The "Man Cave" with an accessibility twist!

Jordan and I were paired up to come up with a concept idea for a room that targets accessibility issues. The task was to design a room with a handicapped person in mind and take into account all the issues they would face in a normal home and come up with a concept that would alleviate these problems.

Jordan came up with an excellent idea for a "Man Cave" built for a person in a wheelchair. When he shared the idea with I instantly agreed. What could be cooler for a person in a wheelchair than to have an awesome room that is built with high tech equipment, pool table, full wet bar, and much more. Everything would be custom built with all the height restrictions in mind so that a wheel chair person would be able to get around the room and be able to reach everything and be able to play a game of pool, pour a drink, or even play some Foosball. Although the pool table may be at a lower height it is height adjustable for non handicapped people to play. This height adjustment idea follows through some of the features of this room. Check out the sketches!

The Three victims

I was tasked with running a Gestalt experiment on 3 people of my choice. One of these people has to be a “visual” person-- meaning someone in the art, design or creative fields and the other 2 can be of random choosing. First person I chose was my wife Cherron (of course) because she is always my first choice in anything, I chose my buddy Kevin because he is your average dude and not really design inclined, and lastly Whitney who does interior design as a hobby and really good at it. I tested each of them in private so each subject would not know what to expect. I did test them on both condition options.

After running my Gestalt experiment on my wife and 2 of my friends. What I found is that they didn't see the horse and rider at all until I had to point it out to them, even after going through both conditions. One said, it was exploding confetti, another a bushy tree top, and lastly my wife said it looked like the hawaiian islands in the year 3000 because of all the constant lava flow. The interesting thing that I noticed while my subjects took the experiment is that each person showed their personality when shouting out what they saw in each picture before actually getting to the gestalt portion. For instance, Kevin said, a lot of funny things for each picture, Whitney replied with more of a design aspect, and Cherron had more of a typical girl reaction. All of the replies were amusing as I will post down below.

I personally didn't see the “Horse and Rider” at all when I took the test. Even though it was pointed out to me, it took a few seconds to actually see it (kind of.) In my opinion, this is a horrible example to try and figure out. It is so tough to even see it for a second time even though I know what it is. Knowing this, my subjects were in the same boat, they had a hard time seeing it as well. Maybe now that I know what the Gestalt picture is, I would probably just blurt out “Horse and Rider” and not even try to make it out.

This was a fun experiment to conduct, personality did set each person apart from each other and the replies make it apparent. Read the text version of the test below, hopefully this will make you laugh as much as it did for me..

Test #1/ Condition #1

Subject: Cherron N.

Tester: Isaac

First picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Cherron:Little boy with a yellow shirt

Second Picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Cherron: Wine Bottles

Third Picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Cherron: Kid drowning

Fourth Picture

Isaac: What do you see?

Cherron:Christmas dog treats!

Last Picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Cherron: Tumble Creek house (Our cabin in Cle Elum Wa.)

Gestalt Image:

Isaac: Tell me when you can make out what this picture is?

Cherron:

Step1: No idea

Step2:confetti

Step3:camouflage

Step4:I don't know

Step5:No idea

Step6:Nope

Step7:Hmmm.. Still dunno

Step8:Dunno

Step9:Still nothing

Step10:Can you just tell what it is?

Step11:This is hard.

Step12:.......

Step13:............

Step14:.........

Step15:.............

Step16:..................

Step17:...................

Step18:Oooh, I know, it's the hawaiian islands in the year 3000 after all the constant lava flow makes more islands!

Step19:I give up......

Step20:TELL ME!!!!

Test #1/ Condition #2

Subject: Cherron N.

Tester: Isaac

First picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Cherron:Little oinker! So cute~

Second picture:

Isaac:What do you see?

Cherron: Texas long horn? Right? Wait, is that right?

Third picture:

Isaac:What do you see?

Cherron:Frolicking deer in a field.

Fourth picture:

Isaac:What do you see?

Cherron:Aww, a little lamb-ee!!!

Last picture:

Isaac:What do you see?

Cherron:HAHAHAH a camel with bad teeth..

Gestalt Image:

Isaac: Tell me when you can make out what this picture is?

Cherron:

Step1: Not this again!

Step2:I'm not gonna guess...

Step3:...........

Step4:.........

Step5:..............

Step6:...............

Step7:.................

Step8:..........

Step9:.................

Step10:............

Step11:Nope nothing yet...

Step12:............

Step13:........

Step14:.....................

Step15:.............

Step16:...............

Step17:.......................

Step18:..............

Step19:......................

