Treehouse Project

We'll be wrapping up our second project this semester in a few days.  The content was a treehouse design, but the intent of the project is to express an idea through poster design.  Most of the creative field, from graphic design to architecture, will at some point in their career create posters to express their ideas, if not sell them.  Our goal was to use all available means of expression to communicate an idea that has not actually come into existence.  This includes sketching, photography, scale modeling, 3D computer modeling, collage, text, color swatches, texture swatches, and anything else.

After being directed to make some collages of architecture, I found my inspiration in the modernism of Corbusier, Van Der Rohe, and Eames.  I learned Google Sketchup, but not well enough to design a 3 dimensional tree, so I scrapped it for an actual model.  I finally got some good pictures of it, so I figured I'd post some of the images here.

Ladder is hidden, but the white helps with poster design

That's a flat screen TV, maybe 42" in scale?

Wood flooring, and nice colored windows.

Anyone in architecture could blow this model out of the water, but this was literally my first.  Within my class though, I feel like mine is one of the best, though I suppose I'm bias.

I'll throw the poster image up here when it's done.  That's all for now.  Nothing to really show for the first project if you're wondering.  Again, like this project, content wasn't the important part of that project either, it was about the presentation, and powerpoints without a speaker don't exactly play well over the interwebs.

Back to work.

GeorgeP

Apples and Oranges

I've never been an Apple apologist.  I've never owned an Apple personal computer (yeah, they're still PCs if you think about it).  I have owned an iPod classic, and discovered what I feel to be a huge oversight in most of Apple mobile device design.

Since about the 3rd generation iPod, all the iPhones, the iPod touch, and the iPad, Apple has designed to be beautiful, at the expense of durability.  Nearly every iteration of these products are immediately wrapped up in another layer of plastic or silicone.  If 98% of the owners of these products go out and by covers for their shiny new devices, then it seems to me, Apple hasn't finished designing their product.

I'm sure there have been plenty of companies that exist solely based on shielding Apple products.  I imagine they are happy with the status quo.  Well, status quo no longer.  At least for the new iPad.  The iPad 2 finally admits the problem they've been ignoring all along.  They designed their own cover for the iPad, and it is simple and brilliant.

Connects magnetically, allows two angles of resting positions, sleeps when you shut it, awakes when you open it.

Cutesy Video (you have to click for the cover video, it wouldn't link seperately.)

Good job Apple, you've proven me correct once again.

GeorgeP

Instead

I haven't updated in quite some time.  Let me regale you with the activities I've enjoyed in its place (in no particular order).

• wrote 5 page essay
• read 23 essays from classmates and critiqued them
• prepared every meal every day (living cheap)
• scoured home for Birth Certificate
• negotiated a new copy from my birth county for 50 bones
• reorganized home paperwork filing system
• built model tree-house
• started to file taxes
• hosted Valentine's day party
• drew boxes, wagons, boat in proper perspective
• tracked down all tax documents
• learned 2 new drawing mediums; marker and smashing up charcoal and talc into a powder of gray scales
• ran out of money
• learned about the many financial instruments that are now part of my life and taxes
• purchased health insurance through KU
• attended meetings for upcoming Nicaragua trip.
• caught a cold, missed classes
• became expert paint-mixer
• looked for job
• finally gathered all documents and filed taxes so I could apply for FAFSA early enough for Work/Study eligibility
• applied for FAFSA
• played volleyball every Tuesday night
• helped wife apply for residency, which is far and away worse than complicated tax preparation.
• shoveled snow
• rode bike or bus to class every day
• learned Sketch-Up 3D software
• hosted traveling friend
• applied for Passport, which requires working with USPS (a world of fun)
• wrote final presentation for project VI in its entirety (group project)
• researched evolutionary biology for upcoming paper
• saved my dogs life in choking emergency
• researched ID summer internship oppurtunities
• kept a tight schedule
• forgotten to work the blog into that schedule

Ok, well, most of the heavy stuff is off my agenda now, and normal posts will resume.  I'll try and throw some work up, and get a few big ideas every now and again.  That's all for now.