Design Vs. Decoration

For many, the words decorating and design sound interchangeable. HGTV and other cable TV shows, as well as the DIY movement have made designers look “backwards” because most things showcased on those channels are actually decorating work. However, there is a difference.

Interior Decorators focus on making a space aesthetically pleasing by choosing out coordinating surface materials. Interior decorators concentrate on color schemes, furniture, paint, wallpaper, window coverings, fabrics, flooring, carpeting, basic lighting, and art. An Interior Decorator reviews and measures spaces, prepares room layout proposals, obtains cost estimates, presents samples to clients, arranges and oversees painting, wallpapering, flooring, etc., as well as selects and purchases furnishings and accessories. Decorators cannot make architectural changes in space planning, design permanent built-ins, or provide electrical/lighting plans. No college degree is required to be an interior decorator, and thus literally anybody who has ever decorated their own bedroom can consider themselves an interior decorator.

While Interior design does incorporate all the things a decorator does, it is not all a designer will do. The NCIDQ definition of an interior designer's objective is, "to enhance the function and quality of interior spaces for the purpose of improving the quality of life, increasing productivity, and protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public." This means an Interior Designer must be able to: analyze a client's needs, goals, and safety requirements by properly gathering information about the project. They must create both design drawings and construction drawings and specifications in compliance with universal accessibility guidelines and other applicable codes such as the American Disabilities Act of 1981, and the Fair Housing Act. They must work closely with other licensed professionals such as mechanics, electricians, and load-bearing designers (i.e. Engineers). They must explicitly understand flame spread ratings, smoke toxicity, and fire rating classifications and materials, as well as manufacturing standards to know what materials and finishes contain substances such as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). They must be able to do space planning for public and private facilities as well as way-finding (the parts of a space that allows the user to find their way from spot A to spot B). They must follow national, state, and local building codes. They must have an understanding of ergonomics, which is the application of scientific information concerning humans to the design of a space; as well as knowledge about the quality and quantity of lighting a room requires, and acoustics and sound transmission.

Basically (as according to the American Society of Interior Designers, or ASID) “interior design concerns itself with more than just the visual or ambient enhancement of an interior space; it seeks to optimize and harmonize the uses to which the built environment will be put.” In other words, a decorator focuses on aesthetic appeal; while a designer focuses on the optimization of a space in its totality.

How does it affect you? If you want to completely restructure a room based on proper space planning, remodel, change the configuration of the walls, choose materials based on their attributes, and have somebody who supervises construction, that’s when you go to a designer. If you’re looking for simple changes, such as choosing which new wood flooring to use instead of carpet, or ideas on how to build your new wall unit in your living room, you can choose a decorator. (It’s cheaper, but depending on circumstances you might still want a Designer for information on sound acoustics in the space, etc.)

Another huge difference is the type of work a designer can do. 99% of decorators will work only in the Residential field. However, for the interior designer there is a vast array of fields one can work. These include, but are not limited to:

• Entertainment - Entertainment design brings together the use of interiors, lighting, sound and other technologies for movies, television, videos, dramatic and musical theater, clubs, concerts, theme parks and industrial projects.


• Facilities Management - A facilities manager develops schedules for building upkeep and maintenance, addressing safety and health issues and lighting and acoustics needs. A facilities manager also plans and coordinates office moves or expansions, and serves as project manager during construction or renovation.


• Government/Institutional - A government designer is familiar with the very specific needs and requirements associated with working with government agencies, such as military bases, federal buildings or government offices. An institutional designer focuses on projects such as child care, educational, religious, correctional and recreational facilities, fire and police stations, courts, embassies, libraries, auditoriums, museums and transportation terminals.


• Health Care – Health care designers create environments for hospitals; clinics; examination rooms; surgical suites; mobile units; hospice care homes; nursing, assisted living or long term care facilities; or any other health care environment.


• Hospitality/Restaurant - Hospitality design focuses on environments that entertain or host the public, including nightclubs, restaurants, theaters, hotels, city and country clubs, golf facilities, cruise ships and conference facilities.


• Office - Office design focuses on the public and private areas utilized by corporate and professional service firms.


• Retail/Store Planning - Retail design and store planning concentrate on retail venues, including boutiques, department stores, outlets, showrooms, food retailing centers and shopping malls.

