Strength

assignment: compose a 200 word essay on your strengths as a designer.

Right now I honestly don't know what makes me a good designer, I'm still trying to figure that out.

I do know what I love though, and I know what I love to do. I love making something from nothing and completely putting myself in everything I create. With all of my projects people always try to give me their insight and tell me what they think I should do to make something better. Most of the time I don't listen. If it's a really good idea then I'll make adjustments were I find it necessary, but generally I stick with my own thoughts. I find that when you start paying attention to what others say and make changes to appease them you loose yourself in the process. By doing so you also loose confidence in what you do, and you can't defend what yours because it isn't yours anymore. Obviously when working with a client I know that you put their needs above yours, but loosing who you are at any point along the way would be the biggest regret. I always try to stay true to who I am. I may get a tad bit defensive when it comes to my work, but these are my dreams put onto paper. How could you not defend something that’s apart of you?

my first studio project ever... design a place for a leaf.

Purple Trees

I've lived in the Greensboro - Winston area for the last three years and have driven down I-40 countless times. However, I have no memory of ever seeing brilliantly spectacular purple trees along the interstate in the middle of spring. On my journey home the other day, I just had to take a few snap shots of the beauty of spring. The pop of color amongst all the green is absolutely wonderful. I have no idea why the purple trees decided to come this year, but I hope the stay for a while longer!!

Oh! Olaf

A while back my roommate / soul sister / soulmate introduced me to an artist named...

Olaf Hajek

... she showed me a few of his paintings and I absolutely died. I had to see more, so I decided to look him up and find a website that displayed all of his beautiful work. Luckily I stumbled across his home page and this is what I discovered...

"tree"

This painting fascinates me every time I look at it.

It's so simple yet elaborate at the same time.

"last"

What do you do when you have the weight

of the world on your shoulders?

"natura morte"

One life gives way to many.

"paradise 1"

I love the play on Botticelli's Venus and

painting men in women's clothing

"paradise 2"

"flower heads"

I love the link to Marie Antoinette, with the outrageous

hair piece, in the right image.

"cover for du magazin"

"portrait of chopin for a cd cover for universal music"

"october : invitation-card for Paris Fashion Week :

talbot und runhof"

Unity Village . Phase 3 . Residential Design .

inspiration ideas / beginning thoughts

phase three of Unity Village is to design a two bedroom residential apartment for randomly assigned clients. our designs must be inspired by the previous concept of our floor designs, however that concept can be altered to fit the needs of our given users.

the "clients" : Karen and Sara

Karen is a 27 year old graduate student at the UNC- Greensboro. She is concentrating in Music Therapy. She enjoys playing many different types of instruments and would like to display those instruments throughout the apartment. She loves to host dinner parties and needs a rather open area to do so.

Sara is a 28 year old graduate student at UNCG as well. She is a dance major and has been performing her whole life. She kept her ballet shoes for most of her life and would like to display them in her bedroom. Sara enjoys to cook and experimenting with new recipes. Also, every Sunday she bakes for everyone on her floor. A decent sized kitchen would be preferable.

concept : railWAY FINDING

The main objective behind this concept is to form connections between things that would otherwise never come together. For this design I will come up with ways to finding connections between the life styles of a dancer and musician. Of course keeping with the modern vintage style that I have adapted as my own. Should be fun!!

lets get started...

Finding ways to incorporate the instruments that Karen wants to have displayed in the apartment may cause issues with space, but creating built-ins that shape to her instruments may work in an interesting way.

(opus!!! .... AHHHHHH)

Interesting shelves may be a clever way to find

homes for Karen's Instruments.

Incorporating Sara's love for her ballet shoes will be a creative and fun way to design her bedroom.

Once again I look to a few of my favorite designing women at Materials Girls for a little inspiration. Once again I'm never disappointed.

Below is a photo from Chloe Kardashian's office, designed by Jeff Andrews, I love the classic pieces with a modern twist. The space looks chic, classy, and perfect for a woman in her twenties.

Below are photographs of Brooke Giannetti's beautiful home :

the kitchen is cozy and spacious, perfect for experimenting

with recipes and sunday bake sessions.

the dining room is open and airy and could easily hold a dinner party.

small working stations throughout the home is perfect for people to be

doing their own thing while still together in the same space.

Unity Village :: First Floor Group Design

This project has come along way, since being first introduced as a case study of the Gateway Community Home. Unity Village has been a project that has opened my eyes to the different communities that are formed throughout the Greensboro area, and how communities form in general. Through this project I've gained an understanding of how to take important believes and ideas form different cultures, generations, and nationalities and form them into a design that can be appreciated by all users. My group and I wanted to create something special for everyone.

Concept :: railWAY FINDING

"the directional flow of railways facilitates connections between different cultures, people, and places. the result is an eclectic mix of thoughts and ideas that appeal to multiple groups."

