What is Good Design?

Process Design Think and Make Fall 2014

What is Good Design?

Veronica Villhard

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS

Poster Progression Researh paper on Fernando & Humberto Campana w Description of the Project: What was Assigned? .....................................1

Response to “Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect and the Painter”..........2,3 Response to Reading #1.......................................................................4 Response to “3 Ways Good Design Makes You Happy”............................5 Response to the Grid Lecture................................................................6 Reflection on Color Lecture...................................................................9 Color Theory: Harmony........................................................................10 Color Theory: Contrast........................................................................11 Color Theory: Unity.............................................................................12,13 Color Police.......................................................................................14,15 My Top Three ....................................................................................16 Fernando and Humberto Campana.......................................................17 Poster Progression

Preliminary ...............................................................................18

Initial Revision...........................................................................19

Final Poster...............................................................................20

Summary ..........................................................................................21 Bibliography.......................................................................................23

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WHAT WAS ASSIGNED?

In this project, I was to choose a designer of any sort (i.e. industrial, interior, architecture, furniture, etc.), research their work and history, write a short research report, and create a poster which showcased their style and work with the use of good design (i.e. color theory, asymmetry, hierarchy etc.).

I chose the Campana brothers, Fernando and Humberto: A pair of quirky furniture designers from Brazil.

Throughout the month of learning about these designers and creating a poster around them, we also learned about different design firms, the many uses and definitions of design, color theory, and the main principles of design.

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“CHARLES & RAY EAMES: THE ARCHITECT FERNANDO & HUMBERTO CAMPANA AND THE PAINTER”

Brazilian brothers, Fernando and Humberto Campana grew up exploring their creative outlets, barefooted in the country side, building tree houses and rock pools. At a young age they developed a respect for the earth which factored into how and what they designed in their future career and collaboration. Although they differ in age by eight years, they finish each other’s sentences in the same way they complete and complement each other’s creative thoughts. Their distinctly 21st century creative process birthed universal yet individual, reinvented works to the modern world in a sophisticated, quirky manner.

The Campana brothers were inspired by Brazilian street life and flamboyant carnival culture. The vibrant personalities and colors from the street vendors kiosks, overflowing with teddy bears, and multicultural crowds, ranging from African to European to Brazil’s own indigenous people, inspired them to create works which communicated universal ideas in a unique, sophisti When Charles Zines and Ray Caiser first met, they did not know they cated fashion. In 1983, the brothers devoted their time to designing furniture, would someday end up married and co-creators of one of the most influential together. An artistic/design revolution was taking the creative world by storm: offices of their time. The Eames Office was the Google of its time. Located on environmental conscientiousness. Fernando and Humberto applied recycling 901 Washington Boulevard in Venice Beach, California, Eames was a place in odds and ends to the majority of their projects, specifically their Sushi line. which all forms of design connected. The office began with the idea of deUnused textile scraps from the multicultural districts of Brazil were used to cresigning an affordable, well-molded chair. ate handmade, vibrant furniture pieces.

The full on process of designing this chair was not put into full swing

Fernando and Humberto’s designs can be labeled as “post-nature” until Charles divorced his wife Catherine, married Ray, and jumped into reand art nouveau with their use of unconventional, yet ecological, materials search for the perfect chair mold and design. There was a shortage of maand optimistic whit. “Creation is about pleasure – even though there is lots of terials for a few years so the chair was put on hold until 1946, when it hit the darkness. You need to go inside yourself to bring out what is new for your soul market. The chair was a huge success and the Eames office became the goand for your emotion.” Humberto Campana to designer for modern-American furniture. Their slogan was “Something new for a new society.” In the process of stardom, Charles started to receive all of the credit for the chair, causing tension in the office. As time went on, the office simmered down and projects, more than just furniture, were requested of Eames by IBM, the President of America, Poloroid, and many more.

The office had a solid run for 25+ years. Ray was the painter, always behind the scenes, and Charles was the idea man. While their marriage was a mystery to everyone around them, their union paved the way for innovation in the modern world.

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REFLECTION ON EAMES

Looking back on the documentary, I feel and realize a multitude of things. For one, just because you are a good designer, that does not mean you are a good person. Take Charles, for example; He marries a lady and then falls in love with another so he drops the wife for the girl‌ then he does it again! (Unsuccessfully) The man could not be happy with what good he had.

