Amy's Blog

CNNC Final Presentation

2008-05-08T09:13:00.002-07:00

My Sister's House VIZ

2008-05-08T09:03:00.001-07:00

2008-04-22T19:34:00.001-07:00

2008-04-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

cnnc

2008-03-31T16:20:00.001-07:00

CNNC

2008-03-31T15:20:00.001-07:00

iar 212 - my sister's house

2008-03-26T20:05:00.000-07:00

iar 202 - CNNC

2008-03-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

iar 212: Vote

2008-03-03T16:21:00.001-08:00

IAR 212 - Styles in Graphic Design

2008-02-20T16:01:00.000-08:00

Bauhaus

This picture is a German stamp commemorating Bauhaus teacher and artist Moholy-Nagy. I like the layers of the different objects. I also like the contrasting colors, red, black, and white. This makes the white piece stand out. The use of shadow give it a 3D effect. And the simple shapes, circles and rectangles, give it a modern feels.

Pop Art

This picture is a pop art silkscreen effect by Andy Warhol. I like the different uses of color and the repetition of the single picture. It is interesting how he used bright colors in some places and black and white colors in other places. The black gives the picture texture and depth.

Retro Modern

This picture is from a retro modern wallpaper. It is contemporary because of the lines and shapes, but retro because of the color, pattern and repetition. I like the interruption in the straight lines of color with the curves.

Nostalgic Remix

This is a picture of what I think is a contemporary style inspired by grandma's antiques. This design was inspired by antique graphic quilts with strong lines and repetitious forms. I like how this design seems to be symmetric, though it isn't. I also like the bright colors on the dark background, which makes them stand out.

IAR 212 Subway Sublime

2008-02-19T09:37:00.000-08:00

iar 212 - Parallelism

2008-02-14T09:30:00.001-08:00

IAR 202

2008-01-31T18:23:00.000-08:00

Welcome Mat: Egypt

IAR 212-Visual Communication

2008-01-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

Graphic Design Images

I found the following images in the Advanced Photoshop magazine. They are not advertisments, they are exaples of great Photoshop designs.

This image, I thought was very interesting. It mixes something realistic with something less realistic. What makes this good design is the use of texture. I like how part the hand has the same texture as the background. The splatter of color in center draws your eye to the balck and white figure "sitting" in the hand.

This image caught my eye because it is busy yet subtle at the same time. The eye is the first thing that I noticed. The surrounding looks like hair, though if you look up close it is very abstract. I like the mix of the realistic eye and face with the unrealistic hair. In way this image seems mysterious.

This image is called "Inter View," and the title fits. The face is breaking away to unviel what's inside. It is very futuristic and reminds me of a robot. I like the way the hair draws your attention to the inside of the head. The black background makes the torn-away peices stand out.

IAR 212-Visual Communication

2008-01-29T09:44:00.000-08:00

Moods a Many: Melancholy

IAR 202 - Interview

2008-01-24T20:11:00.000-08:00

Full Name:

Norma Sarquis Thompson
Age:

43
Occupation:

Family Specialist at a middle school (the name doesn’t say much, but I am a combination between a social worker and a counselor. I also do a lot of interpreting for teachers, parents and administrators).
Where were you born?

Veracruz, Mexico
How long have you been living here?

12 years and 5 months
Why did you move here?

I was hired by an American company to come to NC to teach Spanish in middle schools.
Did anyone move here with you?

Yes, my then husband.
Do you have any family living here?

No
What were your goals/intentions/dreams when you first moved here?

I originally came with a three-year contract. My goal was to acquire some international teaching experience, which is very valued in Mexico. I figured it would improve my resume, and at the same time, my then husband would be able to learn English. Being bilingual is very important for professionals in Mexico. It can make a substantial difference in your pay rate.
What are your goals/intentions/dreams now, have they changed?

Yes, they have changed a lot! I ended up staying here (which was not my original intention) because I married a man who is native of this area. I now have a daughter and I also decided to continue my education. I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in school counseling. So my goals and dreams now include finishing my degree to help people and do meaningful work in my community, watching my daughter grow up and accomplish her dreams, and grow old together with my husband.
What is the difference in life before and after you moved here?

