Finals!!

Wow, what a ride this first quarter has been! Going from nothing at all to a full school schedule was crazy to get used to. But, I'm happy to say that I have completed my first real quarter of college!


In my Intro to Interior Design class, we had to write a design manifesto, what we believe should be the "rules" of interior design. Getting to class I was nervous because I knew that we all had to read them aloud. The teacher gave us choice of when we wanted to go. The class was small, about 15 people, and there was a laid back atmosphere. Even with the atmosphere and the small amount of people, you could tell everyone was nervous and no one really wanted to go first, or second, or third, but somehow we went down the line of readers. Finally, when about half the class had gone I stood up and volunteered to read next. I walked down the ramp to the front of the classroom, and stood in front of the podium looking at the 4 rows of classmates in front of me. My vision got blurry as I stared down at my paper, but somehow I began to read.   After the first paragraph my voice wavered and I began to skip a line as I read. I corrected myself, laughing, and realized I was turning beet red, or had I already been this whole time? I found myself wishing I wasn't so white so maybe the audience wouldn't be able to see my blush. I read the rest of the way through my manifesto, so nervous I think I forgot to put stress in my voice where I should have. Everyone clapped and I walked back to my seat in front of the teacher, handing him my paper, I plopped down in my seat and realized how much I was shaking. Wow, am I really such a pussy?


Here's my Manifesto, it kinda sucks....:

Design Manifesto

With the discovery of new technologies such as cars, tv, cell phones, and the internet, skills that were considered basic have been lost. These devices have turned the human race into lazy, uncreative, money-driven animals. Instead of using these technologies as a crockpot for our brains, we should use them to our creative advantage. Sewing, what was once a basic skill for most women of the western world, is now becoming a lost art. The skill can be used to bring families together with activity, provide necessary clothing, and can be used within design. 

The general skill of craftsmanship has waned out of popularity in the past 50 years. I believe that craftsmanship is a key ingredient to great design.  There is no greater beauty than that of which created by a human’s hand; handcrafted should be taken for granted no more. When it comes to designing an interior, these handcrafted items should be utilized. For the beauty and quality of the work, as well as the support of our fellow countrymen when sourcing locally. Having the freedom to own your own home means having the freedom to do with it as you please. Every human has their own personality, and every family unit their own collective personality. Therefore, when designing a home, the interior should reflect the personality which the residents emit. Guests and passersby should be able to see a glimpse of your personality when around your home. Do not fill your home with black and white, and primary shapes because it’s what “they” say is right, if you choose to do so, let it be because it is what represents you as a person. Do not buy a $5000 sofa because it was on the cover of a magazine, buy it because you love its design and shape, or don’t because it’s ugly anyway. Do not hesitate to alter something to your liking because nothing mass-produced can cater to everyone’s tastes. And do not hesitate to use your personal creativity to add a one of a kind piece to your own design.

Though it would be impossible to go so far back in the life of craftsmanship to the barter and trade system, in a world where craftsmanship is valued, and creativity is superior to computing numbers and ability to drive a sale, a humbled humanity would survive as a community, rather than as warriors on a one on one battlefield. 

The next two classes were pretty normal finals, just tests on what we'd learned since the last midterm and a little incorporation of the overall learning. I made study guides, and studied until I thought "if I don't know it now, I never will." I even made up little nicknames for the architects I thought I'd forget like for Belluschi , his nickname was "Bless you" because it sounded like a sneeze, and "Ace Ventura" for Venturi because all his works were totally wacky, plus it's an obvious comparison. I'm pretty sure I did good on the finals even though I know I got a few wrong! Oh well, it was the best I could do!!


I think I'll share my two huge projects from architecture with you. My first project was to pick an architect and design a piece of houseware in the essence of them. I chose Charles Rennie Mackintosh, because at that time he was my favorite, and is easily still one of my favorites!  Here are my project boards:

Sorry they're crooked, I ended up having to take the pictures in a rush! But the first is my design, and the second is what the design is based off of (Mackintosh's own work).


Because there are so many newer modern architects were just didn't have enough time in the quarter to cover, our teacher have us a huge list of architects that everyone had to choose from and make a project board highlighting there works from oldest to newest, and their characteristics. We then brought them all to class and got to do a gallery walk looking at everyone's presentations. Pretty cool!
Here's my last project: 

Until next time!