Second, there is a lot of thought and research and experimentation that goes into designing something well! The Eames office had some one thousand or more people come of all shapes and sizes to be tested and measured to ensure that all people of all types could fit in their chair. Finally, I never knew about the Eames office until we watched that film and I feel much more prepared and excited for my career in the design field. I feel like I have a better understanding of where the process of design begins.

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RESPONSE TO READINGCAMPANA #1 FERNANDO & HUMBERTO

Brazilian brothers, Fernando and Humberto Campana grew up exploring their creative outlets, barefooted in the country side, building tree houses and rock pools. At a young age they developed a respect for the earth which factored into how and what they designed in their future career and collaboration. Although they differ in age by eight years, they finish each other’s sentences in the same way they complete and complement each other’s creative thoughts. Their distinctly 21st century creative process birthed universal yet individual, reinvented works to the modern world in a sophisticated, quirky manner.

The Campana brothers were inspired by Brazilian street life and flamboyant carnival culture. The vibrant personalities and colors from the street vendors kiosks, overflowing with teddy bears, and multicultural crowds, ranging from African to European to Brazil’s own indigenous people, inspired them to create works which communicated universal ideas in a unique, sophisticated fashion. In 1983, the brothers devoted their time to designing furniture, together. An artistic/design revolution was taking the creative world by storm:

As highlighted in the readings from “By Design,” “Toothpicks environmental conscientiousness. Fernando and Humberto applied recycling and Logos; Design in Everyday Life,” and “Understanding Design,” odds and ends to the majority of their projects, specifically their Sushi line. design has no one medium. Anything from an object to a congregation Unused textile scraps from the multicultural districts of Brazil were used to creof people can be and is designed. While reading excerpts from these ate handmade, vibrant furniture pieces. design books, I kept thinking back to when I answered the question,

Fernando and Humberto’s designs can be labeled as “post-nature” “What is Design?” for admission to the design school of KU. One idea and art nouveau with their use of unconventional, yet ecological, materials mentioned in “Toothpicks and Logos” was that design is the most and optimistic whit. “Creation is about pleasure – even though there is lots of distinctive characteristic of humanity. I remember getting at the same darkness. You need to go inside yourself to bring out what is new for your soul point when answering my application question. Everything in our lives and for your emotion.” Humberto Campana is designed and has been ever since human intelligence. Design is what enables us to distinguish civilization from nature. It is how we learn, interact, and express ourselves in society and it is at the very core of everything we do.

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“3 WAYS GOOD DESIGN MAKES YOU HAPPY” NOTES February 2003 What is beauty about?

Make things neat and fun!

Beautiful, Functional, Reflective It’s all about fun Intense fear paralyzes you – affects the way the brain works Fear and Anxiety creates productivity – focus!

Sugar gets creativity flowing - get all sorts of weird neat ideas!

But to get work done, you have got to set a deadline We have adapted to like bright colors We like symmetrical (In the face, etc.)

VISCERAL(looks nice) • Is it pretty?

• D islike scolding voices • S ubconscious • Type fonts • H ow color affects peeps BEHAVIORAL (works well) • S ubconscious • Feeling in control • U sability • Functionality • E motion • C ommunicates • I nterpretation REFLECTIVE (the image/idea) • Looks over what is going on • T hat’s good, that’s bad • Stream of consciousness • Capturing attention • I mage

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FERNANDO THE GRID& HUMBERTO CAMPANA

Brazilian brothers, Fernando and Humberto Campana grew up explor Human’s quest for order ing theirGridcreative outlets, barefooted in the country side, building tree houses structural force behind your design and rock a young they developed respect for the earth which pools.

• At Give order,age structure, and claritya to your design factored and what designedand in their future career and collabora into how • Made up ofthey 6 columns 4 rows tion. Although differ indivision age by eight years, they finish each other’s sen •theyCreates tences in the •same way they complete and complement each other’s creative “Flexible strategy” thoughts. creative process birthed universal yet Their • distinctly Interact 21st rathercentury than conflict individual, worksthe to difference the modern world inDominant a sophisticated, quirky reinvented • Defining between and Subcontinent manner.Swiss Designers

The Campana were inspired by Brazilian street life and flam • Maxbrothers Bill boyant carnival The vibrant personalities and colors from the street • culture.