Many businesses hire designers to make a business work more efficiently. All interior designers must go to a FIDER accredited school, intern for a set number of years and then pass an examination called the National Council for Interior Designers Qualifications (NCIDQ) exam. Then, and only then, is it legal for an Interior Designer to call their self an interior designer. This means that if one hires an interior designer, one can be sure that they know what they are doing. However, interior designers must also have a basic knowledge of law, in order to keep from being sued in times of unexpected mishaps brought about by unexpected sources.

Many people are not aware that there is a difference between the two. However, as one can see, a designer is much more educated and knowledgeable about more topics than many decorators are. To call a designer a decorator is an insult to their education, and experience. Many interior designers are trying to change their title to Interior Architect for this reason. So when I’m working on a project and people ask me how my “decorating” projects are going; I tell them that I’m still working on space planning but once I start choosing Materials and Finishes, I’ll let them know.

For more information here is the NCIDQ definition of Interior design in PDF format.

Case Study - Nexspace - Architecture for flexibility

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream. Not only plan, but also believe." - Anatole France

When Beckson Design Associates were commissioned by David Agger, founder of Nexspace, to create the Nexspace offices, they were told to create a "non-traditional, contemporary, and collegial" workspace. The workspace was to be able to meet "the emotional and physical needs of mobile staffers, emerging companies, temporary project teams, displaced sales units, consultants, and out-of-town companies."

And that's exactly what happened. The design was kept straightforward and simple to allow for easy transition into the space. The plan is divided into two mean areas. The first is the central area where amenities (such as copy print services, server room, main conference room, and the lounge and cafe) are shared [see bottom picture]. The second are flexible blocks of development which are divided into various size modules with mobile furniture. This allows for maximum flexibility in a now rearrangeable space. Thirty-nine companies or 200 occupants can fit the 17,000-square-foot space at a time.

Various sized traditional offices can seat from one to four people and are available in both interior and exterior spaces. Nexspace offers spaces titled "Development Rooms" that "are designed to promote interaction in intense multi-person projects facing a tight deadline". These spaces allow interaction for up to 10 people. Development rooms are built of semi-transparent fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) allowing the areas to be flooded with natural light. These FRP panels can also be used as floor-to-ceiling dry-marker board. The Development rooms and offices are placed away from the west curtain wall, creating a view that everybody can enjoy [see top two pictures]. Sitting areas allow occupants to gather or just quietly enjoy the downtown Los Angeles view.
Companies who have either used or are still in Nexspace include: Skunkworks, Hewlett-Packard, Boeing, LEGO, SONY Pictures, Showtime, Will Vinton Studios and others.

In order to emphasize the feeling of uniqueness while still becoming a part of a whole, the materials and furnishings were choosen for their individual properties, rather than coordinating with other pieces. Furnishings include pieces designed by Ray Eames, Karim Rashid, George Nelson and Alvar Aalto. Walls are painted white to allow the individual characteristics of each piece to shine. Just like each piece of furniture, this space allows each company office to express themselves and still work together-enter Nexspace.

You can visit the official Nexspace website at: http://www.nexspace.com/.

Designer Profile: Russel Wright - Modern on your table

""—because it is an honest expression of present-day living, modern design should interest all thinking Americans."" - Russel Wright

Russel Wright started his schooling as a Law student at Princeton. He spent a summer in an art colony in Woodstock N.Y. There he met his wife Mary Small Einstein and was offered a job at Norman Bell Geddes's studio as an assistant on the theatre sets for 'the Miracle'. In 1925 he visited the 'Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels' in Paris, France. Afterwards he returned to work at Wurlitzer and designed radios and the first jukebox [DesignAddict].

At the age of 30, Wright began to design 60 pieces of furniture for Heywood-Wakefield Furniture Company, later producing a line of solid bleached maple furniture for Conant Ball in 1935 [see picture]. By 1938 he was already working out of a studio on 53rd street in New York, producing Aluminum spun tableware. His aluminum works married the Art Deco aesthetic (with crisp, clean faces devoid of surface treatment) and industrial age materials. He produced over 200 shapes in aluminum. In 1938 he began to design and create moulds for his ceramic tableware collection. Unable to find a manufacturer willing to sell his pottery, Mr. and Mrs. Wright along with Irving Richards convinced local authorities of Steubenville (about a 30 minute drive from East Liverpool Ohio) to re-open its doors. Wright's first line at Steubenville Pottery, titled 'American Modern' started production in 1940 and lasted until 1961. American Modern was Wrights' response to the bright saturated dinnerware colors of Bauer Ring. The line was an extreme success, and created more than 1 million in revenue [DesignAddict].