Step20:Is that the last step? How am I supposed to make sense of this?

Isaac: It is a picture of horse with a rider on top. (I point it out to her)

Cherron: That's stupid, how am I supposed to see that? HAHAHAHA...

Test #2/ Condition #1

Subject: Kevin W.

Tester: Isaac

First picture:

Isaac:What do you see?

Kevin:Small kid running around knocking stuff over

Second picture:

Isaac:What do you see?

Kevin:HAPPY HOUR!!! YEAH!

Third picture:

Isaac:What do you see?

Kevin:Michael Phelps in the early years (Drowning)

Fourth picture:

Isaac:What do you see?

Kevin:Lumps of coal! Bad Dog!

Last picture:

Isaac:What do you see?

Kevin: I gotta pee just looking at this...

Gestalt Image:

Isaac: Tell me when you can make out what this picture is?

Kevin:

Step1:Ummm... Exploding confetti?

Step2:........... Next...

Step3: …. Nope, dunno.

Step4:..........

Step5:..........

Step6:............

Step7:...........

Step8: Holy crap, how many steps are there?

Step9:..............

Step10:............

Step11:...........

Step12:..............

Step13:................

Step14:............

Step15:.............

Step16:...............

Step17:...............

Step18: Really? I have no idea ahahahahah!

Step19:.............

Step20:Is this the last step? What is it? What, another test? Ok...

Test #2/ Condition #2

Subject: Kevin W.

Tester: Isaac

First picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Kevin: Bacon in the making!

Second picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Kevin: Texas A&M? Long horn animal of some sort?

Third picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Kevin:Ohh, discovery channel, where's the lion?

Fourth picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Kevin:Little white..... is that a lamb?

Last picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Kevin:HAHAHAH! Billy Bob dentures!

Gestalt Image:

Isaac: Tell me when you can make out what this picture is?

Kevin:

Step1: (Sigh) This again?...

Step2:Can I just skip to the end?

Step3:............

Step4:.............

Step5:.............

Step6:............

Step7:............

Step8:............

Step9:..............

Step10:.............

Step11: Is this some kind brainwashing tactic or something?

Step12:Gestalt? Is that the name of your brainwashing organization?

Step13:.........

Step14:Hmmmmm...Next...

Step15:Ok so, in the next 5 steps will the picture reveal itself?

Step16:..................

Step17:..................

Step18:................

Step19:................

Step20:Dammit, I still don't know what this is!

Isaac: It is a picture of horse with a rider on top. (I point it out)

Kevin: How the hell do you get that? I just see a bunch of dots.

Test #3/ Condition #1

Subject: Whitney D.

Tester: Isaac

First picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Whitney: Yellow shirt, kid running around.

Second picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Whitney:Wine bottles, waiter opening the front door.

Third picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Whitney:Is that a kid or a dog in the pool?

Fourth picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Whitney:Woo! Can we say, “Cluttered!”

Last picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Whitney:Lush Forest, peaceful..

Gestalt Image:

Isaac: Tell me when you can make out what this picture is?

Whitney:

Step1:Is it a bushy tree top?

Step2:.........

Step3:.........

Step4:...........

Step5:Some sort of Dalmatian spot pattern.

Step6:............

Step7:..........

Step8:..............

Step9:...............

Step10:..............

Step11:.............

Step12:.............

Step13:...............

Step14:.............

Step15:............

Step16:.........

Step17:Hmmm.... What is this?

Step18:.............

Step19:.............

Step20:Oh, is this the last step? What is it?

Test #3/ Condition #2

Subject: Whitney D.

Tester: Isaac

First picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Whitney:Hahahah, aww so cute. Little pig.

Second picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Whitney:Oh wow! Those are some huge horns! I like that brown though.(Talking about the animal's skin)

Third picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Whitney:A running elk?

Fourth picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Whitney:Little lamb sleeping..

Last picture:

Isaac: What do you see?

Whitney:Oh hahahahah, a funny camel smile..

Gestalt Image:

Isaac: Tell me when you can make out what this picture is?

Whitney:

Step1:Hmmm... Ok, I'll get it this time..

Step2:..........

Step3:..........

Step4:...........

Step5:...........

Step6:...........

Step7:.............

Step8:............

Step9:...........

Step10:...........

Step11:Does this go to step 20?

Step12:Hmmmm... Ok, it has to do with the pictures I saw.. (Talking to herself.)

Step13:.........

Step14:...........

Step15:...........

Step16:............

Step17:............

Step18:..........

Step19:I think I know what it is..Wait, maybe...

