Spring 2017 American Diversity and Design

1. UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO- STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
YORLRRR
ARC211 – AMERICAN DIVERSITY & DESIGN – SPRING 2017
ONLINE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
ADRIAN BALOGH
https://jenleslie.wordpress.com/2011/05/14/neri-oxman-biology-meets-design/

2. 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. During the semester, we have
learned a lot in this class. The first part of the semester we defined what design is in terms of architecture, industry,
communication and other mediums. For the second half of the semester we studied how design affects different groups in
society. What I found most compelling about this course is where the future of design is headed. As a Mechanical Engineering
major I naturally find cutting edge technology very compelling. Though I was familiar with some of the technology (such as 3D
printing), I didn’t realize how many cutting-edge ways that it could be utilized and maximized. This was the most interesting
part of the course. Seeing what could be done with chitin, for example, was eye opening. This also has had a profound effect
on my viewpoint of design. I realize that a lot of the technological developments of the future are now here. It’s now up to
designers, engineers, and architects to use this technology to improve human’s lives.

4. Response to “What is design?” from Hello World: Where Design Meets Life by Alice Rawsthorne
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.
One innovation that changed manufacturing forever was Taylorism. Taylorism is what we refer to today as the assembly line.
The assembly line vastly increased productivity and quality control in a way that hadn't been seen before and hasn't been
seen since. This radical change had many effects on many groups of people. Due to the efficiency of the Taylor
system, workers at Ford (the first company to implement the assembly line) immediately had their wages doubled. The
obvious benefit for the workers was more income and therefore a higher standard of living, however a less known benefit
was the fact that Ford's workers were now able to afford the very cars they were making. This helped spread the popularity of
the automobile and acted as free marketing for the company. The American public also gained from the new process. The
increased efficiency lead to lower costs for Ford and they were able to make less expensive cars which were more affordable
for the masses. The new technology "democratized" the car for the first time. Previously, the automobile was a toy for the
wealthy handcrafted by coach builders and craftsman who were highly skilled artisans. These skilled laborers faced a negative
impact from Taylorism as their talents at craftsmanship were replaced by the machines on the assembly line. The demand for
these special workers was reduced dramatically. The assembly line worker also faced some adversity. Although their wages
had doubled, assembly line work by its very nature is mind numbingly boring. Often workers would turn to substance abuse
to deal with the boredom of the job. The assembly line was later improved upon by the Japanese by rotating their workers
through different stations to keep them fresh.
http://archive.artsmia.org/terracotta-warriors/

5. Response to “Introduction” from Diversity and Design: 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?
One product that was designed entirely for a diversity group was the child safety seat. Before the child safety seat was
developed there was nothing appropriate for the safety of a child in a moving vehicle. Since standard three-point safety belts
were not yet mandatory in vehicles, children would get injured worse and at higher rates than adults. Even when safety belts
were used, they were not designed for children and the results of an accident were not much better. Child safety seats
drastically reduce the risk of death in infants by 71% and in toddlers by 54% (Source: CDC.gov).
http://seat.joymetry.com/baby-car-seat-safety/
"Child Passenger Safety." Cdc.gov. September 19, 2016. Accessed February 2, 2017.
https://www.cdc.gov/features/passengersafety/index.html.

6. Response to Media/Society and TED Talk 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. What roles does this photo play in the
communication of the event?
The images in Photos That Changed the World would be placed in the media product/message box on
Croteau and Hoynes’ diagram. They are the link between the media industry and the reader. A photo, or
rather series of photos, taken in my lifetime that has served as an icon to an event are the photos that NASA
took through the exploratory vehicle Pathfinder in the late 1990s. Pathfinder was sent to Mars to explore in
1997. While it was there it took many images of the topography of the red planet. Much like the photos taken
from the moon in the 1960s, the Pathfinder photos showed us a different perspective of our solar system, put
the greatness of our own planet into perspective, and truly conveyed to many people what NASA was actually
doing.
The perspective that the Pathfinder photos showed was one of our neighboring planet, often referred to as
earth’s twin, that was vastly different from our planet. The ground is consistently rocky, has a reddish-brown
clay color (as you would expect) and there’s very little variety. Sunsets are bright red and there is nothing of
significance as far as the eye can see. Compare this to the many colors of earth and it shows not only how
different Mars is, but also how much better Earth is. Would anyone argue that blue oceans, green meadows
and all the other colors we have are better than just clay? Or that the variety of hills, mountains, plains,
plateaus, fjords, and valleys are better than medium sized rocks every few feet? The Pathfinder photos showed
many how great we really have it. You can barely walk 5 feet on parts of Mars without twisting an ankle.
Finally, the photos gave graphical proof to what NASA was actually doing. To say that we’ve landed on Mars
is one thing, to see photos from millions of miles away on a planet so different is quite another. A picture is
worth a thousand words as they say and the Pathfinder photos were worth thousands.
https://mars.nasa.gov/programmissions/missions/past/pathfinder/
"Mars Pathfinder Fact Sheet." Mars.NASA.gov. March 19, 1997. Accessed February 9, 2017.
https://mars.nasa.gov/MPF//mpf/fact_sheet.html.

