Office Space that promotes creativity

The California Jump company is working on how to promote creativity and innovation by creating a special environment in the work space. The company stresses the importance of creating a special kitchen area or cafe where employees meet and discuess all kinds of topics. The architectural company Archideas worked on the interior design work.




http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/07/jump/index_01.htm?chan=innovation_innovation+%2B+design_innovation+and+design+lead

Creativity & Innovation

Finally at Tufts University, they have decided to change their admissions process. Last year 15,000 teenagers applied to Tufts and only 27% got in. THe school will be making Creativity part of the admissions process, broadening more ways to test intelligence. THe current admissions process focuses only on analytical qualities which can only be found through tests and grades. In order to test this, Tufts is asking that the students send in a video or write an essay to show the creativity of the individual and not just a straight test of knowledge.

To me this seems more fair on students who may not get the highest SAT results, and have other talents and strengths that are not recognized through the admissions processes by colleges. Creativity and Innovation are very important sources for the growth in our futures.


http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/NussbaumOnDesign/archives/2006/07/tufts_tests_for.html

Night Club designs

Alexa Nice, the designer of these nightclubs above also designs retail space, casinos, restaurants, bars and hotels. The interior design of her nightclubs however are so unique and creative that shes drawing alot of attention to herself. Her nightclubs are described to look like a picture in a movie. The first image looks like a futuristic version of the garden of eden. The ceilings in the night club are 14 meters high and have over 5000 plants climing up the wall and draping over the walls. the space is mesmorizing and exotic as there is also a 10 meter waterfall.

www.core77.com

Class Notes for 9/10/09

"God is in the details" - Mies Van DerRoche - it is important to have big ideas and the detail must be perfect.

"Nothing ever goes away" - Marshal Mcluran - example - cars replacing horses, horses didnt go away they have just moved into a new category/art.



highlight - lightest part of photo
midtone
shadows


terminiology

factual - denoteatedinformation design ex. sources

Connotated - Text that is more subjective. ex. poetry, lyrics etc.

weights - thickness of fonts

TYPE FACES HAVE CHARACTER!!!

Wall mounted bar

The pictures above is a wall mounted bar that takes up on floor space! This at home bar was created by Cactus a Lyon-based collective of French freelance designers created by Marc Salagnac and Quentin Hueber. The bar doesnt even have a counter which takes up space and is a super sleek and modern design. There is a silver ice dispenser that comes out from under the cabinate and also has a tray for mixing drinks. this design is a unique way to save space in the room and is a one of a kind design.

http://www.core77.com/

Born Leaders

Reading the blog 'Thanks for Leading' I found very interesting. The article basically says how important leaders are to our society and how rare it is to come across a true leader. The following are a couple lines taken from the blog:

It’s uncomfortable to stand up in front of strangers.
It’s uncomfortable to propose an idea that might fail.
It’s uncomfortable to challenge the status quo.
It’s uncomfortable to resist the urge to settle.

These are all qualities that are necessary to be a true leader and most people fear standing up in front of people and speaking, proposing an idea and having it be rejected or disliked, it is uncomortable for some people to challenge the norm and go a step higher and also it is hard for people to continue to challenge themselves and always be striving for the best.


http://sethgodin.typepad.com/

Ski Gear

This is a picture of a new helmet design by a very small swedish skiing company called POC. It is a very small company that has become very successful in their designs of ski wear for professional skiiers and other extreme sports. The company is designing protective gear that is also very stylish. they design helmets, goggles and gloves and protective clothing.

Britains Olympic's Logo

Britain spent $800,000 on its new logo for the Olympics. However the British public found it distasteful. Many have said that it looks like the Nazi swastika. The logo, although it is eye catching does not portray the meaning and idea enough. there is not enough meaning. The Olympic torch however was a very powerful logo and it really gives a sense of competition, the games and community making it a truely memorable and well known logo.

www.core77.com

impossible space

I chose to write about this article because i found the architecture very interesting and creative. The designers of this studio have used every inch of space to their advantage. No space has gone to waste and because of this a well sized studio has been built with everything the studio needs. The building is highly occupied and appears cluttered in the video. the space is highly organized and fits perfectly. This studio was built in Tokyo and these kinds of designs for studios or apartments are a good idea for designs of living and working place in cities...especailly New York City.


http://vimeo.com/4759408
http://www.core77.com/blog/default.asp?p=2

Architecture for Humanity

Architecture for Humanity this year focused on re-designing class rooms in less fortunate schools. A school is Victor, Idaho was chosen for the re-modelling. The new design of the class room will promote well being and incorporates the theme of being outside, which is suitable as the school is located in a mountain range area. The designs of the buildings are modern and portray simplicity which gives the idea of space and order.The buildings are very modern and will help bring the community together.

http://www.core77.com/blog/default.asp?p=2

Lazy Susan

The new TV dinner tray in now sleeker than ever. This tray was designed by a dutch company and comes in three colors black, silver or white. The tray in aluminum and has two handels on the sides so it it easy to pick up. the tray is now a fashionable accessory to keep in your home and is not easier than ever to use with its handles.

http://www.core77.com/

No more Driving

I found 'The End of Driving' article very interesting, as well as some of the drawings and models of the cars. The two authors have designed a car that drives itself...no work involved for the passangers. With a high tech navigation system the car would literally pick you up at the curb, ask you where it is that you want to go and then drop you off at your destination and park itself.