Step20:Ok, it's a lambs face. (She points it out to me)

Isaac: It is a picture of horse with a rider on top. (I point it out)

Whitney: Ahhh ok I see it now. I would have never guessed that.. That's tough to even see after you pointed it out..

Two chapters from Paul Rand

Paul Rand: conversations with students – Michael Kroeger

In the second conversation (chapter 2) of the “Paul Rand: conversations with students” by Michael Kroeger , Rand talks about knowing what design is. He states that in order to know what design is a person must know what he/she is actually doing. What problem needs to be resolved? Design is not something that has been seen on the wall according to Rand, it is part of the process but just decoration. Design accomplishes resolving a problem weather it's a poster or a full identity package. Rand does say that the end product should be simple and that the beginning is usually very complicated. All the aspects going into the project can be daunting. Things like size, color, format, etc. The process is eliminating pieces of it to bring the project to it's simplest form.

Maybe it's because I don't fully grasp what design is according to Rand. I define design as inspiration from something I've seen and transferred to a medium of choice. Granted Mr. Rand does have years of experience in this field I think what he says is just his opinion and what processes he goes through. This is probably why he has been so successful. I probably need to put a few more years in before I truly understand what he means by knowing what design is.

Seventy-nine short essays on design – Michael Bierut

The “How to be Famous” portion in the “Seventy-nine short essays on design“ by Michael Bierut is an awesome chapter. The author gives great advise on aspects of doing great designs, giving a great speech, and tips to winning a graphic design competition.

How to win Graphic Design competitions

This portion is basically if you want to win, your piece should be understandable and capturing within a second or two. Usually the judges look at many entered pieces but can only choose one and that winner is always the cool-looking project that solve easily understandable problems. Not to say that cool-looking hard to understand pieces couldn't win it's just that the majority winner in usually the latter. Another great tip mentioned is, enter a the biggest piece as possible, this way it will stand out from the rest and give a slight advantage of being imprinted in the judges mind.

How to give a speech

Pretty straight forward in this portion, most of the speech is going to involve a slide show but eye contact and forceful gesture helps a lot. The few tips stated were to show slides but not too many of them as the audience can become bored and uninterested. Also when showing slides, don't explain every slide. You can state the problem solved of the design then how you achieved the end result, make it short and sweet. Now to back eye contact, never read your speech it makes you look nervous and unconfident while in front of the audience. Practice your speech as many times as possible and if you need notes write down short sentences to keep you on track. Lastly, your last slide should be chosen wisely. The last slide should be memorable and either end your speech on a funny or professional note.

How to do great design work

Most of all the author recommends to do lots of work, do lots of poster designs, and do lots of freebies. Doing a lot of work can lead to a possible piece becoming famous. Whether doing it for a movie poster or just some art pieces for friends and family. Someone is bound to see it and absolutely love it and spreads the word about the piece to a possible future client. Practice, practice, and more practice is the key to putting out great work.

Both books do have some commonalities and what I have taken away, designs should be simple and easily understandable in order to win competitions as well as having a successful piece of design by eliminating the complication of a piece. Doing lots of work just makes a better designer through experience and the process of getting to the end result. Giving ideas, concepts, and options of resolving the problem for your client or whoever the project is for is what being a graphic design is all about.

Gilchrist's -Seeing in Black and White

After reading Gilchrist's introduction to Seeing Black and White what I gather from the introduction chapter was color perception, the perception of surface color, and human perception as opposed to machine vision.

The author describes that the contents of his book deals the humanistic ways of seeing. Either through reflectance, illuminance, lightness, brightness, and types of surfaces. Perception is the main topic from what gather from this book. Below is an attempt to define the some of the basic principles of seeing.

Distal Stimulus to me means the way light reflects off of a surface. Light reflecting from angles or directions can differ in amount on a matte surface or a glossy surface. A matte surface is a dull type surface and light reflected off of this type of surface is the same amount from any direction. As opposed to the matte surface, the glossy or shiny surface reflects light at an angle. Neutral or achromatic surfaces reflect the same percentage of light at all wavelengths as compared to matte and glossy surfaces.

Proximal Stimulus is described as where the pattern of light reflected from a surface meets the eye also referred to as retinal image. The intensity at each point of an image is called luminance. This can be confused with reflectance which is percentage, luminance is the intensity of light just before it hits the eye.

Percept is the way a person sees or perceives an object. One may perceive an object one way but in actuality it is a whole different look. This could be due to it's lightness or perceived reflectance.

