This is a compilation of responses to online discussion questions for Spring 2017 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
Amanda Werner
http://www.abcgroupinc.com/index.php/careers/diversity/

2. Introduction
My name is Amanda Werner. I am a sophomore at the
University of Buffalo studying biological sciences. American Diversity
and design has helped to shape me as a student. It has allowed me to
think more critically about the way that America is designed, from our
cities and buildings, to our roads and parks, to our goods such as cars,
or park benches, or even spoons. Everything that we design in America
has an impact on someone. Design influences the way that people
interact with each other, with the world, and in society. American
Diversity and Design has influenced me to take into consideration the
people or which groups of people would be effected by my designs.
One of the most interesting things that I learned in the course
was the way that the design of a space influences the way that people
interact. For example, one of the videos that we watched towards the
beginning of the course was 10 Buildings that Changed America. The
show talked about this house in Chicago, Illinois called the Robie
house. This house’s design was way ahead of its time. During the time
it was built, most houses were separated into secluded rooms. The
typical Victorian houses were very box-like, and created a separation
between spaces. The Robie house became known as one of the “Prairie
houses” because it celebrated the environment rather than disgracing it.
The Robie house is now open to the public, and it can be seen that the
Taken by: Anika French

3. Robie house was very modern. The open space plays with your senses and emotion. One room flows seamlessly to the next with an
open concept that is just one continuous space. Robie’s house was considered to be the house that “broke the box”. It became a space
that was a family space. I think that because the space was an open concept, family members could interact with each other more
often, whereas in the Victorian style houses, the rooms were secluded so there wasn’t much interaction between people. This is an
example of how design influences the way that people interact with each other, even in their own homes.
Another compelling topic that was discussed in the course was the way that parks were integrated into cities. We discussed the
plan that Buffalo had for our park system, and until I took this course, I had never realized that Buffalo was a city within a park.
Frederick Law Olmstead designed the park system in Buffalo, and he designed it so that the parks all connected with each other, and
so a person could go from one park to the next without feeling as though they ever left the park. The city is simply integrated into the
park system, creating a city within a park. The way that Olmstead designed the parks celebrated the environment and landscape, and
allowed a place for people to relax, play, or just enjoy nature, and I find that concept particularly compelling.
After taking this course, my viewpoints on certain topics have changed. I have learned more about how space influences
people, how designs can be inclusive or how they can discriminate or exclude specific groups of people, and I have learned how
designers can influence the world in a million different ways. I now feel that designers should take those with disabilities into
consideration, and I feel that if we aren’t conscientious of where our technologies lead us regarding human enhancements, there may
not be any human left behind to enhance. These are all discussions that I would not have considered before taking American Diversity
and Design, and some of those discussions are included in the next pages. 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.

4. Response to Thread 1: Introduction
This thread provides you with an opportunity to “meet” each other and initiate a connection with participants in your group.
In responding to this discussion thread, please introduce yourself and provide us with one interesting fact about yourself.
After posting your introduction, take a look through and reply to some of the others. The purpose of this exercise is to develop
a sense of community. You might find that you share similar experiences and can help each other in many ways throughout
the semester.
Hello! My name is Amanda. I am a sophomore from Massachusetts. I am currently a Biological
Sciences major but I'm hoping to transfer into a nursing program (not sure which college just yet) next
fall. I currently live in my own apartment in South Buffalo. I have an extremely busy schedule, and
usually my days are jam packed between going to the gym, school, and working full time at the Delta
Sonic Car Wash. When I do have spare time, I enjoy spending it with friends, or just relaxing at home. I
enjoy most types of music, however pop music and country seem to be my favorites. It's nice to meet
everyone!!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/3
05752262182191839/

5. Response to “What is design?” from Hello World
On “What is design?” from Hello World: Where Design Meets Life by Alice Rawsthron
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 in 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 speedallowed 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 or invention that gave advantage to a
group of people or population was the invention of the
car. When the car first was invented, it was seen as more of a
luxury than it was a necessity. Now, it is almost impossible to
go about daily life without a personal form of transportation
(unless you live in the city). The population or group of people
that benefit from the invention of the car, is those living in the
suburbs. The car allows them to reside in a suburban area, and
http://www.airportexpress.com/service_to_from_suburbs

6. commute to the city for work every day. The car enabled people to venture away from big cities, and reside in nicer communities.
Today, it is very difficult to get around and do day to day necessities without my own form of transportation. So those who couldn't
afford a car became disadvantaged because they would need to find transportation to work, school, etc. by either public transportation
(which can be time consuming) or through a friend. Or, they would have to find a job or school that was within walking distance to
their residence, which limits the opportunities available to that person, or can be especially challenging if you don't live in a city.

