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| Residential Lobby for "The Brewery Building" |
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| Public Promenade Space |
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| Living Space in Residential Unit |
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| Rooftop Park, modeled after the topography of the Mississippi River |
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| Final Banner |
Monday, May 9, 2011
Specialization Studio Project: Residential Building- "The New American Dream"
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
LehcePLAY: An Interactive Children's Theater
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Midterm Video
Here it is guys, the link to the final edit of my video for class that I have been talking about it. Check it out and let me know what you think! You Are What You Eat
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
[THE LIFE CYCLE]: Project Development
As I talked about it one of my earlier posts, I am working on a video for my Media+Communication class this semester. Over the course of the last 7 weeks, I have approached the project from a number of different ways and have seen it change and expand a good bit in the process.
So, as I said before, we are working on creating a video experience that explains our interpretation of an "interface." For mine, I am focusing on what I consider the life cycle: birth (begin), childhood (experience), young adulthood (involve), marriage (engage) and then eventually birth (begin), which restarts the cycle. As you can see from the image attached above, I approached each of our assignments in how they would relate to this cycle and used those to formulate where my video will go. I set this up to read almost like a genetics chart, so you can clearly see the relationships between different categories. I'm going to explain each of the categories as they relate to my interface.
In the first category, [EXPRESS], I attempted to represent graphically with still images the different stages of life as defined by my cycle. At this point, I intended to create a video "scrapbook" showing men at all different ages and stages of life to represent the progression a single human male makes over time. Although there would be different people representing each of the categories, I planned on implementing a type of "willing suspension of disbelief" to make the transitions from one to the next clear.
In my second category, [SIMPLIFY], I was approaching the cycle from a diagrammatic angle. I applied the principles of color theory (red+ blue=purple, red+yellow=orange, or in this case, yellow+blue=green) to show the process of connection and reproduction as well as scale to show the human development in a simplified manner.
It was at this point that we took our first pass at footage for the video. Although I was pleased with the product I came up with, it was brought to my attention that I was trying to do too much in a short amount of time (maximum of 5 minutes) and I would be better off to stop thinking about it in a narrative fashion. Shortly, I will explain how I went about doing that.
In the third category, [REPRESENT], we were charged with creating a "field" of information that could apply to our interface. At this point, I had been struggling with how to remove the narrative from my concept. To do this, I began to focus less on the human in those stages, but more on the designed objects that would go along with each and the difference between them. I started thinking about the changes in how we eat at the different stages of life. From there I developed my field off a compilation of different place setting diagrams. Overlapping the formal and informal to create a informative diagram. I then approached it with the idea that some of those designed objects would be used in certain stages and others would not. That's how I developed the 5 variations on the field.
In the fourth category, [PRODUCE], I started thinking about what foods would be associated with those particular stages and how that could be represented in a way that the stages could be clearly understood. As you can see, I settled on baby food (begin), peanut butter and jelly (experience), ramen noodles (involve), marinara and pasta (engage) and back to baby food (begin.)
With [OBSERVE], I took the original 5 field diagram interpretations and began thinking about the frequencies in which those items would be used over the span of the cycle. That's how I began to develop a third level of depth to the video that started to inform the filming decisions.
In [CONNECT], I began to explore the connections between those objects, and the standard "routes" in which they would be used. Using Rhino, I created a representation of those connections, which starts to create shapes and finds patterns in the chaos of an unpredictable event.
In the last category, [CREATE], I took the idea of the routes and went a step further. By creating connections between these previously unconnected events, a series of interesting forms that replicate the shapes of the shadows that would be created by the repeated actions, almost like a time lapse video.
Moving forward from here, I plan to continue editing the film and specifically playing with the idea of speeding up the video and the shadows created by different lighting processes to create a avant-garde interpretation of the interface. I look forward to sharing "We Are What We Eat" with you soon!
