iar 222 Self-Reflection

1. This course has changed the way that I view design because it has given me deeper knowledge about architecture, furniture design and many other things that tie into design. I see how design has changed over time and also why it has changed. With the invention of new procedures, machines, and occurrences of economic changes, design evolves and is affected directly. Though when design changes, it is usually reverting back to an earlier idea. It is strange to think of how the world changes drastically over time and design mostly cycles around itself. Granted there are substantial improvements in material based on available and affordable resources, but the concepts tend to be linked to the past. Design is how, where, and what we live in.

2. The library on the UNCG campus has a strong link to the past. It has the very traditional rotunda at the center of it where the “brain” of the library is. This part of the library is built of standard brick and fits in well with the rest of the University’s predominately brick buildings. The library does have two parts, though. The tower of the library is extremely modern in contrast to its counterpart. Because of this, the library speaks this language of wanting to keep its ties to tradition and culture while also trying to progress forward in design and styles.



3. Creating a new perspective that both embraces the past and says something innovative about the present almost comes natural. Past influences are unavoidable since they are visible, livable, and easy to research and find now a days. We will always have influences from the present, though. People are constantly trying to find ways to make things better, more affordable, more appealing, and more sustainable. That is what changes and influences designer’s decisions when they borrow ideas from past designs. It is what keeps designers from copying previous ideas. You can see this blending of ideas in places like churches where there are arches and columns outside, and flat screen monitors with modern spaces inside.

4. Backyard barbeques were much more low key in the 1960s than they are today. People would make grills out of bricks, spare barrels, or whatever was around. They would eat on picnic tables and they would all use charcoal to heat their grills. There were less expendables back then and therefore, the supplies were more limited. I don’t think that backyard barbeques have changed drastically since then except for the fact that we have better technology and more money to spend on equipment to make our backyard barbeques a more chic experience. Now it is almost just another way to show off nice stuff for company.