A neat little treat

Word clouds, or tag clouds as they are also know as, are a more recent development of the web world. Developed by sites like Flickr and Delicious to help their users tag and organize content. What intrigues about word clouds is the merging of design and data into one form. It is a way to convey information about that may be large or unwieldy in a quick visually stimulating way. A world could can be as simple as a group of words ordered by importance in the given piece that it is representing, defining such by size and or color, but more and more frequently a certain amount of aesthetics emerges. It is a way to design information, to arrange data so that people will not only be able to quickly look at it and get the data that they need but become drawn into it.

Screen capture : www.wordle.net

This is an example of a word could that I created from this blog. It was created automatically from an online service Wordle, that I found while researching for my last blog about Nathan Shedroff. First the user must enter ether a block of text or a url for the service to scan, from there a general word cloud is created from the data provided. The user is then given a set of parameters that they manipulate to their own liking, these include color, orientation and font.

Like Wordle the Facebook application Status could, that pulls from your Facebook status updates. It is less advanced than the Wordle service but shows how word clouds are being more generally accepted as a form of communicating information.

Screen capture: Status cloud 

This is an example of a Status Cloud that I did of my status updates over the last year, it show the words that I used most prominently while talking about myself and what was happening in my life.

The world cloud is huge, it demonstrates not only the evolution of Web 2.0 but the evolution of how society seeks information. We have become bored by the old broadside format of print journalism and the filing systems of old. This is also an exmple of the importance of design in the future of everything. As we are bombarded with more and more information that we have ever been before we begin to create new filters for this data. An easy example is aesthetics, we are now judging information on how aesthetically pleasing it is to us. Word clouds used desing principals like placement, color, texture, size, and depth to create chunks of information for easy and quick ingesting.

Word Clouds do have their downfalls, they lack the ability to communicate complete thoughts or even phrases, but they do provide us with a glimpse at the future of design. We as designers must take on every field that we are faces with not just the traditional realms that we have been placed in. We must work outside our respective boxes to help not only change the look of the world but how we a humans perceive and interact with it. Pulling together what Objectified and Nathan Shedroff talked about, we as the future designers have to take the world by its horns and apply our skills where they are needed, even if it is not our field of expertise. Design is about creating, so lets create a better future.

PS-  A word could created from the text of this blog post :) I couldn't help myself, and if you are interested in more info on the word could you can find it here, including the algorithm for creating your own.

 

 Screen capture : www.wordle.net

  

Design is the Problem?

Photo: www.greenmediaconference.com

Nathan Shedroff is the author of many books including the new book, Design is the Problem. I recently had the fortune of getting to see Mr. Shedroff give a guest lecture about his views of the future of design and how the the design students of today must acknowledge the problems of current design.

The impact of design is huge. Everything that we created, that is designed, ends up in the world. This, of course, affects the amount of "stuff" in the world. In essence what Shedroff is trying to communicate is the need for conscientious design. No longer can we ethically create whatever we want, however we want, and put it out on the marketplace. As designers we need to take a long hard look at our work and think about the complete impact that our product has.Also he pushes the concept that the future of design lies not only in the creation of objects, graphics, or spaces but it the creation of new ideas, systems, and plans. As designers we are trained in a unique way of looking at the world. This skill set and worldview that we have functions to makes us an indispensable resource to the future.

Photo: www.rosenfeldmedia.com 

A wordle genererated from the text of Design is the problem

Shedroff gives examples of well and poorly designed systems, and how design has its part in this. The overall presentation is well planned. It lays out Shrdroff's arguments simply, allowing him to verbal embellish the ideas that he is presenting. The graphics are clean and well organized and work to draw the viewer into the work, forcing them to engage with what Shedroff if saying. He provides many different ways to look at and take on the future of design.

I was impressed with Shedroff's presentation, and it has me thinking about my future impact on the world. He managed to remain not only extremely informative but really engaging and entertaining, I am defiantly considering buying this book.

PS check out Shedroff site here for more info and news about the author and download friendly versions of his various pretensions. Also check out his really neat League of Nathans shirt.

YESYESYES

Watching a movie that interests you is nice.

Watching a movie that makes you feel good is better.

Watching a movie that validates your major and makes you feel like a future superhero is the best.

Watching Objectified completes all three of these.

photo: www.objectifiedfilm.com

Objectified is a documentary by Gary Hustwit. This film is amazing, just to get that off my chest right now, it focuses on the things we use, how we used them, and how these things are created. The film interviews designers from all around the world and listens to them speak about not only their own personal theories about design but them speaking to the broader essence of design on a global scale.

