Design Principles Argument - NOT AN ETHICAL ARGUMENT

There are design principles or concepts that are used to arrange the structural and non-structural elements of design.  These principles are not only helpful and used by interior designers, but also to artists, graphic designers, and anyone who takes an interest in art, or who’s profession deals with design in some way, shape, or form.  These principles are BALANCE, PROPORTION, RHYTHM, EMPHASIS, and UNITY.  These five principles are used in every design created in some way or another.  The following link is a link to the article that inspired this blog post:

http://www.vitsoe.com/en/gb/about/dieterrams/gooddesign 

 In the article, Dieter Rams, a designer, has listed ten principles or commandments for what he considers to be good design.  They are as following: 

• Good design is innovative
• Good design makes a product useful
• Good design is aesthetic
• Good design makes a product understandable
• Good design is unobtrusive
• Good design is honest 
• Good design is long lasting
• Good design is thorough, down to the last principle
• Good design is environmentally friendly
• Good design is as little design as possible

Shown below are products designed by Dieter Rams that he believes abide by his commandments.

 

MPZ 21 multipress citrus juicer, 1972, by Dieter Rams and Jürgen Greubel for Braun

 Multipress Citrus Juicer

MPZ 21 multipress citrus juicer, 1972, by Dieter Rams and Jürgen Greubel for BraunM

MPZ 21 multipress citrus juicer, 1972, by Dieter Rams and Jürgen Greubel for Braun

 Speaker

 

RT 20 Tischsuper Radio

T 1000 World Receiver

Cylindric T 2 Lighter

TP 1 Radio/Phone Combination

ET 66 Calculator

L 450 flat loudspeaker, TG 60 reel-to-reel tape recorder and TS 45 control unit

606 Universal Shelving System

 620 Chair Programme

These ten principles are concepts all designers should follow or refer to when designing a space; however, I think one more principle should be added to the list.  Here is the principle I propose:

• Good design is flexible

Human beings are always changing. Our wants, our needs, and our minds are always changing.  Therefore, we need designs that are able to change, grow, and adapt as we change.  Rams has mentioned how good design is long lasting.  He goes on to explain that it should avoid being fashionable so it never appears “out of style” or “outdated.”  He believes design that is not necessarily fashionable or the current trend will last many years – even in today’s society.

I believe that Rams should either consider adding the idea of flexibility to his list of principles, making it eleven commandments, or he should consider changing his seventh principle so it includes flexibility. 

When a space is designed to be flexible, it is allowing the design to be open to change.  Since nothing lasts forever and people and corporations are constantly moving, the design of these spaces should be designed to be flexible to help meet needs that potential users may have as well as the needs of the current residents. 

Yes, designers should always strive to meet their clients’ needs and wants, but they should also consider the possibility of the clients needs changing, or the possibility of someone else occupying the space. 

When a design meets the needs of a client while still being flexible, the client feels as though the space was designed specifically for them; however, they also know that if they decide to pack up and move in a year, the future users of the space can also enjoy it and they won’t need to make as many structural changes, thus, saving time and money.  In the world of design, it often times boils down to these two factors: time and money.  When clients realize they are able to save both of these, they will more than likely like the design and will accept it. 

Currently there are five main design principles that are used by designers and artists.  Dieter Rams has introduced ten principles that he believes equate to good design.  I believe Dieter Rams’ principles, the five main design principles, and the idea of flexibility should all be combined to create a new set of design principles that everyone refers to to help create the best designs possible.

Woman Caves

Interior designer Michelle Mio from Birmingham, Michigan, reports an increase in the amount of her clients who want to incorporate “woman caves” into their homes.  Women are seeking out an area of their hoe that can be turned into a haven that is just for them, like a man’s man cave.  People may say that the women have the kitchen and the bedroom; however, these spaces are often shared and not necessarily a place that is all theirs.  What do women want or need this space to be for?  These requested areas are wanted to scrapbook, read, pay bills, do crafts, and anything else that they find relaxing.  Most importantly, they just want somewhere to go when “me time” is needed, whether it is an entire room or just a nook to retreat to.  

