Deep in the Woods

The University of Oregon has a reputation for outlandish design, I think a couple years back the football team had ten different variations of their on-field jersey, some hits, some misses. Jerseys are one thing, they're worn for a few hours then placed back into circulation until they need to be worn next, maybe never worn again at all. Their basketball jerseys aren't nearly as loud as their football counterparts, but that may be because the basketball court itself may take the shine away from the jerseys.

The new basketball court design is unlike anything ever witnessed before. Traditionalists may not like this new rendition but those from the pacific northwest will. The new court design emphasizes the lush forests of the region, as well as paying homage to Oregon's lone 1939 championship basketball team, back then nicknamed "The Tall Firs".

Oregon fans and players will revel in the addition of this court as their now iconic home turf while opposing teams and players may find new reasons to fear this team, especially with this elaborate flooring. The tagline "Deep in the Woods" rests underneath the school's main athletic logo while the tall firs crowd the outer perimeter of the entire court, only making space for the center of the court, where the main logo is most legible.

The colors of Oregon are green and gold, yet the color pallet chosen for the floor's design do not resemble any familiar hues of any of the school's sports teams, rather the floor resembles the region which the school is situated. The originality of this design is straight awe-inspiring. However, only time will tell if Oregon basketball will reign supreme amongst the nation, because their arena floor definitely will.

Kinetic Typography

The concept of kinetic typography is unique. Imagine a monologue from your favorite movie. Remove the visuals but keep the audio. Insert type where the visuals once were, moving and shifting across the screen. This coming together of motion graphics and type is known as kinetic typography, a phenomenon which I have only recently discovered yet cannot get enough of.

The ability to manipulate font and text eludes to an entirely new way to view scenes, speeches, and even music videos. I've easily viewed dozens of these creations, all disparate. Each video puts a completely different spin on an overly-watched scene, for example from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" below.

I love working with type. I can spend hours in Adobe Illustrator meticulously choosing fonts and arranging letters until satisfied. Kinetic Typography allows these creations to come to life. I have yet to produce one of these videos but will soon try since I know of many monologues where kinetic typography will only enhance an otherwise immaculate scene.

These concoctions are fun to watch. To see the type dance around the screen is unlike anything else. Type isn't the only ingredient in these videos, however. Images can be placed at certain points during the speech for emphasis or to just switch things up a bit. Whatever the case may be, I highly recommend checking out your favorite feature film monologues on youtube by typing in the movie title followed by "kinetic typography". Chances are that somebody, somewhere, has done it.

Gillette Fusion

What induces brand loyalty? Does the reputation of a product coincide with its design and functionality? Consumers need that which serves a purpose, and they want what they necessarily do not need, for leisure, for instance. Some companies urge to focus on one of these aspects yet the successful ones focus on both, achieving loyalty from consumers just by doing their job. By creating an immaculate product where form and function adhere to one another, brand loyalty is automatic.

The Gillette Fusion razor is a product where my loyalty rests. I started shaving some years ago and didn't really have a preference in a specific brand, just as long as it got the job done. I would sift through the disposables and even use my older brother's without his knowledge. I watched a commercial of the Gillette Fusion a while back and figured I need to make an upgrade, and possibly have a razor I can call my own.

The chrome finish with vivid royal blue rubber grips placed conveniently along the handle allow for increased comfort compared to the plastic disposables. Orange accents also highlight the brand's color scheme on the object, utilizing the blue's compliment. The blue grips are soft and enable my fingers to rest along the handle with comfort. Also, the weight of the razor adds to the durability which it promises. I've had the same razor for years, of course switching out the blades when needed with a conveniently placed 'release' button which releases the blades from the handle, literally popping the blades off the handle and into the trash bin.

This razor has been a great investment and proved the statement, 'you get what you pay for'. The Gillette company designed this product with the consumer in mind, with me in mind; and it's very much appreciated.

Objectified

Design is everywhere regardless if we're aware or not. Every individual object we use in our life goes through an intense process to evolve from idea to the eventual actualization. This is what designers strive for and ultimately why they become designers in the first place. In this case, from the film Objectified, the design process for numerous objects in the world is glorified and made apparent to the audience. Instead of taking a look at the finished project which we're all familiar with and accustomed to using, the film instead goes behind the scenes and discusses in detail why designers take the route they do in creating these popular objects.

A prevalent concept I noticed while watching this film was the heavy reliance on the user/consumer which assists in steering the design in the appropriate direction towards mass production. A design will not be finalized until unanimity is attained from the people involved in the design and an overall consensus is reached among users of the eventual product. A example was the grip for the peeler. The design team responsible sifted through countless prototypes until one was found by accident, in which a bicycle grip created the inspiration for their ideal design.

While watching, another striking concept came to mind. There were several scenes in which machines were crafting the objects into their desired form, shape, etc. Now don't those machines which create the product have to be designed themselves? I mean, these machines are designed to make other designs come to life. It's almost astonishing how these mechanical building blocks are overlooked in the design process and don't recall this process being discussed in great detail.

