The following pages document my responses to the online discussion questions in the Spring 2017 version of ARC 211 American Diversity and Design at the University at Buffalo – State University of New York.

1. University at Buffalo – State University of New York
ARC 211 - American Diversity and Design – Spring 2017
Online Discussion Questions
Makenzie DePetrillo
https://www.edfunders.org/engage/impact-groups/equity-impact-group

2. Hi everyone! My name is Makenzie, that’s me in the center of this photo! I am a junior at the University at Buffalo studying Health and Human Services with minors
in counseling, education, and sociology. Taking Diversity and Design this semester has changed the way that I see the world around me. I took this course
understanding that design affects everyone, but never understanding the true depth of what that means. This course, as my discussions will show, has revealed the
many ways that the way our world is designed affects different people in varied ways. Something I found very compelling about this course was that all of the
students were challenged to offer solutions to problems with design that we see in the world, as well as exploring where we stand on important, controversial
design-related issues. This course has challenged me to change my worldview and think about the ways that what I put into the world may be accessible to varying
degrees by individuals who are different from me. I think that everyone can benefit from designing their surroundings in a way that is more equitable for everyone,
and this course has helped me to be more attentive to the ways that I can improve my own spaces.
The following pages document my responses to the online discussion questions in the Spring 2017 version of ARC 211 American Diversity and Design at the
University at Buffalo – State University of New York.

3. What is design?
The author opened her chapter with the example of Ying Zheng, the ruler of the Qin empire, one of the most powerful and enduring empires I the history of
China. She explained how design innovation contributed to Ying Zheng’s success. For example, in the development of weaponry, he resolved many problems by
standardizing parts, and this single innovation gave his armies great advantage over other armies.
For this discussion, let’s move away from 246 B.C. China, and into the U.S. Describe an innovation or invention (can be current or historical) that gave advantage
to a group of people in the U.S. or to the population as a whole. What were the social impacts of this innovation? Were any groups negatively impacted by this
innovation? For example, the telegraph, developed and patented in the United States in 1837 by Samuel Morse, permitted people and commerce to transmit
messages across both continents and oceans almost instantly, with widespread social and economic impacts. This heightened communication speed allowed
business persons to make decisions with up-to-date information, often resulting in big profits. Those without access had to rely on outdated information, which
put them at a disadvantage.
https://blog.mindsumo.com/people-getting-a-job-through-
social-media/

4. One invention that gave an advantage to people in the US, and people around the globe, is the internet. The internet has been around for less than 30 years, and
has arguably changed almost every facet of life as we know it in this country. It has shaped the ways we communicate, the amount of information we have access
to and the ways in which we can access it, the ways we do business, the ways we share and store our memories, the ways we work, the ways we play, and
countless other aspects of our lives. Socially, it is easier for us to make connections than ever before in our history. Someone in Canada can network with someone
in Australia with only the click of a button - a connection that could have been impossible without the internet. This can take the forms of friendships, business
partnerships, relationships, anything. In addition, the internet has led to the creation of countless jobs such as online businesses, social media and marketing,
website development and maintenance, customer service, and the list goes on. We are also able to access information in quantities and at speeds faster than ever
before. Instead of taking the time to look through books or newspapers for information, we can Google search a key word and have endless information on that
topic in seconds. The internet has provided some type of tool to, arguably, most people living in the United States today. That being said, it is not without negative
consequences as well.
One example of the negative impact of the internet is its limited accessibility to individuals who are blind. Although there are options to make the internet more
usable for blind individuals, such as speech generators, there are still limits on the accessibility of it as a basic tool or resource as it is for many sighted individuals. In
addition, internet costs can be high. The cost of devices capable of accessing the internet have a huge range of prices, but are not often incredibly cheap and
completely accessible. On top of that, the cost of maintaining an internet connection, especially in your home, can be expensive as well. The invention of the
internet has also paved the way for new types of crime such as hacking, identity theft, trafficking, and other illegal activity. And as far as information access, for
every positive piece of information the internet provides, there is likely something negative out in the web as well, such as harmful propaganda, cyberbullying, etc.
While the internet has provided numerous advantages to individuals and transformed the ways we live our lives on a daily basis, there are negative aspects of its
invention that must be considered, as well as many individuals who have limited access to an invention that is shaping millions of lives in a drastic way and
providing opportunities they may not be able to access.
http://www.icts.uct.ac.za/internet-networking

5. One example of a design that has been and is
continuing to be influenced by a diversity group
is that of public restrooms, locker rooms, and
similar facilities. Historically, these spaces have
been almost exclusively gendered, often
separating people based on their assumed
gender or gender expression. In recent years, as
transgender identities have become more
visible in mainstream society, the function of
these facilities has slowly but surely begun to
change. So far, this has not always brought
about more inclusive change. For example,
there are many bills and laws throughout the
country (such as House Bill 2 in North Carolina)
that are designed to punish individuals who use
a bathroom that does not correspond with the
gender they were assigned at birth, rather than
their true gender. Gendered spaces have now
become places where transgender individuals
experience severe uncomfortability and
anxiety. On the flip side, trans individuals are
influencing the ways in which these spaces are
beginning to transform. Public facilities are now
more likely to have a gender neutral bathroom
option available, such as the store chain Target
who has made a gender-neutral bathroom
available in all stores. In addition, single-stall
bathrooms in many establishments such as
Starbucks are now gender neutral. For now,
many states still require facilities with more
than one stall to be separated by gender, but
the influence on the design of these facilities
that trans people have had is already becoming
more and more apparent, and no doubt will
continue to change in the coming years. Making
gendered facilities gender neutral allows
individuals of all genders able to safely and
comfortably access them without fear or
uncomfortability.
Understanding Hidden Consequences
The editors state that “diverse participation in the design process, from both professionals and public
citizens alike, yields more equitable results.” This makes sense, but typically has not been the case.
Nonetheless, many marginalized groups have impacted design in ways that have changed our visual and
physical worlds as well as our systems, policies, and institutions. For example, in the 1960s, disability rights
advocates designed media events to raise awareness about barriers in the physical environment. They
persisted with their efforts for decades, and, finally, in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act became
law. It mandated accessibility in public accommodations such as restaurants and stores, public
transportation, communication, and other areas of public life. This dramatically changed our physical
environment (from curb cuts to ramps to automatic doors) and the results made public life more equitable.
Now it’s your turn. Describe a design that was impacted by a diversity group. How and why did it change
form and/or circumstances? (Note that a design can be anything requiring planning and development
prior to the production of an action, system, visual, material object, or environment. Also, keep in mind
that, for our purposes, a diversity group is a group of individuals who are underrepresented in society in
some way—children, older adults, the economically disadvantaged, those with cognitive disabilities, etc.)
https://www.bustle.com/p/this-inclusive-restroom-sign-at-the-
regent-theatre-in-new-zealand-embodies-what-all-bathrooms-
should-be-50105

6. Photos that Changed the World
Where would you place the images shown in Photos That Changed the World into
Croteau and Hoynes' diagram entitled “Model of Media and the Social World”? Identify a
mass media photograph taken in your own lifetime that has served as an icon of an
event. (Feel free to add an attachment.) What roles does this photo play in the
communication of the event?
The images in Photos That Changed the World are media messages/products that are
produced and spread by the media industry, then seen and interpreted by readers and
audiences.
A photo taken during my lifetime that is an icon of an event is a photo of a young black
woman standing peacefully and unarmed in front of police who are reaching for her, both
wearing full riot gear. The photo was taken at a Black Lives Matter protest in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana following the murder of Alton Sterling by police. The woman, named Iesha,
attended the protest to make sure that her 5-year-old son knew that she was standing up
for his rights. Immediately following the release of the photo, there was a heavy response
from online communities as well as many media outlets. Many people expressed
sentiment that the photo would be incredibly historic and a classic representation of the
Black Lives Matter movement for years to come - a point the photo is already proving less
than a year after it was taken.
This photo communicates not just that specific protests, but many of the grievances of the
Black Lives Matter movement and the injustices they perpetually face. The foundation of
the Black Lives Matter movement is that black people in this country are unfairly treated
by police, often met with unnecessary and unprovoked excessive force. This has resulted
in countless deaths, injuries, and unjust arrests of black individuals by police forces in this
country and contributes to a larger criminal justice structure that oppresses black
individuals. The protest was aimed at combating excessive force by police. The irony in this
photo is that as this woman is peacefully protesting police violence, police are violent with
her in response. Many BLM protesters have come face to face with the very violence and
injustice they are protesting while at these rallies/marches. The woman is standing still,
not attacking the police in any way, and yet they are dressed in full riot gear coming at her
with handcuffs for no reason other than her occupying of a space they did not want her in.
This photo is a classic representation of the foundation of this movement.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36759711

7. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36759711
Hats as Communication Design
Typically, we do not think of hats as elements of
mass media or social media. However, the two
hats (red and pink) discussed in the articles
certainly have taken on that role. Why are the
two hats (red and pink) mentioned in the
articles vehicles of communication design?
What meanings do each of the two hats carry?
In terms of communication design, how are they
similar? And how are they different from one
another?
The two hats mentioned in the articles became vehicles of communication design because they took on strong symbolic meanings. In the case of the MAGA hat, it
had a very simplistic, "classic American" (because it was a trucker hat) feel to the design. It very obviously represented the Republican party, and did not contain
any complex or clean cut designs that had been associated with political establishment that its primary wearers had grown to be resentful of. Through these
symbolic representation, they communicated a message that working class conservative Americans could relate to and rally behind. For Trump supporters, the hat
became a symbol of being a part of the so called "silent majority," it unified them behind Trump's narrative which they felt was under attack from the other side of
the political spectrum. For individuals on the other side, the hat also became a symbol of the harmful things they feel Trump represents: misogyny, racism,
transphobia, homophobia, and hatred.
The pink hat represented a form of communication design for a much different reason. While the march was in response to Trump's election, both it and the hat
symbolized much more than that. In terms of communication design, the pink hat represented rallying behind something that Trump had attacked during the
Access Hollywood leak. Many women felt that their right to bodily autonomy was under attack in this presidential campaign, and especially their right to dignity
and the need for consent that were widely discussed after said audio leaked. The meaning of these hats was one of reclamation of something that had been
disrespected, as well as a symbol of unity among marchers, specifically women. Another meaning of the hat that was not discussed in this article was one of
exclusion of trans women. Following the march, many individuals who identified as transgender/nonbinary, as well as their allies, felt that the hat symbolized their
exclusion from the broader feminist movement. Despite the fact that a specific body part was being attacked, many felt that the strong association of that body
part with womanhood and femininity excluded those who identified as transgender, whose bodies often do not correspond to cisgender norms.
In terms of communication design, both of the hats differ and are alike on many levels. Some more obvious similarities are that they are both hats, can both be
worn at almost any time, and often both prompt a strong reaction (though it may be argued that the Trump hat often comes with a stronger reaction). They are
also similar in their symbolic natures. Both of the hats represent rallying together for causes they care about. They both have very strong political associations, and
have simple designs that are easily recognizable. As far as their differences, both of the hats typically represent nearly opposite party affiliations. While the Trump
hat represents rallying behind a person and a party/political platform, the pussy hat represents reclaiming ownership of something that had been attacked. Both of
the hats attracted very different types of people who believed very different things, but in reality, their symbolic nature makes them more similar than different in
terms of what they accomplish. Both of the hats are controversial for many reasons, but symbolize something much bigger than the person wearing it.
Photo credit: http://vesselnews.io/sjw-freaks-student-wearing-hateful-pro-trump-hat-stolen/,https://www.charissapraydesigns.com/listing/488332406/pussyhat-
project-knit-beanie-with

8. Henry Ford's social impact spans so many aspects of American life that it is almost impossible to imagine a world where his innovations did not exist. The
production of the Model T car on an assembly line created a mass demand for American workers. There were countless jobs to be filled with competitive wages
which lowered unemployment and essentially helped to develop the modern working/middle class as it is today. Ford's innovations also made cars widely
accessible by Americans for the first time.1
This transformed the way that people lived, worked, and navigated the world. It expanded opportunities for work, travel,
and living for the American people. The development of the assembly line also had an impact on the manufacturing industry as a whole, as the design approach was
applied to many other products. Society was changed forever due to the innovations of Henry Ford. Cars have become our main mode of transportation. They
facilitated the development of suburbs as more people were able to commute to work, they allow people to travel for business or personal interest, and they have
generally made humans more mobile in navigating their worlds. In addition, Ford revolutionized the manufacturing industry and created the means for many of the
products that we use today to be made. I absolutely think these changes remain today. Even as we move to more automated manufacturing, it was still Ford's
innovations that led us here. Manufacturing is what helped rejuvenate our economy during World Wars, it has helped us to develop as a nation, and has informed
the way that technology will continue to create in the future.
There is a reason why many politicians want to bring back the manufacturing jobs of the past. They were, at times, what kept this nation’s economy running. They
employed countless people and made more products readily available to the general public. But, as Maurice Conti explains, this approach is not sustainable nor
modern2
. We are moving into an age where computers are going to be our partners, not our tools. I think, over the next twenty years, more and more
manufacturing processes will be automated and we will see a significant decrease in the number of jobs that are held in this industry. We will require less human
power and more machine power to produce the products that we need. In addition, we will also have access to a new array of products that we never could have
imagined. As Conti exemplified, the designs of light, aerodynamic drones, planes, or cars are not able to be produced by humans. The products of the future will
come from machines, not people. I think this will impact society in many ways. First, we will need to find a new way to employ and/or care for the lower/working
class as a society. As long as we live in a stratified society, we will always need to have "unskilled" jobs that people can fill, and if manufacturing is decreasing in
employability (not to mention sustainability), we will need to think of a better option. In addition, we will have access to technology we never would have imagined.
Things like auto-piloted cars are already in the works, and the lives that we live now may be completely transformed in the near future. We will be moving into a
much more automated society, where not only do we have information and products at our fingertips, but more and more people have access to it, and there is
more to be had as well.
1
Heskett, John. 2004. Industrial Design. 1st ed. New York: Thames and Hudson.
2
Conti, Maurice. 2016. "The Incredible Inventions Of Intuitive AI". Ted.Com.
https://www.ted.com/talks/maurice_conti_the_incredible_inventions_of_intuitive_ai?language=en.
Industrial Design and Incredible Inventions
In his chapter on industrial design (written in 1987), historian John Heskett claims that the methods
of mass production introduced by Henry Ford in the U.S. involved new concepts of the standardization
and integration of the production line that were adopted across the world. With Ford’s method, work
could be completed by relatively unskilled workers; it was more efficient and with this method,
products were made more quickly and cheaply than previously possible. What were some of the
social consequences of Ford’s production line? In other words, how did this system change our U.S.
society? Do any of those changes remain with us today? Now consider Maurice Conti’s TED Talk, and
the predictions he makes about production. How do you think manufacturing processes will change in
the next twenty years? How do you think these changes will affect our U.S. society?
https://www.thinglink.
com/scene/622807124
468039680

9. IDEA awards and Cradle to Cradle
Which of the 2016 IDEA Gold Award products
seems to defy the Cradle-to-Cradle concept
developed by architect William McDonough
and chemist Dr. Michael Braungart? How does
this product resist or disregard the concept?
Do you know of any products that embrace
Cradle-to-Cradle design? If so, please describe.
One of the 2016 IDEA Gold Award products that seemed to defy the Cradle-to-Cradle concept was the emergency medical system. The emergency medical system is
something that has potential to help and potentially save the lives of many people, so while it is a good design, I wouldn't say that it matches the cradle-to-cradle
concept. Two of the main facets of Cradle-to-Cradle are using only renewable energy, and keeping all products in a continuous cycle.1
In the description from the
IDSA website, it was stated that the system was run by an independent generator. This directly goes against the need for exclusively renewable energy as defined by
Cradle-to-Cradle. If the generator is electric, then charging it requires a large amount of water and burning of fossil fuels in order to create the electrical power. Both
of these have harmful impacts on the environment - whether tapping into our already shrinking water supply, or adding to air pollution issues. If the generator uses
diesel, it likely carries many contaminants which can pollute the air and cause sickness to communities. Aside from the environmental impact, neither of these forms
of energy are renewable. It will keep using up resources until we simply run out. Another aspect of Cradle-to-Cradle that this design goes against would be keeping
all products in a continuous cycle. While it may be somewhat unavoidable due to the nature of medical care, most supplies and materials are not reusable due to
biological hazards and the risk that contaminated materials pose to other patients. Many laws prevent reusing medical equipment on different individuals, and even
in instances where you can, you will likely use nonrenewable material to disinfect as well. While it may be possible to rework this design to represent Cradle-to-
Cradle, it does not follow this concept in its current form.
One example of a design that follows the Cradle-to-Cradle concept is "plastic" bags, cups, cutlery, etc. developed by the company Avani. Their products are made of
100% biodegradable materials. They can all be reused multiple times, and when the consumer decides that they are too run down to use again, they biodegrade
completely in only 3 months and emit no toxic residue when doing so. The products are made with cassava root starch, meaning the materials are all completely
natural and renewable and cause no harm to the environment.2
They are even edible! So, while the materials cannot necessarily be made into anything else to be
used again, they come from a renewable, sustainable source and produce only natural waste that could potentially serve as fertilizer to tend to the soil that
produces the products. This represents the cradle-to-cradle design, as well as a solution for a major pollution issue (overuse of plastic, resources needed to create
plastic being unrenewable) currently facing our world today.
1
"Introduction To Cradle To Cradle". 2014. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMsF1P-_vWc.
2
"Eco-Bags - Avani Eco". 2017. Avanieco.Com. https://www.avanieco.com/product/eco-bags.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/16/world/cassava-plastic/

