Self and ID

Since the beginning of time, people have been eager to evolve. Whether it be the Cretan woman wearing her corset to accentuate her body, or the today girl wearing the Invisi Bra to hide her bra to make her curves seem all natural, people have been able to invent and innovate ways of changing. It is only human of us to want to alter our image in some way or form.

We, as a body of individuals, are always looking to better ourselves. Whether it be for self satisfaction of self consciousness’; what we crave is change. The society that we live in today promotes change. We are always evolving and hoping to find the next best thing—in technology and in ourselves as an individual.

There are stereotypes and images that we all have instilled in our brain that we receive by our environment. This includes our upbringing, media, and experiences throughout life. It is inescapable, so is it possible to be truly unbiased?

To a certain individual, one tangible product can be treasured, while to another individual might find something else to more desirable. I believe there is no real way to measure that feeling of what a person has. This analogy goes hand in hand with self image.

Coming to RISD made me realize a lot. Growing up in a predominately white neighborhood, where all the kids were wealthy and preppy it was hard for me to adjust. I had grown up in a bubble. It seemed that way for a lot of kids—they seemed to have come from a bubble, but they all seemed to fit in and get along with each other so well. What made their bubble so different from mine, where they all got along and I never felt really comfortable?

I saw many changes in people while at RISD. People who weren’t “artsy” had all of sudden adjusted themselves into that image. Their clothes changed from whatever they used to wear to the Salvation Army—“I haven’t showered in a week” look. Apparently, that was a look that was highly desirable at this school, a look that I don’t find desirable at all. To me, all the people who were changing around me were artificial.

Aren’t we all artificial in a way? The self-distinguishing color of a person is constantly being tested under the narcissistic portrayal of the media and society’s norm.The way we should look and the things we should have all come from somewhere. We should not criticize the image or objects a person has because in the end, one way or another, we are the masters and creators of that persona.


“The values and ideas about life embodied in designed objects are not natural, objective or fixed, but manmade, artificial and mutable.” -Anthony Dunne


I only recently wanted to purchase a bicycle. Many people at RISD have them, so I wanted to know what the entire rave was about. I wanted to know why it was so “cool” to have a bike. I went to the bike shop and couldn’t believe my eyes. Almost all of the bikes at the shop were over $1000. I never knew that bikes were so expensive! To me it would be ludicrous to make a bike purchase of $1000. I would much rather buy something else for $1000+.

After my recent discovery, it really got me thinking. Everybody was so hypocritical. What made having ten $1000+ bicycles so different from having for example ten $1000+ handbags? In one’s eyes walking in a bike shop and finding out bikes are so expensive might be a shock, while another person might walk into a department store and find that handbags are so expensive be a shock to them.

These two products are equally gluttonous, if owned in excess (which is also determined by one’s environment). They are both manmade and artificial. Hence, my conclusion was that owning an products is all in the same. There should be no guilt in things we find pleasure. In essence, owning a designer bike is like owning a designer handbag. They are both an accessory to better the “image” we want to create for ourselves.

In order to cater to all the types of personas, there must be equally a market for these looks. As designers we are the future to making these new personas. We are the ones creating the new technology and thinking of the new ideas. We will be creating the new products that eventually people will purchase, which will be the influence to someone and their perceived thought about anyone and anything.

As designers we will be solely responsible for change. We will use past, present, future methods--manual or technological-- to alter images. As long as humans are breathing, living, feeling creatures we will interests in all fields. There will be goods being produced to "enhance" or what we perceive to "enhance" ourselves. Till the day where everything and everyone is mechanized, designers will be around and change will be inevitable.

Afterthought.....

As a designer, one should consider what they are interested in and what they are passionate about. Whatever that interest is, whatever that niche may be, there will be a place for them on this earth. I myself as a designer am still exploring my interests. Throughout my explorations I only hope to find an phenomenon that excites and inspires me to become a better designer.

Seating (an experience)

Movable Chair I asked myself...what do I expect from a chair and its functions? Chairs have served many different functions and purposes, but in the end I expect a chair should give the feeling of comfort and stability. By a chair moving is it taking away those properties? is it taking away that functionality? This is where our journey begins....

The first notion of the beanbag chair started in the 1960’s by Gatti, Paolini and Teodora working for a company called Zanotta. The Sacco was born by fault when a Styrofoam factory put leftover pieces from the production line in a sac. The sacco was a pear-shaped vinyl bag with plastic pellets. It was a chair the revolutionized the concept of chair. It had the idea a chair but moved! It is first chair to move when a person sat in it. It contores an individual body. It had many uses because its properties. As a means of decortaion, helping children with sensoryintegretion problems, and recovery from back surgery.

There are many beanbags out there today. They come in all different shapes, sizes, materials and prices. Some beanbags come with removeable covers so you can wash the sac. The idea of a chair has become a whole different category in the world of chairs.