This film allowed the viewer into the heads of the designers; to witness what made them tick. Whether our future fields are industrial design, graphic design, fashion design and so on and so forth, Objectified enabled us, as potential designers, to discover what awaits after graduation.

Bigger is better?

Misplacing a television remote control can arguably be the most frustrating occurrence in one's life. Traffic can be pretty bad, as well as a person's favorite sports team missing the playoffs for twenty consecutive years, but losing a television remote might top the list. This little device sneaks into the tightest of crevices, the darkest reaches of the household, and even the bathroom for an occasional vacation to escape the mediocrity of the living room. There is now a solution to this global phenomenon to hopefully bolster its acceptance into the living rooms of families worldwide.

The Sentry RMC10 Really Big Universal Remote is the answer. This colossal device is ideal for those who avidly misplace important items or those who live in Texas. Anyways, this remote encompasses large, easy-to-read buttons with a simple design to ensure that the owner is able to place this remote throughout the house without having to worry about where it can possibly be hiding.

This device adds the allure of a novelty item as well, contributing with it's outlandish size compared to the basic size of a remote one would receive with the purchase of a new television set. I've had a chance to hold this mammoth remote in both hands. There is no possible way an individual can use every button of this remote with just one hand, it definitely requires two in order to utilize its full potential.

This item is also ideal for the elderly. This remote is an example where form and function coincide with each other, allowing those with troubling sight to navigate the remote with little hassle. This remote, as basic a design and concept as it is, revolutionizes the genre of remote controls, placing it into a category all by its lonesome; a category of greatness.

Compare/Contrast

The Golden State Warriors of the NBA have fallen on tough times the last few years. They've exhibited promise with a helpful slew of rookies and young talent mixed with seasoned veterans, however finding that recipe for success has been nowhere near their kitchen. The Warriors earned a postseason berth as recent as 2007 but that has been the lone bright spot for well over a decade. A change is needed to spruce things up, maybe steer this bewildered franchise in the right direction.

Altering the look of a major sports franchise isn't an easy task and takes tremendous cooperation. The Tampa Bay Rays of the MLB changed their appearance and made it to the World Series a couple years later. The Golden State Warriors are hoping for a similar story by changing their logo and color scheme for the upcoming 2010-2011 season.

The new logo emphasizes simplicity. A bold two color scheme with the royal blue and yellow compared to the several shades of blue from the old design, including the gradient of orange/yellow within the 'Warriors' text. The bridge in the new design isn't that of the infamous Golden Gate Bridge, but that of the Bay Bridge which connects the cities of Oakland and San Francisco. Why the Bay Bridge instead of one known worldwide? The Warriors relocated from Philadelphia to San Francisco in 1962. In 1971, the team played their home games in Oakland, where they still reside today, hence the addition of the Bay Bridge into the new, revamped logo.

The Warriors have also reverted from the lightning bolt design and nixed their mascot 'Thunder' due to another team relocating and changing their name to the Thunder, now in Oklahoma City. The new design is lacking any affiliation with basketball, however. The old logo included a basketball as the background of the image to group the logo together and center the mascot and name. There are alternatives to the new logo though which do include the white seams of a basketball that will be used on occasion. This move to simplicity is hopefully the right direction for this sinking ship of a franchise, only time will tell.

Design is Conversation

Nobody likes obstacles. Especially if someone is in a hurry to get somewhere, an obstacle only impedes their progress. How about walls? They evoke the same feeling, right? The Berlin Wall separated a nation for quite some time until torn down by the masses. Aren't barriers in the same category as obstacles and walls? I can't speak for everybody on this topic but am almost certain that nobody appreciates these three unless purposefully in the search for adversity. Barriers are tough, especially when communicating between distant populations. Design assists in breaking down this barrier once and for all.

Successfully mastering a completely different language is arguably one of the most difficult feats to accomplish. I attempted learning spanish some years ago while in school but to avail. I can only imagine how difficult navigating another nation's city must be regardless of the locale. However, with the use of iconography, this once treacherous task is now made easier. The use of icons can be found in any major city and civilization across the globe.

Some of the most common icons used in most metropolitan areas are the airplane for an airport, an 'H' or an equidistant cross for a hospital, and a boat anchor for a dock or a port. These assist the average traveller in navigating oneself through the blockade of the language barrier. Even so, icons aren't just used for foreigners. Posted up on the sides of every highway in America and perhaps throughout the world, are more universal icons which can guide travelers to useful locations. Some examples of these icons are a gas pump for a gas station, basic kitchen utensils for dining, and a bed for hospitality.

Now these icons aren't extravagant designs. They are in their most basic and simplified form in order to catch the eye of the viewer in short notice and allow the viewer to recognize what the icon represents right away. These icons allow communication between distinct cultures without the urge or necessity to utter a single word. Instead, a simple road sign works just fluently.