10. One building from the movie Ten Buildings That Changed America that has sensibilities about the past
is the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, VA. This building was designed by Thomas Jefferson and
existed wholly to rebel against traditional monarchs that he had experienced or lived under in his
past. In addition, the building signified the United States' belonging to the western world (with its
design based off of the Mason Carree of Rome), but as distinctly separate from Britain.1
Even though
this building was meant to help facilitate the future of Virginia, and the future of governance, it is
informed by the past in its intentional deviation from traditional design and reference to Roman
design. This building challenges their cultural context because the building was designed during a time
where Jefferson and the other founding fathers were structuring America. This was a nation, or rather
a land, that was primarily influenced by a monarchy, and his intention with this building was not only
to incept a new way of governing, but to use architecture as a way to symbolize the growth of the
nation and the state away from that type of rule. The building in and of itself challenges the context
that it was created in by serving as a way for Jefferson to symbolize the new way of governing in
America that was explicitly deviant from past forms of rule.
One building from Jeanne Gang's TED talk that has a sensibility about the future is her Center for
Social Justice Leadership. In a more general sense, the idea of relationship building discussed by Gang,
as well as the purpose of this building, is inherently future-oriented. Unlike the VA Capitol, whose
design was intended to reference the Roman past, this buildings purpose is to facilitate growth in the
future.2
Social justice work is inherently future oriented, a center whose main purpose is to facilitate
conversations about justice is acting to influence the future, and what justice can look like down the
road. In addition, the intentional facilitation of relationships acts as a vehicle for this change to come
about. The design of the building is fully intended to influence the future. I think that this design
reflects its cultural context more than it challenges it because the context through which social
change is brought about is through relationship building and conversation. On a smaller scale, like one
that would be facilitated by this type of center, social justice is sought and facilitated through difficult
conversations, something that Gang says her building is intentionally purposed to facilitate.
Therefore, the design is directly creating those conversations, and thus is a reflection of the social
justice context in which the building was created and designed.
1
"10 Buildings That Changed America". 2013. 10 Buildings That Changed America.
http://www.pbs.org/program/ten-that-changed-america/10-buildings-changed-america/.
2
Gang, Jeanne. 2016. "Buildings That Blend Nature And City". Ted.Com.
https://www.ted.com/talks/jeanne_gang_buildings_that_blend_nature_and_city.
Module 4
Mies Van der Rohe describes architecture as “The will of the epoch translated into space.” Andrew
Ballantyne describes architecture as the background for life. Jeanne Gang describes it as the act of
building relationships. All agree that architecture can change based on context and culture. Choose
two works of architecture from any of your materials this week—How do each of these buildings
either reflect or challenge their cultural contexts?
http://aasarchitecture.com/2014/
12/arcus-center-social-justice-
leadership-studio-
gang.html/arcus-center-for-social-
justice-leadership-by-studio-gang-
15

11. Ballantyne and Zumthor
Andrew Ballantyne and Peter
Zumthor present ideas about
architecture that seem to value the
sensorial and material elements of
life. How are Ballantyne’s and
Zumthor’s viewpoints on
architecture alike? More
importantly, how do they differ?
Two ways that Zumthor and Ballantyne are similar are in their discussions of the importance of buildings being
inhabited by life, and the habituation of buildings into the background of said life. Zumthor writes that a good building
has “traces of human life,” not in a physical sense such as scratches on tarnish, but in a deep and meaningful sense
where you can feel the aura of the passing of time in the space.1
Ballantyne discusses a similar point where he writes
that inhabitants are “investing the dwelling with their ethos,” and without it the building is “as lifeless as an empty
shell.”2
Both of these statements reflect the idea that people bring feelings and emotions to buildings. Buildings may be
the background of our everyday lives, and they may exist only in a physical sense, but what I gathered from these two
ideas is that the feelings and emotions of the people dwelling within them give the building a new meaning. My
understanding of this can be summarized in the difference between a house and a home. A house is a space where
people can eat, sleep, and live, but a home is something that makes you feel comforted and loved. The ethos that is
taken on by buildings, in these contexts, seems to reflect that idea that the life within a dwelling can affect how one
feels and operates within it. A second point that the authors converge on is the discussion of habituation. Ballantyne
says that buildings are our automatic background, and we only cease to view them this way when our habits are not
conveniently accommodated. Zumthor says that buildings should flow and be the “background and envelope of
everyday life.” Both of these points were memorable to me because they seemed to be less about the impact that
architecture has on a person, but more about what it can facilitate for them. A building that is serving its purpose is one
that allows you to live the life you want or need to lead, it is one that is comfortable and habitual and does not require
stress for you to adjust to. The idea of architecture being a “background” sounds as if it is not having a strong impact on
life, but in reality, it just means that the space is accomplishing exactly what it is intended to.
Two points that the authors differ on is the focus on the human relationship to buildings and viewing production of
buildings as instinctual rather than purposeful or intentional. Ballantyne focuses on the importance of the bond
between the habituated building and its habitants, as opposed to Zumthor who focuses primarily on the emotional
need to have a human presence within buildings. Ballantyne is essentially taking the importance of a human presence a
step further and looking at the relationship between the person and the building as opposed to just the emotional
impact of the presence of humans. He states that we can “value the things about a building that matter to us when we
are using the building and it is working well.” My understanding is that this goes a step beyond habituation and into an
appreciation for the designs that allow our daily routines to become habit. The authors do not necessarily differ on this
point, but rather it is something that Zumthor did not mention. Finally, the two authors differ on the idea that
production of a building as instinctual or purposeful and intentional. Zumthor says that small details must all come
together to form a whole that is bigger than the sum of its parts, and that architects act purposefully and thoughtfully in
order to allow the buildings to “flow” and have the meaning that he intends. Contrasting this, Ballantyne implies that
construction is instinctual, and “when we find ourselves in situations that our instincts recognize, they tell us what to
do.” This view focuses less on the purposeful composition of a building and the intention behind each detail and how
they will come together and more on what he sees as a natural progression of an architects’ work. Despite these
contrasting views, Zumthor also mentions that there are very few “common values” left in architecture that people all
share, so even if work is intentional, everyone seems to start from the same few “starting places” that may or may not
be seen as “instinctual.”
1
Zumthor, Peter. 2010. Thinking Architecture. 1st ed. Basel: Birkhäuser.
2
Ballantyne, Andrew. 2011. "Architecture, Life, And Habit". The Journal Of Aesthetics And Art Criticism, 43-49.
https://www.launchfcu.com/blog/5-
questions-to-ask-yourself-before-
buying-a-home/

12. I grew up in a town called Lockport, New York, about twenty-five minutes from UB North Campus. The character of my town was very heavily influenced by
planning. The vast majority of the commercialized shopping centers, stores, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. were all located on one road, Transit Road. This road
is extremely long and runs through the entire town, with the Main St/"Downtown" area located at the end of the road.
The residential homes and schools are all behind this road. The heaviest traffic, without a doubt, is located on Transit. The school and residential areas see very
little traffic outside of people who live in the area. This makes a lot of sense, as Levy writes "The community's planners will also be concerned with the location of
facilities like schools and social service centers, both for the convenience of the people served and for reinforcing the development of a desirable land-use" (p. 2).
Having the schools in areas where there were many family homes made it easy for parents to get their kids to and from school. It also meant that school buses
would interfere very little with traffic on busier roads, or throughout the town in general.
There were very small businesses or public locations located throughout the more residential areas, but they attracted very little traffic (i.e. nursing homes,
laundromats, etc.). The town really seemed to meet everyone’s needs. It was very small, and all of the schools were located in the middle of areas that were mostly
family homes. The very few apartment buildings in the town were located in areas that were a bit more commercialized, but much less so than Transit Rd. Levy
writes, "Decisions about the residential uses of land will affect housing prices and vacancies—in short who can live in the community. Those decisions will have
effects on the economy of the community and the demands that rely on the community for educational, social, and other services." (p. 1) Based on my own
experience living in the town and living in an apartment, I can attest to this statements relevance to Lockport. Because all of the schools in the town were located in
areas with mostly single family homes, the apartments were usually occupied with older people, younger couples, or single individuals. These apartments were
located on the outside of the town and in slightly busier areas than the residential homes, usually with small businesses that generate some outside traffic, but not
very much.
The organization of the town had a few small drawbacks as well. Although the town was designed well as far as traffic patterns, it was also located in an area where
there was a lot of snow, and high need for plows and salt. Because of this, the town is locally infamous for being filled with potholes. The potholes in the residential
areas were often ignored, while any on Transit Rd. or other busier roads were taken care of almost immediately. This led to many damaged cars (including my
mom’s) and many local complaints. So, while the main traffic of the town was not affected, there was also a negative effect on many of the families in the town.
Levy
John Levy’s article, “An Overview: The Need
for Planning,” discussed ways in which
planning can determine the characteristics
of a place. For example, some smaller
towns restrict the heights of buildings to
maintain a certain scale. How did planning
define the character of the place in which
you grew up?
https://www.pinterest.com/donnalavp/lockport/

13. Pruitt Igoe, Talen, Larson
Imagine that you are part of an urban
planning and design firm working with
Emily Talen (author of “Design That
Enables Diversity”) and Kent Larson (who
gave the TED Talk "Brilliant Designs to
Fit More People in Every City" The thee
of you have been tasked with developing
a plan to rebuild Pruitt Igoe in St. Louis.
City officials told the three of you that
that they want to do it right this time.
Identify three strategies for rebuilding
Pruitt Igoe in ways that promise to be
more successful. What would Talen do?
What would Larson do? What would you
do? How would your strategies differ
from those of the original urban
planners/designers of the project? Why
would your strategies be more effective?
Photo credit:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/886646
86384102414/ (housing justice logo)

