Video: Sketches of Frank Gehry

I really enjoyed the video Sketches of Frank Gehry that we watched in class last Thursday.  I found it very interesting how he worked as an artists, and was in complete awe when I saw the buildings he created.  Gehry is a risk taker; using materials that don't make sense and doing what makes him happy. He has a very distinct style of work, that is sort of strange and messy, but all of his designs have some sort or structure to them.  Gehry can be described as a "contemporary cubist sculpture."  He simplifies everything, he is a modernest and does not use decoration, but only materials in his work. He makes his designs look easy and simplistic, even though it is not, and the process he goes through takes a very long time.  Something else I found interesting and inspiring was that Frank was told not to become an architect in school, and was told that he was not good enough as a designer.  But Frank didn't care, he went with it anyway and kept going forth with it, and is now one of the leading architects in the world because he followed his heart and passion.  This film inspired me with new ways of thinking and also it inspires me to challenge myself as a designer.

Zahner Field Trip

Visiting Zahner was a very cool experience.  It was very cool that such a large well-known company is works right here in Kansas City.  They worked on very large projects that artists, designers, architects, engineers, and production workers all collaborated on.  They gave very satisfying products to their customers, having the momentum that they can to do the job right that no one else can.  It was interesting to hear how many considerations comes in to play with one of their projects, such as manufacturing, cost, building and assemblage of the piece on site.  They had many different tools for shaping, cutting and forming their materials.  Some of which were very simple, and others that are very complicated and high tech such as the water jet cutter.  I also thought it was interesting how long it takes to finish one project that they work on, and the fact that they provide their customers with life-size mock-ups so that they can get a real feel for the finished product.  Over all, this field trip was very exciting and I'm glad I got to visit and see what types of things they do as a company.

Hallmark Field Trip

I really enjoyed our field trip to Hallmark.  On this field trip, we got to tour the factory where they make all the cards.  I thought it was very interesting to see how everything works and all the steps they have to go through in order to get their finished product.  The littlest details take a lot of work that I wouldn't even have realized, such as the foil used on the writings of the cards, card details such as felt and sparkles covering the cards, and embossing.  I learned that more goes into something so simple such as these cards, than you would ever realize or take time to notice.

Sophomore Year is off to a great start.  I have really pushed my creativity and ways of thinking in my beginning Industrial Design course on our first project to build a clock that expresses the conceptual nature and form of time itself based on my interpretation of how "time repeats itself."  Also I have been enjoying the few field trips we have been on in my Materials and Processes class.  We have been to The Reuter Organ Company and Star Signs; both in Lawrence, Kansas.  The two design companies are completely different in the ideas and concepts of their designs.  The Reuter Organ Company makes pipe organs for large facilities (mostly churches) and they only finish about 5-10 organs per year, because their designs are so complex and tedious. It was really interesting to go visit this site because I wasn't aware with how much work and perfection was involved with making organs.  Star Signs makes  environmental and graphic signage for companies.  There is so much precision that goes into these pieces, and it is really cool to see what the company goes through to complete the signs.  There is a lot more work that is involved than you would think, like all the wiring that goes into the signs to make the letters light up, and all of the sanding, welding, and making the pieces fit exactly together the way they are supposed to.  I have enjoyed these field trips and gotten a lot out of them, and I am looking forward to the one on Thursday to the Hallmark Cards Production Center.