Category: Design

  • Impact of Design on Humanity

    Previously I mentioned a slight uneasiness with the notion that in some way designers hold an elevated status. What I may have really been recognizing is the burden of responsibility that design has on the designer, and the uneasiness was a realizing of the power of design in the wrong hands: i.e., someone who employs…

  • Why Designers Are Valued

    Today in design seminar, Dick Buchanan defined the reasons that make designers valuable. Whole/part: designers look at the whole in relation to the parts; they see the big picture Bring to life/creativity: designers have a passion for making things Comfortable with ambiguity: openendedness; not prejudging the solution; take chances, take risks; try multiple solutions Polysensorial…

  • Interaction Design Not a Selling Point

    I caught a commercial for some Braun product this evening, and became intrigued by the mention of “German engineering.” I can’t remember the product, and I’m not sure it matters, but it occurred to me that Braun thought “German engineering” to be a selling point. This got me thinking about the evolution of design thinking and the…

  • Fitwits

    Before the Thanksgiving break, Kristin Hughes, who is currently teaching my graduate typography class, asked me to help her put up a placeholder website for Fitwits. I don’t really know what it is: I didn’t have time to ask. But I built it, and thought it was cool she asked me.

  • Thanksgiving Respite

    Ericka, Matt, and Jeff where Kennedy was shot I spent Thanksgiving in Dallas (photos) with my youngest brother, Jeff, and his fiance. My brother Matt and his wife joined us from Mammoth Lakes, California. And my mom, who lives in Pittsburgh, tagged along as well. It was the first time we had all been together…