Thackara Readings

John Thackara's book In the Bubble: Designing in a Complex World discusses the connection between design and environmental sustainability.  In fact, he points out that about eighty percent of a products environmental impact is determined in the design stage.  Because of this, designers must understand what would benefit the product the most.  


Designs should portray the product in a way that people find pleasing.  In such a busy and crowded world, simplistic designs seem most appealing.  To me, these simplistic designs are attractive because they tend to be clean.  To look at something that is simple against a very chaotic setting is refreshing once in a while.  

People must not forget that design is a creative process.  Yes, technology is used during the process, but relying on it too much can impede creativity.  I recently read a study that said that although people like to think multitasking is helpful, it can actually be harmful to the creative process.  That being said, it is important to take some time off from technology and all its distractions in order to come up with the best design.  Throughout this creative process, designes need to be conscious of their impact, both environmentally as well as socially.  

Assignment 2: Painting to Life

Cherubs

By Frances Burkham, Sarah Marran, Rafael Smith, and Leigh Ann Kay

Logline:

Two students let their minds wander as they actively daydream during detention.

Treatment:

As the video begins, two female students are seen entering a detention session. They

pull out their study materials and begin to work. Just as they start to focus, they

both begin daydreaming. As they ponder, the camera pans back and forth between

them, entering their thoughts, and illustrating a flashback sequence that the two are

familiar with. The flashback takes place in the lobby of the Ward building, where

the two girls met an attractive young man earlier that week. The first student’s

memories during the flashback are very positive, and she finds herself head over

heels for the attractive boy. The second students memories are much more negative;

she does not like the boy and is upset by her friend’s obsession with him. Their

contrasting opinions of the meeting slowly put a divide in their friendship. Just as

their daydreaming reaches its deepest level, they are awoken at the same time. They

are pulled back into reality, and the two girls continue on with their schoolwork.