14. Pruitt-Igoe, and all its potential, seemed to me to be a bit ahead of its time. The idea of attracting suburbanized individuals to areas in order to improve the
conditions of slums did not have its place in this era of American history. While many writers from this week discuss the rising popularity of cities, during this time,
many people with the money and resources to rebuild slums were not interested in staying within the city. The idea of the American dream and the rising
popularity of the home was moving them out, and there was little (in my opinion) that planners could have done to prevent this. When considering the failures, put
potential successes, of an establishment like Pruitt Igoe, the writers and lecturers from this week, as well as myself, would all have slightly different views.
Kent Larson's ideas regarding technology, moving walls, and innovative transportation are far beyond the times of Pruitt Igoe. Many of his most
transformative suggestions would not have been possible or even conceivable at the time this development was being designed. Because of this, I will focus more
on his argument for smaller neighborhoods where every service a person needed could be accessed within 1 mile (20 min walk) of their home.1
I think this is a
suggestion that he would have given for Pruitt Igoe, and as a solution for the city slums. If Pruitt Igoe had been designed as a self-sustainable neighborhood, it
would have bolstered the individuals who were already living there (in the general area), instead of relying on income from people who needed to come into the
neighborhood. Designing spaces that are innovative for individuals already occupying space, and making the life of someone who is poor (who likely has minimal
access to transportation, and would need all of their resources to be close to home) would be a more productive way of revitalizing a space. I believe Larson would
have reimagined Pruitt-Igoe as a self-sustained neighborhood. This would also be meaningful in addressing the issues he mentions later on in the talk such as
environmental damage and space utilization: with fewer needs for cars and public transportation.
Talen's ideas also seemed to be a bit ahead of the time of Pruitt Igoe, and her suggestions would also differ significantly from Larson's and from mine. A key
question that Talen presents is "How does place provide “cross-cutting identities” that enable, sustain, or manage diversity?" She later mentions, "First, that
planners accept it as their legitimate function. They would have to be open to the possibility that design can enable diversity, and that to effectuate this, certain
skills and types of knowledge would need to be nurtured more explicitly"2
(p. 242). This seems to directly contradict one of the defining features of Pruitt Igoe: its
segregation. I speculate that Talen would propose an environment where people of multiple identities and backgrounds could come together and flourish as a
collective unit. She may have designed spaces similar to the way that Lang (from last week's module) developed hers, with the intention of forming social
connections and promoting diversity and justice. However, I don’t know that her methods would have necessarily been productive. Pruitt Igoe was erected at a
time where diversity was not on people's minds, or even their radar. People were actively engaging in segregation and solidifying it through the suburbanization of
American landscapes. The slums that Pruitt Igoe was designed to improve were inhabited by mostly people of color, and the diversity aspect may have been
something that inadvertently led to its downfall. Talen suffers from a similar problem to Larson, her ideas may have been too ahead of her time.
My suggestions for Pruitt Igoe differ slightly from both of these writers. The story of Pruitt Igoe reminded me of the issue of gentrification which we are currently
facing in Buffalo. Turning spaces that are largely inhabited by low income individuals into new, innovative spaces that they will have trouble accessing, or at least
maintaining, is a recipe for disaster. In my opinion, a better solution would have been to invest the government money that went toward Pruitt Igoe into
rehabilitation of the current homes and spaces. Giving people access to services that will enable their current homes to rebuilt seems more productive, in my
opinion, than creating new spaces that are largely inaccessible. Relying on low-income individuals to be able to maintain new structures sets individuals up for
failure, and your structures will likely end up in similar condition to the ones that were already there (as we saw with Pruitt Igoe). Investing in the things you already
have helps the current residents, the government, and the environment all at once.
1
Larson, Kent. 2012. "Brilliant Designs To Fit More People In Every City". Ted.Com.
https://www.ted.com/talks/kent_larson_brilliant_designs_to_fit_more_people_in_every_city?nolanguage=en%23t-367652.
2
Talen, E. 2006. "Design That Enables Diversity: The Complications Of A Planning Ideal". Journal Of Planning Literature 20 (3): 233-249.
doi:10.1177/0885412205283104.

15. In 1876, Frederick Law Olmsted believed the Buffalo was one of the best planned cities. This was primarily due to the general layout of the city, including its streets,
public places, and grounds. The city was centralized around major streets which all extended outwards from a common point, Niagara Square. His original three-
park plan fit elegantly among the streets, and could be connected with pathways that blurred the lines between parks. This created opportunities for a bustling,
healthy city with a naturally flowing, beautiful, and seemingly naturally occurring park system. In addition, later on, Olmsted combined one of his parks with a
larger cemetery, as well as the grounds for the old psychiatric hospital. These three spaces all blended together perfectly to create the large "Central Park" like
feature that the city had originally expected, while still giving the opportunity for Olmsted to design his park system with the connected pathways. The natural fit of
the park system into the structure of the city led Olmsted to praise the organization of this city. 1
If I am being honest, I doubt that Olmsted would still believe that this city has the best organization in the world. A primary and more obvious reason being that one
of the sites that connected so beautifully and naturally with his park, the psychiatric hospital, is no longer being used (Or if it is, I believe it is being renovated into a
hotel). That area of the city does not flow as well as he had naturally intended. In addition, Buffalo's recent development, in my opinion, is truly drawing back from
the ability to appreciate the natural beauty which Olmsted held dear. Our city is becoming increasingly gentrified, segregated, and many areas are deteriorating. In
addition, as mentioned in the video, many of the more natural elements of design that Olmsted praised are becoming more commodified and only accessible by
those with money. For example, when we consider the harbor and Canalside, these are very developed areas, but largely used by people who live in the suburbs
and do not even reside in the city of Buffalo. They represent commodification of natural spaces and inaccessibility due to costs. Other developments like the
Scajacquada expressway, the abandonment of the central terminal, and the disorganization of downtown would likely contribute to his change in opinion as well.
His parks remain, but the city does not possess the same cohesiveness and natural beauty it once did. Industrialization, gentrification, and extreme development
have resulted in a city that Olmsted would be shocked to see.
1
"Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing Western New York". 2015. PBS. http://www.pbs.org/video/2365468061/.
Olmsted
Displaying his plan at the 1876 Centennial
Exposition in Philadelphia, Frederick Law
Olmsted stated that "Buffalo is the best
planned city, as to its streets, public places,
and grounds, in the United States, if not in
the world." What was the basis for this
claim? Would Olmsted still make that claim
today? Why or why not?
http://beltmag.com/tied-together-and-torn-apart-by-
parkways/

16. Walter Hood
Identify something that should be memorialized either
on UB's campus or in your hometown. Imagine that
you are the person who will oversee this project, and
that you are using Walter Hood's 'triad of
investigations' as your approach to the project. What
would your landscape intervention
commemorate/memorialize? How will you use Hood's
'triad of investigations' to design a new landscape
intervention? What do you imagine that the design will
be? (Either written or visual descriptions are
acceptable).
Photo credit: https://blog.suny.edu/2012/06/ub-
introduces-gender-neutral-housing-option-for-
students/

17. I think that, when considering Hood's triad of investigations, something worth memorializing or adding design to
would be the Ellicott Complex on UB North Campus. When I think about the design of the complex, it is interesting to
look at architecturally. It is very easy to identify the complex on its own, and it stands out on the campus, but once
you take a closer look, many of the walkways are dirty, the walls plain, and the terrace design empty. The Ellicott
Complex in and of itself could absolutely be revived and memorialized in a way that brings the space back to life.
Thinking about Walter Hood's triad of investigations (the everyday and mundane, commemoration, and life ways)1
I
think that Ellicott could be redesigned in a way that brought new life into the space, but that also incorporated these
three focuses. When I think about what this could look like, I think about the Governor’s residence halls. The
governor’s residence halls are designed in a very simple way that allows for the everyday and mundane tasks and
livelihood of students to take place. There are readily accessible study spaces, food locations, and resources
available, as well as neatly organized dorm rooms. However, what governors also has is a multitude of murals on the
majority of the walls in the complex. These do not interfere with the everyday and mundane, but also enhance it.
When giving directions in governors, most turns and pathways are determined by which murals you walk by. "Take a
left at the academies mural to get to the dining hall." These murals make living within these hard-to-distinguish
hallways more accessible and simple, while also commemorating the lives of the students who lived there in years
past and allowing current students to have their own life represented by the constant addition of murals and
changing of old ones. This opens up possibilities to represent the life ways of many different people and groups
within one similar design structure, while also enhancing the functionality of the building and ability of students to
navigate the everyday and mundane.
When I think about governors, I think about how much better Ellicott could be if it incorporated this same idea. The
features of Ellicott are a bit more diversified than in governors, but there are still issues with struggling to distinguish
between buildings and areas, especially within hallways. The walls are bare, and almost every hallway looks exactly
the same. The outside is mostly red brick, with the occasional view of an office or the dining hall. If we could find a
way to commemorate the existence of students while also representing the many different life ways here at UB,
Ellicott could be an even more unique place than it already is. Perhaps this could take the form of murals, sculptures
or art pieces on the terrace or in hallways. Allow students to embellish the background of their everyday lives. Like
past authors have discussed, it’s important to see design as a background, but also acknowledge the ways that it
facilitates life and existence in specific ways. For example, if we turned the terrace into a social center where
students could hold events, art shows, open mic nights, etcetera, it would provide people with a way to foster
connections, and also commemorate and enhance the space that is currently serving no specific purpose other than
being a walkway. We could design clear pathways between buildings and have murals or engraved pictures designed
by students on the walls of every building. We could make them distinguishable and more aesthetically appealing, as
well as using the network of buildings to create a natural center in the terrace that served as a meeting/social space
for students. This idea could help to commemorate the buildings, the people they are named after, and the
students/departments within the school all the while enhancing the everyday lives of the students who live there.
1
Hood, Walter, and Megan Basnak. 2016. Diverse Truths: Unveiling The Hidden Layers Of The Shadow Catcher
Commemoration From Diversity And Design. 1st ed.

