Deconstructing Mass Production

 Amy Newton. Deconstructing Mass Production.  4" X 180"; wire, galvanized metal. Davis, CA; 2012.

This piece evolved in the process of its creation.  I began with a box of three dimensional, tear-drop shaped, metal pieces that had some past utilitarian function.  I found them discarded in a metal scraps dumpster.  I was originally leaving them in their unaltered form and welding them together in a winding, vertical strand.  As I was working with these objects I noted that they all had "CHINA" stamped into their sides.  At first, I ignored this aspect and was determined to continue forming the piece I had visualized.  Then I reached a point in the process where I couldn't ignore the country of origin label on each object any longer.  I experimented by prying the edges apart to make a piece flat where the word was.  I continued playing with the flattening of these pieces and each one was coming out of it in a completely different form.  At this point I   still didn't have a plan for the concept of the finalized piece.  The concept of deconstructing mass production didn't hit me until the work to change the objects' original forms became monotonous and labor intensive.  I was using pliers and sledge hammers to individually deconstruct a mass of uniform objects.  They were probably the product of a machine stamping millions of these standardized things into shape.  I was exerting myself physically to alter their forms,  and each piece became distinct and unreplicable.  

An AmyNewton Original: "Snowboarding Apparel"

I made this video two years ago for a textiles and fashion class I was taking...

Someplace to Share

Initially, "Design Discourse" was an assigned part of my introductory design class.  Now that the class is over, I haven't been participating in the discourse of design much at all.  And, although my posts will no longer be graded, I am inspired to remain a member of the ongoing "conversation" about design in society.  I will also use this site as a place to share my photography and artwork! ... So, for today, I'll just post the few things that I have already scanned and ready to go.

A subtle reminder that our human-built environment is in the natural world, and not the other way around.

Viewing nature from an estranged vantage point.

Before Photoshop there were darkrooms and the use of chemicals (both deliberate and accidental.) 

A photogram.  Music and nature collide. (See also caption of previous photo)  :)

Video Game Design: Dangerous?

Image from:  http://moneygamerz.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/violent-games-hb3004-bill.jpg

Violent video games have been linked to aggressive behavior and crime.  Game design can have lasting effects on individuals.  Players can get so caught up in the virtual reality of a video game, they begin to relate it to their actual lives.  The design of the weapons, characters, actions, settings etc. are often so realistic that gamers can  project themselves in the game.  In year 2005, a story surfaced about the murder of three men, two of which were police officers, in Fayette, Alabama.  The design of a video game called Grand Theft Auto was to blame.  Apparently the shooter, Devin Moore, acted straight out of a scene from the game.  A 60 minutes story explains that, "A suit filed by the families of two of his victims claims that Moore acted out a scenario found in Grand Theft Auto: The player is a street thug trying to take over the city. In one scenario, the player can enter a police precinct, steal a uniform, free a convict from jail, escape by shooting police, and flee in a squad car."  (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/17/60minutes/main702599.shtml) It was said that the video game trained Moore to act as he did.  
This is one example of design imposing danger.  The design of so many different things are crucial for safety.  If the video game had been designed less violent, perhaps the murders wouldn't have happened.

Complete Streets: Aiming to Improve Society

Design affects our surrounding world; it affects people's everyday lives.  In some cases, design is utopian, aiming to improve society.  This is the case for a coalition called Complete Streets. The National Complete Streets Coalition's goal is to change the orientation of streets away from primarily being designed for cars.    It was funded by Bikers Belong Coalition and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, who are advocates for biking and walking.  

So what IS a "complete street"?  A complete street is designed for safety and accessibility for ALL users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, disabled persons, cars, and public transit riders of all ages and abilities.  The Complete Street website states that complete streets could include,  "sidewalks, bike lanes (or wide paved shoulders), special bus lanes, comfortable and accessible transit stops, frequent crossing opportunities, median islands, accessible pedestrian signals, curb extensions, and more." (http://www.completestreets.org/complete-streets-fundamentals/complete-streets-faq/)  

Here is an example of a complete street.

Image from:  http://www.easterdayconstruction.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Complete-Streets-Example-Picture.jpg

The design of complete streets is utopian because it aims to improve society in a few different ways.  First, complete streets provide safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and disabled persons.  According to Transportation for America and the Surface Transportation Policy Project, there were over 76,000 pedestrian deaths in the U.S. in the last 15 years.  St. Petersburg, Florida used to be one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians traveling the streets because of poor road design.  Now, after implementing smart design and techniques to prevent pedestrian deaths, the fatalities are half of what they used to be.  (http://thenationshealth.aphapublications.org/content/39/10/1.1.full)  With adequate and comfortable space for all users, there is greatly increased safety.

Promoting alternative modes of transportation in a place, such as walking and biking, increase physical activity of the residents.  Physical activity is important, we all know that, but the amount of increased physical activity due to manual transportation is surprising.  The Complete Street website reports that, "One study found that 43% of people with safe places to walk within 10 minutes of home met recommended activity levels; among individuals without safe place to walk, just 27% were active enough." 

