Design in Everyday Surroundings

When looking for things that capture beauty, one should first take the time to look at their surroundings. Sometimes we find the most striking details in our very own backyard.

Take Elena Kalis for example. Being a photographer, she has learned to utilize her very own environment to capture moments of beauty through her Canon camera. However, her environment is not the kind we would typically find ourselves in. This is because she does her work in the seas of the Bahamas. Elena Kalis is what we would call an underwater photographer.

I stumbled upon Kalis back in 2008 when I discovered her photos on the popular art community website, deviantART (a website that I have frequently mentioned in earlier blogs). All of her photos contain subjects (usually of her friends or children) swimming in water. However, rather than depict typical swimming activities, such as scuba diving or snorkeling, Kalis has her subjects portray stories, messages and images that we would not expect to find under the surface of the water.

Through the mysterious veil of water as well as natural lighting from the sun, Kalis succeeds in creating an atmosphere that most photographers would kill for. In one of her most notable works from her gallery of Alice In Waterland, Kalis puts a fresh, new spin on Lewis Carroll’s tale of dreams and maturity. Through pieces such as Through the Looking Glass, Kalis adds fantasy and wonder to one of the most familiar substances in our everyday lives.

Through the Looking Glass by Elena Kalis

Kalis also uses items from our daily lives to add depth to her work. As seen in Alice Cards, a simple deck of cards comes to life while a picture frame in the photo above creates a portal to another world.

Alice Cards by Elena Kalis

By utilizing one’s setting and possessions, Kalis proves that anything can become a photo, just like anything can become design. One just simply has to put themselves in the right mindset to “see” these opportunities.

Since then, Kalis has gone on to be a well-known photographer in the art community, going on to start her own online portfolio so that her work may be viewed worldwide.

So whether you live in the city of LA or on the beaches of the Bahamas, one can always find beauty in his or her surroundings.  Elena Kalis proves this through her work of underwater photography. Through her photography, a breathtaking setting and everyday objects come together to create something that viewers from all over can watch come to life. All we have to do is just add water.

Comparison and Contrast: Battle of the Social Networks

Which do you go to for socializing?

As technology has shaped our modern society, both Facebook and Myspace have become defining parts of our culture. Not only do we commit countless hours to these sites by sharing various aspects of our personal lives; we also dedicate a majority of our day idling away on these sites to socialize.

Before you ask, no, this is not a blog comparing which social network is better, for that is an age-old argument that I do not plan (and do not want) to get into. Plus, I do not want this blog to become a forum for pro-Facebook and pro-Myspace users to battle out in. This blog is simply to compare two forms of design—two forms of web design—that have been hiding under our noses for the past 5 years.

There are several aspects of these social networks that we can look at. But for the sake of this blog, we will specifically look at the sites’ layout/formatting and overall functioning.

Obviously, a website’s layout is crucial when attracting visitors and potential members. But how far does a website have to go to see an increase in these numbers? For instance, Myspace gives its members the ability to change and enhance their profile by adding layouts and wallpapers, thereby giving each online profile a personal touch. However, Facebook does not allow its members to personalize their profiles with premade layouts and wallpapers, causing each profile to look nearly the same. Yet in recent studies, Facebook has surpassed Myspace in the number of users. Could it be that a website’s overall layout is losing the effect it once had to attract members?

When comparing and contrasting the design of both social networks, one must consider the design of the website’s overall functioning. In its earlier years, many considered Myspace to offer much more than Facebook; Facebook was just too simple to really make an impact on the online community. But in recent years, Myspace has taken this strongpoint to whole new levels—almost to the point that Myspace offers too much for its members. As a result, many have flocked to the land of Facebook, whose simplicity has appealed to a majority of its members. However, as time goes on, Facebook is repeating the mistake of its former rival; it is beginning to offer too much. Could it be that some other network site, such as Twitter or Formspring, will surpass Facebook by utilizing the design of simplicity? Only time will tell.

Despite the differences between Facebook and Myspace, both share a common enemy: father time. So even if one does succeed to surpass its rival, whether it is in the realm of design or in the realm of pure statistics, both are forced to race against the clock and to make an impact before another social network does. 

Design as Conversation: Revisiting Old Friends

As Lady Gaga tries to bridge the generation gap of music by singing with the famous Yoko Ono, those from our generation thrive to do the same in the realm of art and design. Through the popular art site of www.deviantart.com, artists and designers alike come together to form a tight-knit online community where art is shared on a daily basis.