18. Two design principles, Design to the Margins and Speak
to the Future, are largely reflected in the MLK Jr
monument: Design to the Margins emphasizes the
importance of marginalized groups acting as leaders,
and privileged people acting as followers.1
This
monument is of a black man who is breaking free from a
“mountain of despair,” and symbolizing hope. MLK was
a leader who had experienced the same oppression he
was fighting to end. He was a member of a marginalized
group who gained a followership and used his own
voice to fight for his rights, and those of other African
American people. The symbolism of MLK as a literal
groundbreaking, or “mountain-breaking” leader
symbolizes the role that he played and draws attention
to the necessity of marginalized groups to be at the
helm of their own movements, as MLK Jr. bravely did.
Speak to the Future is represented in this monument by
the fact that the body of MLK Jr is left incomplete. This,
to me, symbolizes the fact that his dream has not fully
been realized. We still live in a time where African
Americans face rampant racism, and the unfinished
nature of MLK himself in this monument represents the
fact that there is still much to do. My one critique of the
statue is that it does not represent the need to adapt
and change approaches, as represented by this
principle. A large debate currently in activist circles
revolves around modernizing the nonviolent
approaches used in past movements. We know that
they must be improved upon in order to tackle our
current situation, and while this monument doesn't
necessarily provide answers, it makes it evident that the
work he started is not yet finished.
1
equityXdesign. 2016. "Racism And Inequity Are
Products Of Design. They Can Be
Redesigned.". Medium.
https://medium.com/@multiplyequity/racism-
and-inequity-are-products-of-design-they-can-be-
redesigned-12188363cc6a.
Charles Davis and equityXdesign
Critique either the MLK Memorial or the National Museum of African American History and
Culture using equityXdesign’s core beliefs and/or design principles. (Use the beliefs or principles
that are most relevant to your critique rather than all of them.)
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2011/10/16/presi
dent-obama-martin-luther-king-jr-memorial-dedication-we-
will-overcome

19. The image that I chose is a photo from the Women’s March on DC. To me, this sign signifies the call to action for white allyship in the fight for racial justice. This
woman is asserting the fact that even though thousands upon thousands of white women showed up for the women’s march, it is that same demographic who
primarily voted for Trump. I identify as white, and after reading a few opinion pieces on this particular photo, it became clear that white women needed to show
their allyship within their social spheres for issues that don’t directly affect them, as well as ones that do. Showing up to a march and taking selfies is disrespectful
to black women who have been extremely active in activist communities since the election, especially when white women are largely inattentive to intersectional
issues.
From the perspective of a black person, or specifically this black woman, this photo represents accountability. While for me, I see this photo as a reminder of my
need to be an ally, this woman was likely attempting to strike against white feminism, or feminism that is not intersectional. Black people have been fighting
against injustice for centuries, and it is largely black people or other people of color who show up for other rallies such as Black Lives Matter or No Ban No Wall.
Meanwhile, white women are largely absent from those protests. This photo asserts the responsibility of white women to show up for other marginalized groups,
in addition to the women’s march.
The Brookes
The abolitionist poster, the Brookes, is an iconic image that often is
included in exhibits that explore issues of race and power. It was
commissioned by Thomas Clarkson in 1788, and the Committee of
the Abolition of Slavery used it to inform and shock the public.
While some consider the poster as an important component of the
abolitionist campaign, it recently “has been strongly criticized by
some individuals and groups of African heritage as providing a very
limited view of the history of the transatlantic slave trade,
resistance and abolition (Hudson 2007).” The lesson here is that
how a viewer sees an image is dependent upon his/her social,
economic, and cultural position. Keeping this in mind, find another
iconic graphic that addresses racial issues and post it for others in
your group to view. (Add it to your response by clicking on the
picture in the tools section. Do not add it as an attachment that
needs to be opened.) How do you interpret the graphic? What is its
meaning? Now imagine that someone from a racial and cultural
background different than your own is looking at the same graphic.
Briefly describe this person. How might s/he interpret its meaning?
How might this differ from your interpretation? What are the
possible reasons for these differences? (Consider the three
assessment principles mentioned in the article to help you: a
technology of vision, an instrument of empathy, and a symbol of
control.)
http://www.theroot.com/woman-in-viral-photo-from-women-
s-march-to-white-female-1791524613

20. One place in my house that I feel represents my ethnic
background is our kitchen. I live with my aunt, who has a very
large kitchen where family is able to come together. I am
Italian, and my Nana loves to make her mother's ravioli recipe.
If I am being honest, my family does not have very much
connection to our culture besides my Nana's culinary skills. She
rarely makes these ravioli, so when she does, it is usually when
something special within the family is going on. When she
cooks, she tells us stories of when she was a child cooking with
her mother, and I always end up feeling more connected to
her. I don’t know that I would necessarily describe my kitchen
as "ethnic"- but it is where my primary connection to my
background stems from.
I grew up in Lockport, NY and one space I can think of that was
heavily influenced by culture was DeFlippo’s restaurant right
down the street from my dad’s house. While we only ate there
a few times, every time we went it felt exactly like being in my
kitchen. It is an Italian restaurant that is family run, and you
can truly tell by the way the employees interact with each
other. My nana once said, upon visiting, that she was very
impressed with the food and my dad said that even though it
was not as good as his moms’ food, it reminded her of him
because the restaurant looked like her house a bit. Food, for
me, is something that is very connected to my culture, and that
shines through at this restaurant. It feels comforting to be
there knowing how happy and reminiscent it makes my nana
feel.
Landscape Stories
First, let’s start with your own home. Describe a place in your home (indoors and/or
outdoors) that you think of as representative of your own ethnic background and discuss
why you consider this place to be ‘ethnic’. –OR-- Describe an object in your home that
you think of as representative of your ethnic background and discuss why this object is
considered to be ‘ethnic’. (If possible, add photo/s.) Is this object or place something
that you will keep or continue when you establish your own home? Why or why not?
Now let’s move into your community. In “Landscape Stories,” the authors show how
landscape architects develop a historical narrative that sifts through and interprets the
culture and material of underrepresented groups. Think about the community where
you grew up. Describe and discuss any evidence of cultural influences on the physical
environment in your community. If possible, describe evidence of the cultural influence
of an underrepresented group. (If possible, add photo/s.) Is this cultural influence being
acknowledged or preserved from future generations? Why or why not?

21. I am strongly opposed to the use of ethnic references
in sports branding. Ethnic identities are something
that belong exclusively to the people who hold them,
and it is not a sports team's jobs to take that identity
and commodify it just to make money off of branding,
or to represent a team. Especially with Native
American teams, using identities as mascots can serve
as a way to perpetuate harmful stereotypes and
almost dehumanizes the individuals that it is supposed
to "honor" or "represent." Amanda Blackhorse is a
Native American woman who sued the Washington
Redskins and ended up getting their copyright
revoked, and she says, "Native peoples don’t have a
sense of belonging in this country. Names like this,
making us exist as mascots and symbols, make it
worse"1
Symbolizing human beings through the use of
mascots erases their existence as actual people.
Especially for Native communities, whose culture is
appropriated, erased, and manipulated in almost
every sector of society, it is crucial to remove their
imagery from spaces that they do not designate it
appropriate. It is not up for non-Native people, or any
people who do not identify with an ethnicity, to
decide how it should be represented. And it is unfair
to the ethnic groups to paint their identities as
"fighting," or "violent," or to use disrespectful
language/imagery (i.e. redsk*n, Cleveland Indians
caricature of a Native person, etc.). Ethnic identities
should be preserved, not exploited for commercial
gain.
1
Boren, Cindy. 2014. "Who Is Amanda Blackhorse In
Redskins’ Trademark Case?". Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-
lead/wp/2014/06/18/who-is-amanda-
blackhorse-in-redskins-trademark-case/.
Appropriation in Sports
Recent controversies about sports branding focus on ethnicity. The Washington Redskins team is
just one example of the larger controversy, but it receives the most public attention due to the
name itself being defined as derogatory or insulting in modern dictionaries, and the prominence of
the team representing the nation’s capital. Should sports team branding designers use ethnic
references (Fighting Irish, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Braves, etc.)? Why? Why not? What are some of
the complexities of this issue?
http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/11/27/not-your-
mascot-movement/