So, as I said before, we are working on creating a video experience that explains our interpretation of an "interface." For mine, I am focusing on what I consider the life cycle: birth (begin), childhood (experience), young adulthood (involve), marriage (engage) and then eventually birth (begin), which restarts the cycle. As you can see from the image attached above, I approached each of our assignments in how they would relate to this cycle and used those to formulate where my video will go. I set this up to read almost like a genetics chart, so you can clearly see the relationships between different categories. I'm going to explain each of the categories as they relate to my interface.
In the first category, [EXPRESS], I attempted to represent graphically with still images the different stages of life as defined by my cycle. At this point, I intended to create a video "scrapbook" showing men at all different ages and stages of life to represent the progression a single human male makes over time. Although there would be different people representing each of the categories, I planned on implementing a type of "willing suspension of disbelief" to make the transitions from one to the next clear.
In my second category, [SIMPLIFY], I was approaching the cycle from a diagrammatic angle. I applied the principles of color theory (red+ blue=purple, red+yellow=orange, or in this case, yellow+blue=green) to show the process of connection and reproduction as well as scale to show the human development in a simplified manner.
It was at this point that we took our first pass at footage for the video. Although I was pleased with the product I came up with, it was brought to my attention that I was trying to do too much in a short amount of time (maximum of 5 minutes) and I would be better off to stop thinking about it in a narrative fashion. Shortly, I will explain how I went about doing that.
In the third category, [REPRESENT], we were charged with creating a "field" of information that could apply to our interface. At this point, I had been struggling with how to remove the narrative from my concept. To do this, I began to focus less on the human in those stages, but more on the designed objects that would go along with each and the difference between them. I started thinking about the changes in how we eat at the different stages of life. From there I developed my field off a compilation of different place setting diagrams. Overlapping the formal and informal to create a informative diagram. I then approached it with the idea that some of those designed objects would be used in certain stages and others would not. That's how I developed the 5 variations on the field.
In the fourth category, [PRODUCE], I started thinking about what foods would be associated with those particular stages and how that could be represented in a way that the stages could be clearly understood. As you can see, I settled on baby food (begin), peanut butter and jelly (experience), ramen noodles (involve), marinara and pasta (engage) and back to baby food (begin.)
With [OBSERVE], I took the original 5 field diagram interpretations and began thinking about the frequencies in which those items would be used over the span of the cycle. That's how I began to develop a third level of depth to the video that started to inform the filming decisions.
In [CONNECT], I began to explore the connections between those objects, and the standard "routes" in which they would be used. Using Rhino, I created a representation of those connections, which starts to create shapes and finds patterns in the chaos of an unpredictable event.
In the last category, [CREATE], I took the idea of the routes and went a step further. By creating connections between these previously unconnected events, a series of interesting forms that replicate the shapes of the shadows that would be created by the repeated actions, almost like a time lapse video.
Moving forward from here, I plan to continue editing the film and specifically playing with the idea of speeding up the video and the shadows created by different lighting processes to create a avant-garde interpretation of the interface. I look forward to sharing "We Are What We Eat" with you soon!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Favorite Inspiration Sites
Here are just a couple of my favorite blogs and websites for getting design ideas. Thought I'd share them with you...
Apartment Therapy
Good Bones, Great Pieces
Decor 8
Budget Designer
and of course...
Etsy
Hope you guys enjoy looking them over as much as I do!
Apartment Therapy
Good Bones, Great Pieces
Decor 8
Budget Designer
and of course...
Etsy
Hope you guys enjoy looking them over as much as I do!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
4 Rules for Making a Crappy Apartment a Home.
So, seems like the last couple of weeks I have been spouting off ideas for how to work with the design in your home to anyone who will listen. I've got friends who just closed on their first "grownup" condo and people who are moving from a studio into a full apartment and a little sister and little sister's friends who are all starting on the exciting adventure of furnishing their first place that doesn't involve dorm bunk beds and those terrible desks that I used to cover with contact paper.
Anyway, point of this story is I thought maybe I would list my "4 Rules for Making a Crappy Two Room (or Studio or Loft or whatever) Apartment a Home." I am by no means an expert on this; I just really like playing with it and to be honest, I like that challenge of having no money and big ideas in terms of style. So whatever your reason for reading, this is just for fun. Well, for fun and for my little sister. So here goes.
