is breathtaking. He is truly a successful man and that is something I admire very much. For a person to be able to design something so wonderful, it is really something to look up to.

Name: Michael Graves
Humana, by Michael Graves I think has a very neat design. Its interesting how he used all different kinds of shapes and forms to this building...from curved walls to triangular roofs to regular straight edge walls. When you hear something like that, its hard to believe that the structure is actually pleasing to look at but he did a great job balancing out the forms, making it work well.

Name: Luis Barragan
Luis Barragan was a Mexican architect who his work consisted of many bright colors. He focused mainly on the modern style. Torres de Satelite, which is the name of one of his projects, is one of the more outstanding works I think. They are four towers red, blue, yellow, and white which is the symbol of "the newborn and modern Ciudad Satélite." Barragan originally wanted the towers to be shades of orange but under the influence of constructors and investors, those were the colors that ended up in. Personally, I think those colors work very well. Primary colors are colors that are very bold, and also go well together and I think his project looks very well balanced.

Name: Fumihiko Maki
Fumihiko Maki is one of the most unique designers I've come across. Especially his work, theSpiral is a building that is extremely different. It has so many different shapes and patters going on within the exterior of the building, I wonderwhat was going through his mind. I think his ideas are a one of a kind and that is what makes him such a successful designer.

Name: Kevin Roche
One of Kevin Roche's work that drew my attention was the Pyramid that he designed which is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. I'm not quite sure if I am a fan of it but it definitely caught my eyes. They look like three huge triangular buildings that are just placed in the middle of nowhere...and it kind of looks out of place. I think the design is a little boring on this work. On a brighter note though however, he did accomplish many successful unfinished projects of Eeri Saarinen due who he had worked for.

Name: Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to be "one of the world's most prominent and influential architects." I think it is amazing how a person can have the ability to inspire so many different individuals..I wish one day, I can do the same. He was the one who created the Fallingwater, which is magnificent. The way he incorporated the waterfall below the actual building, I thought was so beautiful. He has many other great works he has accomplished and he would most definitely be a designer I would be extremely inspired by.

Name: Richard Meier
Richard Meier was born in Newark, New Jersey...which is not too far away from my hometown at all. I get really excited when I see people that are from Jersey because that is where I grew up and I feel like I have an instant connection. He designed the High Museum of Art, located in Atlanta Georgia...which I absolutely love. It's modern-looking and very clean cut which is a style I am usually attracted to and incorporated big glass panels which is also a plus on my list.

Name: Kenzo Tange
Kenzo Tange is the second Japanese architect I've chosen...I guess I'm a little more fascinated by Japanese designers because I am Japanese myself...and I think it's pretty interesting to read up on a designer with the same heritage as mine (as I also try to learn more about my culture that I sadly know very little of). I found out that he was the one who designed the Fuji Television Building (which is a very very popular Japanese Television Network) located in Tokyo. When I visited Japan when I was a little kid, I actually remember going to Tokyo and looking at this building...and honestly, I was absolutely stunned as a child.

Name: Tadao Ando
So, Tadao Ando...ANOTHER Japanese architect. He has accomplished MANY MANY MANY projects. Compared to all of the architects I have been researching, by far he has the most accomplished projects. My favorite work of his is the Church of the Light located in Osaka, Japan. This church is designed so that the light from the outside pours in between the cracks of the wall...which I thought was pretty cool.

time capsule