Josef Muller-Brockmann vendors kiosks, • overflowing Emil Ruder with teddy bears, and multicultural crowds, ranging from African European to Brazil’s own indigenous people, inspired them • toKarl Gerstner to create works which universal ideas in a unique, sophistiAnatomy of the communicated Grid cated fashion.

1983,lines the brothers devoted their time to designing furniture,

• In Flow together. was taking the creative world by storm: An artistic/design • Horizontal revolution lines environmental Fernando and Humberto applied recycling

•conscientiousness.

Columns odds and the majority ends • toGrid modulesof their projects, specifically their Sushi line.

UnusedBRING textile ORDER scraps from multicultural of (and Brazildesigns were used to creAND the STRUCTURE TOdistricts POSTER in general) ate handmade, • vibrant Controlfurniture pieces.

Fernando Humberto’s designs can be labeled as “post-nature” • and Organize and art nouveau with their use of unconventional, yet ecological, materials • Rhythm and optimistic whit. “Creation is about pleasure – even though there is lots of Hierarchy darkness. needdo to you go inside yourself to bring out 3rd, whatetc? is new for your soul YouWhat want them to look at 2nd, and for your emotion.”

• Style, Humberto font style, Campana contrast, ETC

• • • •

W hite Space Try not to over design “lungs of good design” KEEP LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER WHITE FOR RESTING EYES • A symmetrical • T he rule of odds The grid is your friend.

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COLOR THEORY REFLECTION

In the lecture hosted by Tom Wong and Ann Hossler, all things “Color Theory� were explained; From ideas as simple as the color wheel and contrasting and complimentary colors, to things as foreign as additive color mixing and chroma. It was a very helpful class that acted as a gateway into our next project in which we searched for examples of color theory. That project will be featured in the ensuing pages.

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COLOR THEORY: HARMONY In this t-shirt display, yellow and green varieties of t-shirts were assorted together to create harmony and catch the eye, as yellow and green are next to each other on the color wheel.

The artist used red and orange (next to eachother on the color wheel) in this artwork, creating unity and flow in this print.

All of the colors on this album art are intense and bright, thus having a harmonious, strong chroma.

This album art is bright and busy with a strong chroma, finding unity and harmony in the relating intensities.

This album art uses overall light, natural values, suggesting a simple and earthy musical tone.

This album art uses all light and bright values, suggesting the upbeat tone of the music inside.

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COLOR THEORY: CONTRAST These toy rockets are designed with contrasting hues blue and red. It is in the color’s juxtaposition that fun is found.

This artist uses colors from opposite sides of the color wheel. The man in the painting is colored in contrasting colors from the background.

The deep blue edges of the album art fade into the light blue center and then into a contrasting orange, incorporating light and dark values in the ablbum art.

The dark and light greens used for the mountainous background of this album art create the effect of a three-dimensional mountain range. It is the use of value which created this illusion.

The bright blue in this image pops in comparison to the neutral, gray tones surrounding it.

The bright red compared to the grayed red of the dancers creates contrast in this album art.

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COLOR THEORY:

In this print, values of the same blue were used, creating unity throughout the print.

By only using varieties of blue and yellow on this card, a unity is created due to the limited color scheme. These colors are also tpically associated with the sea and costal areas, thus setting a mood appropriate for the subject matter.

The intense red hue throughout this album art creates a hot and intense expression, fitting the subject matter.

The hues of these photos are controlled and create color symbolism of tranquility verses intensity.

This album cover has an overall warm and harmonious pallette due to the orange hue added to each color in the design.

By adding blue to each color on this album cover, there is a harmonious effect on the tempterature of the design, suggesting a calm and tranquil soundtrack.

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UNITY This painting uses many colors but because of the softened chroma, it is easier to look at and navigate the painting.

This light pink album cover has a softened chroma which does not grab too much attention and allows for more fluid motion through the album art.

This album art uses neutral colors throughout, creating balance and transition as well as a rather unremarkable album cover.