Also in 1940 Wright launched a project called 'the American Way' in an attempt to separate American and European design. Manufactures and department stores sold American designed furniture and accessories to the public, becoming an endeavor of 72 manufacturers and 22 major department stores. However, WWII made the project unsuccessful.

Wright was one of the original 14 members of the Society of Industrial Designers (SID) which later became the American Society for Industrial Design, and is now the Industrial Designers Society of America. In 1949, American Cyanamid produced Meladur, which was designed by Wright, was the first melamine tableware. Melamine is the main component of Formica and Arborite and allows dishes to be easily wiped clean and heat resistant. Unfortunately, except for its limited success with restaurants the public never bought on to his design. Not until 1953 when the Northern Industrial Moulding Company started manufacturing his residential melamine dinnerware, it was so widely accepted it a whole host of companies began to produce it as well.

The Wright's co-authored a book called "Guide to Easier Living" in 1950, an effort to revolutionize the home. In this book, Russel and Mary went to great lengths to explain everything that they believed was important to orchestrating successful home engineering and economics. As they wrote "Good informal living substitutes a little headwork for a lot of legwork. It doesn't need wealth, but it does take thought, some ingenuity and resourcefulness, and more than a little loving care to create a home that is really your own. [Manitoga]" They emphasized freedom from convention. Their main goal as the title said "easier living".

In the later 1940s, Wright went to the Far East to help make their creations saleable in America. While in the Far East Wright was inspired by the homes and gardens of Japan. In 1952, when Mary Wright died, Russel hired David Leavitt as the architect of Dragon Rock, his Japanese inspired home in Garrison, New York, but only if Russel was listed in Publications as the Interior Designer [Origin of Dragon Rock]. Dragon rock has a large two-story central living and dining room, his daughter Annie to the west wing, and his live-in studio and guest rooms were to the east which were all separated by a pergola.

While Wright died in 1976, his designs are still influential. "Russel Wright: Creating American Lifestyle" was run at the Cooper-Hewitt design museum in 2001 and 2002. Examples of his work are on permanent display at major museums across the nation. Recently Oneida manufactured a "re-issue" of many of Wright's designs in new glazes. The line was stopped in 2004.

Before his death he had designed textiles, dinnerware, furniture, landscapes, all of which a design success. With the help of his wife Mary, he had built his name as a brand, 50 years before the likes of Martha Stewart and Ralph Lauren. It was hard for any woman between the 1930s and 1950s to escape his influence, who were most likely eating with his dinnerware sitting on his furniture, sleeping with his sheets, and using some of the appliances he designed.

Throughout his work, Wright sought to improve people's everyday lives. He produced inexpensive, mass produced dinnerware, furniture, appliances, and textiles that allowed for "easier living" for Americans while being contemporary and informal. His designs allowed people to have well designed products even through a time of depression and war. His contribution to modernism in the 20th century included previous American traditions of simplicity, and honest construction, flexibility and practicality, while incorporating new materials and technology. Russel Wright's work inspired from such influences as Asian, Surrealism, Colonial, and Frank Lloyd Wright, perhaps more than any other designer shifted the America's preference toward the modern.

Spirit of the Brand

This imported Holland made Vodka seems like it'll be a nice collectors item. The shape of the bottles are awe inspiring, and the paintings are beautiful. Unfortunately they're only available right now in New York, Texas and Florida. I am thinking about buying one of these for my friend for her 21st b-day.

Spirit of the Brand - You have to be 21 to enter the site.

Gone "fish'n"

For those of you who have been checking back to see if I have written anything lately, obviously I haven't. However, don't fret, because this blog isn't dead yet.

The fact remains with my laptop still broken, working full time, and not having normal internet access outside-of-work, I have been unable to update.

So check back later because this blog will be back... Better than ever...