Lightness and brightness differ in meaning according to Gilchrist, he states that both lightness and brightness are perceptual terms, only lightness refers to the perception of an objective property of a surface or its reflectance. Brightness refers to the perception of a proximal stimulus or the raw intensity of some part of the image hitting the eye .

Lastly, contrast can and has been used differently. Some refer to it as a ratio or difference between a light and dark color on a surface . Gilchrist describes this as contrast as an illusory phenomenon. Or better yet, the way complimentary colors on a color wheel is set up to show a color straight across from another color to be the most contrasting combination. At least that's the easiest way I can explain contrast. Gilchrist also describes contrast as a theory meaning a perceived darkening of a surface when it is placed on a brighter surrounding surface. More of a visual contrast of light and dark when placed next to each other.

What I took away from the introduction portion of this book is that there is a lot of thought or theory behind seeing colors. While reading this portion of the book, I knew what Gilchrist was talking about but I have never thought about the theory behind it all. I now know that I will see things in a new light when it comes to making color choices for what ever I will be designing. It will be a huge tool in my arsenal of design.

Wow it's been a really long time since i've posted

So, it's been a really long time since i've posted anything. A few things have happened since. I finally finished up my AAS degree, got a new car, flew back home (Hawaii) for my Gram's 1 year memorial, and did a lot of work on my house.

As of December 2010, I received my AAS degree in muti-media design and production from Lake Washington Technical College. It has been a long year and a half but so satisfying once I had that degree in my hand..The hard part now is finding a job position to use my degree. I have applied to a few places but no responses yet. Looks like I'll have to go back to network cabling for a little while so I can make some money and also since my classes are at night.

As for the new car I got a 2011 Toyota 4Runner. This rig is straight up awesome! It's black with black leather interior and 4 wheel drive. It has all the cool features, touch screen radio, mp3 player, navigation, back up camera, and a usb slot for my ipod. The radio in my last car died and I never got it replaced. I went for almost 8 months without a radio and that really sucked for long trips. So I'm stoked to have a radio on top of everything else..

House work wise, I have done a few lighting remodels at the house. I've roughly installed over 30 recessed can lights throughout the house. Tons of drywall patching which I really hate doing. We do have plans for redoing the kitchen and a major remodel in the basement. Everything is in the planning stage right now so it may be a few months before we proceed.

Well, that was the latest and greatest in a nut shell. I'll update as we go along with the project.. Stay tuned~!

In Design Project 2

Well here is a glimpse of my Indesign project #2. The overall objective was to make it a 2 spot colored brochure. We had to convert full colored photos to duo-tone. We could use tints to help "make" more colors.

**This is a revised/unfinished brochure for a friend's wedding planner business. It was built off of my original ID project. It is not fully complete but I think it looks good.

Ahhh, school is over for now!

Today was the last presentation/project for the fall quarter. I'm glad it's over, this flash project was the most time consuming and frustrating project out of all the class I took. For Flash grade wise, I think I did ok. I completed all my homework and projects on time. The only thing is that I wish I knew where I stood in grades throughout the quarter in Flash. I think the fact that my teacher is also a student makes things hard too. He conducted a great class no doubt, but I could see that classes he was taking was wearing him down quick. So, I'm not too bummed about him not updating the grades. He runs a pretty relaxed standard for the most part, so i'm not worried I guess.

There was only 3 projects for the quarter. The first one was to build a banner ad (non-animated) within a set guideline as well as start to finish in class (2.5 hours-ish). We had 3 options to do the ad on, Seattle aquarium, NW trek, and Woodland park zoo. I chose NW trek for my project, and it was horrible I though. No real design to it, just some stick figure-ish drawings and slapped it together.

Second project was to build on the project and animate it. Now my original project sucked and now I had to animate it. I did what I could with it and it still sucked but it fulfilled the requirements. I know for a fact that these 2 project are getting scrapped.

Last project, this one still had 3 options, a holiday animated card, animation to a song, or animation to poem. Initially I was going toward a christmas animated card but things changed a few days after deciding on what to do for the project.

During my Illustrator class we had a project on packaging, I had already started to go with an action figure vinyl toy that is customizable. It was modeled after Kid Robot's "Munny" dolls. I took the idea and turned it in to a ninja character and designed a box for it. While working on this project my classmate Nic saw what I was doing and needed a subject to package. I happened to have a few more templates of different characters and I gave him one of them. Nic was also in my flash class and needed a final project idea and said "I should use this for my flash project! We should do a battle scene." This was a great idea, we bounced idea off each other and the "Ninja VS Assassin" series was born. LOL!

I know it is not that good but it was fun and frustrating to build, but giving the presentation in class and getting a good crowd response was well worth it...