Sunday, December 9, 2007

Sustainable Design


Green roofs are, as seen above, roofs that are covered in vegetation. This helps reduce electricity being used because it provides a natural insulation for the house. It also helps with water runoff because it infiltrates the water into the roof, and the water that is not used by the roof evaporates back into the atmosphere. Green roofs can also be an oasis for its inhabitants, whether that be the people that live inside the house, or the wildlife that develops homes there.

Cheap solar-powered energy...it's coming our way!

I have a good friend who's dad is the president of a company called Plymouth Systems Inc. They are a small company of astrophysicists, engineers, and astronomers. They have collaborated with another company called "Megawatt solar" and figured out a way to mass produce solar-powered energy in an inexpensive and very environmentally friendly way. In a couple of years, this will be the way to go with power. This is the start of something very big. Here is a news article that talks about it in more scientific terms. http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/580877.html.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Pretty Products

Before looking up different products, I had no idea there was such a variety of them. People get so creative with their designs. These were very fun to research.
These two tables were designed by Michael Young. He drew inspiration from chinese paper folding to make the bases of them. This is a very simple overall form, yet i would have never thought to make a cone-like shape the bottom of a table. I enjoy that Young made these after being inspired by something else. It makes me remember to always be observant of my surroundings because I never know when I am going to see something that will be great to integrate into a design.

The three stools above were designed by a woman named Zaha Hadid. I enjoy the way they fit together like a puzzle. It adds a nice interactive element as well as being functional. I can't imagine how comfortable they are to sit in, though. They look kind of cold. Maybe a more inviting color or material would make them look more inviting.
When I first saw this, I didn't think "chair." I did not really know what to think. Then, of course, after looking at it closer, I saw that it was, in fact, a chair. The design threw me off considerably well. It was designed by Felice Rossi in Italy. It was made to mimic the form of the body. It swoops up to provide a side table--most likely for some technological bee-bop.


This couch is also designed by Italian designer, Felice Rossi. It looks like a piece of foam, thrown over a metal frame. When I look at the waving line on the top of it, I think of movement. While it looks cool, it doesn't look very comfortable. Perhaps Rossi prioritizes design over functionality. I'm sure that is also how many more designers design things.



How cool is this?? I could not pass this up when sufing the web. I enjoy the thought of making odd things into something completely new. It's a nice idea.




This lamp, which was made by JTH lighting company, has a nice quality to it. The organic curve of the shaft give a feeling of movement to the lights. I'm finding that I really enjoy curving lines in product design.





The name of this coffee table is the "Alien Table," designed by Y. Shito. It has a futuristic feel to it with the round top and shiny metal. I enjoy how the base is solid and swoops up and out to the flat top. The light shining down from the ceiling complements the table because it is also round and metal.


The "Princess Light," designed by Christophe Pillett, reminds me of a floating orb. This is something I would like to have in my room. It definitely has a feminine quality to it, with the engraved flowers on the side of it.

This light by the Birch and Willow is not my favorite. It looks like it was made to look like an overgrown nest. I do not find it aesthetically pleasing, yet I am sure the shadows it casts are pretty interesting.





Finally, my favorite product of this small bunch. This is called the "Ether" by a company called Eurofase. It is a chandelier AND a centerpiece for a dinner table. It is made of dangling blown glass balls with lights shining on them, reflecting the light around the room. I love water and this design strongly represents bubbles. I very much enjoy glass, so once I found Eurofase's website, I was in heaven. They have many different glass products. I encourage everyone to take a look. www.eurofase.com

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Ten Websites to Linger On

A very good way to gain more knowledge of design is to browse through the web's many design sites. It is both informative, and quite inspirational. Let's take a look, shall we?

Above is a screenshot of the website of the design company called Glass innovations. This is a great site to look through--especially for people, like me, who have an infatuation with glass. They show their various projects, which include glass furniture, lighting, and even glass architecture. I would really like to explore the different uses for glass and crystalization in the near future. It is a beautiful material and has great conceptual potential.


When surfing through this site, one gets a sense of femininity while looking at the various rooms that were designed. The Design Firm like very luxurious rooms. Some would say they are overdone. Some would say they are just right. I guess it is just a matter of opinion. As far as the website goes, though, it is very easy to navigate through. It has a very attractive appearance and soothing colors. Overall I am pleased with their webdesign and contents.



The words "stately" and "sophisticated" come to mind when looking at the designs of I. Michael Interior Design. When I look at their pictures, I like the way they use diffused, accented lighting. This goes great with the theme of dark colors they use in their designs. Despite the great designs, I feel like the website is lacking something. I can't quite put my finger on it, though. I feel like maybe the layout is too simple--almost boring. This contrasts greatly with their type of designs, which are subtle, but definitely not boring. I think maybe they were trying to go for the sophisticated look; however, I feel they could have "beefed" it up a little without taking anything away from their designs.

I really enjoyed looking through the website of Balongue Interiors. I admire their professional layout. When one clicks on one of the categories either on the right-hand side or the top of the page, a window opens with many thumbnails of a lot of work they have done in that category.
Balongue Interiors, which is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, doesn't have just one style of designing. They have a variety. When surfing through their many pictures, I noticed both very sleek, straight lines. I also noticed very organic and wavy lines. I noticed monochromatic and classic color themes. And then there are dramatic color themes in which the color pops out. I have found that one of the many things that makes a good designer is the ability to have variety.


This site doesn't look like it was thought through well. When I got to it, the first thing I saw was a LOT of writing. When people look at a website--especially a design website--the first thing their eyes should be drawn to is something that was designed well. That may be either a picture of their work, or even the layout. Their has to be some amount of interest in order to keep the viewer looking at their work. Once I got past the dissappointment of the website, I started looking at the firm's actual work. I wouldn't even call them designers. Decorator is a better term. In order to spice up a room, they change strictly what is on the surface. Their is an abundance of stenciling used and cheap-looking furniture. Looking at work like this makes me proud to be in the program that I am in. I know that even though I know much failure will come from me in the future, so will success. The knowledge that I will learn will take me far beyond these decorators and show me a perspective of the world that they cannot even begin to fathom. (wow. i'm harsh)


On a lighter note, this firm's work is very delightful. Laura Day Designs uses fun, pastel colors and lots of geometric shapes in their designs. They are innovative and have a slight whimsicle vibe. Bravo

www.innovationsid.com/#

The layout of this website was well thoughtout. I like the homey vibe of some of Innovation's designs, however other designs of theirs lack a sense of being well thought out. Sure, they put together furniture that was manufactured to go in the same room. But their was no thought process behind a lot of their designs. Once again, I would call them decorators. They merely pay for the furniture, place it in the room, and that's about it.

www.davidmichaelmiller.com/port.html


This is an entertaining website. I enjoy the ecclectic vibe I get from the interior spaces designed by Daved Michael Miller. They are inspirational to look at because he takes design elements from different cultures and incorporates to his work.



This firm is called Pineapple House Interior Designs. The colors and materials they use for their interiors are classic and charming. I adore designs that make me want to jump through the computer screen and actually be in the room. That's when you know it was well designed.


Tucker and Marks Designs use Itailian design as their inspiration. I like the warm colors and accented lighting. This really makes me excited about the study abroad program. I think looking at different countries for inspiration is a great idea. Oh, third year cannot come soon enough!