cover

Cute

What Is Cute?



Why are things cute? (Vsauce)

Reminds me of subject in reading.

House Keys and Hair Ties

 House Keys Text: 

Most modern house keys are made for a pin-tumbler or wafer-tumbler lock. When held upright, as if to open a door, a series of grooves on either side of the key (the key's blade) limits the type of lock the key can slide into. As the key slides into the lock, the grooves on the blade of the key align with the wards in the keyway allowing or denying entry to the cylinder. Then a series of pointed teeth and notches on the blade called bittings allow pins or wafers to move up and down until they align with the shear line of the inner and outer cylinder, allowing the cylinder or cam to rotate freely inside the lock, which opens

the lock.Two of the most popular key makers include Master and Schlage. Generic key designs typically look the same and

only come in a handful of variations dependent on the type of lock. These simple designs can open doors to house owned by a wide variety of people weather it be a lower class person or a aristocrat.

Generally most house keys keep their generic nature often making it confusing when it comes to defining which key is used for which lock. With the exception of custom house keys these generic designs are void of ornamentation and excess design elements. 

In Relation to Loos: 

When I was thinking about this project I wanted to choice objects that most americans own and that are typically "generic" in form. I first decided to reflect upon house keys. For the most part house keys look the same. Granted under closer inspection all house keys are different but for the most part they are void of any extra decoration and ornamentation. I thought about how these very generic forms can be used to open doors or locks to a wide variety of homes or other locked things. For instance a poor man can have the same key design as a rich man in a mansion. For keys it is typically what the door opens that defines the person rather than the key itself. 

Scunci Text: 

Scünci (pronounced skuncee) formally called Scrunchie, is a hair products company powered by innovative thinking. Scünci operated as a privately held company until its acquisition in March of 2005 by Conair Corporation, a worldwide leader in professional and consumer hair appliances.

Scunci developed a new type of no damage hair elastic which provided a simple tangle free design that could be used for a variety of hair types and styles. This new design eliminated the need for a metal piece which was typically needed to hold the thread covered elastic in a loop.

Although these hair ties are available in a variety pack of colors, there signature black generic ties are void of any extra decoration or design.

In Relation To Loos: 

The second product I wanted to consider that is fairly generic in form was the hair elastic. For most people with longer hair a hair elastic is a essential cosmetic tool to keep your hair under control or styled. Traditional hair elastics included a metal piece that was used to hold the elastic in a loop. These new hair ties allow for the metal piece to be excluded and a adhesive is replace to finish the hair ties construction. They are available in a variety of colors but generically they are black and void of any decoration. They are plan simple and revolve around function. 

Reading Response 1

I think that it is impossible to assume that people are not going to criticize design in a age where art and media are blending together and the population as a audience is absorbing information making them more aware of changes that they otherwise would have cared less about.

It’s true that people are becoming more aware of design everyday, because it is becoming more important.  Functional design and cutting edge design is what people crave because it means that we are advancing technologically and as a whole. However, these advancements are also making people experience a greater sense of nostalgia when it comes to designs that have been around prior to the push to develop clean and contemporary modes of identity and design.

Older designs can remind people ofsimpler times and bring out qualities of reliability, quality, and superiority. These designs are important because they have withstood the test of time and have made there way into the lives of those who view them. However, when it comes for a change I agree that the audience does not always understand the process of design and the reasons why an identity may have to be changed.

The readings keep bringing up the point that some people when they see a design think that it is too easy and that “their 4-year-old” could do a better job. I think that this thinking can fall into the same realm as armature photographers who believe that if they buy an expensive camera then they have what it takes to declare themselves as professionals. Obviously, understanding art and design comes by understanding the process and history of the craft and it is up to the designers to educate their audience in the best ways possible.

I also think that it is important to be aware of these opinions. A lot of times in the articles when it came to the designs of things that people have a great deal of attachment too, I feel like the discussions happen mainly between designers in a world that is somewhat closed off from the outside till the unveiling of a design. If people were let in and able to see the process maybe they could have had a more positive discussion about the whole thing rather that attacking the final product in the end.

I think that as a designer preparing to enter the design realm it is important to remember that people don’t always understand what is happening behind the scenes and that it is important to do this kind of research to contribute to your design. Perhaps the next phase of good design will revolve around understandable design. In other words... design that an audience can understand and that is driven by public awareness.