7. Response to Articles on 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 are vehicles of communication design because they convey the political messages of the candidates/groups they
represent. For example, the “MAGA” hat was intended to tell Americans that a Donald Trump presidency would get America
back to where it once was. This resonated with many of the people that Trump needed to win the election. The pink hats were a
reference to Trump’s comments to Access Hollywood. Their intention was to show that their voices would not be silenced and
they would be proactive in their fight for women’s rights. Another thing the hats accomplished is showing to the world how
many women were actually at the rally. When you see the aerial photographs, you can get a sense of the size of the crowd
because of their distinct bright headwear.
The meaning of the “MAGA” hat is that America would be put first and Trump would lead us back to greatness. If you compare
this to Hillary’s logo, it’s easy to see why it was so effective. The one is about America with no mention of Trump, while Hillary’s
logo seems self-serving as it’s a giant “H”. A common narrative of this election was the establishment vs. an outsider. The
establishment is seen as self-serving while the outsiders are portrayed as having America’s best interests in mind. A clear
example of how this may have helped Trump (we’ll never know for sure) is the number of counties in battleground states that
voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012 that voted for Trump in 2016. Further, strongholds for the Democrats such as Michigan and
Pennsylvania, voted Republican for the first time since the 1980s. Trump’s logo simply conveyed a better message to the voters
that both candidates were fighting for.
In terms of communication design, the hats have some distinct similarities. Two similarities are obviously the fact that they are
articles of clothing and specifically hats. Another similarity is their simplicity. The “MAGA” hat is so simple, one could argue
that it was barely designed at all. It’s simply 4 words across the front of a trucker cap in a contrasting color and basic font. It’s
very straight to the point. The “pussyhat” is simple too. The only distinct features that the pink hats have are the color and the
shape, which incorporates cat ears right into the design. Even the color is not completely uniform. While in general they are all
pink, they come in a variety of shades. This could be seen as a metaphor for the diverse racial makeup of the demonstrators.
They are similar in their goals for marching, but the women are all unique in their own way. The main difference, besides the
message itself, is how they convey their message. The pink hats have no words on them, but their shape tells their purpose to
anyone that was paying attention to the election this past fall. They have an implied meaning that is easy to understand for most
people. Trump’s hat is more straightforward and blunt. It says exactly what it means: make America great and get her back to
the top by voting for Donald Trump.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4VZFOXAWGvta1On9GZkj4w

8. Response to “Industrial Design” by John Heskett and "The Incredible Inventions of Intuitive AI" by Maurice Conti
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?
One of the consequences of Ford's production line was a more specialized approach to manufacturing and industry. Taylorism saw an
increase in the implementation of division on labor, whereby workers do more specialized jobs because it is more productive and profitable
for the company. This principle of division of labor separated the mental work and physical work. This can be seen in jobs today as
employees on the line do not engineer and engineers do not assemble. A consequence of division of labor is it leads to a reduction in morale
among workers. Due to the repetitious nature (and often brainless work) of these jobs, it's easy to become bored. Before Taylorism, Ford
and other car manufacturers employed skilled craftsmen that created cars. After Taylorism it was mostly machines doing the precise tasks
with humans doing the simple, physical work. No longer was the person who assembled a car also a skilled craftsman, mechanic or engineer.
One negative aspect of this was that substance abuse went up. It became common for automotive plants to have alcoholism and later on
hard drug abuse. Later in the 20th century the Japanese improved upon the Ford method by regularly rotating their workforce. This allowed
employees to stay fresher and increased their attentiveness while on the job.
The division of labor is a change that remains with us today. First world countries such as America provide technological advancements
because we have the education, tools, technology and economy to support these cutting-edge breakthroughs. Third world countries provide
cheap labor to build technological advancements that we come up with. So, the separation between physical and mental jobs has gone even
farther, often being separated by entire countries now. The aspect of rotating workers through stations has been adapted by modern
American companies too. For example, at the Buffalo Stamping Plant, workers are rotated every 20-30 minutes to stay fresh.
One of the main points of Conti’s TED Talk was that humans and artificial intelligence will work hand in hand to solve problems and
manufacture items. This will lead to an increase in variety and products that are more specific to individuals. As each human solves a
problem with an A.I., you're going to get vastly different interpretations and concepts that are more tailored to the needs of the individual.
One technology that will help this process is 3D printing. As 3D printing resolution advances, and the time it takes to complete a print is
reduced, I think it will be very common for people to be their own manufacturers. 3D printers will allow consumers to customize their ideas
and be very specific as to what they want to produce.
I think these changes will affect U.S. society by reducing waste in manufacturing as well as reducing the amount of unsold merchandise.
Companies that manufacture toys for example will have less unwanted products to try to sell because they will have a better sense of what
people want. This will ultimately conserve resources which is good for the environment and the profitability of companies. Another aspect
will be that the consumer will be empowered to get what he/she wants. This will happen either because of the better understanding of the
large companies as to what consumers want or because manufacturing will become less expensive, less cumbersome, and easier to do on
your own. As stated earlier, this will be possible through the advancements in not only A.I. but also 3D printing. It is not feasible to produce
a single unit of a toy that a child might create in his mind with the current manufacturing technology we have. The startup costs of tooling
and contracting to a manufacturer means that 10,000 units is scarcely more expensive than one unit. With a 3D printer, all you need is the
correct material, electricity and the printer itself, which is much less expensive and decreasing in cost every year.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/541839398888376585/

9. Response to IDEA Awards and Cradle-to-Cradle Video
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.
An IDEA Gold Award product that defies the cradle-to-cradle concept is the Dell 27” monitor, HP laptop or anything else that
requires processors. This product resists the concept of cradle-to-cradle because of the nature of manufacturing processors. In
manufacturing processors, the electronics industry uses many metals and technological processes that makes it difficult to
incorporate cradle 2 cradle right now. When making processors, you start with pure silicon, melt it and cool it, add photochemical
coatings and then put transistors on. Currently, there is no way to reutilize the silicon or many of the components on a processor.
The best you can get from a recycled chip is to try to extract some of the metal coatings (gold, platinum) that are on that chip (it
was reported that Apple Inc. made $40 million in 2015 from the gold on recycled iPhones). The energy required to produce
processors is also very high. Special sealed furnaces that melt the silicon need to be heated to 2500 F. Then the silicon is cut into
wafers less than 1 mm thick and then buffed and polished with chemicals. There’s also a need to keep as much dust out of the air
as possible to reduce the chance of a bad transistor. This filtration is also energy intensive. Another reason chips are hard to make
cradle 2 cradle compatible is they become obsolete quickly. Moore’s Law states that computing power doubles about every two
years. That means that if you have a laptop for 8 years, the newest processors are now 16x more powerful than yours was when
new. This means it’s economically and technologically worthless, leaving little incentive to reuse it in any way.
A product that embraces the cradle-to-cradle concept is the Aeron chair designed by Don Chadwick and Bill Stumpf. The Aeron
chair is an office chair originally designed in 1994. It’s an award-winning design and is most noted for its attention to detail in
ergonomics. Often considered the most comfortable office chair available, it’s shape and adjustability are centered around
supporting the lower back. It's overall certification level from C2C is silver, while its material reutilization score is gold. Keeping in
mind both the ergonomic and sustainability factors, the Aeron chair is one of the best examples of how modern industrial design
can be well conceived and executed for the company, the consumer and the environment.
https://hivemodern.com/pages/product1880/classic-aeron-chair-bill-stumpf-don-chadwick-herman-
miller
Goldman, David. "Apple recovered 2,204 pounds of gold from broken iPhones last year." Money.CNN.com. April 15,
2016. Accessed February 13, 2017. http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/15/technology/apple-gold-recycling/.