 The above image shows a woman cave dedicated to scrapbooking.  The following link provides additional images of women's craft/work rooms: http://www.flickr.com/photos/djonesgirlz/galleries/72157624244195525/#photo_371137565

Time is precious and can be hard to come by.  Women do countless things on a daily basis.  They wake up, go to work, come home, make dinner, clean, take care of the children, pay bills, do the laundry, etc.  Men do these tasks as well; however, women don’t usually have a place to escape to when those five minutes of rest and alone time is needed.  If they have a place that is organized, functional, relaxing, pretty, and all their own, they will be able to spark their creativity and serve as a sanctuary whenever they need one. 

We’ve all heard the sayings “happy wife, happy life” and “if mom’s happy, everybody is happy”, so why not make mom happy by providing this area for her?  Virginia Woolf stated the following in her essay entitled A Room of One’s Own, "Women, then, have not had a dog's chance of writing poetry. That is why I have laid so much stress on money and a room of one's own."  This essay was written over 80 years ago.  Woolf knew the importance of a place for a woman to go to where she could be creative, silly, imaginative, and whatever else she wanted to be.  Now everyone else is seeing that importance, too. 

The increase in demand for these “woman caves” could help increase the need for interior designers.  Yes, a spare bedroom could easily be transformed into the ultimate scrapbooking room without the use of an interior designer, but what about those who don’t have a room to spare to turn into their personal sanctuary?  An interior designer can help their clients renovate entire rooms as well as help turn an area of a room into this private get away. 

In the interior design field, there are already different areas of specialization or focus (i.e. commercial, retail, and residential).  Let’s take a look at residential design.  Residential design can be broken down to specific areas of the home that designers focus on, for example, kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and bathrooms.  With such an increase in interest and demand for woman caves, this could become it’s own are of focus. 

The increased interest in special areas designated to women could potentially help generate more business for interior designers.  An increase in business will increase revenue, and the clients seeking the help of interior designers for their woman caves could potentially seek the help of an interior designer for other areas of their home.  

Link to Article: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/23/3446761/move-over-man-cave-women-savor.html

Link to a related article not used for this post for additional information: http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/parenting-family/2011-01-22-mom-caves_N.htm

Google SketchUp Review

Google SketchUp is a fairly new software that was created to make drawing in 3D easy.  SketchUp uses lines and shapes, which are what people are used to drawing, to create anything imagined.  Google has created this program, which is a free download off the Internet, in a way that makes 3D modeling understandable to all users. 

As mentioned, SketchUp is a program that can be downloaded off of the Internet.  It is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X, and the interfaces look and work nearly the same in both.  There is a professional version of SketchUp available, Google SketchUp Pro, which would benefit architects, production designers, and interior designers because of the ability to exchange files with other software.  The professional version also has the ability to create presentation documents.  A free trial version of SketchUp Pro is available if performing the added features is something the user would like to try before purchasing the software.  

I learned Google SketchUp before I started using AutoCAD, and so far, I prefer Google SketchUp (I have only been using CAD for a couple months).  I find the commands easier to understand because I can see what is being done as I am doing it, so mistakes are easier to catch.  The layout of the program is easier to comprehend, as well.  In Google SketchUp, there is only one command ribbon at the top of the screen.  This ribbon can be expanded to show more commands if desired.  On AutoCAD, there are many different commands, ribbons, and tool bars that make it easier for users to become overwhelmed and frustrated.  Below shows what SketchUp looks like as soon as it is opened.

Below is a link to Google SketchUp’s website. 

 http://sketchup.google.com/training/videos/new_to_gsu.html

 This link provides video tutorials that introduce how to use SketchUp.

Similarly to AutoCAD, SketchUp allows users to insert components and objects from the Internet into their drawing.  Say you were creating an office and wanted to use Herman Miller’s Embody Chair as the work chair in the space.  This chair can be imported into your drawing from the components button under the window tab.  Someone else created this chair and allowed their drawing to be copied by others.  There are thousands of furniture pieces, accessories, and objects that have been created by others that anyone can incorporate into their drawing instead of trying to create the object themselves.  It is quite the time saver.  After the object has been inserted into the drawing, if it is too large or too small, it can be re-sized quickly because the object is inserted as a component (many parts grouped together to form one object). 