Show Some Glass

This is a really neat design for a teapot that I've been wanting since it first appeared in 2002.Introducing the Globo teapot from republicoftea.com. It was 75$, but is now a special price at republicoftea.com for $35.99. You put loose tea in the strainer, pur in some hot water, and tilt it back on its handle to steep. When it's finished all you have to do it tilt it forward and the brewing will stop. Then you can feel free to enjoy and discuss how cool & sauvy you are. This seemingly simple idea is the brainchild of Thomas G. Wagner and Dirk Loff, the pair behind Delphin Design who received an iF award for German design in 2002. This would make an great gift for any body who is into tea.

You can order it here.

Anti-Cellphone?

While I have to admit nanotechnology tends to scare the bejesus out of me (and if you've ever heard of the grey goo theory, the possiblities of nanotechnology might scare you too); nanotechnology - like any technology - has the ability to use it's power for good. This specific example is the creation of paint that has the ability to block cellphone calls.

A New York company called NaturalNano is claiming that it's developed a paint that can block cellphone and WiFi signals - yet be toggled off to allow selective, chargeable access.

While it'll be nice to not be annoyed by annoying cell phone calls & hence they're even more obnoxious ringtones, one problem is that of WiFi networking. As the Hexus article explains, the blocking of WiFi would allow companies to charge for the specific networks they provide. This would be good for a business standpoint as extra revenue is a good thing, it might not be so good for the many of us who go to coffee shops and other places with WiFi access because we can't afford internet. Although, I'm guessing not many coffeeshops would use this technology anyway.

Also an interesting point is perhaps nano can be reversed engineered - hopefully mainly in outdoor paints - to allow places farther from cellphone signals to amplify the signals so they get for better signals.

Either way, I think I perfer the lack of cellphones in public places like movie theaters and it's inherent lack of WiFi access to the grey goo theory.

Hexus has the whole article here

The developers - Naturalnano - can be reached here

Faceted Shapes

Faceted Shapes seem to be becoming more and more popular. The past few years organic shapes have been very popular, so it makes sense that faceted shapes are starting to become popular as a reverse trend.

Some examples include the Orloff bowl.

spanish designer patricia urquiola is renowned for her elegant furniture and home accessories. the orloff bowls, each made from a single disc of drawn stainless-steel plate and formed without welding, are no exception. angular and engaging, these bowls come in two sizes and are part of alessi's new fall 2005 collection. composed of 18/10 stainless steel.

The zendome is another example of faceted shapes -

Depending on the event the spacious dome is suitable from 50 up to 500 people. The luminous white dome is a huge and elegant eye catcher that attracts a wide range of audience and can be printed with your logo and label. The dome qualifies imposingly for advertising and presentation for companies and agencies. The cupola-acoustic creates a very special sound and makes speech highly understandable. Due to the high-tech materials the geodesic domes are extremely weatherproof and have a stability that bears big spotlights and projectors. The translucent fabric has a convenient textile character that provides a soft and natural light. With the mobile construction you are at short term present at any place with your bar, catering, press café or your v.i.p. area.

More info here


David Wiseman's Pink Porcelain Vase...


Vilde | Form Terrain floor rug.

Terrain is a hand made floor rug composed of 33 wool felt triangles. The rug's form is derived from terrain modeling - a triangular mesh representing a digitised aerial view of a stretch of land. The four shades of grey, representing land contours, create an illusion of three-dimensional space.

"In The Mix"

NotNeutral.com has a line of dinnerware called "In the Mix" based off of geometric patterns. Most of which are affordable, and beautiful as well as dishwasher and microwave safe. This "Black Circut Small Plate" is available for 12$ each. See the whole linehere

East Hamburg

The East Hamburg is a beautiful hotel, restaurant and bar in the heart of hamburg. It is breathtaking and beautifully designed. I reccomend you guys look at their website. http://www.east-hamburg.de/.

Some of my work

Here is some of the work I've done over the past semester. Click on any of the images to get a larger, better quality view.






We had to find furniture and make it in AutoCAD blocks.





Using said blocks we could make sections and elevations a lot easier. Just load each block and use it as many times as needed.


This is an elevation I did for part of a kitchen.


Afterwards we learned how to make our blocks in 3d.


Our most recent project has been done mostly in AutoCAD. The fun thing about which are dviews, which are perspectives. This is a conference room/reception area seperated by windows.



since that picture was taken I have added a few things, so I redid my review to include just the reception seating area for a sample board I put together.