10. Response to Ballantyne and Zumthor Articles
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?
The articles by Andrew Ballantyne and Peter Zumthor show how different their opinions on architecture are. Ballantyne focuses on
the function of a house and how its inhabitants develop habits and tasks become second nature. Zumthor is more concerned with
the materials being used, the shapes of the buildings being designed, and the general aesthetic aspect. Much of what Andrew
Ballantyne focuses on is the house as an extension of the beings living in it. He isn't concerned with what he calls "the tourist's
gaze"- how many people view architecture, which is by visiting a home or building and judging it based on its aesthetic beauty. He
views this as a superficial way to evaluate a home that isn't practical for people living in a home every day. To him aesthetics is
unimportant compared with how one develops habits. He asserts that if one is able to develop routines that eventually become
unconscious, such as reading or writing, then the house is doing its job because it is letting its inhabitants live to the best of their
abilities by not intruding or interfering with their routines. He cites the example of architect Eileen Gray. Gray was much more
concerned with how she could live in her seaside home than how it would look. Gray stated that a home "is a man's shell, his
continuation, his spreading out". This echoes Ballantyne's opinion that the home should first serve the needs of its dwellers. From at
least one real life experience I believe Ballantyne and Gray are correct.
One of the most famous residences in America (if not the most famous) is Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Fallingwater experiences the "tourist's gaze" quite a lot. While its location over a creek in the Shenandoah Forest is amazing and
Wright's signature strong horizontal lines and cantilevers make for quite a scene, when you enter the house one wonders how
anyone could actually live there. Being built right above a creek means that it experiences its fair share of humidity and mold
growth, which you can sense immediately upon entering. In fact, the original owners of Fallingwater, The Kauffman's, once dubbed
it "Rising Mildew". I doubt you could develop a routine in Fallingwater.
In contrast, Peter Zumthor's focus is on how architecture makes you feel. He cites the sights, smells, and sounds of his Aunt's
garden. He talks about the use of materials, and that in specific situations when used correctly materials can take on a "poetic
quality". This shows that he sees architecture as an aesthetic endeavour and is most fascinated by the emotions it can arouse. He also
stresses the importance of craftsmanship, something Eileen Gray was particularly unconcerned with. Geometry is another aspect of
architecture that is important to Zumthor. Though he admits he doesn't fully understand space, he starts by sketching in volumes
and spatial diagrams. All of these aspects are in contrast to how Ballantyne presented architecture. Zumthor wants architecture to be
an experience that invokes an emotional response as it does for him with his Aunt's garden. He doesn't talk much beyond the
feelings of architecture.
The views of Ballantyne and Zumthor could be described as form vs. function. The former is mostly focused on how a house lets
people operate within it and the latter is focused on the looks, sounds and feelings that a home has. While their views are very much
opposed I think, it is important to keep both in mind when designing. Too much of one or the other and you could end up with a
project that is boring or impractical.
http://beyondtherim.meisheid.com/falling-waters/

11. Response to All Module 4 Materials
Your readings and viewings this week present different ways of thinking about architecture. 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—one with sensibilities about the past and one
with sensibilities about the present and/or future. How do each of these buildings either reflect or challenge their cultural
contexts?
One recently completed project that challenges it’s cultural context is Jeanne Gang’s Aqua in Chicago. Aqua is designed so that it’s
residences would be able to socialize. Gang believes that architects can and should be relationship builders. She accomplished this
by turning the balconies into social connectors. As you go up Aqua floor by floor, the dimensions of the balconies change slightly.
This allows people to interact socially with others even on different levels. Another design parameter of Aqua is that it encourages
people to use their balconies because they were shaped to reduce the effect of Chicago’s strong winds. Gang says that so far, the
design of Aqua is working. Aqua challenges it’s cultural context because it’s a fresh approach to the mundane residential
skyscraper. Many skyscrapers are anti-social and uninviting. Gang’s Aqua goes against the grain of these reclusive buildings and
encourages interaction between tenants. Its design is something that I believe will become more copied in the near future. There
is a need for urban developments to be more communal and less isolated. Gang's Aqua is a great example of what can happen
when skyscrapers are designed with socialization in mind.
One of the most significant buildings in American history is also one the oldest. Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia State Capitol in
Richmond was a radical idea at the time. Based on the Maison Carrée in Nîmes, France, the Capitol building is symbolic of
antiquity and the republicanism that Jefferson cherished so much. This is exactly the reason why it challenged the cultural
contexts of its time. During the late 18th
century when it was built, many buildings in America were of the Georgian style. To
Jefferson, this reminded him too much of the monarchy that America had worked so hard to overthrow. Jefferson simply detested
Kings and was not going to have his State Capitol built in the same architectural style as the traditional, British way. His creation
was inspired by the principles that ancient Romans believed in such as the right to vote for elected officials. This is what he
wanted America to be as a government so he modeled his State Capitol after a similar a temple built during a similar government.
His design became well known and ended up as the inspiration for many other similar buildings all over the U.S.
http://www.architecture.org/architecture-chicago/buildings-of-chicago/building/aqua/