 Another way complete streets improve society is addressing climate change and oil dependency.  People making more trips on foot or bicycle rather than oil dependent motorized vehicles will significantly lower carbon emissions.

Complete streets also lead to stronger communities.  With safe, comfortable routes for people not in cars, they are more likely to communicate.  These well-designed streets encourage community pride and involvement.  Complete streets are clearly, for many reasons, utopian design.

Color Transforms

Adding color to this photograph changes its whole look.  This is obvious.  In grayscale the photograph loses half of what makes it so captivating: the cheery spring colors.  Color transforms the design to feel more warm and inviting.

Color, however, is subjective. Take the following two alterations of this photograph for example:

Color theory suggests that a color is not stable.  Its appearance is dependent on factors such as light and shadows.  “Warm” and “cool” are adjectives used to describe colors in terms of sensation, which we can relate to physical objects.  The top picture is transformed into a warm tone.  Its “temperature” leans more towards red.  The warm colors of this design are suggestive of afternoon sunlight, warm weather, etc.  The bottom picture is transformed into a cool tone.  Its “temperature” leans more towards blue.  The cool colors of this design are contrarily suggestive of brisk morning weather, frost, winter, etc.

The variations of color of the same photograph completely transform its feeling and temperature.  However, the grass's shade of green can be perceived very differently from viewer to viewer.  Color, again proving itself subjective.  The density, size, scale, physical structure of the viewer's eye, intensity, and interactions will change colors and transform their appearances.

The Ergonomics of the Jeep Wrangler

Image from:  http://cars.cozot.com/coches/us/2010/08/13/90752.jpg

The 5 areas of ergonomics research include safety, comfort, ease of use, performance, and aesthetics; in that order.   

Beginning with safety, the 2010 Jeep Wrangler’s ratings have pros and cons.  The driver and passenger protection in a frontal crash is very good, 5 stars in fact (according to the federal government).  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or the IIHS, conducted a frontal offset crash test for the Jeep.  The dummy’s position after the test indicated survival space maintained.  The dummy’s head hit only on the head restraint.  The right leg was the only body part marked ‘acceptable’ versus ‘good’ in this crash test.   

Image from http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/safety.aspx?year=2010&make=Jeep&model=Wrangler&trimid=-1

The Jeep Wrangler’s side airbags are optional, making it a safety issue.  The IIHS ranked side impact tests’ safety as ‘poor.’  Another safety issue of the Jeep Wrangler is that they have 27 percent chance of rollover. (http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Jeep_Wrangler/Safety/)  It was assigned only 3 stars out of 5 for passenger injury protection in the rollover test.  Jeep’s safety feature for the chance of rolling is the roll bar.  It generally protects passengers very well from injury in the case of a rollover accident.

The next aspect of this vehicle to consider is its comfort.  Is it designed for passenger’s ergonomic comfort?  Some consider the Jeep Wrangler an uncomfortable car.  It is a sport-utility vehicle, designed more for performance.  Older models of Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, for example, are a bumpy and noisy ride.  Jeep’s 2010 Wrangler Unlimited model, however, has added interior comfort features which were not incorporated in many previous models.  There are one touch power windows and power locks, and the doors are still reportedly easy to remove.  There are convenient seat adjustments for driver and passenger comfort, and the interior cabin has improved insulation for a quiet ride. 

Jeep Wrangler 2010.
  Image from http://www.jeep.com/en/2010/wrangler_unlimited/interior/comfort/

Ease of Use.  The Jeep Wrangler has features and accessories which are quite easy to use.  The navigation and audio system installed in newest versions of the Jeep Wrangler are reportedly some of the easiest to function.  The doors and roof are fairly easy to remove and replace, since Jeep owners like to transform their vehicles often.  Jeep replacement parts, such as roof racks, soft doors, or side mirrors, ensure long life and ease of use.  Complaints about Jeep Wranglers include poor fuel economy and not easy to use with young children and car seats.

Performance is one area of ergonomics that the Jeep Wrangler takes pride in.  This sport-utility vehicle is designed for off-roading.  “This SUV's lineage goes back more than 60 years to the original military "Jeep," the now-legendary 4x4 that transported World War II soldiers and supplies over very rough terrain,” one review reads.  (http://www.edmunds.com/jeep/wrangler/review.html)  Although newer models are adding safety and convenience features, their off-road capabilities are the same.  “Crawl ratios” refer to the combined first gear x low range x axle ratio.  They are incredibly high in Jeep Wranglers, which means low speed and lots of control for crawling over rocks and obstacles.  The Rubicon model has a crawl ratio of 73.1. (http://www.jeep.com/en/2010/wrangler/capability/off_road_performance/) 

Image from http://www.gilmoremotors.com/images/Jeep_w2.jpg

 The Jeep Wrangler has very unique aesthetics.  With its boxy shape, and its distinct roll cage, the Wrangler is a one-of-a-kind.  It looks like it is made for driving across the great outdoors.  It can come in a variety of colors, and models.  Although aesthetics are last on the list of ergonomic importance, Jeep Wranglers are well-designed in terms of appearance.  So much so that I would say the Jeep is an icon for off-roading.