The Entrance and Reception Desk

Design by : Kelsey Rhode

The Offices

Design By : Kelsey Rhode

The Lounge

Design By : Kalani Gonzalez

The Convenience Store

Design By : Kalani Gonzalez

The Cafe

Design By : Charese Allen

Unity Village :: Neighborhood C Review

During our critiques for Unity Village, each neighborhood group was asked to observe and record the ideas of another fellow neighborhood group. Being apart of Neighborhood B, my group members and I were asked to take a closer look into the designs of Neighborhood C.

Here's what I found...

The Ground Floor

(Designs by : Clairissa Anderson and Carlos Smith)

concept : Jellyfish - Compression and Release

The space was extremely open and the entire floor felt light and airy. Within the level, rooms were separated by half walls so residents will be able to see the entire area from any spot. The designers found an interesting way to handle the columns also, they created organic facades, almost resembling trees, which gives the area a more fluid and open feeling. A laundry room, recreational center, and gym were added to the ground floor. Some of the gym equipment was built into the organic columns, which added more interest to the space.

The First Floor

(Designs by : Cassandra Gustafson and Hailey Allen)

concept : Chaos and Order

This group decided to use the grid layout from the existing architecture. Glass walls were added to see what was going on throughout the floor, however they were still closed from the public space, giving the rooms a controlled confinement. Added to the floor was a Cafe, Art Gallery, Mailroom, Reception Desk, Daycare, and Offices. The daycare was a big portion of the floor, which I thought was an extremely successful idea. So much of the first three levels are made for adults that giving that space to the children was very considerate. One of the main colors used was a vivid green that was bold but calming, much like the two's concept. There wasn't a strong connection between this floor and the previous, however both were special in their own way.

The Third Floor

(Designs by : Veronica Harvy, Wesley Shamlian, Haley Preston)

concept : Oasis Release

This floor of Neighborhood C's Unity Village was all about bringing people together in interesting and productive ways. The level includes a slow foods dining area, a Co-op cookery, and a greenhouse for growing and selling easily manageable fruits and vegetables. The slow foods cookery is for all residents to enjoy and all of the food is naturally grown. Another interesting element was within the greenhouse there was a children's counter where kids, from the daycare on the first floor, could go and plant there own seeds. This level did a very job trying to relate to the other floors. They connected to the children of the first floor and related to the ground floor through the concept ideas.

All designs of Unity Village were well crafted and executed nicely. It was a challenging process, but only great things came from it.

Unity Village :: Design Standards

OFFICES

Workstation Zone : 90 – 126”

Worktask Zone : 30 – 36”

Work/Activity Zone : 30 – 48”

Visitor Sitting Zone : 30 – 42”

Width of Desk : 60 – 72”

Chair Clearance Zone (from back of chair to wall) : 6 – 24”

Chair Zone : 18 – 24”

Task Profile (for Unity Village) : “Typewriter the primary tool for processing paper. Continued flow of materials is processed as it arrives at the workspace and is passed on to either another function or to group storage. Storage for permanent files and reference materials minimal”

Executive Office:

Workstation Zone : 105 – 130”

Work/Activity Zone : 42” min

Visitor Seating Zone : 23 – 29”

Access Area (in front of desk) : 10 – 14”

Chair Width : 24 – 28”

Space on either side of chair : 21 – 26”

RESTAURANTS

Intermediate:

2-person table : 5’4” – 5’6” [incl. table and two chairs opposite]

4-person table [sq. or rounded] : 5’8” – 5’10” across

Required 12 sq.ft. per person

Square Arrangement of Tables : 60” btw table tops ; 24” aisle ; tables 29 – 30” high ; 17

– 18” seat height

Diagonal Arrangement : 30” min btw corners of table tops

Seating for 4:: square table : 3’3” – 4’6” ; rectangular table : 2’6” x 4’ – 6’6”

Req’d 1’9” btw seat backs (not in aisle)

Aisle : 3’ [3’6” required for wheelchairs]; Passage : 2’

Seats 18” deep

“Coffee Shops with fixed seating should include some moveable eating for guests in wheelchairs and guests who have difficulty getting into and out of bench seating”

Wheelchair kneespace is 2’3” – 2’6” [2’6” requires table height to be 31” high, which is too high for most seating]

LUNCH COUNTER

Workspace behind counter : 36”

Counter width : 18 – 24”

Circulation zone in front of counter : 60 – 66”

Sitting Zone depth : 12 – 18”

Counter Height : 42”

Stool Height : 30 – 31”

Stool Footrest Height : 12 – 13”

Counter Overhang : 10”

Stool top to counter distance : 11 – 12”

BAR

Circulation Zone in front of bar : 54”

Bar Top Depth : 18 – 24”

Between seats : 24 – 30”

Building Type / Water Closets / Urinals

Lavatories / Drinking Fountains / Other Fixtures