DeviantART is home to thousands of aspiring artists all over the world as they are given the chance to display their work on a profile similar to an online portfolio. From paintings and writing to photography and sculptures, deviantART doesn’t put a limit on what one can do. And with so much artistic freedom available to its members, deviantART has spawned several “reboots” of the familiar faces that we know and love.

Below are a few examples of how familiar friends from the past have taken new shape and form:

Then...

...now, by osy057 on www.deviantart.com

Then...

...now, by spacecoyote on www.deviantart.com

To some, these regenerations of the past outshine the originals we grew up with. To others, they disgrace their original counterparts. With a line drawn clearly across the sand, dividing those in favor and those opposed, we constantly ask ourselves where we stand. Which side of the line are we on?

As old ideas are portrayed in new perspectives, younger artists have practically embodied design as a conversation as their work has generated criticism regarding their methods of inspiration. With so much “call-and-response” used by the latest generation of artists and designers, older generations question youth’s ability to be innovative and original. It’s true that many have gained attention from revamping ideas from our early childhood. But does this define our generation? Does this mean that we are simply a generation of copycats? I would like to think that this is not the case.

Although we have based our own creativity on the creativity of artists before us, doesn’t this simply mean that we are displaying our talent through the showcasing of modernized art? And by lending our own perspective to older works, a perspective that many consider to be fresh and inventive, couldn’t one consider this to be bridging the generation gap? If we were to take this viewpoint rather than the one that downplays the creativity of the younger generation, then surely we would be able to open our eyes to new forms of artwork and design. For our generation is not one made up of copycats; it’s one of pioneers.

And besides...

Then...

...now, by bri-chan on www.deviantart.com

...in times like these, a fresh new take on things could be just what we need.

Nerd Alert: Comic Con Meets Design

If you have never attended Comic Con (an annual culture convention held in San Diego every summer), then you are surely missing out.

For example, having never been to Comic Con, you would not know about the number of people who flock from all over to attend this annual event, a number that usually surpasses the maximum capacity limit set in the San Diego Convention Center.

You also would not know about the hundreds of panels that are organized for each of the event’s days, all of which usually discuss upcoming attractions in various entertainment industries.

And finally, having not been to Comic Con, you would not know that among the many attendees present at this event for panel discussions, a majority of them look a little something like the guy in the middle:

…Yup.

Hopefully these first few sentences have not caused you to make any prejudgments about this convention. But if you are guilty of this, no worries. It’s a common mistake for those who have never experienced all that is Comic Con.

For many, Comic Con is a beacon of nerdiness and geekdom—a place where comic fanatics or internet addicts gather to discuss the many aspects of pop culture that rock their cyber world. But this is not the case, for Comic Con is so much more than that. What started out as a small annual gathering to share one’s love for comics and graphic art soon grew to be a popular event that explores many realms of entertainment outside of the comic book scope. And in recent years, Comic Con has come to be a place that embodies design.

Yup, you heard correctly. Comic Con is a place of design. How, you may ask? To answer this question, one would simply need to look around at the people attending this event. Not only is this convention made up of hundreds of attendees that are artists of all media (comic books, websites, printmaking, etc.), but also of fans who bring their love for pop culture to life.

Looking back at the picture above, we see a small taste of how fans express their love for pop culture through the art of design. Some may express this love through costume-making and role-playing (making a costume and becoming a character in media). Others may express it through the selling of artwork or other forms of design. And for those who are not familiar with any of these forms, they may just attend to experience these types of design firsthand.

Sometimes design is found in the oddest (and nerdiest) of places. But if you take the time to immerse yourself within them, you may find something incredible and never before experienced—like a giant cardboard robot costume. Who knows? Design has a funny way of surprising you like that.

Creativity from Without: When Pigs Start to Fly

Who ever thought a pizza delivery guy would be making the very clothing that defines our generation?

Certainly not Mark Capicotto. But that’s exactly what he’s been doing since 2005 and it doesn’t seem like he’ll be stopping anytime soon.

We all know that in order to reach our goals, to accomplish our many ambitions in life, the first thing we have to do is believe in ourselves—otherwise no one else will. But sometimes, we find that we depend on ourselves a little bit too much. So how else do we find inspiration? How do we find artistic creativity outside of ourselves?

