6th-13th October 2011
Beautiful Losers
During two lectures we were shown a documentary film called Beautiful Losers directed by Aaron Rose. The documentary focuses on several street artists who go with a “Do-It-Yourself” style of the street art, using themes such as graffiti, skateboarding, punk rock and hip-hop.
The documentary interviews several widely known street artists of how they became admired in the art world and the growth of the culture they have helped introduce and increase the popularity of. The artists describe how they never knew how their street art would make them renowned in that world.
The documentary follows some of them re-visiting places where they grew and found their inspirations while also hearing about their personal situations at the time and how after they achieved their status in the art world they then speak on how different creating art for a company and commercial purposes is different to how they began with just their inspirations alone.
However, in my personal viewing of the film, it seems that the documentary got confusing not only to myself but to others who also watched it were lost by how they cut between different artists and their stories where their points of conversation are not related and makes viewing difficult to follow.
It seems that the artists eventually link with one another but their work is different with each one, which another viewing difficulty arises when the conversation is switched to another artist while the last artist had not finished explaining their methods of art.
In conclusion, my view is just my own, there are people who do relate to the film but personally I feel disappointed by it, it did hold some strong points within art and how the artists released their emotions in their art instead of ending in commits crimes.
20th October 2011
What is Design?
"The only important thing about design is how it relates to people" – Victor Papanek
This lecture was based on how design is inspired, designed, ethically placed before it can be created. We were shown how there have been many people who see some designs to be created but people are against on what effect it would have to other factors in order to be created.
The Function Complex:
· Method
· Use
· Need
· Telesis
· Association
· Aesthetics
The function complex was created to ensure that all aspects are taken into consideration to not only the customer but to also the environment and materials impact. It makes it easy to understand and a simple process to be followed for design.
The 6 Phases of Production and Resulting Pollution
· Choice of Material
· Manufacturing Process
· Packaging of Product
· The Finished Product
· Transportation
· Waste
These 6 phases are put into place as a means to help the manufacturer decide what materials are best not only for the product but also for the environment. However, some manufacturers need to use some materials that may not be friendly but are required for placement, these phases are placed in order to get the best results for the product and be beneficial for pollutions as well.
What is your Design Philosophy?
The 3 Constructs of Design:
1. Being able to apply skills properly, Design is about Doing
2. Being able to meet the needs of society, Design is about Interacting
3. Being able to communicate, Design is about Living
The 3 constructs of design are rules that some designers follow by as the best quality and appreciated designs are human centred and requires a lot of communication between designer and consumer and the greatest designs that help the consumer is that the designer has ensured great care for the people they are designing for.
What is Design?
‘A plan for an artifact or system of artifacts’ – dictionary meaning for design
‘Design is all around you, everything man-made has been designed whether consciously or not’ – Mat Hunter
This lecture was reasonable to understand but some factors were missed or rushed and ended in confusion as not all data was understood or noted down. I have understood how the design process is managed and overseen so several factors benefit from the production.
3rd November 2011
Innovation
Design is what links creativity to innovation. It shapes ideas to become practical.
The lecture was very informative and explains a lot and gives a new perspective on design and technology as we know.
We began on how phones have developed through design, not only have they switched from physical keys below the screen to being a touch screen with all process taking place on it. Another factor was how phone could once only allow us to phone people and send text messages, but now through design and innovation can they now not only phone and send messages, but also have the ability to play games, connect to a satellite navigation system, but also book appointments, play music and full HD video and take pictures in almost the same quality as a digital SLR.
Technology isn’t only being used by us, but technology is using us as well, with the likes of the touch screen phones and the tablet PCs are taking information we are giving about how we use them, where we use them, and even the details on who is using them. There are those who feel like we are being spied on and personal privacy is becoming meaningless, and there are some people who feel like the data is being used to understand how we consume the digital media and also to improve their products to our needs.
8th December 2011
Manufactured Landscapes
During this lecture, we watch a documentary called ‘Manufactured Landscapes’ made in 2006 directed by Jennifer Baichwal. The film is about the work of the photographer Edward Burtynsky on how he portrays how landscapes have been changed with human activity. The first part of the film is mostly known due to the portrayal of 23,000 workers in a Chinese iron factory and how it all progresses as they leave the building and are grouped outside where not only are their uniforms yellow but the building themselves are also, furthermore the landscape stretched from close to the camera to the horizon with nothing but yellow building and Chinese workers dressing in the yellow uniform.
My personal view on this documentary is that although the visuals are great, they get dragged out for quite a long period of time and the information spoken isn’t very clear and isn’t very informative, it is mostly the small conversations that they have setting up the shot and getting everything in order.
It was more about the few photos that are well known instead of the information on it and the photographer himself, there is part of the film which he explains his work and his inspirations that led him to that area of photography. The film is presented differently than usual documentary films as it isn’t all about explaining the photographer but show him at work doing his most recognised photographs, but at the same time he explains his morals about the landscape changes and how it is effecting the natural landscape the earth created, with that in account, the film got recognised by most environmental causes and even won awards for awareness of environmental change.
We didn’t manage to watch the entire film during that session; however we had been shown in before in a previous lecture as a documentary layout understanding.