12. Response to Pruitt Igoe Project, Talen, and Larson
Imagine that you are part of a 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?
The Pruitt and Igoe apartments were a public housing complex built in the early 1950s in northwest St. Louis. Despite the
apartments starting out with a lot of promise, by the 1970s they were abandoned and demolished. There were some key design
and planning flaws that plagued Pruitt Igoe from the start. If they were to be rebuilt today with the modern technology and
innovation that we have at our disposal, they could be done correctly and be successful.
One of the major flaws of Pruitt Igoe was a lack of activity for the community members, especially the youth. Pruitt Igoe was
basically a large concrete complex of apartments and parking lots. Some of the recreational activities I'd incorporate would be
basketball courts and baseball diamonds, playgrounds for children and a nature and garden walk area. The sports areas and
playgrounds would provide positive activities for kids after school and on weekends. Often times in economically impoverished
areas kids are at risk after school. It is the most vulnerable time for kids to start associating with gangs. Another benefit of the
courts would be to fight the obesity that plagues America and the inner cities. The nature walk and garden would provide a
place for adults that don't want to participate in sports to exercise. It would also add a needed touch of green that is so often
lacking in urban spaces. Talen mentions the symbiosis of all living things and I believe an ecosystem would have positive
influences on the community.
One thing that I would incorporate that Larson would as well is the modular apartment design. The modular apartment would
be very beneficial to the Pruitt Igoe apartments because it would allow for more apartments to be built in the same complex.
With a traditional apartment, you need about twice as much space as a modular design. This would allow for lower rent and
more people to be able to take advantage of the apartments. From last week's materials, one of the most talked about features
was Jeanne Gang's balconies at Aqua. This would be an easy feature to incorporate although it might have to be altered a little
for cost purposes. This would be something that Talen would encourage as she talks about the damaging effects of segregation.
One of the most important aspects of Pruitt Igoe 2.0 would be to have multiethnic apartment complexes so people would get to
know other cultures. The balconies could be a starting point for people of different backgrounds to introduce one another. This
would lead to my last design feature. To further the prospects of socialization and encourage diversity among different groups,
I would incorporate an outdoor area on the roof complete with a place to grow fruits and vegetables and an area to grille. I
would also have a covered section in the center for dining and lounging. Not only would you really be able to get to know your
neighbors, but also food is a great way to share different cultures. Some people that might be anti-social at first, would be more
willing to mingle in order to try new cuisine.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pruitt-Igoe-collapses.jpg

13. Response to Levy article.
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?
The area that I grew up in is Hamburg, NY. Like many suburban towns in America, Hamburg has some distinct characteristics
due to the planning that took place during its development. One of the most notable characteristics of Hamburg is the zoning.
Zoning is an important aspect of a well-engineered town layout. If industrial areas aren't properly separated from residences,
health risks from chemicals or dangerous heavy equipment can be severe. These hazards can be seen in the neighboring first-
ring suburb of Lackawanna. Recently Lackawanna was in the national spotlight when a large warehouse caught fire and
completely burned. Due to the residences within a few hundred of the warehouse, health risks like soot and asbestos became a
serious concern. People were changing their air filters after a few days because of the airborne pollutants.
Another aspect of towns like Hamburg are the parks. Hamburg has many small parks that are spread out from the shore of
Lake Erie at Hamburg Beach, to the parks in the village next to eighteen-mile creek. Besides the parks, playgrounds are also a
big part of Hamburg. Every development that was built in the 50s and 60s allotted space for a playground that includes picnic
benches, swings, and sometimes a tennis court or baseball diamond.
Geometry is another key aspect to my hometown. Hamburg is set up very much like a traditional grid. There aren't a lot of
winding streets or confusing geometries. Route 20 and Route 5 are the only major roadways that aren't perpendicular because
they follow the shoreline. The geometries of buildings are also controlled. Along Main St. in the village, the tallest buildings in
the town are only 3-4 stories with most being only one or two. This helps Hamburg keep a familiar and small feel. The type of
housing varies greatly in Hamburg. In the newer developments, you have two story homes that are relatively expensive and
upper-middle class. In the village, you have narrow two or three story homes that tend to look like the city homes you would
see in South Buffalo. These are generally well maintained and keep their value well.
A more recent addition to Hamburg has been roundabouts replacing traffic lights. Seven lights have been or will be taken out
in Hamburg. This has led to traffic circles with flowers or bronze statues in the center that give off a familiar and quaint feel.
http://www.sspeterandpaulhamburg.org

14. Response to F.L. Olmsted.
Imagine that you 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?
During the 19th century after the Erie Canal was created, Buffalo became one of the most important cities in the Unites States. In
the mid 1800s, after a half century of population growth, Buffalo decided it needed a public park to escape the rigors of city living.
Recently New York City had its crown jewel, Central Park, completed and Buffalo wanted something similar. Who better to turn to
design their park than the creator of Central Park, Frederick Olmsted? Olmsted viewed Buffalo favorably and once said "Buffalo is
the best planned city, as to its streets, public places, and grounds, in the United States, if not in the world."
I think there are two reasons for Olmstead's claim that Buffalo was the best planned city in the world. The first reason was that
Buffalo was setup like a spoked wheel. The major streets of Buffalo such as Niagara, Delaware, Genesee and Broadway start at
Niagara Square and emanate radially outwards. When Joseph Ellicott arranged the street pattern in 1804 it provided better
accessibility to Buffalo and continued through Olmsted's time and into the 20th century. The second was the setup of the parks
system. Olmsted thought that instead of having a large Central Park like Manhattan had, Buffalo would be better suited to a series of
parks connected by parkways surrounded with trees and flowers, similar to what Paris had. Olmsted designed Buffalo's parks so that
they were spread out but connected. Delaware, Riverside, South, Cazenovia and Humboldt were the major parks that Olmsted
established. Richmond, Porter, Humboldt, Chapin, McKinley and Bidwell were the major parkways that connected these parks.
Essentially you could encompass the entire outskirts of the city by traveling from park to park on these parkways.
I do not believe that Olmsted would make the same claim today however. If Olmsted were to see how Buffalo has developed I think
he would be disappointed with a few key details. One of the biggest mistakes that Buffalo has made is the Scajaquada Expressway
running East/West through North Buffalo. The Scajaquada divided Delaware Park into two halves at arguably the nicest spot in the
park (Hoyt Lake) and disrupted what was a very nice city park. Delaware Park is still a nice park but it's nothing compared to how it
was pre-expressway. The layout of the expressway is also quite dangerous. A few years ago, a mother was walking with her young
child and a motorist jumped the curb and hit them both. The child died and the mother was seriously injured. This lack of
separation between the road and pedestrians is illogical and clearly dangerous. The Scajaquada isn't even an expressway anymore,
but rather an "expressway". In light of the incident, the speed limit was reduced to 35 MPH. So, we ended up dividing one of the
best parks in America for a road that no longer even moves traffic quickly or efficiently. This isn't the only example of motorway
screw ups in Western New York. Anyone whose familiar with our area knows that the 33 that runs east-west and is connected to the
Scajaquada completely destroyed Humboldt parkway in the 1960s. Though the project actually took 25 years to complete, once it
was completed it undermined what Olmsted accomplished with his design. The trees and nature of Humboldt were bulldozed and a
motorway was put in place of it. Another issue Buffalo has is the "spoked wheel" design has been disrupted and ruined. The whole
point of the design was to efficiently get everyone into the city. Currently when you travel towards downtown, you have to take a
maze of streets to get there instead of just on one straight through. For example, when the Buffalo Convention Center was built, it
completely disrupted the continuity of Genesee St. This makes it very cumbersome to get to Niagara Square.
Although Buffalo started on the correct path for city planning it has become a disjointed and poorly planned city. Most of the
problems that it has can be traced to the increase in automobile traffic and the inability of the people in charge of planning to come
up with a competent solution. The combined efforts of Ellicott and Olmsted lead to a smart, efficient infrastructure that made
Buffalo a jewel of planning in the 19th century. In the last 70 years however, that design has been chopped up, destroyed and left as
a shell of its former self.
"Biography of Joseph Ellicott." Online Biographies. Accessed March 6, 2017. http://www.onlinebiographies.info/ny/genesee/ellicott-j.htm.
http://2fatnerds.com/2011/11/11/buffalos-olmsted-parkways-why-people-not-in-buffalo-are-missing-out/