Cardboard Houses

The Cardboard House represents the reduction of technology and the simplification of needs. By demonstrating that we are able to recycle 100% of the building components at extremely low cost, the Cardboard House is a direct challenge to the housing industry to reduce housing and environmental costs.

Stutchbury and Pape, working in association with the Ian Buchan Fell Housing Research Unit at University of Sydney, see this project as a genuine temporary housing option.

A cardboard house places the least demand on resources and encourages people to shift their preconceptions about the “typical Australian house”. Many Australians enjoy camping on their holidays, easily shifting their lifestyle from the rigidity of the urban home to the freedom of the campsite.

Being extremely low cost and transportable, the Cardboard House could be used in a wide variety of applications. You could live in one while your permanent house is being built or renovated, for emergency housing, or for short-term accommodation.

Read More...

I saw this a while ago. I still want to design a new version and build it for transformus.

Frank Gehry; You're a genius!

The following is a Simpsons Clip of Frank Gehry:
D'oh!

Frank Gehry is designing the George Ohr Museum in Biloxi Mississippi. It was ravaged by Katrina, but is still planning on being finished. For further info:
GeorgeOhr.org

Laptop Blues

Unfortunately during the next week or two I won't be updating quite as much as I should. My laptop is broken and I only have access to the internet at school. I will hopefully still post a few things of interest, but most likely not everyday. Thanks for being patient with me :)

trilobis 65

Trilobis 65 is a semi-submerged
dwelling environment. Reaching 20 metres in length designed by Giancarlo Zema for habitation by six people at sea. It is ideal for living in bays, atolls and maritime parks. The main aim of the project is to allow anyone to live in a unique environment through a self sufficient, non-polluting dwelling cell in unison with their ocean surroundings.

Read More..

Crate Art

Marc of Wooster Collective noticed something odd up on the roof of a building in Melbourne, Austrillia. Could it be a bird, king kong? NO... it's a man made out of crates!



For a closer up, and more photos click here

Gorillapod

The gorillapod is a tripod created for people who don't like to carry around large tripods that won't go everywhere they want to go.

"The gorillapod firmly secures your compact digital camera to just about anything...anywhere and everywhere. Unlike traditional tripods, the gorillapod doesn't require an elevated flat surface for you to take the perfect shot."

On top of it's amazing ability to attach to just about anything; at $24.95 it's a bargain for the photographer on the go.

Which Glasses

This set of six glasses has up to 6 rings. Each cup has a corresponding number of rings which allows the user to keep track of which cup is theirs. At $59 this glass set is both useful and affordable.

Go to this page to order Which Glasses from Generate Home.

Napshell

As power-napping.com reports on this page...

""napshell" is the sleeping capsule as design object. It's powerful shape acts as eyecatcher that attracts Attention to itself. This leads to a playful engagement with the in Germany still unknown topic of Power-Napping.

A modular system allows different Areas of use:
A simple variant of the object is designed for outdoor areas. The robust construction could be used within parks or in open places as public furniture. This would allow the object to reach a broad audience.

The more sophisticated indoor-variant was intended for lounges, exhibition halls of foyers. It is equipped with a comfortable Mattress and lockable doors. The opaque and sound-proof doors noise allow the user to relax despite being in a busy environment. In addition the object can be outfitted with further luxury in the form of massage functions, air conditioning and audio equipment..."

for more information on the Napshell visit Napshell.com. The english version is here.

 

Klockwerks

"Roger Wood creates with time in mind. Yet even though the clock can be a consistent element of his work, it’s often secondary to its creation. Whether it’s a curious timepiece or a unique assemblage, Wood thrives on working with an immeasurable array of findings from the tarnished and forgotten to the odd or intriquing. He is a devoted collector of usual and unusual objects with one thing in common, a history.

The source of his inspiration lies in the hundreds of curiously labelled drawers and boxes brimming with artifacts of all description that line the shelves of his Toronto studio. Wood orchestrates an arrangement from his myriad of treasures until the precise moment that it feels right. Then he quickly glues them all down so they can't escape.

Playful, wondrous timepieces emerge that take flight on cherubic wings, float and sway on fine wires, or appear frozen mid-explosion with flying springs and cogs that bounce at the touch. "

Roger Wood's works are amazing time peices. You can reach his company at Klockwerks.

Klockwerks was featured on CBC on the show Zed. The video can be watched on this site.