22. The approach that this designer uses is "get the idea." The designer uses this approach to communicate the issue of transgender bathrooms. Many arguments for
or against transgender bathrooms often focus on questioning the validity of a person's gender, but this graphic takes a new approach and focuses on the reality of
what it means to navigate bathrooms as a trans person. Because of the intense backlash against trans people who are just trying to live their lives, we as a society
have created a very unsafe atmosphere for them to do something as simple as use the bathroom. I believe this designer was very effective in their design. Ganesh
and Sobliye, in their chapter, write that these types of designs are meant to "challenge the viewer, in an attempt to create a pivot for their opinions."1
I believe this
graphic is particularly challenging to a viewer because it forces them to design a situation where a trans person could be safe. In addition, the gender of this person
is ambiguous, so the typical arguments against specifically trans women would not work in this situation. I think this graphic pushes individuals to think about the
"transgender bathroom issue" in a way that considers the safety of trans individuals, something that many people may have not considered.
1
Ganesh, Maya Indira, and Gabi Sobliye. 2016. Visualizing Gender From Diversity And Design. 1st ed.
Visualizing Gender
In their chapter “Communicating Gender,” Maya Ganesh and Gabi Sobliye discuss two primary visual advocacy approaches: 1) get the idea, and 2) stories in
data. Find a new example of either of the two visual advocacy approaches to gender issues, and post it in this thread. Cite the source. First, identify the
approach. Then explain how the designer uses the approach to communicate a gender issue. Is the approach effective in this example? Why or why not? How
could this graphic be improved?
https://counterclickbait.com/politics/bathrooms-identity-compassion/

23. I absolutely do not think people should be forced to use the bathroom that corresponds with the gender on their birth certificate. My reason for this stems from
the fact that gender is socially constructed. When we see a person's gender, we do not see their genitalia, or necessarily their biology at all. When you are assigned
a gender at birth, it is based solely on genitalia, and while people want to pretend they could tell what a person's genitalia is by looking at them, they absolutely
cannot. A trans person who perfectly "passes" as the gender they identify with would never be questioned going into the bathroom they identify with, so why
should any other trans person be questioned? This asserts that the legitimacy of a person's gender comes with the privilege of passing. It also demonstrates that
assigned gender/genitalia is not the key component in this issue, because gender is about how you look and how you are perceived, not about your genitalia.
If I am being honest, I cannot think of an argument against this issue that I don’t believe I could effectively refute. However, one argument that is commonly used
against trans people asserts that gender neutral bathrooms would increase the likeliness of women being assaulted in bathrooms. People often see trans women
as "men in dresses," and associate men with a high risk of sexual assault, therefore putting cisgender women "at risk." While I can try to understand where people
come from with this argument, it stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to be transgender.
As a designer, I would solve this dilemma by having a bathroom facility that was gender neutral. This provides trans people with an option that is safe for them,
while still giving them the option to use the gendered restrooms if that is what they are comfortable with. This would accommodate cis women who are
uncomfortable around cis men, as well as trans people. Having gendered options is not something we are completely over as a society, but we also need to be
ready and willing to accommodate the needs of others.
Transphobic Bathroom Bills
Last year, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed
into law a bill that repealed local LGBT anti-
discrimination laws, and required people to use the
bathroom that corresponded with the biological gender
written on their birth certificates. This prompted massive
backlash. McCrory stated, “You know, we all have to
make adjustments in life. And we’ve had the proper
etiquette situation for decades in our country, and all of
a sudden through political correctness we’re throwing
away basic etiquette.” Just this past Thursday, the North
Carolina General Assembly passed a bill to repeal the law
while placing a moratorium on nondiscrimination
measures. Should people be required to use the
bathroom that corresponds with the biological gender
written on their birth certificate? State why AND state
why not. In other words, to receive full credit for this
question, you need to present an argument for both sides
of the issue. As a designer, how would you solve this
gender dilemma?
Photo credit:
http://www.projectq.us/houston/pro_hero_ad_counters_trans
_bathroom_myth?gid=17168

24. If I am being completely honest, the list of designs that need to be transformed in order to
make the pathway out of poverty more accessible is truly endless. We live in a society where
it is next to impossible for people like Tammy to climb the social ladder, and people spend so
much time blaming poor people for being poor that we don’t focus on helping them. I can
think of 3 primary ways I would help as a part of iPD, two regarding policy, and one regarding
urban planning. I think that one policy that is absolutely necessary for a modern world is free
college education. For people like Tammy who are incredibly hardworking and would go to
college if they could access it, free college education would be a lifesaver. In addition, we live
in a society where academic competition is on the rise. Right now, a high school education
means next to nothing in the job market. If we don’t make college education more accessible,
the lower class will continue to grow, and our ability to compete with other countries in the
aspect of education will decrease. A second policy that I would advocate for as a part of this
group is a universal basic income. This is a very anti-capitalist policy, because I firmly believe
that capitalism as it currently exists in our country only benefits the rich. Tammy lives in a
world where she must choose between a house and a car, between walking for hours to work
and having a heater. When did we arrive to the conclusion, as a society, that things like shelter
and food were not basic rights? I believe Tammy, and every person, should be given what they
need to stay alive and survive. This would not be the same as welfare because it would go to
every person. No individual should have to give up their entire life working just to exist. A final
way that I would help Tammy's family would be to advocate for public transportation systems
in her area that are free to low income individuals. This would make it easier for Tammy to get
to work without walking for hours at a time, and it may even make it possible for her to access
a college campus or a higher paying job. The approach my team would take would be one that
recognizes the fundamental societal issues that contribute to poverty and recognizes the fact
that poor people are not lazy, but rather trapped in a cycle that is further perpetuated by a
suffering job market and inaccessible resources or facilities. For Tammy's life to really change,
we need to change the way our society views and treats poor people and the policies that go
into that.
People Like Us
Imagine this scenario. You are a designer who works at the well-known firm, iPD (Integrated
Planning and Design). You work on a team with planners, urban designers, policy designers,
architects, and social designers. You have been tasked to develop/design a way for Tammy
Crabtree and her family (and others with situations similar to Tammy’s) to move themselves
out of poverty. What will your team to do to help Tammy and her family achieve their goals?
What approach will your team take to address this difficult problem?
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/06/union
s-and-ubi/488951/

25. My first example is an example of jittery design, which is the security cameras in the Ellicott tunnel. These cameras create a jittery atmosphere because they
represent a form of public surveillance. Even though this is technically not a completely public space, they still create an uneasy work environment for the
employees working in this space, as well as the students who live, walk, and drive through the space. Although public cameras do have a purpose (i.e. serving as a
way of witnessing negative events that take place), they also create an environment that could possibly give anxiety to employees or the students in the space due
to essentially being watched at all times. As the article said, it has the "potential for social good,"1
but I would be interested to see if anything is caught on that
camera that has actually done a social good, or if it just is a way to have unnecessary surveillance over students and employees.
This is a photo of UB North Campus. In general, I would consider UB a slippery/stealthy place. It could be considered slippery because it is "not easily accessible to
those passing by," and stealthy because it is "public, but hard to find." UB campus is generally very large and sectioned off from the larger Buffalo/Amherst
community. It is difficult to reach campus without driving a car, or using one of the very limited public transportation options. When UB has public events that are
open to the public, such as art galleries, speaker events, etc., this could be seen as discriminatory to people who live within Buffalo and do not have access to a car
or reliable transportation. Even if you can use public transport, which is unlikely because the bus lines that come on campus are very limited, the lines stop running
by the time most of UBs public events are over. This deters lower income individuals who may live in the actual city of Buffalo from coming to our events, or visiting
our campus at all. Most of the individuals who come to events like the distinguished speaker’s series often come from the suburbs and are able to drive and park
near the buildings they want to access. For individuals who do not drive and cannot afford or access public transport, it is not that simple.
1
Flusty, Steven. 2017. "The Hidden Ways Urban Design Segregates The Poor". Co.Design. https://www.fastcodesign.com/3034206/the-hidden-ways-urban-design-
segregates-the-poor.
Hidden Ways
Author Steven Flusty categorized five types
of disciplinary architecture that perpetuate
what he calls urban spatial injustice: 1)
stealthy, 2) slippery, 3) crusty, 4) prickly, and
5) jittery. Go out into the city of Buffalo, and
find/photograph two examples from the list
of five. Identify what type of space you’ve
photographed and why it might discriminate
against a specific population. Identify the
location where you took the photograph,
and make certain that you are in at least
one of the two photographs.
(photos are both mine)

