Mind Games

As my family and I made our way through a pretty intense board game tonight, I began not only thinking about answering the questions correctly to win the game but also about life. My grandparents were playing with us, which made me realize how important it is to keep your mind going as you age. If you suddenly stop challenging yourself with new information and discontinue acquiring new knowledge, you lose mental skills as easily as you forget how to ride a bike or swim. Just because your brain works mentally and not physically does not mean you aren’t capable of losing aspects you discontinue to exercise. The halting of the usage of the mind I think really affects an elderly person’s development of diseases. Getting a disease as you age is inevitably since our bodies are deteriorating but, the speed of this development can be decreased, in my opinion, by simply playing a game of sudoku daily or, like we do with our grandparents, play a board game every other night. Even though they are not aware of the help, it does help to keep their minds healthy. Some of the smallest things in life can make the biggest difference such as this concept. Just doing a little bit of mental exercise daily will create vast improvements then doing none. Aside from playing board games, we also ask them to recall information from when they were younger. This is not only fun to listen to but it allows their photographic memory to kick in. I think the reason they are able to still live by themselves is because of their persecverance to keep their minds thinking.

Bumper Sticker

As my mom sister and I were driving across Texas on a road trip, we notice a bumper sticker on the back of a car from a familiar college. Texas Christian University, or TCU, is a college near the area we live in. As we were about to take our eyes off the car, it swerved over to another lane almost hitting another car. The other car immediately tailgated the TCU car and it because obvious to us the two cars were “fighting” as a result of road rage as they continued this pattern for a few miles. None of us could believe this type of behavior. And it shocked us even more that a kid who attends a Christian University would exhibit this type of behavior. I feel like many religious people set outstanding examples for the rest of us, or at least they used to. Some of the values they hold such as their kindness, hospitality, dedication, and etc I admire incredibly. But after the episode above, I was speechless. I don’t know what our world has come to today but I feel like not only religious people but societies values have diminished. Some of the shows presented on television are ridiculous and completely crude. I’ve learned to pretty much stick to the Disney Channel, Discovery Channel, and the History Channel because everything else outrageous me. I feel many channels are highly inappropriate. I find it so difficult these days to find good people who and respectable and have high morals. Or people who really care about others and not just focused on their selves. But then there are those who need to care about their selves such as those who are obese which causes continuous diagnoses of disease. These people I feel like need to care about what they eat, how they get exercise, and etc.

Mind Map

Design, Culture, and Language

In the world of design, culture, and language influencing each other, there are certain definitions of the three terms that are appropriate.  Design would be defined as a piece of work that has thought and purpose bolstering it. Culture would be defined as behavior or belief characteristics that are associated with a society.  And language would be defined as the means in which species in similar geographical communicate and express themselves. The three of these terms are involved in an influence circle with none being stronger than the other.  Design influences culture by producing certain signifiers that people identify as a sign.  They then judge these signs based upon their culture.  This can either enhance certain characteristics of the society or perform the opposite, which effects culture by influencing people’s beliefs or opinions.   After the people have decided their opinion on the product, they express their opinion to others by language.  They communicate their positive or negative thoughts to others whether it spoken, written, or etcetera.  Through language, culture can allow the designers to realize whether the design was a success or failure.  This gained information allows designers to manifest what design leads to increased popularity or declined likeness.  Based on this scrutiny, designers can improve their designs to once again influence culture.  An intersection of the three of these terms is an amusement park.  Designers have planned out the amusement park with very specific details.  People see the ads and decide to enjoy a fun-filled day.  Based on the colors, rides, food, and other important aspects designers have included to appeal to society, people form an opinion on whether or not the like the park.  Whether or not people like it begins to form a general idea of if fun can be associated with the society or not.  After a family friend asks how the park was upon returning, others share their opinions through language and eventually reviews.  These thoughts recycle back to the designers who then improve the amusement park.

Consumerism

These are the kind of ads that almost corrupt our society if that isn't to bold to say.  Every girl who notices this ad immediately has to have this mascara other wise she won't have the long, thick, and big eyelashes, meaning either she won't be popular with the guys or her friends won't approve.  As her attention draws to the face on the ad, those flagrant eyelashes suddenly become necessary. The perfection of the lashes is a must have in order to obtain happiness. But in reality, no one notices the difference the first time you wear the new mascara.  How much of a difference would it have made if you didn't buy the mascara?  What could the money have gone to to actually make a difference in the world?  I think many of us need  to put our individual luxuries aside sometimes and think about either saving the money for our own debt's sake or for someone else's sake.  Something else that will actually make a difference.  There are so many more opportunities that open up if you decide to put the money to another use.  You could strengthen a relationship with a friend, surprise a parent with a nice "thank you" present, or buy an interesting book.  Something to contribute to the world, contribute to someone else.  There are so many possibilities that could benefit someone else along with yourself instead of just satisfying yourself and believing you have the best there is.          

Design Quote

"Whether we like it or not, our legacy as designers is ugly. We're largely responsible for fueling a culture of consumption." -Eric Karjaluoto

The author of the quote is a designer and entrepreneur who is a founding partner of smashLAB, a strategic interactive agency in Canada. He believes in, "...“hardcore” design, in which problem-solving, consistent methodology and accountability are held above styles and trends".  I thought the most interesting fact about him was he began Design Can Change which is an effort to "unite designers to address climate change."  I think this effort he began really ties in with the quote I found on www.quotesondesign.com, a site with many random quotes about design.  Even though this may be considered a negative quote, regardless, this is an incredibly true statement.  It is our reality.  I never really thought how much designers effected society until reading the explanations on how certain characteristics of design cause people to think one way or the other and finding this quote and contemplating the relationship between designers and society and encapsulating it all, designers really have transformed our world into what we have become today.  Designers are the ones reprehensible because of their talent to persuade people through specific details in advertisements.  It has all come down to how they design the advertisements.  Designers carefully manipulate advertisements to convince consumers they must have this new transient product.  Designers know what the consumers want to see and how to design the ad to make the people want it.  They have signs and signifiers down to a science and know how to place them on the ad to attract people.  Because new and improved products keep entering the market, we continuously want these new and improved products to create a never ending circle.  All due to the designs on the ads.   

