Week 1 Assignment

As a student pursuing the field of interior design, it is often difficult to pause and write a definition for what interior design exactly is. However, it is even more difficult for an outsider to understand the goals, motives, and profession of interior design because of perceived social notions of misconceptions about how we apply our skills.

Interior design has also been attached feminine ideals. Women who understand spatial relationships, style, color, light, etc have primarily taken on the execution of interior design. When I read your article, I agreed with a lot of points but it also made me question some things. Are straight men afraid to show interest in interior design for fear of being mistaken as a gay male? Do they hide behind the macho man figure instead? I feel like men take on the architecture approach not only because of the way their brains functions but because of their perception by others in social settings. The media is poisoning people’s minds into thinking that interior design is a quick easy fix that takes a day to create and a day to execute. The episodes show a seemingly quick and easy process. In reality, there is a lot that is cut out from the thirty-minute episodes. HGTV also feeds the stereotype of casting women and gay men as hosts and designers for the shows. The women have a soft caring sense about them when working with the clients and the gay men have a more flamboyant flair. I can see how it would be emotionally and socially difficult for a straight man to share his passion for interior design and relate to the people they see on TV.

Architecture as a profession has always had a clear meaning. It relies on a logical, rational way to create a structure and delegate space within it. Interior design relies more on a creative and imaginative background. Architecture and interior design are impressive in different ways. Architecture can impress with its scale, innovative use of materials and function of the space. Interior design relies more on the emotional response of an individual. The goal of a designer is to play on the empathetic side of a user, whereas an architect focuses on the logical program of the space.

Interior design and architecture have maintained a disconnect from each other in society due to boundaries between the two disciplines. While architecture is the creation of a space, interior design is the focus within the interior of that space. While there are differences between the two, both disciplines can agree that design should help solve a problem or create a better space and environment for the users. The concept of interior architecture is a solution to the gap between architects and interior designers. Interior design can be imaginative and doesn’t necessarily need to relate to the architecture that the space is housed in. Interior architecture calls upon the exterior of a space and acknowledges the architectural language and applies it within the space. This allows the exterior to be connected to the interior in a more holistic way. There will be more continuity between the exterior and interior.

I feel that straight men would lean more towards the field of interior architecture because it would be a way for them to express their design strengths and also explore architectural elements within the space. While the field of architecture remains relatively stationary, interior design is and has been changing rapidly over the years. Who knows what we can expect from here!

What is interior design?

Interior Design is a way to creatively solve a problem. As a designer, we focus on different variables that contribute to the overall function of a space. Location, use, and user are a few key elements that define the direction that a design will follow. While designs can be imaginative and innovative, they should also work to solve a problem within an existing space or work to create a cohesive feeling in new construction.

Interior Design cannot be defined as one single entity. The truth is that design spans over a multitude of elements. Aesthetics are not all that we are interested in. Human emotion and response is significant in a design. Through the use of lighting, materials, and textiles, designers can evoke different emotions from the user.

Importantly, Interior Design is about listening. What does the client want? How far will you be able to negotiate? In the ideal world, interior designers would be able to flaunt their creativity and design anything imaginable. However, this is not always possible. Working with budgets and making others realize your vision is all part of the game – you just need to be ready to play.

Initial Thesis Ideas

Honestly, I understand that half of these don't have any correlation to design/can't be answered but I thought - the more the merrier! - so I put all of the ideas that popped into my head. They WILL be revised!! In all honesty, I feel like # 2 is my favorite because my abroad experience made me realize this and my friend from England mentioned this to me. Check it out!

1. 1.Entertainment becoming less affordable
concerts, movies, sporting events. Scalpers taking advantage of the system
Why are concerts increasing rapidly in price?
What other ways can event-goers get tickets without paying high convenience charges?
What can be done about the resale/scalping of tickets for profit?

2. 2. Lack of healthy dining options. Tackling the fast food empire.
Lack of salad bars, healthy snacks in general. Americans thrive on convenience.
Why do Americans chose fast food establishments?
Where could healthy food chains be located?
Who would benefit/who should the target audience be? Who should the design/branding/products appeal to?

3. 3. Hearing loss in children – being affected by iPods, loud concerts, etc.
hearing loss is not severe but it is more prominent
What ways can people listen to music without damaging their hearing?
How can people be convinced to stray away from using headphones/playing headphones too loudly?

4. 4. Drug commercials – Advertisement or a general concern for your health?
Why does the list of side effects seem to outweigh the benefits?
Can prescription drugs be damaging to your health?
Who creates the advertising/marketing for prescription drugs and how can they be contacted to create a product you feel safe to take?

5. 5. Sports rivalries – the difference between pride and hatred
When does a rivalry become to extreme?
How can pride and respect overcome pride and hatred and violence?
What kind of environment could bridge the gap between extreme rivalries – is this even possible?

6. 6. Homelessness.
How does age, appearance, demographic, and location affect how willing people are to notice and/or help out.
What can be done to get people off the streets and geared towards getting jobs and earning money?
How much would it really take to get cost-effective housing for poor families? What are organizations like Habitat For Humanity doing to achieve this? Is it working?

7. 7. Drinking Age – how this strict enforcement is negatively affecting teens.
Why is the age so young? Why did it change?
Who is at fault when teens drink in unsafe conditions (i.e. out of sight from parents, far from help, etc)?
Is the relationship between teen drinking and driving accidents related to the higher drinking age? (i.e. are kids driving because they don’t want to rely on their parents to pick them up/don’t want their parents to know they are drinking underage?)

8. 8. The Changing Interior Design Industry
How is the industry changing due to easy access to design on the internet/television?
In-store designers, budgets, internet – how all of these things detract from the established role of a designer?
What are innovative ways for designers to establish themselves/stand apart from the crowd?

9. 9. Drinking wine daily
Pros and cons of alcohol consumption on a daily basis. Are there health benefits?
How does this affect a person’s image in society?
What percent of someone’s budget would be spent on alcohol yearly? Is the cost worth the potential health benefits/potential negative image?

10. 10. Addictive behaviors: Texting/Social networking sites
When does it become too much/overboard?
How are relationships among friends, colleagues, and significant others being defined through indirect interaction/socialization?
What will the next big thing be? How will the new youth constantly stay entertained? How can we slow down the overconsumption of technology?

11. Peanut allergies
What can be done in factories to ensure that peanuts are not prepared or in contact with surfaces that food not containing peanuts is produced on?
Why are peanut allergies becoming more prominent?
What food could be used to replace peanuts without sacrificing the integrity of a natural food source?