15. Response to Charles Davis and equityXdesign's Work
Critique either the MLK Memorial or the National Museum of African American History and Culture
using equityXdesign’s core beliefs and/or design principles.
The Martin Luther King memorial was opened in 2011 in Washington DC. It honors one of the most important people in
American history and probably the most important Civil Rights Leader. While there are many good design aspects to the memorial
there are some things that could change. One of the equityDesign principles is Speak to the Future. "Because an equitable reality has
never existed, we cannot look to our past to learn how to create an equitable future." I believe that the memorial has done a good job
of highlighting the past achievements of Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement but hasn't done enough to show where it
should be going in the future. The designers and architects could have added elements that show that present state of the Civil Rights
movement as well as the future. I think this could have been a powerful design tool to really drive the point across that it's still a long
road to go. Another design flaw of the Martin Luther King Memorial is the wall of donors. The wall of donors is a list of
organizations that contributed financially to the building of the memorial. I think it is in poor taste to sully such an important space
with the names of corporations for the sake of recognition. On the day the memorial opened, the hats that were given out had the
Tommy Hilfiger (who sponsored the event) logo on them. I think this was a poor choice that trivialized the magnitude of the event.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MLK_Memorial_NPS_photo.jpg
Givhan, Robin. "Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and Tommy Hilfiger’s Sponsorship." The Daily Beast. August 23, 2011.
Accessed March 16, 2017. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/08/23/martin-luther-king-jr-memorial-and-tommy-hilfiger-
s-sponsorship.

16. Response to 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 heritages” 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?
The image that I chose is from the Ferguson protests over the death of Michael Brown. Michael Brown died in the Summer of
2014 when he was involved in an altercation with Officer Darren Wilson. Very few people know exactly what happened that day
but the protests that followed and how America reacted to them were largely indicative of what type of racial divide there is in
this country today. These protests were largely supported by Black-Americans and largely opposed by White-Americans.
The Brookes article states: "It is important to consider not only the subject that 'views' but their relationship with the object that
is observed." If I was a young, Black-American (male or female), I would see this photo, and any other photo of the Ferguson
protests, differently from a person from a different racial group. To me this photo and the Ferguson protests would have a more
personal meaning. Growing up in a black community I would be more in tune to the problems of Black Americans, one of
which is the constant altercations between the Black youth and police. I would see the women holding the poster and T-shirt as
members of my own community who are trying to stand up for what is right both in the eyes of the law and the for my people.
A White-American might look at this picture not really understanding the constant problems facing communities of color
across the U.S. Some White-Americans would even see this photo and think that these people have nothing to protest about.
http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/top-10-reasons-love-black-lives-matter

17. Response to 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?
An object in my house that is considered to be ethnic is a glass vase that I bought in Venice, Italy. I went to Italy with my
family a few years ago and one of the places we visited was the Venetian Island of Murano. Murano has been known for its
glass making as far back as the 8th century. I believe this vase is representative of Italian ethnicity because it is a good
example of artisan craftsmanship that is popular all over Italy. Many of the most important products in the Italian economy
are hand-crafted goods as opposed to machine and automation lead mass production. In Venice, there is glass and lace,
Florence has leather goods (especially shoes), and Milan has fashion houses that employ expert seamstresses. Even the Italian
auto industry uses low volume, handcrafted techniques on marques such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani. I will be taking
this vase with me to my apartment because it is unique, beautiful and very high quality with no flaws.
An example of cultural influence in my hometown is in the design of one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in
Hamburg, St. Peter and Paul's. Many of the earliest settlers to Hamburg were Germans, hence the name Hamburg. While
many were Lutheran or other Protestant branches, there were also many Catholics that helped erect one of the largest
churches in Hamburg. In the design of St. Peter and Paul's there is a heavy Gothic influence, similar to many of the Catholic
Churches in Germany. I think this church will be preserved for future generations. It has a healthy membership as there are
many Catholics in Hamburg and because Hamburg is a small town, we tend to preserve the structures we already have as
opposed to building new ones that wouldn't have as much character.
http://www.20thcenturyglass.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4884

18. Response to Article on Sports Branding
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?
I think sports team branding designers can use ethnic references as long as they are respectful of the culture they are
representing. For example, the FSU Seminoles isn’t seen as controversial because Seminoles is a tribe not a derogatory
nickname. Another example is the Chicago Blackhawks. Black Hawk was the name of a Chief from the Sauk tribe so it
doesn't seem as if the team mocks, but rather honors who they are named after. On the other hand, there are sports teams
that are more derogatory in their logos and names. The Washington Redskins is the most famous example. Redskin is
considered by many to be an ethnic slur so it has come under widespread criticism. Another example of a sports team that
crosses the line is the Cleveland Indians. Regardless of whether or not Indians is appropriate, the logo of Cleveland is a
grinning man with a feather in his cap that is an attempt at representing an “Indian”. This comes across as stereotypical and
crosses the line from honoring to mocking.
https://www.thenation.com/article/florida-state-seminoles-champions-racist-mascots/
Lewis, James. "Black Hawk ." Britannica. Accessed March 29, 2017. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Black-Hawk-
Sauk-and-Fox-leader.