An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth

The first point Bruce Mao makes that I think would be beneficial to creating a project or future design is #4, love you experiments.  Since design, art, and creating projects are by far some of my not so favorite things to do, discovering something about them that I find intriguing would allow me to love my experiment, or what I'm working on.  Too often, I am filled with revulsion attempting to finish a project related to art, only resulting in an unattractive piece of work.  After reading this excerpt and adding some thought, I believe if I bestow some love and enjoyment into the process of creating a piece, it will result in a much more beautiful work because of the change in energy used to produce the creation.  A second point I think would really help is excerpt #8, drift.  This goes hand-in-hand with thinking outside of the box.  If you keep yourself inside the box, not allowing your mind to drift, you will only be limited to the amount of thoughts, resulting in a very trite piece.  If you allow this extrication and permit a drifting mind, the possibilities are endless and the creation or design will turn out much more interesting.  I often am guilty of not allowing my mind to drift because of the fact I just want to get the assignment done.  The last point Bruce Mao makes that I think would be helpful is #18, stay up late.  I have only been to this point of complete exhaustion a couple times but those couple times, I did produce something very unexpected in an exhilarating and innovative sort of way.  Staying up late to the point where you perceive your mind to be absolutely useless is really a great chance to ponder and imagine things it doesn't when invigorated.  If you're constantly thinking of ideas when you're mind is empowered, what things will it come up with when completely drained?     

Realization

I’ve seen this pictures many times before I chose to write about it but this time I found it on a blog site amongst other random pictures people posted and commented on.  This is definitely a connotative picture because there is no immediate conclusion drawn; one must look into the image deeper and do some critical thinking.  This picture was taken during the September 11 attacks on America.  And during the chaos, the explosions, the terror, this image was somehow captured.  It evokes a soothing, calm, and fearless emotion during this horrific bedlam.  It is amazing how is body is almost parallel to the buildings construction and how he seems to be in such a state of peace even though he is most likely falling to his doom.  And the shadows on one side seem to give a light side and dark side impression on the picture.  The symmetry is also incredible.  I also find it even more of a coincidence the man is dressed in what seems to be a white top and black pants.  But this image is completely misleading.  As the man seems to be in a state of bliss, in reality he is in a state of havoc. But, the photographer did nothing to change our perception, except for maybe zoom into the picture. It is just interesting how a small area of a larger picture can deceive the truth.  This picture reminds me to look at the larger picture, and not just the small things that seem to matter so much. 

Propaganda

I found this picture on AfSD’s myspace account.  It was among a long page of other images and posts relating to the rights and protection of animals and to the abuse of animals and etc.  It is clearly used to support the spaying and neutering of animals in order to stop the overpopulation in humane societies, which leads to the death of many innocent animals.  Because the message is presented straight forward without any hidden meanings or implications, the image is denotative.  Directly under this image was a link to free spaying and neutering clinics, which provides a direct solution to the problem given in the image.  I think revealing a solution to the presented problem is a much more effective way of making a difference in our society.  Since the movement towards improve our environment has taken action, advertisers have done an exceptional job providing answers to society on how to help our current issues.  Being an animal lover, I feel that the issue of over population of domestic dogs and cats leading to their deaths needs to be one that should be receiving more attention.  Based on personal experience and observation, I think the major problem here is pet owners flat out being too lazy to take the time to spay or neuter their cats and dogs.  Either a television show they can’t miss is on, or a social event they must attend, or some other excuse they have instead of taking their pet to a free clinic.  Personal wants and needs have really been denoted as superior compared to little actions that can make a huge difference in the state of our Earth.   

Visual Metaphor

I found this visual metaphor on a photo management site in order for people to share photos of concepts that are important to them.  This image was an assignment where a student created the image in order to promote free energy research.  This is a connotative image because it doesn’t directly show the point but more implies it by cleverly manipulating the picture to spark certain thoughts.  I feel this visual metaphor is intriguing and very accurate where many different conclusions can be imagined. But I think one of the more significant interpretations of this image is how humans are unconsciously lost in a world of technology.  What normally would be natural grounds are being transformed into the latest and greatest "improvements" for man kind.  Mother nature is being killed by humans while we aren't exactly aware of our actions. Even though we still continue to use nature to power what we create in attempt to save or planet, the problem of destroying our planet begins at what we power.  We then use new technology made from nature for our daily lives completely oblivious to the harm and to our massive reliance on man-made products.  What will happen to the Earth and the human race if we convert to complete use of technology removing nature form our lives?  Life would obviously become more convenient than ever but it wouldn't be exactly better.  Considering the amount of increased disease throughout the past few years that correlates with the amount of processed materials, adapting to total processed materials could possibly lead to outrageous amounts of disease and newly developed diseases.  The biggest aspect that will eventually cause some major harm to our society is our lack of attentiveness.  One hint this visual metaphor is cluing at is that this is happening behind our head, we aren't realizing what we're doing to ourselves. And that is what will eventually destroy us.