My life in Mexico was pretty good. I didn’t come here because I was hungry or unable to make a living there, like so many other people who come risking their lives because there isn’t anything for them there. I had my education, which allowed me to have a good job as a Training and Development manager in a five-star hotel. My then husband was an engineer who worked as a plant manager in the auto industry. Together we made a decent living, but as is usually the case, we wanted more. I wanted international experience, he wanted to learn the language, so we came thinking it would be a temporary experience, just a three-year deal. But they say that if you want to make God laugh, you tell Him your plans –ha! That couldn’t be truer for me. Everything in my life changed. I ended up getting divorced –the pressure of being in a different country, speaking a different language and without the support of any family or friends, proved to be too much for a relatively new, fragile marriage. So yes, my life changed, but for the better. There are several differences. Professionally, I took a 360-degree turn. I have a BS in Business, and also a minor in English as a Second Language teaching. I don’t do any of those things anymore. I found that my real call in life is to serve others who are less privileged than I am. I do this through my bilingual skills and hopefully, in one more year, I’ll be able to do it through my counseling skills. Personally, I now have to joy to have a child. For many years I never really wanted children. I was busy working and improving my self professionally, but now my daughter is my greatest joy. There is nothing like helping (or at least trying to help!) a little person to become a decent human being. And last but not least, I have a husband who is a real partner for life, who is supportive of all my projects and crazy ideas and who makes me laugh. Life is a lot better with him around.
What were your biggest challenges after moving here?

The biggest challenge was definitely at work. I hated the school I was assigned to. I hated the job. I hated the system, the lack of support from the administration (there were no textbooks, I didn’t even have a classroom to call my own!) I even hated the kids! They were rude, disrespectful and uninterested in foreign languages. I came from a system where the teachers were respected. Aside from my work at the hotel, I always taught English for 2 or 3 hours in the afternoon to college or high school students. I had no experience with middle school kids, and they were a royal pain in the …. !
Another challenge was to be here without knowing anybody. We didn’t have any family, any friends, nobody! So that was pretty hard. We both missed our families, friends and coworkers. The familiarity of being in your own country, speaking your own language, eating the food you grew up with, watching your favorite shows on TV, phew, I could go on and on.
How did you adapt to a different culture? Was it easy?

It wasn’t easy, but I think I have adapted pretty well. I consider myself a flexible person. I try to live in the present. What is the point of crying for what you had in the past, or wishing something else in the future? I figured I’m here, so I’m going to try to make the best of the experience. I still miss my family a lot. I don’t think that will ever change. I also miss some of the values of my culture. I think families should be close-knit. I don’t think I have that now, and I think my daughter is growing up without that… I grew up with a close sense of belonging to a big, extended family. I had a bunch of aunts, uncles, cousins that I saw if not every week, at least every other week… people here are really busy with work, and don’t see each other frequently. I love my husband’s family (it’s true Amy, I’m not just being polite), I just wished we saw each other more often and not just socially. Often times I don’t have anybody to watch my child if I need to get together with my classmates to do work, or simply if I want to go on a date with my husband. If I were in Mexico, all I’d have to do is pick up the phone and my two sisters would either come or I could drop her off at their house. If that didn’t work, I’d have several aunts or cousins to help. But then again, many women in Mexico don’t work, so they are always willing to help. Here I’m always hesitant to ask because I know people are tired after working all day and they may not feel like watching a young child.
Another challenge is the food. I’m a health nut if you wish, and it’s hard to keep my daughter away from junk food. Before she started school, I could pretty much decide what she’d eat, and that always included lots of fruits and vegetables, eggs, meats, bread, pasta, etc. She rarely had candy or sweets in general. Now that she is in school, she sees other kids eating the sugary cereals, the salty or extremely sweet snacks, and she obviously wants it. We are trying to teach her healthy habits, but it’s hard if everybody around you is giving their kids a Pepsi and a bag of chips for snack. She feels like the class weirdo because her mom sends a baggie with cheerios or apple wedges for snack. Oh well, she can see a counselor later in life to discuss her crazy mom…. Ha!

IAR 212-Visual Communication

2008-01-16T20:12:00.000-08:00

Roles of Computing in Design Today
There has been a great change in the way we design. Many years ago, drafting and designing were both done by hand. Today, most drafting and designing are done electronically. Computers can do almost all the work for you. From the layout of an obfect or space in 2D form, to photo-like images with renderings, to virtual tours in 3D form. There are programs of all kinds that make designing easier and quicker. Computing also makes designing more accurate. These programs are helpful in engineering, architecture, interior design, etc. AutoCad and SketchUp are the two programs that I am most familiar with and that I prefer to work with. In addition to these, there are other programs that result in similar work that other people prefer. I think in the future computing will be somewhat different, but not a whole lot. Computer systems will be more advanced, faster, and have more options. Though, everytime I think that technology can't go much futher, there is something new and differnt invented. So the future is so unpredictable, there could be a little change or a big change.