19. Response to "Visualizing Gender" Chapter
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?
The approach used in this picture is stories in data. The designer uses stories in data to convey how much domestic violence is
a problem in this country. I think this design is effective because when all of America is taken into account, the number of
women affected by domestic violence is quite large and sobering. This data is also easy to relate to. For example, in the first
statement, "a woman is beaten or assaulted every 9 seconds in the United States", is easy to relate to because someone can
measure that stat for themselves in a short time interval. 9 seconds is easy to count to and basically in the span of reading that
sentence someone can understand that another case of domestic violence has started. The total of 4.7 million women that
experience intimate violence is also relate able by realizing that that could be the entire population of a large city like LA or
Chicago. I think the graphic could be improved by highlighting or emboldening key words (such as beaten or murdered) so as
to draw the viewer's attention towards these shocking and emotion invoking words. The source for this is the
rehabcenterforwomen.org.
rehabcenterforwomen.org

20. Response to Bathroom Bill.
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?
The North Carolina bathroom bill has been one of the most controversial bills in recent history with many people both for and
against it. The argument against the bill can be seen in Empirical evidence. Opponents of the bill state that it is discrimination
against transgender people and while no cisgender person has ever been attacked by a transgender person; transgender people
have been attacked by cisgender people on many occasions. This bill is unnecessary because it creates a law that isn't needed
because there hasn't been a problem yet with transgender people using the bathroom they identify with.
The argument for the bill can be traced to an incident that happened in Charlotte. Before HB2 was formally introduced there
was an incident where a man went into a woman's bathroom. The man was chased by the woman's husband and later
questioned by police. Due to this incident HB2 was put forward, in part for the privacy of individuals, to specifically say that you
must only enter the bathroom that of your birth. This bill is necessary because it specifically prohibits anyone trying to gain
access to any bathroom for improper motives and therefore violating the privacy of other individuals.
As a designer, I would utilize the setup we already have (male bathroom, female bathroom) with enhanced privacy within the
bathrooms. With dividers between urinals and extra privacy for stalls (so that one couldn't look over or under) there is no way
to invade someone else's privacy without looking extremely suspicious trying to do it (which could happen anyway regardless of
HB2). I don't think a third bathroom would be helpful because I believe a majority of transgender people do want to identify as
male or female and not be thought of as "other".
http://www.loowatch.com/2015/05/sweden-first-a-gender-neutral-pronoun-now-a-gender-neutral-toilet-sign/
Park, Madison , and Eliott McLaughlin. "North Carolina repeals 'bathroom bill'" CNNPolitics. March 30, 2017.
Accessed April 3, 2017. http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/30/politics/north-carolina-hb2-agreement/.

21. Response to Carroll Article: “(Re)forming Regent Park: When Policy Does Not Equal Practice”
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?
In the design of Regent Park there are some designs that the planners could change to make it a better place to live for the
elderly. One way to improve the situation for the elderly is to make sure that the less mobile tenants are allowed to get the lower
apartments so that they are able to exit the building in case of an emergency. It would also be a good idea to add ramps if
possible so if the elevators were broken, you could still get up or down if needed. Another idea that would benefit the elderly is
to have a laundry room on each floor so there would be a convenient way to clean clothes without having to lug a heavy and
awkward basket up or down floors. This would be safer and would probably save someone from a serious injury sometime in the
future.
For a social improvement, I think it would be a good idea to have a social area every 5-10 floors where people of all ages would
be able to interact together. This would allow for younger and middle aged people to befriend older people and get to know
them better. The elderly tend to get more lonely so this would be a morale booster for them as well. It would also be safer as they
would have someone in the building that would be able to look in on them periodically or during an emergency such as a heat
wave or blizzard. This social area should have activities that could be enjoyed by people of all ages (not video games) such as
board games, card games or arcade style games.
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/05/05/how_revitalization_is_leading_to_displacement_in_regent_park.html

22. Response to Enriquez TED Talk: “What Will Humans Look Like 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?
I think the number one issue that designers will face in the future if humans start to live longer is where to put everybody. The
global population is at 7 billion right now and getting bigger. If humans live until 120 instead of 80, you're going to have a
drastic increase in population. In order to not encroach farther into natural habitats, I think it is important for architects and city
planners to start thinking of building vertically right now, before it is too late. In large cities where space is a premium, such as
Tokyo, it is already a given that you build upwards. If you look at past projects such as the Interstate system, you can see that a
lack of forethought caused problems for future generations. In the 1950s nobody thought of how the automotive industry and
general population would grow and now our roads are overcrowded.
One aspect of designing for an aging population that isn't well defined is how the population will age. When people are routinely
living until 120, will they be relatively mobile until their death or will they have health issues starting at 70? There is a difference
between quantity and quality. Life expectancy is a number, but that number doesn't tell you whether the person was wheelchair
bound for 20 years or functional almost until passing away. I would hypothesize that people will live longer but also be much
more functional for longer. I believe this will be true because of the increased reliance humans have on machines doing physical
jobs for us, an increase in awareness of health by individuals, and improving technologies that will heal injuries that do occur to
"as good as new condition". So in my opinion designers should put their efforts into preserving health by improving current
ergonomics. Many chairs, desks, computer screens, TVs and most other items that we use on a daily basis are not designed with
the human body in mind. They cause a variety of problems with the most common being joints and spine issues. If you fix these,
not only could humans get to 120, they could do it while in a state of health that allows them to be near 100% functional for most
of their lives.
https://www.thinglink.com/scene/763745457640833024
http://study.kienhoc.vn