1. Color makes everything better. Try to convince your landlord to let you paint the walls, if that won't fly, use the big expanses of fabric, like the sofa, window treatments and even the bedspread (especially in a studio or super small place) to add color and pattern. However, if the place is small, pick the color palette and stick with it throughout. Consistency will keep it from being too much. If you CAN paint think about your choices carefully and don't forget about the old accent wall trick. Not only is it faster to paint, it requires less paint and thus will be cheaper. AND when you are only talking about one wall you can be brave and do something a little bolder than you might want to live with in an entire room! Win. Win. Win.
2. Scourge thrift stores, stalk craigslist, be a repeat offender at your local flea markets and don't be ashamed to pull stuff out of the trash. Always be on the lookout for pieces that can function in more than one way. Table that works as a desk? Awesome. Ability to pull it out from the wall and throw some chairs around it and actually sit down with your new friend from the apartment down the hall for dinner? Even awesomer. And don't forget to refer back to Rule #1. Spray paint can be your best friend when it comes to hiding some of the evils of wear. And just because you are being thrifty doesn't mean you should stop looking at that CB2 catalog where you lust after the items on every page. Just thing of it more as an idea guide than a place to buy things from. And using high-gloss spray paint with an extra coat of lacquer will really give you the look they have on a lot of their items.
3. Frame stuff, hang stuff, make stuff. Pictures, artwork, wallpaper samples, fun fabric, mirrors WHATEVER. Artwork can make or break a place. Sadly, it also tends to be expensive. So create it yourself! You don't have to be a studio artist to do it either. Again, keep it in mind when you are flipping through catalogs and magazines, sometimes scale and a good eye can make up for the lack of technical skills. Also, coming up with a consistent train of thought can help. Like old maps or vintage fashion illustrations? Pick them up for cheap at a flea market and frame them inexpensively in black frames. Grouped together they can become a striking art collection for not a lot of money. For that matter, even a collection of empty vintage frames, if they all have something in common (size, color, style) can make a cool statement.
4. Accessorize. One of the main ingredients to making a place feel homey is in the soft stuff: pillows, throws, rugs and, if you are anything like me, more pillows. Check the remnant bins at your local craft store for fabric you like, usually they are discounted up to 90% and are cut in bundles of anywhere from half a yard to six. Which makes it PERFECT for throw pillows. Not comfortable stitching some up yourself? Look at websites like www.etsy.com for homemade ones that are usually fairly cheap or try the tying trick (check back in a couple of days for video instruction.) Throws can be pricey, but as the owner of two dogs and a short attention span, I buy inexpensive and expect (and enjoy) replacing them every season or two. Gives you a chance to change your look without spending too much! Places like T.J. Max and Marshall's are great for that if you have the time to check them semi-regularly. Now rugs are a tough one because due to their size, they are almost always out of the budget. I have found craiglist to be a great place to look for that, especially if you are looking for something big and neutral. Some carpet distributors sell their remnants and will even bind them for you. I have a friend that found one of ebay and it seems to have been a great deal for her, but having not ever done that myself I can't really give any other advice on it. One of my favorite companies, for style, ideas and their dedication to green design, is FLOR. They sell carpet tiles (approximately 20"x20") and you can mix and match patterns and colors to create your own design. They aren't the cheapest thing out there, but what's cool about that company is that you could start off by purchasing what you can afford (maybe enough for a small rug) and then later buy a few more to make it a little bigger and then a few more till you have it your ideal size! And since they are held together with round sticker dots, if you want to reconfigure it to fit in a different room or a different apartment you can with no problems! Hooray! Check out their website (www.flor.com) for ideas and to play with the "design your own rug" option when you get a chance!
So, there they are. There are many, many more "rules" to use and I'll keep adding them as I think of them. I know they seem very simple, and well, they are. That's the best part! These are things that everyone, and anyone, can do. Even my little sister.