The film was set up so beautifully. The interviews and scenes that related to each formed a pathway, cutting back and forth to slowly build to the final point. Each person added to what the one before them, maybe refraise or offering a different viewpoint but all the while building this framework of design for the viewer to take in. The movie was very visually stimulating offering not only views of designers at work but detailed shots of the objects that are being talked about. The film covers not only the atheistic aspects of design but delves into the growing ethical end of the field. Hustwit goes out of his way to point out the ethics that designers are facing now and will have to face in the future. The sustainability of products was shown by various designers in a creative practical way. What really interested me was watching the IDEO exercise of the sustainable toothbrush design.

This was such a fun film and I think it works on a level that will interest not only Designers but anyone interested in where there things came from. The accessibility of the film is a strong point, it allows people an inside look without all the industry jargon that most people would not understand. It also integrates music, fun music to its own benefit.

Seriously guys, go and see it.

Like....NOW

PS check out Hustwits site for the film here, and keep updated on his blog.

The electric slide for 2010

A merger of the most personal of things, what we wear, and technology will be on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The Galaxy Dress is designed by London based design company CuteCircuit. Hailed as the largest "wearable display in the world" the dress is basically a walking light show. The gown in layered with 24,000 LED's.



The show the dress puts on is gorgeous. The movement of light and color across the dress is amazing. The jaw drop factor when your enter a room in this thing must be amazing but other than the lights I am pretty unimpressed with this garment.

Photo: www.wired.com

The dress is boring. I understand the need to have as much surface area as possible to make use of the technical aspects of the garment, but the shape is dull. It attempts for a sculptural sensibility that should only be attempted by a proper tailor. The shape created when the light are on is not only boring it is unflattering. The strange angular pinch at the waist does not even do anything for the mannequin it is on. In additon to the LED's the dress is embroderied with a boatload of Swarovski crystals. Even this seems botched and awkward. The transitions between the lights and crystals just don't happen, leaving it looking blocky and unplanned. The designers also chose to include some sort of weird crystal coated bib. Just overall a very ugly dress.
I understand that this is a one of a kind dress that will in all reality never be worn in any serious capacity but it could have at least been designed to look good on size zero plastic body it is displayed on.
This is an amazing concept for a garment. From a technical standpoint this is a very impressive piece of gadgetry and a big step towards more integration of tech and fashion. From a fashion standpoint this is quite a disappointment, for a one of a kind garment one would think something a little more aesthetically appealing would have been thought up. Despite the disappointment the effort should be applauded. This is a big step and hopefully leads the way for more applications of this kind.


P.S. Check out CuteCircuit's web site here for more interesting and impressive combinations of technology and fashion.

This White is the Right White, Right?

I love color. It seems like a silly statement but it is so true. I honestly could not tell you what my favorite color is because to me color is so much more that just this one shot thing. I feel like color has been relegated to this singular thing. It is just one more check on the list of useless information that people like to compile about themselves to make themselves seem interesting and accessible. Color is not stagnant. it is not permanent and it is not unchanging. Color is alive, ok yes that sounds super duper hokey but in essence it is true. Color is not something that is immune to change. Color is one of the most situational aspects of design. Color is a needy parameter, it demands attention from the other colors around it, from the shape and finish of what its being applied to and the light of the space it is in.

The other day a friend and I were in the Home Depo. pouring over color samples. We are currently working on remodeling a modeled space for our day lighting class (137B) and were trying to put together a color pallet. Pulling deep blues, rich browns, and camel tones was pretty easy. We pulled and compared leaving off colors with tonalities that we didn't like and keeping the ones that worked together the best. The funny part came when we were looking for a white. White is color that most people do not have enough respect or understanding of. For most people a white is a white is a white, which not even close to true. The proper white can make or break a room and with the variations being nearly endless choosing the right white can be a daunting task.

Standing in front the paint chip display it was almost comical how blind we can be. I managed to find what I could pick out at the purest white in the collection and we proceed to look for more. Shades of white that were tucked in among other colors seemed at first to be just as white as white can be, but once we held it up to the "pure" white the tint was a little more than apparent. This continued for awhile each white almost a disappointing as the last. Finally we looked at the Whitewash collection from Ralph Lauren. We had been looking at this part of the display since we walked up and up until now the colors all seemed really white. As an experiment I held up the "pure" white color up and moved it over all the shades in the collection slowly. It was almost like magic, the shades of colors popped out of the whites like nothing else. We stood there staring at the now not so whitewash collection in humored bemusement.