Close to Home

2007-11-16T10:39:00.000-08:00

Amy Thompson
IAR 222
Close To Home Analysis
The Close to Home Exhibition was built to celebrate Modernism in Greensboro. Edward Loewenstein is one of the main focuses in this exhibit. His work is a great example of "Modernism on the local landscape." This exhibit also includes photographs, drawings and texts that show local Modernism. Close to Home is a successful exhibition for many reasons. The five reasons that I am going to talk about are: the concept of the installation; the material, light, and color selections that manifest the concept; how the images, texts, and graphics support your understanding of the concept; how different types of media do different kinds of work; and the impact on visitors.
I think the main concept of the installation is the notion of exposing structural systems. Edward Loewenstein believed in an exposing many structural elements. This installation shows all connections and joints, and there are no hidden building materials. In addition to the structural systems exposed, this installation has clean lines, slanted beams and walls, and high ceilings. These are all reflections of Loewenstein’s work. He convinces you that Modernism does not have to be "cold."
The material, light, and color selections successfully manifest the concept. From what I could tell, the main materials that were used in the installation were wood, wire rods, and screws. All of the screws were in plain sight to add to the concept of exposing structural systems. The joints were painted in green to emphasize the structural system. Lighting is focused on the main points of the exhibit. These main points would be the images, texts, and graphics, along with the structural system.
Understanding the concept of the Close to Home exhibit would be more difficult if it was not for all the images, texts, and graphics. First of all, the texts help you understand the background. The text in this exhibit explains what Modernism is and how it is used locally, it also explains who Edward Loewenstein is and what kind of work he is known for. The images give you an idea of the local examples of Modernism. The Close to Home exhibit also includes graphics. There are two computer-generated walk-throughs, similar to SketchUp. This gives you a more realistic view of a Modern building than the texts and graphics.
Different types of media do different types of "work" within the exhibit. The media, data, in other words, includes the images, texts, and graphics. The intent of these different types of media, as I stated before, is to relay information. Out of these three, I think the pictures and graphics are more successful than the texts. The main reason I believe this is probably because I am more of a visual learner. If the exhibit contained only text and no pictures, it would be very boring. Though, if there were only pictures and no text, you probably wouldn’t understand the concept. So all of the different types of are very important in this exhibit.
The Close to Home exhibit impacts the visitors of the three-dimensional human experience as the exhibit components interact with the specific space in which they were installed. From my point of view, this exhibit was very interesting. The installation was amazing and very structurally successful with the concept. This exhibit was also very informational. In conclusion, the Close to Home Exhibition was very helpful to me as far as understand Modernism locally.

Suite Intent and Program

2007-11-15T19:16:00.000-08:00

Initial Intent:
My intent for the suite that I am designing is to make it modern, simple, and comfortable. I am going to use natural light and unnatural light to create an environment that will make the mothers feel at home. All in all, my main concept will be modern meets comfort.

Program:
Each bedroom will include a full size bed, a crib, and a dresser. The living/lounge area will include seating for everyone that lives in that particular building on that particular floor. The kitchenette will include a sink, stove, dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator. Some materials will include our good, bad, and ugly materials. These are recycled glass (the good), Carrara Italian marble (the bad), and shag carpet (the ugly).

iar 222: History and Theory of Design II

2007-10-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

Self Reflection

Essay 1
Most design styles in the 21st century are based off of design styles in previous centuries. This is the major way this course has changed the way I view design as a fundamental practice central to humanity. As I learned in class, design styles went from Greek to Roman to Romanesque to Gothic to Renaissance to Baroque/Rococo to Enlightenment, overlapped with Technology, overlapped with Revival, and then overlapped with Modernism. Each of these styles probably took something from the style(s) before it. For example, Roman Architecture has similar characteristics as Greek Architecture, such as massive columns and curvature.
Essay 2
The Crystal Palace, designed by Joseph Paxton in 1851, is one of the first buildings that we have talked about in class that comes to my mind. This building was built in London, England for the Great Exhibition. The Crystal Palace brought together Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, Renaissance, Buroke, and Chatoesque revivals. This building was made of wrought iron and glass, and was built over existing elm trees. The Crystal Palace links forward to design practices today mainly because most modern buildings are made of glass and iron or steel. Another reason is because well designed buildings today are built to fit the land, not the land to fit the building.
Essay 3
I think creating a new perspective that both embraces the past and that says something about our present circumstances is difficult. Using the same ideas but improving them is one way. Though, this is what we have been doing all along. Taking previous ideas that we can not live without and perfecting them is what has made today’s life easier. For example, the television. It was first designed with few channels that were in black and white and the only way to change the channel was to get up and turn the dial. Today’s television has more channels, is in color, has a remote.
Essay 4
There are definitely connections between design and culture. Artwork of the civil rights era is a good example of showing connections between design and culture. Because of the civil rights, artists started expressing their feelings and their views of what was going on during that time. This was there way of responding to the cultural events that were taking place. They focused on artwork that expressed human rights, discrimination, segregation, and even bring people together. Most of the artwork during this period were by African Americans responding the these experiences.

Materials

2007-10-04T15:29:00.000-07:00

These are examples of our materials and examples of where they can be used: good - recycled glass, bad - carrara Italian marble, and ugly - shag carpet.