26. In 100 Years
For this question, we will focus on Juan Enriquez’ Life Two civilization, which alters fundamental aspects of the body. We are living longer than ever before in
human history. Enriquez argues that, because of advances in bio-medical technology, the possibility of living to 120 years of age and beyond is quite possible for
many of us in this D+D class. Assuming that his assertion is accurate, how do you think extended life spans will change our societies and built environments?
What new issues might designers face because of extended life spans? Photo credit: http://blogs.worldbank.org/sustainablecities/
I believe extended life spans will completely transform our society as we know it, and that will come with many design issues. Three primary issues that I can think
of are population growth, the need to design a more accessible world, and the need to design a more sustainable world.
If individuals are going to be living longer, it means that the amount of people who are alive at any given time will begin to rise. Population growth has already
begun to take a negative toll on our society, and we need to be ready to deal with its consequences. We will need to transform our markets in order for everyone
to be able to work to sustain themselves, we will need to build from the ground up in order to have living spaces for everyone, and we will need to expand public
transportation options (there won’t be room for everyone to fit on the road, in parking lots, etc.). This is reminiscent of Kent Larson's talk from module 5. He
discusses the need to expand car-sharing, condense living spaces, and fit more into smaller spaces than we currently do in America's cities.1
If we follow the
guidelines that he describes in this talk, we will be able to accommodate for a growing population very easily, but it takes a very dramatic societal change to be able
to get there.
A second issue that I would foresee would be the general accessibility of the world to older individuals. If we are living longer, that means there is greater potential
for individuals to have limited mobility for longer periods of their life, and for a greater percentage of the population to have limited mobility. This may also be
extended to other disabilities such as hearing or vision loss. As a consequence, our world as we know it will be much less accessible to many more individuals. We
already live in a world that was designed for able bodied people, and accommodating for those with disabilities is often an afterthought. If we want to prepare for a
larger older population, we need to make our world more accessible to them. This means increasing the amounts of ramps, accessible parking and seating,
increasing the number of elevators and the size (especially considering the need to build "upwards"), and many other physical changes. This will also mean an
increased need to have braille or sign language available as means of communication for public services. The world must adapt to being a place where those with
disabilities can truly get along just as well as everyone else. Despite things like the ADA, this is not yet fully achieved.
My final point is that our world will need to become more sustainable. Currently, we are already producing more trash than we know what to do with. We produce
emissions from traffic congestion and air pollution, we contaminate our waters and our earth with oil and man-made debris. An increase in population will only
exacerbate all of these issues. Designers should be ready and willing to make more sustainable products to account for the increased number of people who will be
using them, and the environmental impact that will have. Paper plates and plastic cutlery should stop being the norm, we use too many of them already. We
should speed up our transfer to electric cars and enforce laws designed to clean our fresh water sources. The reality is, with the speed we are using up the worlds
resources, they will not last forever, and a population increase will only erode them sooner. A world where people live longer needs to be condensed, accessible,
and sustainable.
1 Larson, Kent. 2012. "Brilliant Designs to Fit More People In Every City". Ted.Com.
https://www.ted.com/talks/kent_larson_brilliant_designs_to_fit_more_people_in_every_city?nolanguage=en%23t-367652.
1
1

27. I think there are many different ways that we can encourage not only social integration, but true integration into the community, meaning all of their needs and
safety precautions are acknowledged in the space they are living in. One approach, that would aid in social integration as well as increasing their safety, would be
to reserve spaces on the bottom floors of each building for seniors and/or individuals with disabilities. Reserving these spaces would ensure that the seniors within
the buildings, who often struggle with mobility, will have safe access to emergency exits, especially in the case of a fire, and will not have to rely on elevators to get
into their home. Another approach I would take would be having laundry units on each floor, or offering some type of laundry service. An elderly person should not
be expected to leave their floor just to do laundry, that is extremely inaccessible for someone with mobility struggles. If it is not possible to install laundry facilities
on every floor, which would be the preferred option, there should be a low cost (or ideally, a free) laundry service available for individuals who are unable to travel
several floors just to do laundry. Another, more drastic option may be to move the location of the building altogether. Having seniors exist far away from grocery
stores, coffee shops, and other places they need to visit, especially if they use a mobility device, almost daunting. An individual in housing that is made for seniors
should be living in an environment that reflects that, and being close to the places they need to access is often an important component of that. My final
suggestion would be to make some type of community center for all of the Regent Park residents. This would give them a common space to hold events, come
together and interact, cook meals together, etc. In addition, there could be some type of Regent Park council with community members who plan weekly/monthly
events for all of the residents, something like a potluck, a game or movie night that will attract individuals of all age brackets and all income levels. This would make
it easier for individuals within this community to interact and form relationships in a way that is very natural but also facilitated from within the community in order
to make it stronger.
Regent Park
The development of Regent Park is phased, and there are several more phases to the project. What actions could be taken to ensure more social integration for
the older people living in the ‘new and improved’ Regent Park? Photo credit: http://www.opsisarch.com/blog/project/camas-community-center/

28. Survey, Fixed, Stelarc
What lessons do you think we should learn from history when thinking about emerging enhancement technologies and reproductive technologies? What are
some of the possible consequences (both positive and negative) of being able to design our bodies and the bodies of our children? What ethical quandaries do
these technologies pose? Photo credit: https://circuitsandcableknit.com/wearable-technology/suitx-announces-plans-for-pediatric-exoskeleton/

29. I think a very important thing to learn from history when considering technology that could enhance our physical abilities as humans is that all
technology has the ability to malfunction, and that it is very easy for people to get swept away in new power that they acquire. There are
countless instances where technology has failed when it was not intended to, and it put people’s lives in danger. For example, when everyone
was obsessed with hover boards last year, many people may not have known that the batteries were bursting into flames and causing severe
burns on people’s bodies. The same has occurred with other devices such as cellphones or appliances. The film trailer mentioned "special robot
legs that can go faster [than normal legs]"1
What happens when one of these legs malfunctions, and it becomes difficult for a person to stop
running, and they end up getting injured? What happens when they completely malfunction and a person cannot walk at all? The safety of
individual human lives could be put into danger here. History has taught us that even the best technologies are not foolproof. In addition, what
happens when someone becomes so obsessed with their new abilities that they are out of touch to their natural human abilities? Would running
super-fast be the new norm in our society? How many that impact someone who cannot access this technology? History has taught us that
making a necessity out of something dangerous can be harmful. For example, it is extremely difficult not to have a cellphone in this day and age,
and much of the way we communicate for jobs, doctors’ appointments, etc. revolves around access to a phone. What happens to those who
cannot afford one? They are left behind. We need to learn to maintain our world as an accessible place for those who cannot access advanced
technology.
A positive aspect of being able to design our bodies is that we can choose the traits that we want, and this may allow us to live longer. If
someone can choose to not carry a genetic disease, or to not suffer from different physical or mental disabilities, it may be easier to live in the
world we exist in now which is designed for healthy, able bodied people. Being able to make ourselves healthier, more resilient, and abler can
make it easier to navigate the world. Using my previous example, being able to walk or run faster will make it easier to get through the day. You
can get tasks done quicker, and it will enable us to make the most out of our lives by essentially giving us more time. That being said, a negative
aspect may be losing touch with what it means to be human. We can already see technology shaping the way we develop relationships, the way
we work, and the way we communicate. What could happen if we allow it to dictate the way that we exist in the world? Will we lose our
humanity if we become too engrossed and reliant on technology? I believe we do run that risk.
An ethical quandary I believe this could pose is that it challenges what it means to be human. Yes, it would be amazing to live longer. But, are we
supposed to? Is there a natural order that we are ethnically bound to maintain? Is it natural for a person to be living dozens of years longer than
their ancestors? Is it natural to have abilities that transcend anything the world has ever known? It may be, it may not be, but for me, I believe a
piece of humanity is lost when we begin to enhance ourselves. It also creates immense opportunities for inequality. Will these advanced
treatments and technologies only be available for rich people? Is it ethical that only those who can access them should get to live longer, or
perform better? I believe that will only further the inequality we have discussed so far in this class, and because of that, I think it is imperative to
really consider what we as a society deem acceptable.
1
"FIXED: The Science/Fiction Of Human Enhancement - Film Trailer". 2012. Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl4CdnLue-k.

30. The design principle that I chose to discuss is principle six, low physical effort. The negative example that I
chose was of the snack machines on campus (the first two photos). As you can see in the photo, these
machines require users to push a black piece of metal in order to access the snack you purchased, and the
opening is also fairly low to the ground. The metal door that separates the user from the snack is
relatively hard to push up. It is heavy, and gets stuck very easily. I am able bodied and I sometimes
struggle to open it on my own. This may disempower individuals who do not have much strength in their
hands, cannot reach that low to the ground, or who have limited use of one or more limbs. For example, if
someone has back pain, it may be difficult for them to lean over to get their snack from the bottom, and
the added need to push a piece of metal out of the way in order to get it could cause further physical
strain.
My positive example of principle six is the drink machine that I also found on campus (second two
photos). This machine takes the specific drink that you order and gets it from the machine with a moving
dispenser, then drops it into a small hole in the machine with a door that opens automatically so all you
have to do is grab the drink from the open space. You do not have to move a door at all, and it is a
relatively accessible height for people of most heights, or those in wheelchairs. It would not involve
reaching high up or bending over (as seen in the last photo, it is about waist height on my partner who is
5'6"). This empowers individuals who are physically unable to bend over or to move a heavy piece of
metal out of the way. They are able to easily access their purchase without much physical strain at all
besides lifting the bottle. I think one way that it could be even more improved would be to have voice
automated ordering on the machine. For those who are limited visually, it would be helpful for the
machine to read the drink or snack options, and allow someone to order using their voice. This would
contribute to principle one, equity for all users.
Ppt, Smithsonian, and Roy
The two most frequently mentioned models of
disability are the ‘social’ and the ‘medical’
models. The medical model of disability views
disability as a medical ‘problem’ that belongs to
the disabled individual. The social model of
disability, in contrast, draws on the idea that it is
society that disables people, through designing
everything to meet the needs of the majority of
people who are not disabled. There is a
recognition within the social model that there is
a great deal that society can do to reduce, and
ultimately remove, some of these disabling
barriers, and that this task is the responsibility of
society, rather than the disabled person. In the
Smithsonian online exhibition, the story about
the superhero hand, and Elise Roy’s TED Talk,
you saw examples of ways to engage disability
that use the social model rather than the
medical model. In the Disability and Design
PowerPoint, you were introduced to the concept
of Universal Design (UD) (sometimes called
inclusive design, design-for-all, or human-
centered design). Certainly, UD embraces the
social model of disability. In this same
PowerPoint, you saw positive and negative
examples of each of the seven principles of
universal design. For the Module 12 Thread 1,
please select one of the seven universal design
principles, and post photographs that show both
a positive and a negative example of the
principle. Then address the following question:
How do your examples empower or disempower
various people? Describe the specific features of
the positive example and the specific features of
the negative example. Discuss ways that the
positive example could be even further
improved. (photos are both mine)