Color is nothing to fear, it is fantastic, it is just something that must be handled with caution. To really find the right color you must compare it to other colors. A color out of context may at first, second, or even third glance look like the perfect fit, but what happened when you put it next to another color. Does it pick up the other color? Does it deepen or lighten in tonality in response to a color around it? Color can do really funny things if not kept in check. A great little exercise for finding the right shade of a color is defined by Josef Albers in his book on color theory called "Interaction of Color"

Photo from Josef Albers "Ineratcion of Color" pg 13

This exersise, created to help define which shade is lighter or darker, requires one to put sample A and A together. Quickly separate the two colors and if region C appears lighter than A then B is the darker shade, this also works in reverse. This test is one way to help us get a better grip on the flighty temptress that is color, and allows us to use it better to our own ends. So next time you get all gung-ho and want to paint the living room please please please take some time and look at colors, take paint chips home and sit on them, and take advantage of sample sizes of paint, because nothing can ruin a great room quicker than the wrong color.

There the Wild Things Are

While perusing the blogosphere I came across a site that warms my heart. www.terribleyelloweyes.com is a collection of works by various artist that center around the children's book "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. The site is a delightful collection of reworkings of the classic art from this childhood favorite, and especially relevant with the recent release of the motion picture version directed by Spike Jones. 

This book takes a lot from its minimalist writing combined with rich textural illustrations. It is really  treat for the eyes and what keeps it relevant today.

The importance of this book and the imact it has had on many American childhoods can be seen in the passionate and loving works from this site. Among the many, many fantastic works on the site this particular one jumped out at me.

 Image from Terrible Yellow Eyes, also Robin Joseph

This work from Robin Joseph is a beautiful piece.  I love this work because it is celebration of not only this particular story but of childhood itself. The simplistic abstraction of the form of Max, the main character, is set off by the intricate working of the "wild thing". This is not only a question of shape but the entirety of treatment. Max's form is is completed with minimal shading and little detail. The contrast with the other figure is almost shocking. The first thing one can point out is the drastic change is color treatment. The rich tones of the the the wild thing are highlighted with a intricate almost textural line work.

The detail of the works as a ground to the lighter simpler figure of Max. Despite the texture the wild things deep color causes it to fade back again the smaller figure of Max. The work highlights these differences forcing the eye to focus first on the small light space of the figure. From there the detailed lines leading out of the crown into those of the ground image moves the eyes outwards and around the work. Eventually a psychic line connects the wild things face back to the figure of Max.

The beauty of the work lies in its simple use of high contrast. It works to intrigue the eye and keep interest in the work. The overall design helps to re-enforce the general sense of closeness to the work. It is a very intimate work and all the aspects of it work to reinforce that.  An amazing tribute and a touching work that brings me back, if only for a moment, to my childhood.

Speaking of textiles

My last post get me thinking about what makes a textile special, what makes it important to people. Marimekko is a Finnish company that has been around since the 50's. I was introduced to the company as a child from my mom and their products have held a special place in my heart since then.

Though much of the clothes and textiles flabbergast most of my generation and send silent chills of horror through my parents some of the patterns hold up. Although the they might not be  the height of sexy sophistication the bright colors and bold treatment of subject matter are more important that ever in today's world.

With fashion and interiors reflecting the harsh edge of the current mental state theses happy prints seem like a ray of sunshine. They act like like a placebo for interiors brightening and lightening. The above patterns are great examples of bold prints. The bold shapes that act as focal points seem simple at first but are balanced out by small details, like the detailing on the lily pad and the tree like rings radiating out the center of the circles. The red print also has a great sense of visual texture appearing almost hand made contrasting the with the texture of the flat abstract veining on the lily pads.

Both of these floral prints take the cake over stuffy Victorian styles. They have a deeply Scandinavian sensibility, a mix European detail with Japanese simplicity. The rich texture of the blooms on the purple grounded work balances out the alternating symmetrical pattern of the blossoms. This is quite opposite the more delicate balance of the other work is more asymmetrical, giving the whole a more organic feel. The naturalistic movement of the red blossomed piece is a direct counterpoint to the almost frozen feel of its neighbor.

Bold textiles can be risky but done correctly can work as there own works of art. The sky plays a big part in both of these textiles, a great option for a window treatment. The abstract red white and blue shapes mimic the clouds behind them in the first fabric. Its movement stems from the general repetition of shape over the whole. It stands in contrast to the flat abstraction of the birch trees  in the second, both using asymmetrical balance to create a more unified swath of fabric. The firsts movement contrasts greatly to the seconds flatness, paralleling the differences with focal point. In the first the blue object is a more ambiguous focal point to the bold statement of the birch tree, the predominant focal point in the second work.

This is just a sample of some of the textile designs from Marimekko more available at their website. They are hard to get a hold of but the spirit is what should be noted. The ability of art and design to shape our world on a day to day basis is amazing. In unsure economic times, and a confused political climate it is important to keep ourselves happy, and whats an easier way than a cheery print on the slipcover, or some bright curtains? So, take some time to design some happy into your life.

P.S. For more wallet friendly Scandinavian designed textiles try Ikea, you can cut to length and they have great curtain systems at good prices.

All photos copyright of Marimekko