Mark Capicotto of www.glamourkills.com

21-year-old Mark Capicotto answered this question through the creation of his very own clothing brand. What started out as a dream to make t-shirts quickly spiraled into reality as Capicotto founded Glamour Kills, a brand that originated from the confines of his parents’ basement but quickly grew into a successful indie business in less than 5 years.

Both Capicotto and Glamour Kills find their “outside inspiration” in many things related to today’s pop culture. However, both thrive on the very essence of our generation—youth and music. In its humble beginnings, Glamour Kills apparel was sold at local concerts, quickly catching the attention of many bands that embody the music scene of today such as All Time Low, Cobra Starship and Boys Like Girls. It wasn’t long until Glamour Kills became a prominent youthful brand amongst teens everywhere, going on to be sold online, in popular stores and even overseas.

With a taste of edginess and rebellion, Glamour Kills has put a new twist on clothing worn in both the music community and the music industry, allowing it to start a teenage fashion movement as well as a fresh cultural lifestyle. And sporting a logo of a flying pig with wings, Glamour Kills stresses the idea that anything can happen. Capicotto believed it, and look where it got him.

It’s been 5 years since Mark Capicotto founded Glamour Kills and with a bright future ahead, it can only go up from here. As Glamour Kills continues to grow in popularity, Capicotto expresses new hopes and dreams for the clothing brand. But he especially stresses how he must be open to inspiration from anywhere. It is only then that he can fully embrace Glamour Kills and it’s “outside inspiration” spirit.

Stone Soup for the Designer Soul

Ah, there’s nothing as rejuvenating as some good ol’ stone soup.

Last Tuesday, the DES 001 class was given the opportunity to work within groups to create a piece of design—anything that we envisioned—out of a pile of nothing. What may seem like a difficult task actually turned out to be the ultimate showcasing of creativity and artistic vision. As design students, we set out to make something brilliant. Our weapons? Recyclable scraps. Our battlefield? The trees and grass of Hutchinson Drive. Our strategy? To let our imaginations run wild.

And that’s exactly what we did.

Tissue paper, glitter glue, picture frames, painter suits—these were just a few of the ingredients that went into making stone soup. If one were to walk by in the midst of our stone soup-making, he or she would most likely think we were college students reliving our kindergarten creativity days. I’m not going to lie, that’s exactly how I felt when I was helping my group build the ultimate Aggie manor out of cardboard boxes. At first, the idea of creating anything we wanted was overwhelming. After all, in the words of Michael Bierut, “…design is about everything.” So where do you possibly start?

But as we slowly got the ball rolling—cardboard boxes were stacked, cartons were cut up and flags were made—I began to wonder about the “doing” of design. Is it simply intuition, like how our group was randomly putting pieces together based on instinct? Or is it more of following a vague blueprint that we constantly picture, like how our group worked towards the goal of creating some sort of house? This stone soup experience made me question our ways of thinking when fitting together pieces of a puzzle, pieces of a soon-to-be design. Sometimes we know what the puzzle will look like in the end. Other times we are blindly trying to fit pieces together, hoping that something will eventually click.

Honestly, I don’t think I got my answer that day. And looking at other groups’ masterpieces, one could argue that the “doing” of design included a mix of both intuition and planning. But I guess in the end, such questions don’t matter. What really matters is the end result—the stone soup. It is the stone soup that is the most delicious result of all.

You Have Reached Your Destination...?

Try not to get lost in this piece of design.

Not all words in the English language can serve as both a verb and a lifestyle. That’s where design comes in. Not only can you do design. You can also live it.

I’m sure all of us have experienced design at some point, whether it’s looking at art hanging in a gallery or wearing the latest fashion to hit the runway. But while brainstorming for this blog, I was racking my brain to figure out how even poor college students such as myself are able to live in all that is the wonders of design. But that’s just it. How DO the average Joe Schmos (those who can’t afford the time or money to go to art galleries or fashion shows) experience design in everyday life? And that’s when it hit me.

I have been an official college student for only two weeks and already I have heard stories, myths and legends about our campus’ social sciences and humanities buildings. Not only is the building a piece of fascinating architecture, but it is also a maze…literally.

Designed by award-winning architect Antoine Predock, the building resembles those built into the landscaping of New Mexico, due to Predock drawing inspiration from his Albuquerque roots. The building has not only gained attention for its prison-like exterior (it was rumored that the campus did not have the money to hire a “real” architect and instead hired someone who designed prisons), but also for its complexity. Not only are students known to get lost on their way to class, but they are also known to play games of hide-and-seek to pass the time. And with its metallic appearance, it has come to be referred to as the “Deathstar.”