23. Response to 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.
For the pictures, I have posted the design principle most appropriate would be equitable use. As we have talked about before in this
course, one of the most common public areas where the disabled face inequitable use is wheelchair bound people on the escalator. The
default escalator design, seen in the larger picture and probably 99.99% of escalators worldwide, does not allow for safe use of the
escalator for people with wheelchairs. In Japan,
they are starting to design and engineer escalators that allow wheelchair bound people to use them. The obvious positive effect that these
escalators will have is to allow people access to areas that they didn’t have access to previously. Since the pictures are a little small, I have
also posted a YouTube link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TANDEMyIVQE) where you can see the escalator in use. The main
design feature is that the individual steps on this escalator can stay at the same height going down so as to create a long enough platform
for the wheelchair. It seems as though three steps is about the right size. The other design feature is that there is a bar an inch or two
high at the front of the first step that prevents the user’s chair from falling forwards; a highly important safety feature. A final design
feature is that the escalator can pause when the user is at the top or the bottom so to ensure safe transition from escalator to ground or
vice versa. The standard escalator that we are all used to does none of this and for those that try to use it, it’s a very dangerous task.
There are no design features of the negative example other than the basic rotating staircase that makes it an escalator.
The positive example could be improved further though. One thing that strikes me immediately in the video is that the safety bar is not
substantial enough. It could be a little bit higher to offer greater security. A second improvement would be to empower the user to
operate the escalator himself. Currently someone at the top and bottom needs to assist him to start and stop the procedure. I think with
the improvements in optic software technology in recent years (facial recognition for smartphone cameras, etc.) you could develop a
camera that points in front of the escalator (maybe 10 feet) and recognizes someone’s wheelchair approaching. You could then have a
second sensor that recognizes when the wheelchair is entering the platform and have software actuate the procedure to create a platform
and deploy the safety bar at the exact time the wheelchair is getting onto the platform. You could do this with 0 delay and essentially
integrate wheelchair traffic and foot traffic onto the same escalator while maintaining a constant velocity. It would be seamless.
http://www.elevator-solution.com/our-products/escalator
"Escalator Adapted Wheelchair ." Japan Accessible. Accessed April 25, 207. http://www.japan-
accessible.com/transport/train/escalator/escalator.htm.

24. Response to Survey, FIXED, and Stelarc.
Currently, we have the technology for you to choose many of the survey characteristics in your future child, and this ability to choose poses
some ethical questions. Of course, we all want the best for our own child. However, as we move into a more collective situation, we need to
consider how the consequences of majority choices for children might change who we are as a species. In the film trailer FIXED, you were
introduced to the dilemma of living in a culture in which the “science-fiction of human enhancement” has become almost a way of life,
from prenatal genetic screening to bionic body parts. In the video, “A Man with Three Ears” you are introduced to an artist who is using
current technology to move humans beyond their current abilities. Last week, Juan Enriquez asked us if it is ethical to evolve the human
body. All of these videos suggest that the concept of disability ‘as we know it’ could cease to exist in the future. This leads us to this week’s
discussion question: 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?
Technology has been moving the human race forwards for hundreds of years. The Industrial Revolution has accelerated this progress in recent
history. If you compare lives in the 21st
century to those of the 18th
century it really is remarkable what has been done in 300 years. The subject
of the next great leap forward is biological enhancement both for people with disabilities and without. But as history has taught us, a
technological advancement is not always a good thing.
There is a very important lesson from historical innovation that should be considered for personal enhancement technologies. That is the
misuse of technology. Often times people find a way to misuse technology right after the way to use a technology has been invented or
discovered. The most obvious example is the atomic bomb. While fission can be used for nuclear power, it was also used to create over 10,000
atomic bombs in the 20th
century. Biological enhancements will certainly be misused by people, the question is, “in what way”?
Another way to examine the enhancement debate is to weigh the positives against the negatives. The main positive that I can see from these
enhancements is an increased mental or physical capacity. If humans only use around 10% of our brains, what would we be capable of if we used
15% or 30%? A child that is enhanced today could be curing diseases or solving energy problems 40 years from now. Enhancing now could have
a compounding effect into future generations. A second positive is the ability to adapt to varying environments and to be able to deal with
extreme weather situations. This goes along with Juan Enriquez’s point last week. Humans someday may need to survive in a vastly different
climate, maybe even planet, then we know now. By utilizing enhancements, we can prepare ourselves and increase the chance of survival.
There are also some drawbacks however. The main negative of pre-natal screening is pre-determining a path that the child might not want. If
someone picks their child’s traits but as that child develops he/she doesn’t want to do what those traits are good for you now have a situation
where the adult has become overbearing on the child’s future. If you let nature take its course the child will decide for himself what his/her best
path is. A similar problem to this is are you railroading a child into being specialized? Are you sacrificing some characteristics for others such as
physical for mental or vice versa?
The ethical quandaries are important to consider too. The biggest ethical question for me is “should humans play God/mess with nature”? This
is one that will be debated about over and over and is too involved to talk about here but it is the most relevant and debatable aspect of all of
this. Another dilemma is the effect one change can have on the rest of the human body. Machines are much simpler than biological systems. It
is quite easy to figure out how a design or engineering change to a car or airplane will affect its performance. It’s a lot more difficult to
determine how a substantial change (like a hearing implant) will affect the rest of an organism. And even if the short-term effects are figured
out, what about the long term? If we were to receive hearing implants over many generations for the purpose of enhancement, how do we know
that our genetic code won’t modify itself to put less of an importance on hearing since we are getting artificial help, thus causing worse “natural”
hearing without the implant. If men who inject testosterone produce less of their own, I believe this is entirely possible too. We could become
more reliant on machines and technology, taking our evolutionary skills out of the equation.
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/2/15/14613878/national-academy-genome-editing-humans
Macias, Amanda . "Nine Nations Have Nukes — Here's How Many Each Country Has." Business Insider. June 17, 2014. Accessed
April 25, 2017. http://www.businessinsider.com/nine-nations-have-nukes--heres-how-many-each-country-has-2014-6.