7. Response to “Introduction” from Diversity and Design
On “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? (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, keepin 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.)
A design that was impacted by a diversity group was the legalization of gay marriage in the United States. As a more recent
change, the legalization of gay marriage was something that the LGBTQ+ community has been protesting/fighting for vigorously
in the last few decades. It started with a gay couple in Minnesota in 1970, who was denied the right to be married despite the fact that

8. Minnesota's laws about marriage made no reference to gender1. The couple fought in court, and they were ultimately denied by the
supreme court. From that case going forward, more same sex couples continued to challenge the laws of the US federal and state
government. As the community kept protesting, laws kept being changed. In 1989, same sex couples were considered families. In
1992, same sex couples could receive domestic partner benefits. In
2000, Vermont became the first state to grant full marital benefits to
same sex couples. In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to
fully legalize same sex marriage. In 2003, Massachusetts became the
first US state to fully legalize gay marriage, and then more cities and
states nationwide began to follow2. In 2015, 45 years later, gay
marriage became legal in all 50 states. The planning and development
of protests, marches, rallies, etc. by the LGBTQ+ community allowed
for government officials to hear the voices of those that were being
oppressed, and denied the rights and benefits of marriage. This changed
the circumstances of benefits for 491,000 couples in the United States
alone.
1 “Gay Marriage Timeline – Gay Marriage – ProCon.” Should gay marriage be legal? October 6, 2014. Accessed May 02, 2017.
http://gaymarriage.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000030.
2 Ibid.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/07/gay-
marriage-supreme-court-politics-activism/397052/

9. Response to Media/Society Chapter and TED Talk on Photographs
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 servedas an
icon of an event. (Feel free to add an attachment.) What roles does this photo play in the communication of the event?
I would place the photos from Photos That Changed the
World into the category of media message. I feel like with these
iconic photos, the phrase "a picture says a thousand words" becomes
true. The message may be something entirely different from person
to person, but those photos resonate something with different people
and the photograph becomes more than a photograph, it becomes a
message, symbolizing something important in our history and
culture. One image taken in my own life time that has served as an
icon of an event is the photo of the Syrian boy that survived a
bombing. While we already knew the horrors of the events taking
place in Syria, this photo allowed me understand the horrors that
people are surviving every day. It allowed me to see that these are
PEOPLE that are in danger. Men, women, and children. While this image is very recent, it has become one of the most iconic photos
to emerge from the Syrian bombings to address the Syrian refugee crisis.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/17/world/syria-little-boy-
airstrike-victim/

10. Response to Articles on Hats as Communication Design
NOTE: Use the first three part of the SEE-IT method of critical thinking (State, Elaborate, Exemplify) to address the
following questions:
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 article have two completely different meanings, and they almost completely oppose each other.
The red hats were worn to show that you are a supporter of President Trump3. They were worn to show that you agree with his
actions, policies, views, etc. The pink hats were worn in the Women's marches to show that you not only believe in women's rights,
more specifically women's health and reproductive rights, but that you were in opposition to President Trump's views on the topic4.
With the recent discussions of defunding Planned Parenthood, and with the statements from Trump calling women pigs, calling
someone a nasty woman, and his repeated remarks about woman's bodies and their looks, the pink hats stood for women’s power.
3 Budds, Diana. “The Worst Design Of 2016 Was Also the Most Effective.” Co.Design. January 03, 2017. Accessed May 02, 2017.
https://www.fastcodesign.com/3066599/the-worst-design-of-2016-was-also-the-most-effective.
4 Rogers, Katie. “Fashioning Protest for the Women’s March on Washington.” The New York Times. January 18, 2017. Accessed
May 02, 2017.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/fashion/womens-march-washington-fashion-protest.html?_r=1

11. They stood not just for women's health and reproductive rights, but they called attention to the way that women are viewed across
media platforms, by men, by other women, in government, etc.
Kat Coyle
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-
3224244/Picture-Tom-Brady-s-locker-shows-
Donald-s-Make-America-great-hat.html

12. 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 systemchange 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?
Henry Ford brought about change to society with mass production
because he was able to create jobs, make the car manufacturing process
cheaper (which lowered the cost of the car overall, so the middle class was
able to afford them), and he created a lot of jobs because you didn't need
any sort of skill or specialization, or really even experience to work on the
production line. Even though Henry Ford created a lot of jobs and
production was sped up, there were some negative consequences. The job
didn’t require any sort of skill or specialization, so people were not
motivated to learn more about a specific field to advance their knowledge or
further their career5. This is one of the social consequences. People became used to doing the same thing over and over again, day
5 Heskett, John. Industrial design. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2004.
http://corporate.ford.com/innovation/100-years-
moving-assembly-line.html

13. after day. Without the need for specialization or skill, the U.S. society was worsened as intellectual advancements amongst the general
population were not being encouraged or reinforced. With new technology in today’s day and age I think that we will really show
progress in the next 20 or so years regarding the types of technology and machines that we create, and how long it will take to
manufacture them. Something that might now take days to create, we could have down to just hours in the future. That being said,
Maurice Conti mentioned telling a computer the parameters for a design and the limitations, and then the computer designs and creates
the item6. With technology like this, there is no need for unspecialized or unskilled workers because the computer does the work for
them. There is the concern that computers will be taking the job of a human. However, there may be hope for humans and computers
to work together. You can use AI to control the situation, humans for design and reasoning, and robots for the handiwork and
precision.
6 Conti, Maurice. Maurice Conti: The incredible inventions of intuitive AI | TED Talk| Ted.com. April 2016. Accessed May 02, 2017.
https://www.ted.com/talks/maurice_conti_the_incredible_inventions_of_intuitive_ai?language=en.