Feel system seating by Animi Causa is another approach to a movable chair. Their mission statement for the product: “A belief that the bodies position is a mirror to the soul Lies beneath the Feel seating system, which can changes its form according to the emotional state of the body. The Feel gathers all positions in one object, the shape is inspried by a molecular structure, the basic form for all objects in the universe. It is made of 120 soft balls covered with elastic fabric. The structure of the Feel allows to create mutiple positions. The number of positions are as wide as the imagination.”

Emeco Superlight Chair by Frank Gehry. This chair is made of aluminum construction. It is superlight (weighs only 6 lb.) Gehry’s mission was to make a superlight chair with movement. Through tests he was able to create a chair that ensured the sitter to be comfortable in a moving chair. That is the beauty of this chair. With the same structure as a normal chair , with and rigidity is still created a suble swtift and sway with confidence that you are safe.

The Rubber Band Chair by Tom Dixon. This chair is made of a wire from with EPDM rubber brands as the backrest and seat. This chair created a bouncy movement that is a unexpected suprise. The normal rigid unmoving chair is transformed into a still somewhat rigid, tight form, with a slight uplifting bounce. There is a playfulness to this chair that makes a quite pleasant.

Lighting and Environment

Technology is an ongoing phenomenon, just like design. The use of light has evolved hand in hand with science and technology. Starting with the the first ever souce of light- the sun we have come a long way. Through explorations using light we have been able to find technologies to improve health and medical complications. On the flipside, we have been able to find light technologies that are harmful to ones health.


Salt lamps are used as a natural treatment for allergies, respiratory disease, hay fever, asthma, Seasonal Affective Disorder, depression, Chronic Fatigue, and migraines and rheumatism. By using Himalayan Saly Crystals the rock gives off a negative ionic charge. It can be multipied in effect by using a light bulb in the rock, which releases these ions into the air. This rids the air of odoar, smoke, animal dander, dust, pollen, and mold spores.

Acne can be treated with light! Acne is caused by P.acnes. This bacterial has a chemical called poryphyrins. This chemical is effected by light at different wavelengths. By manipulating light, we can now concentrate on certain wavelengths of light. This is how to are able to get strictly the violet light. Acne lamps contain violet LEDs. The violet light is able to penetrate the skin, which causes the body to attack and reduce the bacteria. By reducing the bacteria redness and new acne could be prevented.

The FDA-approved iLED surgical light is a better improved light system for medical lighting systems. These iLED surgical lights emits leff radiated head, which provides a better environment for doctors. These lights also provide a variable color temperature, which allows more contrast of human tissue, therefore a more precise examination of human tissue. These new lights allow doctors to be more concentrated and alert during long surgeries. The outcome will be less mistakes made.

Season Affective Disorder (SAD) otherwise known as winter depression is a depression experienced by people who are normal throughout most of the year, but comes winter they have symptoms such as little energy, sleeping too much, and craving starchy foods. This disorder can be treated by light therapy. This device called the SunUp is a dawm and dusk simulator. This small computer allows you to make any lamp into a dawn and dusk simulator. The dawn feature is so that your room will gradually fill your room wich a warm sunny glow, like the sunrise. It is so precise that your body will react as if the actual sun has come up, allowing you to naturally get up with any alarm clocks.

On the flipside...

The quick fix to winter-pasty skin, tanning beds. A little bit of natural sunlight is healthy for the skin, but an overkill of it can cause cancer and unwanted complications in the future. These tanning beds contain lights that emit UVA, which the sun emits. This UVA can get you into alot of trouble...

Keeping Time

New innovations are being made everyday. These innovations are just another perspective on past creations and ideas. Woman's undergarmets are quite fascinating. How they were viewed and used in the past vs. how they are today. Woman's undergarmets were always used as function and fashion, so that other could percieve one's image to be a certain way. Fashions and fades have a way of repeating themselves in the future.

The first corset recorded was that of Cretan decent. The barebreasted Cretan woman stood tall and proud with the help of her corset, which supressed, supported and accentuated their bodies accordingly.

Corsets were worn on the inside of a dress, but in the 14th century corsets were no longer worn on the inside of a woman's clothing. They were worn on the outside for the same function, but also for decorative and costume reasons.

17th century- Corsets were worn on the inside of a the dress but later on the outside for decorative reasons, much like the 14th century. Mostly linen and boning were used throughout this time.

NO BRA. Yves Saint Laurent started the trend of the no bra. Feminists wanted women to take off their bras and burn them. Times were changing. The idea the empowerment, if a woman didn't want to wear a bra, she didn't have to. It wasn't

WonderBra. The creation of the wonderbra was to enhance your look. Look bigger, more cleavage, which was also a trend that came in and out throughout history. Again with chaning the physical appearance.

Silicon Bra. Using silicon cups to cover the breasts. Wearing clothes, one could not tell that the bra was being worn. This bra gave support and lifting support that a bra could give, but made it seem like it was all yours.