By adding a pale hue to each color on this album cover, there is a harmonious effect on the temperature of the design, suggesting a calm and neutral sountrack.

The art on this album transitions from purple to green to yellow to blue in a way which utilizes fading into each color in order to avoid visual leaps.

This album art transitions from red into the orange glow of the BeeGee’s hair and thn all the way through the title of the album.

The transition of color creates a path for the eye to follow up to the title of the album.

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COLOR POLICE: GOOD

This Batman movie poster is a good example of proper color usage. It uses dark values with a pop of contrasting hue and value of the burning batman sign against the dark, blue building.

Also, contrasting chroma helps differenciate Batman from the background, even though they are similar colors.

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COLOR POLICE: BAD

This bedroom setup is an example of poor color usage. The cops were called imediately at the sight of this mess. A few things wrong with the room would include the over use of the same hue of teal, the miss-matched carpet, and poor choice in darker hues such as both brown and black.

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MY TOP THREE

Louis Comfort Tiffany

William Morris

Fernando and Humberto Campana

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FERNANDO & HUMBERTO CAMPANA Brazilian brothers, Fernando and Humberto Campana grew up exploring their creative outlets, barefooted in the country side, building tree houses and rock pools. At a young age they developed a respect for the earth which factored into how and what they designed in their future career and collaboration.

Although they differ in age by eight years, they finish each other’s sentences in the same way they complete and complement each other’s creative thoughts.

Their distinctly 21st century creative process birthed universal yet individual, reinvented works to the modern world in a sophisticated, quirky manner.

The Campana brothers were inspired by Brazilian street life and flamboyant carnival culture. The vibrant personalities and colors from the street vendors kiosks, overflowing with teddy bears, and multicultural crowds, ranging from African to European to Brazil’s own indigenous people, inspired them to create works which communicated universal ideas in a unique, sophisticated fashion. In 1983, the brothers devoted their time to designing furniture, together. An artistic/ design revolution was taking the creative world by storm: environmental conscientiousness. Fernando and Humberto applied recycling odds and ends to the majority of their projects, specifically their Sushi line.

Unused textile scraps from the multicultural districts of Brazil were used to create handmade, vibrant furniture pieces.

Fernando and Humberto’s designs can be labeled as “post-nature” and art nouveau with their use of unconventional, yet ecological, materials and optimistic whit. “Creation is about pleasure – even though there is lots of darkness. You need to go inside yourself to bring out what is new for your soul and for your emotion.” Humberto Campana

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POSTER PROGRESSION: PRELIMINARY I began by trying to capture as much of the Campana brothers’ quirky and upcycle style through multiple pictures of their designed furniture and using one of their patterns as the background for the text.

I edited my design by making it more asymetrical and by making a logo with the brothers’ names. I chose the pictures I did based on their resolution and color relationships.

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POSTER PROGRESSION: INITIAL REVISION

&!

After critiquing with the class, it was decided that the patterened text would stay, and an “&” would be added in some way to the title so that the brothers’ names could be better differenciated.

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IN SUMMARY

Through this project, I learned (in more detail than I had previously known) the multiple rules of color theory and usage, good design tactics such as hierarchy, asymmetry, rule of odds, and spacing, and how to use InDesign through trial and error. In my poster, I used hierarchy in the title with the last name of the brothers being the largest font and their names surrounding it, considerably smaller. I chose a red and green chair because of their contrasting colors. I also chose a yellow-gold chair to compliment the gold in the couch at the top of the poster, thus drawing the top and bottom together. The rule of odds also played into why I used three chairs instead of 2 or 4. The most difficult task I ran into was forcing myself to learn InDesign and also adhering the poster to a poster board without causing wrinkling. Luckily, I figured out the gist of how to work InDesign and I learned never to use double-sided tape over adhesive spray. Honestly, one major idea of design that really changed for me was using asymmetry instead of symmetry. I used to think it was the other way around, but I am learning to like it a little uneven.

The ripples on the poster when I used a double-sided tape.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Campana, Humberto, and Fernando Campana. The Campana Brothers: Complete Works (so Far). New York: Rizzoli, 2010. Print.

Wiethoff, Alexander. “Interaction Design.” LMU München. Medieninformatik, 2014. Web. 16 Sept. 2014.

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