Although there have been some major improvements in the car industry regarding safety and efficence or speed, there hasnt been any real change in the actaul driving experience. Reseach now shows that this type of car is actaully technologically possible






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

Building Design

There are many psychological effects of architecture and buildings on people. The designs of our buildings, houses etc have a huge impact on us. The idea is to have our buildings built in a way to make us the happiest we possibly can. What kind of design or layout is necessary to be the most pleasing to us? This reminds me also of how Fung Shui affects our happiness and well being on the inside of our homes and working environment.

www.pantopicon.be/blog/

Simplicity

The Company Black + Blum found inspiration in a dish rack as a way of designing a building. This just goes to show that you can find inspiration in the simplest things..and sometimes that is the most creative. Who knew that by looking at the design of a dish rack would you have the idea to turn that design into architecture for a huge building.

www.core77.com

Positive Thinking

After taking a positive psychology class last semester I learned what that you need to think positively in order to be happy and there are endless benefits to thinking positively including improving your health. Although people know that thinking positive thoughts is benefical, we tend to keep up with our negative thoughts. Thinking positively can be challenging..constantly looking at the bright side of things, and negative thinking can seem easier as we lower our expectations of ourselves.

sethgodin.typepad.com

Jason Wu

I found the Post on Jason Wu very interesting as he is the gown designer for Michelle Obama. Wu camt to America from Tawain and studied at Parsons school of Design. Now at the age of 26 he is a very well known high fashion designer and is featured in many magazines. I found this article interesting because he was a student at Parsons which is a school that I am interesting in going to after college.

www.businessweek.com/innovate/NussbaumOnDesign

Rough Draft of Brochure on Coco Chanel

Gabrielle Coco Chanel has lived the life of a true rags to riches story. Chanel was born in a poorhouse on August 19th 1883 as the illegitimate daughter of Albert Chanel and Jeanne Devolle, who did get married shortly after her birth however Chanel still feared she would be discovered as a bastard child. Chanel was brought up in an orphanage run by nuns after her mother died when Chanel was only twelve and her father disappeared. Her family moved a lot, living in poor areas in crowded streets. As a young child Gabrielle often played on her own, she would spend a lot of her time in a nearby cemetery where she would talk to herself and to the graves. Her parents tried to stop her from going there, however Chanel believed she did this because she was unloved at home. Even as an old woman, when Chanel felt unloved she was seen by journalists in cemeteries talking to the graves. Due to Chanel’s unconventional life and what she thought of as a shameful past, Chanel used to lie and make up stories and tell different people different versions of the events in her life.

It was during Chanel’s life in the orphanage where she learned to sew and by the age of eighteen she left the orphanage and found work as a tailor. Chanel worked in a shop called A Sainte Marie, “specialists in trousseax and layettes”. Chanel’s work was quickly noticed and admired by many women. It is stated by Charles-Roux, ‘She was no ordinary shop assistant…She dreamed of something different” (57-58). Soon after many months the women who used to come into the shop began to go straight to Chanel at her home where she would tailor their outfits. While working Chanel met a man named Etienne Balsan who was a millionaire that she began having an affair with. Being with a man with an endless amount of money is what influenced Chanel and gave her the drive to start her own business. Chanel started her company in 1913 and designed raincoats and hats. However the business fell through and the shop had to be shut down. Eventually Chanel met Etienne’s friend who she immediately fell in love with. With the help of her new partner Chanel was able to open another shop which was very successful and many famous people including actresses were buyers of her clothing. Chanel was famous for the elegance of her designs and the way she used fabrics to represent fashion and luxury. Chanel states, “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance”, which shows how her simple and clean cut designs were so popular. Chanel also created her perfume ‘Chanel no. 5’ which was the first fragrance to have the designers name on it.

Throughout Chanel’s life she continued to have relationships with very wealthy men. However her affair with a Nazi during World War 2 drew the most attention to her. She was found to be living with the Nazi spy in a hotel and was arrested and sent to prison. The British Royal family supported Chanel throughout the trial and she was eventually released. Chanel then moved to Switzerland to continue work on her business there. Despite the trouble she got herself into with her affair, her business still thrived and people still loved her work. It was in 1971when Chanel died of a heart attack at age eighty seven. However even today Coco Chanel’s business is still growing and admired by many around the world. Chanel brought herself up from nothing and created a company that has set a style and chic fashion that is still alive today.

Dragon, Greg. "Hotties of History: Coco Chanel". Hall of the Black Dragon. 17 Aug 2009.

Charles-Roux, Edmonde. Chanel: Her life, her world, and the woman behind the legend she herself created. New York: Alfred A Knopf, 1975.

Madsen, Axel. Chanel: A Woman of Her Own. Ontario, Canada: Henry Holt and Company, 1990.