When creating presentation boards for clients, interior designers include rendered perspectives of the space they are trying to sell.  Rendering by hand can be time consuming, and the smell the makers give off can cause headaches.  SketchUp gives users the opportunity to render their models on the screen and then print off the image when finished.  Rendering of SketchUp is as easy as clicking on the paint bucket, selecting the color desired, and then clicking on the object that needs to be rendered.  This is also a great time saver!

Since I only have experience with the free version of Google SketchUp, I cannot give my opinion on SketchUp Pro.  I believe the free version of SketchUp is a great program for anyone who wants to create 3D models.  It is free, easy to use, and great for just getting your feet wet with 3d modeling.  

Below is a link to Google SketchUp’s website where SketchUp can be downloaded and tutorial videos can be watched.

 

 http://sketchup.google.com/training/videos/new_to_gsu.html

 This link provides video tutorials that introduce how to use SketchUp.

http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/download/index.html

This link will bring you to where you can download SketchUp.

 

Interior Design Defined

“Oh, you’re an interior design major? Fun!”

Putting up wallpaper, fluffing throw pillows, and picking out paint colors is NOT what I go to school for four years to learn how to do.  Some people may think this is all interior designers do; however, I hope after reading this, people gain a better understanding of what people in my field actually do.  Picking out paint colors is sometimes one of the many tasks done by an interior designer, but it is also a very small part of the job.

Some of you may be getting interior design confused for interior decorating.  There is a distinct difference between the two.   An interior decorator focuses on selecting finishes, such as paint and window coverings, and furnishings.  

The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) defines interior design as the following: “a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment.  These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive.”  More information regarding interior design and the scope of services performed by professional designers can be found on the following website: http://www.ncidq.org/AboutUs/AboutInteriorDesign/DefinitionofInteriorDesign.aspx.

Ever since I was in about the seventh grade when I started telling people that I wanted to be an interior designer, their response was often what was seen in the video.  The public has been somewhat misinformed when it comes to this profession.  They are often misled by what HGTV shows us on television.  Remodeling a home in a couple days is NOT what professional interior designers do.  Because people have become misled about what interior designers do, people often think of it as a joke.  Interior designer’s primary concern is the health, safety, and welfare of the people who occupy the spaces they design.  

Interior designers also value:

            -sustainable materials

            -accessible spaces for everyone

            -aesthetically pleasing spaces

            -the clients’ needs and wants

I believe that the interior of a space can create a mood or a feeling that changes people.  Imagine you’re in a room with dark walls, hard furniture, cold floors and little to no light.  Do you feel happy?  Cheery?  Or do you feel sad and scared?  Believe it or not, the interior of a space creates a mood and depending on the interior, the mood can vary greatly.  Now, take a look at the images posted.  

 These images are images of the interior of Google’s corporate headquarters.  How do these spaces make you feel?  Energetic?  Playful?  Because of the design of Google’s interiors, it allows employees to feel young and alive while at work. 

Interior designers value:

            -sustainable materials

            -accessible spaces for everyone

            -aesthetically pleasing spaces

            -the clients’ needs and wants

            -the safety and welfare of the users

Most people who become interior designers tend to specialize in either commercial or residential design.  I am particularly interested residential design with a focus on kitchens and bathrooms.  I have always loved looking at house plans and watching Cribs on MTV (which shows some pretty cool EXPENSIVE homes), and I believe the kitchen in definitely the heart of the home.  The kitchen and the bathroom also contribute greatly to the resale value of a home.  I am only in my second year of the interior design program at NDSU, so I still have a lot to learn about the interior design field and what I can do once I am a professional.  

Designing interiors is something many people probably feel in unnecessary.  However, I disagree.  We’re not only making the space we’re designing “pretty”, but we’re making it safe for and accessible to everyone.  Why design something that only some can see?  The next time you’re in an intriguing space or a depressing space, think about what surrounds you.  Look at the layout of the space, the materials, and the space as a whole.  An interior designer most likely designed that space, and it is my goal to never create a depressing space.