Anyway, point of this story is I thought maybe I would list my "4 Rules for Making a Crappy Two Room (or Studio or Loft or whatever) Apartment a Home." I am by no means an expert on this; I just really like playing with it and to be honest, I like that challenge of having no money and big ideas in terms of style. So whatever your reason for reading, this is just for fun. Well, for fun and for my little sister. So here goes.
1. Color makes everything better. Try to convince your landlord to let you paint the walls, if that won't fly, use the big expanses of fabric, like the sofa, window treatments and even the bedspread (especially in a studio or super small place) to add color and pattern. However, if the place is small, pick the color palette and stick with it throughout. Consistency will keep it from being too much. If you CAN paint think about your choices carefully and don't forget about the old accent wall trick. Not only is it faster to paint, it requires less paint and thus will be cheaper. AND when you are only talking about one wall you can be brave and do something a little bolder than you might want to live with in an entire room! Win. Win. Win.
2. Scourge thrift stores, stalk craigslist, be a repeat offender at your local flea markets and don't be ashamed to pull stuff out of the trash. Always be on the lookout for pieces that can function in more than one way. Table that works as a desk? Awesome. Ability to pull it out from the wall and throw some chairs around it and actually sit down with your new friend from the apartment down the hall for dinner? Even awesomer. And don't forget to refer back to Rule #1. Spray paint can be your best friend when it comes to hiding some of the evils of wear. And just because you are being thrifty doesn't mean you should stop looking at that CB2 catalog where you lust after the items on every page. Just thing of it more as an idea guide than a place to buy things from. And using high-gloss spray paint with an extra coat of lacquer will really give you the look they have on a lot of their items.
3. Frame stuff, hang stuff, make stuff. Pictures, artwork, wallpaper samples, fun fabric, mirrors WHATEVER. Artwork can make or break a place. Sadly, it also tends to be expensive. So create it yourself! You don't have to be a studio artist to do it either. Again, keep it in mind when you are flipping through catalogs and magazines, sometimes scale and a good eye can make up for the lack of technical skills. Also, coming up with a consistent train of thought can help. Like old maps or vintage fashion illustrations? Pick them up for cheap at a flea market and frame them inexpensively in black frames. Grouped together they can become a striking art collection for not a lot of money. For that matter, even a collection of empty vintage frames, if they all have something in common (size, color, style) can make a cool statement.
4. Accessorize. One of the main ingredients to making a place feel homey is in the soft stuff: pillows, throws, rugs and, if you are anything like me, more pillows. Check the remnant bins at your local craft store for fabric you like, usually they are discounted up to 90% and are cut in bundles of anywhere from half a yard to six. Which makes it PERFECT for throw pillows. Not comfortable stitching some up yourself? Look at websites like www.etsy.com for homemade ones that are usually fairly cheap or try the tying trick (check back in a couple of days for video instruction.) Throws can be pricey, but as the owner of two dogs and a short attention span, I buy inexpensive and expect (and enjoy) replacing them every season or two. Gives you a chance to change your look without spending too much! Places like T.J. Max and Marshall's are great for that if you have the time to check them semi-regularly. Now rugs are a tough one because due to their size, they are almost always out of the budget. I have found craiglist to be a great place to look for that, especially if you are looking for something big and neutral. Some carpet distributors sell their remnants and will even bind them for you. I have a friend that found one of ebay and it seems to have been a great deal for her, but having not ever done that myself I can't really give any other advice on it. One of my favorite companies, for style, ideas and their dedication to green design, is FLOR. They sell carpet tiles (approximately 20"x20") and you can mix and match patterns and colors to create your own design. They aren't the cheapest thing out there, but what's cool about that company is that you could start off by purchasing what you can afford (maybe enough for a small rug) and then later buy a few more to make it a little bigger and then a few more till you have it your ideal size! And since they are held together with round sticker dots, if you want to reconfigure it to fit in a different room or a different apartment you can with no problems! Hooray! Check out their website (www.flor.com) for ideas and to play with the "design your own rug" option when you get a chance!
So, there they are. There are many, many more "rules" to use and I'll keep adding them as I think of them. I know they seem very simple, and well, they are. That's the best part! These are things that everyone, and anyone, can do. Even my little sister.
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