25. Response to 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?
I believe Wiseman should have been allowed to film the residents. My reasoning is the same as Wiseman’s. When the residents of the
institution went to the institution, the institution became the legal guardian. This means that they had the power to decide whether or
not filming should take place. When they said that it could take place they agreed on behalf of the patients that they could be filmed
as well.
Designers of many different disciplines could take lessons from Titicut Follies. These lessons would help to ensure that the residents
did in fact have the same basic human rights as the general population. Some of the most basic needs of human rights are food,
clothing and shelter. If you look at the structure of Bridgewater, it has the feel of an old asylum which is dreary, depressing and
miserable. Architects could look at the design and realize they could do a lot better to improve the conditions of the residents.
All of the needs of the residents would fall under social design as well. I think a social designer would be most valuable because they
can look at the big picture and put together all the pieces that would be carried out by an architect, interior designer, industrial
designer, etc. A social designer could look at the entire system and realize what could be improved not only for basic needs but for a
sense of normalcy for the residents. This would improve the quality of life of the average resident and help them live a more fulfilling
life.
https://john.do/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/mental-institution.jpg

26. 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”?
As a resident of the neighborhood I would support this proposal because of past experiences with people that have disabilities. Near my
mom’s house there is a group home for handicapped people. They take a lot of walks around the neighborhood with the caretakers and
are always friendly and outgoing. I also have a relative that is mentally challenged and both homes that he has lived in, one in
Lackawanna and one in Eden, have been peaceful to the surrounding houses.
If the residents had behavioral issues in the recent past but they haven’t resurfaced in a few years I wouldn’t be worried about it because
it isn’t currently relevant. I would wait and see if there are any issues before I would object. Obviously, some behaviors are unacceptable,
especially in a neighborhood with children, but unless those issues resurface I wouldn’t worry about it.
There are a few solutions that would benefit the neighborhood and residents. The first thing I would do is make sure the house is well
staffed. Sometimes these homes are understaffed making it very difficult to tend to the needs of all the residents. The second thing
would be to soundproof the house. If there is a possibility of noise coming from inside the house I would make sure the soundproofing
is adequate enough so that it didn’t disturb the houses next door. The third thing I would do is limit side windows so that there was no
possibility for a resident to indecently expose themselves to a neighborhood resident from a bedroom window. An alternative would be
to install a mirrored or tinted window, which would have the added benefit of keeping heat out in the summer months. The fourth
thing I would do is add a fence to the yard. This would allow the residents to have plenty of recreation time outside while still providing
a safety net for indecent exposure, or a resident attempting to run away.
http://www.yorknational.com/housing-trends/misconceptions-about-the-suburbs/

27. Response to Prospects for the Future of Diversity and Design
Consider the quote in your syllabus from educator Michael J. Shannon: “Design, as vision in action--the intersection of
understanding and creation--is a universal human capability that can play a fundamental role in social evolution, in the
process that transforms resources, energy, and information to make our world.”
At the beginning of this course, we discussed the idea that we are all designers regardless of our profession or field of
study. We’ve asked some big questions along the way, and the conclusion section of our textbook raises additional
issues that require input from people who might not consider themselves to be part of the formalized design
professions.
Think about your own major and/or future profession. What is the biggest challenge, problem, or question that your
field needs to tackle right now? What do you plan to do to address this challenge, problem, or question either as part
of your studies or professional life?
For my major of Mechanical Engineering and my profession of Automotive Engineering, one of the biggest questions for
the future is energy consumption. The most important aspects to this question are what kind of energy is to be used and
how efficient can you make it. As a professional engineer, I plan to focus on increasing the efficiency of a vehicle while
moving. While electrical cars are great, they consume a much larger percentage of their energy capacity by volume per
unit time than gasoline engines do. Every bit of electricity that can be saved provides a longer range, which is
the Achilles heel of electric vehicles at the moment. I will help tackle this problem by focusing on air friction. Wind
resistance increases exponentially with speed so in order to make EVs appealing to people, we must make them have
useful ranges at speeds similar to internal combustion vehicles. These gains will be made by many small, incremental
steps. There are no big revolutions in the laws of aerodynamics, it’s simply a matter of design/engineer and refine. One of
the biggest areas for improvement is the removal of side view mirrors. Instead of two large, clunky mirrors, cars could
use cameras. This would reduce energy consumption, be safer because of better visibility and serve the purpose of
allowing object sensors in the camera to assist when cars become self-driving. On passenger vehicles (not semis) this
would have an estimated ~3% improvement. While seemingly small, 3% for one aspect is quite a lot. As of 2016, if every
car in the U.S. were to have cameras instead of mirrors, you could save 2-3 billion gallons of gas annually. There are
many other improvements that can be looked at as well. Splitters, diffusers, frontal area, spoilers and the overall shape of
the car all play an important role when discussing aerodynamic efficiency. By making many small improvements over a
wide variety of design aspects, it can add up to a big savings.
http://carzreviewz.com/ngg_tag/tesla-model-s-top-view/
"Reflections on side mirrors: testing drag vs. MPG." MetroMPG. August 31, 2006. Accessed May 8, 2017.
http://www.metrompg.com/posts/mirrors.htm.
Blas, Javier. "Gasoline Consumption in U.S. Rises Most in Nearly Four Decades." Bloomberg. May 3, 2016.
Accessed May 8, 2017. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-02/gasoline-consumption-in-u-s-
rises-most-in-nearly-four-decades.

28. Response to the Connection Between Religion and Urban Planning by David Engwicht
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?
One of the most influential places of worship in my hometown is the Wesleyan Church of Hamburg. This Church is the
biggest in my town and seats over 1500 people. Though I’m not Wesleyan, it’s less than a mile from my house and is an
important house of worship nonetheless. I know multiple people that attend this church with some that travel from 3-4
towns over in Elma and Alden. When service is finished, the number of cars is large enough that Hamburg Police
Officers direct traffic until everyone disperses. Due to its popularity and the fact that it’s the largest Wesleyan church for
many miles, I believe people who are of the Wesleyan faith will move to Hamburg to be closer to the Church. Though it
has such a large membership now, it wasn't always that big. About 8-10 years ago the Church renovated and expanded
and that is when membership really skyrocketed. As far as influencing design of my town, I’m not sure that it has
influenced Hamburg in any way other than how it looks. It is a beautiful property that looks very much in place in the
traditional design style of Hamburg. Much of the property is a large, well maintained parking lot. This parking lot is
probably what has influenced me the most. I have spent many hours in that lot practicing riding motorcycles and
teaching family members (unsuccessfully) how to operate a manual gearbox. Just not on Sundays of course.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52f25f43e4b06151dc72138f/t/52f679f8e4b013e3f943e30a/1391884793672/front+view+2
.jpg?format=2500w