Pumpkin Carvings

Even though it is November already, I still wanted to show my Halloween spirit. Pumpkin carvings have been a tradition that many familys practice on or around Halloween. The idea of putting a silly face or skull on the pumpkin gives it character. Throughout the years many have made this tradition into a contest to see just how skilled these carvers really are. Some contests have restrictions on what to carve while others are open to the artist's creativity. When the winners are announced, you can see just how much work, thought, and design goes into each carving. Other meterials are used to create a unique design, such as paint or colored lights.

The details that go into the work show just how much planning goes into each design. The right pieces need to be carved from the right spots to give it a believable silhouette and some desgins, such as the werewolf, can give the illusion of texture.

Then there are designs such as this that give not only texture to a piece, but values to the whole pumpkin. When this little kitten is lite up, the light will illuminate different shadows and give the carving life. There are other methods to give shadow other than carving into the pumpkin to give it a three- dimentional look. These talented artists have used principles such as line, value, texture, form, and of course silhouettes to create an image that is beliveable and almost realistic.

Here are the links for the photos: (Day of the Dead pumpkin) http://www.illustrationmundo.com/wp/1947
(Three pumpkin carvings)http://www.charlesandhudson.com/archives/2009/09/enter-the-toh-pumpkin-carving-contest.htm
(Cat pumpkin) http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=104132&currentpage=All

Here are some carving contest sites with amazing and uniqe designs: http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/community/contests/pumpkin2010/winners.html

http://www.extremepumpkins.com/pumpkincontest.html

http://agoodson.com/pumpkin/

Industrial Design- The New iPod Touch

Apple has designed many versions of mp3 players called iPods throughout the years, but the one that sticks out the most to me is the iPod Touch. A few weeks ago Apple introduced the new iPod Touch with new features that the old version never had. The change in updates was so quick and drastic that it makes the older version obsolite now. They have designed the new version to have a camera able now to take photos and even video. This was a feature only the iPhone has had, but now brings appeal to those who do not own an iPhone. The new iPod also has the same micro chip as the iPhone 4 and the iPad, devices with much more to offer than a simple iPod. Right now Apple's biggest marketing feature for the new iPod Touch is the ability to have video chats with friends and family. By adding these new features to the iPod Touch's design the popularity will skyrocket for fans who want the features of an iPhone, without using AT&T's crappy service. This little device is everything you would want in a phone, but without the phone. Before all of Apple's updates to the iPod Touch, it was a popular product, but now it has become a product that iPod Touch fans will purchase to replace their previous Touch. This method of updating or changing already popular products gives desginers a way to improve the lives of the public. For example, with all the new features that the iPod Touch now comes with, there is almost no need for a computer for video chats and you no longer need to carry around a camera or video camera. All of these fetures are compressed into a slick slim device that can be easily carried to all of your favorite places.
Here is the site with all of the new feature information: http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/
Image site and additional information: http://newtech.aurum3.com/tag/ipod-touch/

Objectified- Content vs. Form

On Thursday our Design 001 class watched a documentry film called Objectified which is about designers talking about design, howit works, how it effects the public, and even designs purpose. What makes this film so interesting and effective is not necessarily the content because any designer could talk about desgin, but the form. Each designer's imput and interpritation helped contribute to the content of the film. but small details such as camera angles and choice of images inhanses the impact of each statement that each desginer makes throughout the film. When they talk about the importance of design or even in the very beginning of the film the viewer is forced to see everyday objects such as a toothbrush or chinese toothpicks up closeand in a way that is different from the everyday. We tend to look at objects very quickly and dont usually take the time to look at how it was designed. Objectified's main goal is to show the problems desginers go through on a daily bases that the public takes for granted. By showing the thought process along with sketches of their designs and how they come up with their ideas to improve the lives of everyone. The viewer does not realize just how much thought goes into design until they hear and SEE it for themselves. For example, one desginer explained how their desgins don't last forever and will eventually end up being thrown away. The images of computers and other products being crushed and thrown away in a dumpster show the impact of the former statement. Any desginer can talk about design and the impact it has on society, but in Objectified they SHOW the impact.
If you liked Objectified check out this film: http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi2961047577/
Image above from: http://intothedustbowl.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/objectified/