31. I absolutely do not think that Wiseman should have been able to film, however, because of
how long ago the film was made, it does not surprise me that he was allowed to. The idea
that the state can consent on behalf of an individual is incredibly dehumanizing and treats
these individuals as if they are helpless and have no sense of autonomy, which is not true.
During the 60s and 70s, "the state" was a champion of mental health abuses. Individuals in
institutions were so intensely mistreated as if they were not people at all, so it does not
come as a surprise that basic human dignity would not be demonstrated by the state when
deciding to give consent for these individuals.
I think this film could be of value to designers in many different ways. First, they may be
able to notice the general atmosphere of the institution and take steps towards making it a
safer, more welcoming and healing environment. When individuals feel safe and welcome
in their environment, they feel better, and the sterilized feel of institutions does not
provide that. They may also be able to observe the ways that individuals with certain
disabilities communicate and navigate their worlds, thus allowing them to have a better
sense of the designs and technology that could be used to benefit them. Observing a
problem is the first step to coming up with a solution, and this film would provide that. That
being said, my recommendation for those designers would be to seek out the individuals
themselves rather than looking to a film. If they are able to interact with individuals and ask
them directly what needs they have that are not being met, it would be easier for them to
fashion solutions and less of an invasion of privacy for the individual.
Titicut Follies
The state of Massachusetts tried to ban the 1967 documentary
Titicut Follies, arguing that director Frederick Wiseman had
violated the patients’ rights by not getting written permission to
film them. The case went to court, and Wiseman argued that he
had consent from their legal guardian, the institution. After a
judge ruled in favor of the state, the legal appeals carried on for
several years: in 1969, Massachusetts allowed the film to be
shown to doctors, lawyers, and health care professionals; in
1991, a superior court judge ruled it could be released for the
“general public,” as privacy concerns were no longer at issue, so
many years later. Should Wiseman have been allowed to film
the residents of Bridgewater Massachusetts Correctional
Facility? Why or why not? How might this film be of value to
designers (communication designers, product, designers,
architects, interior designers, planners, landscape designers,
systems designers, and/or social designers)? In other words,
what might they gain from this film that they could use in their
work?
Photo credit:
http://i0.wp.com/www.horrorhomeroom.com/wp-
content/uploads/2015/09/TiticutFollies.jpg?fit=1000%2C668

32. Response to PPT, The Architecture of Autism, Public Space
Prelude: Wolf Wolfensberger's seminal work "The Origin and Nature of Our Institutional Models" posited that society characterizes people with intellectual
disabilities as sub-human and burdens of charity, He argued that this dehumanization, and the segregated institutions that result from it, ignored the potential
productive contributions that all people can make to society. He pushed for a shift in policy and practice that recognized the human needs of those with
intellectual challenges and provided the same basic human rights as for the rest of the population.
The Scenario: Imagine that you and your four children live in Amherst, New York in a $650,000 home at the end of a cul-de-sac on the edge of a ten acre woods.
The town has purchased a one acre lot three houses away from yours, and plans to build a group home for ten intellectually challenged adults. As a resident of
the neighborhood, would you support or oppose this proposal and why? You've learned additional information about the residents of the proposed group home
in your neighborhood. In 2013, three of the ten intended residents exhibited challenging behaviors including screaming, public masturbation, repetitive rocking,
and echolalia (elective incontinence). However, these behaviors have not occurred since then. How would this change your opinion about the construction of the
group home in your neighborhood? The residents in your neighborhood voted (14-3) to reject the town of Amherst’s proposal to build a group home in the
neighborhood. Town officials agreed that the home would not be built in your neighborhood if you and your neighbors could develop a workable alternative.
What are some possible solutions that would allow the residents of the home to be provided with “the same basic human rights as the rest of the population”?
http://www.reno.gov/Home/ShowImage?id=7739&t=6356209
64226970000

33. I absolutely would support this proposal and none of the above conditions would change my mind about it. I spent three years working in a residential home with
individuals who had many different conditions including dementia, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disabilities. Many of them exhibited troubling behaviors as well.
Based on their experience, being in a suburban area (in Lockport, whose residential areas are similar to Amherst), seemed to be the best option. Many of the
individuals exhibited signs of enjoying being a part of the greater community. They said hi to the kids they saw playing outside, they interacted with their neighbors,
and some of them even used public transportation when they could. I think it is right to have these individuals live as close to the life they would be living without
their disability as possible, so when you ask me if they should live in a suburban neighborhood with other families, its an absolute no-brainer. The facility is called a
group home for a reason, and their home should not be any different from most other homes, the only difference will be the physical accessibility of it, and the staff
who work there. My goal at my job that I held for three years was to make the facility feel as homey as possible, and to engage in treatment that reflected a family-
like style of interaction. Being in a neighborhood where they could interact with friends and neighbors was a crucial aspect of that treatment. If the problem
behaviors were to arise again, I think a way to handle them would be to have more staff on hand to provide one-on-one assistance to the individual when they need
it. Things like screaming and rocking do not provide intense disruptions to the community, and if there were behaviors that did, the staff would be there to help
contain the individual when absolutely necessary.
Some solutions I think would allow the residents to be given the same human rights as everyone else is to have well-trained, engaging staff, an accessible home, and
interaction with the greater community. Staff need to be trained how to properly care for the individuals, as well as how to respond to problem behaviors. They
should also be empathetic and engaging people who care about planning activities for the individuals, and wont just sit around all day with them and do nothing at
all (this was a big problem in the homes that I worked in). I also think its important to have accessible homes: wide hallways, first-floor bedrooms for those with
mobility issues, low cabinets, tables that wheelchairs can fit under, and other things that will allow the individuals to do as much of their own work and maintain as
much independence as possible. Finally, I think there should be interaction with the community. At my home, we had monthly picnics for everyone who lived on the
block so that everyone could get to know their neighbors. Because mobility is often limited for aging individuals with disabilities, having others come to them to
provide them with outside interaction can be very beneficial for them.
http://www.wpneighbors.com/images/cnip.png

34. The place of worship which I consider myself familiar with is Creation Church which is a Christian
church located in Thompson, Connecticut. This is the church that I attended before I moved to New
York. I used to live in a very, very small town called Putnam (directly next to Thompson, where the
church is located) and I can say that this church played a significant role in the development of the
town, especially for the individuals living there. This church struggled for many years to find a
consistent location, they were actually based out of the Pastor's daughters dance studio for three
years because they could not find a permanent building. I lived in a very small town, and I knew the
majority of the people who attended this church and saw them outside of service frequently. The
church helped the town because it made relationships stronger among the people who lived there.
This was a very common place for people in my town to attend services, so many people formed
relationships and there were frequent get togethers and bible studies between members of the
church. As far as the design of the area, the new building (the one in the picture I've included) is
actually located in a spot where very few people even knew that it was existed before the church
bought it. This building is located almost directly under a very large bridge next to the Thompson
Dam, and as a kid, we would drive over the bridge almost every day, but I never even noticed that
there were buildings under it until the church occupied this building and started to bring traffic there.
It soon became a very clear point of focus as you drove over the bridge, especially on Sundays when
the parking lot was full and there were tons of people outside. The role of this church has definitely
changed over time. When it was located in a dance studio, there was a level of uncertainty about if
the church would continue to stay open or not. Once they recieved a permanent location, it became
much easier for people to attend on a regular basis, and relationships continued to grow within the
church community. As far as future development, I am not completely sure what role the church will
play because I have not attended in several years (since I moved to New York in middle school). Even
though I do not attend church anymore, I imagine that if the community is anything like it was when I
attended, there will continue to be strong relationships throughout the church and surrounding
community.
The Connection Between Religion and Urban Planning
In his article, David Engwicht discusses the fact that religions (of all types) have played major roles in the development of our cities. Today, places of worship are
primary components of almost all urban centers. Author Lorne Daniel writes “From their often active role in supporting people who live in city centers to their
iconic influence on design and use of space, religious structures tell us a lot about our history, our current needs, and where we might be headed in the future.
This is an aspect of our urban future that planners and urbanists should attend to.” Identify a place of worship with which you are somewhat familiar. (If you are
not familiar with any places of worship, do a bit of research on one in your own city or town.) Show a photograph of this religious structure. (You may use
photographs from the web.) What roles has this place served in the development of your city/town? How has it influenced the design of the area around it? How
has its role changed over time? What roles could this place of worship play in the future development of your city/town?
Photo credit: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/570c1e5d746fb9c92645f29d/t/5795598e46c3c46fbe80381b/1469405610986/thompson-church-creation-
3.jpg?format=1500w