With so many rumors and stories revolving around the history of one building, I came to realize that design is inevitable. We are all destined to experience it, some more often than others. But perhaps it is through this realization that we learn to appreciate design, even if we are forced to experience it when we least expect it. So whether you’re in the comfort of your own home or in the confusing hallways of our social sciences and humanities building, design is experienced everywhere—whether it was meant to be our final destination or simply a detour from everyday life.

The Universal Language: Tokidoki and the Fusing of Cultures

Design is the one language that everyone can speak. It’s universal. And just like any other language, it involves the fusing of multiple cultures, customs and traditions.

I found an example of this cultural fusion during a summer trip two years ago to Oahu. While exploring the shops around Waikiki, I noticed a brand that was present in a majority of the clothing stores: Tokidoki. I had never heard of the brand before, but I did notice that it was everywhere—on t-shirts, purses, and even shoes. Despite never seeing the brand before, I was instantly drawn to the simple artistic style that adorned Tokidoki merchandise. This was primarily due to the fact that it reflected Japanese culture—something that I was (and still am) a big fan of. My curiosity spurred me to find out who was behind the brand, a brand that was completely foreign to me.

After surfing the internet, I found the answer that I was looking for, but it was definitely not what I expected: The artist of this Japanese-based brand is…Italian?

After extensive research, I discovered that the man behind the Japanese designs was none other than artist Simone Legno. Hailing from Rome, Italy, Legno became passionate about creative art at a very young age. He also became fascinated about Japan—a somewhat isolated country with a rich culture unknown to many. The inspiration that came from both of these driving forces eventually led to the creation of Tokidoki, a brand reflecting the culture of Japan as well as other worldly cultures that have caught Legno’s interest.

Meet Simone Legno of www.tokidoki.it

Despite my initial shock of Legno’s cultural background, this experience came to be inspiring. If someone like Legno can learn to love and share a culture different from his own, why can’t we all?

Design does not require you to come from a specific background. It does not require you to live a certain lifestyle. And it certainly does not require you to have a fixed set of beliefs. Design does not limit itself to one culture but rather reflects several cultures at once. Anyone is capable of designing, whether it’s designing something to reflect one’s personal views or designing something to reflect the views of another. Anyone is capable of sharing this language. Anyone is capable of sharing multiple cultures at once.

That’s the beauty of design.

Looking Through the Lens: The Art of Time Travel

Image by Lostinyourxheart on www.deviantart.com

1, 2, 3, click.

Our minds are just like cameras. They take specific moments in time and preserve those moments by tucking them safely away, usually in the form of a visual image. And just when we need to access those moments most, something in our daily lives triggers those memories to come flooding back to us.

I experienced one of these moments back in early September after stumbling across a present I had gotten for my birthday: my first camera. It was a Polaroid One Step Instant Express 600 Camera, the kind that would pop out your finished photo after the click of a button. I remember eagerly asking for it at the tender age of seven, back when I was keen on becoming a professional photographer.  I had originally been packing for college when I found it. And to my surprise, it looked exactly the way I had left it—a dark hunter green shade, the logo sticker peeling off at the edges and still having 4 empty Polaroid pictures left inside.

My Polaroid camera has always had a soft spot in my heart. For one, I always admired how “modern” it looked compared to the stereotypical old-fashioned Polaroid cameras.  It was also sleek, smooth and covered with a glossy finish that always left it looking brand new. Plus, it was very small and compact—perfect for someone my size. Looking at the camera, I remember how attached to it I was as a child. Even though I was never good at taking pictures, the camera’s fresh design always spurred my interest in photography. For not only was I inspired by what I saw through the camera lens; I was also inspired by the camera itself. Maybe that’s why I never bothered giving it away.

After finding the Polaroid camera in the back of my closet, I powered it up, recognizing the soft whirring noise the camera hummed as it prepared to take photos.  I looked through the lens, remembering all the times I took “beauty portraits” of friends, family, neighbors. Remembering those moments had me itching to test my camera again, to click the button and capture another moment in time.

Cameras make pictures and pictures make memories. Yet it’s amazing how my little Polaroid camera served as an entire memory within itself rather than the photos that came out of it. Maybe that’s the true purpose of cameras—they aren’t meant to trigger one’s memory.


They’re meant for time traveling.