14. Response IDEA Awards and Cradle-to-Cradle Video
NOTE: Use the first three part of the SEE-IT method of critical thinking (State, Elaborate, Exemplify) to address the
following questions:
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? Provide an example
of any product that embraces Cradle-to-Cradle design. Please describe and cite your source.
The cradle-to-cradle concept is about using materials in a cycle, only using forms of energy that
are renewable, and to celebrate diversity7. One product that completely disregards this concept is the car.
Brand new cars are made with new parts, not parts that are in a continuous cycle. It also uses gas as fuel
which is not renewable, and it doesn't really celebrate diversity in any given way. While the reduction of
use of materials can be seen with electric cars, the parts for the cars are still not reusable or recyclable.
One product that embraces the cradle-to-cradle design is the Biofuel Clean Cook-stove. The cook-stove,
because it uses previously used cooking oil so the materials are in a cycle, and the form of energy can be
renewed or derived from plants. It also reduces the risk of fire hazards8. This fits diversity because it can
be used by all people at a low risk, with a small carbon footprint left behind.
7 C2CWorld. YouTube. April 30, 2014. Accessed May 02, 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMsF1P-_vWc.
8 “Biofuel Clean Cookstove.” Industrial Designers Society of America – IDSA. August 18, 2016. Accessed May 02, 2017.
http://www.idsa.org/awards/idea/kitchens/biofuel-clean-cookstove.
http://www.idsa.org/aw
ards/idea/kitchens/biofu
el-clean-cookstove

15. 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? (Use the SEE-IT method to respond to this question.)
The Wainwright Building in Saint Louis is a building that was described in "10 Buildings that Changed
America" and is a piece of architecture with sensibilities about the future. The building, much like a modern-
day skyscraper, has story upon story of identical office buildings, however there were three parts to it. The base
which was two stories, then 7 identical stories that draws your eyes upward with protruding vertical columns, and
then the top which was decorated with terracotta ornament, which represented nature9. This design allows us to
remember what makes skyscrapers work in the first place, and it set the stage for the construction and design of
skyscrapers for the next century. This fits into the time where individualism was important. When each individual
brings in their own talents ideas and designs for the benefit of others, it is creating an American architecture. The
community building that Jeanne Gang described is a piece of architecture with sensibilities about the past. In order
to build that piece of architecture, they looked around the globe to find previous community meeting places, and
9 PBS. May 13, 2013. Accessed May 02, 2017. http://www.pbs.org/program/ten-that-changed-america/10-buildings-changed-america/.
http://www.great
buildings.com/bui
ldings/Wainwrigh
t_Building.html

16. used those designs, as well as their own ideas to influence the final piece10. When it was finished, they had a place where people could
have cultural exchanges, based upon pieces of architecture from all different cultures.
10 Gang, Jeanne. Jeanne Gang: Buildings that blend nature and city | TED Talk | Ted.com. October 2016. Accessed May 02, 2017.
https://www.ted.com/talks/jeanne_gang_buildings_that_blend_nature_and_city.

17. Response to Ballantyne and Zumthor Articles
Andrew Ballantyne and Peter Zumthor present ideas about architecture that seemto 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? (Use the SEE-IT method to respond to this question.)
Ballantyne and Zumthor's ideas about architecture are similar in the sense
that they believe that architecture is more than just buildings and structures.
Architecture plays a role in our lives as well. It is the building block of our
relationships, it is the foundation for our cities, our communities, and what we
use to form those structures is important. Every day materials are key when it
comes to the foundation of architecture. It impacts our influential ideas, and our
relationships. However, the process that Ballantyne and Zumthor go through to
create a piece of architecture is different. Zumthor believes in the fluidity of the
materials, how they fit together, or flow together. He believes that architecture
can speak for itself, send a message, or stand on its own11. Ballantyne on the
other hand thinks about the people that will be using that piece of architecture.
He thinks about who will be using it, and why, and designs his pieces based on
practicality12.
11 Zumthor, Peter. Thinking architecture. Basal: Birkhäuser, 2010.
12 Ballantyne, Andrew. “Architecture, Life, and Habit.” In The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 43-44. The American Society
for Aesthetics, 2011.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/replac
e-ageing-cbd-office-stock-says-andrew-
ballantyne-head-of-research-with-jll/news-
story/ab9aaa4b08426832c21d62650987289c?nk
=1c72402ecc3be7692bb09eae192767b9-
1493758800

18. Response to Levy Article
John Levy’s article, “An Overview: The Needfor 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?
Planning defines the character of a space because it determines, traffic flow, it
determines whether a town will be nice looking, or ugly, and it will determine a pattern of
development that gives residents access to recreational, cultural, school, shopping, and other
facilities. It determines a traffic pattern that is easy to use without causing congestion.
Planning defined the character of the place that I grew up by the way that the houses were
set up. I grew up in the suburbs of Depew, technically in the town of Cheektowaga. It was a
five-minute drive down transit road to the High School, but only a two-minute walk to
Wegmans and Target. I lived on a street where all of the houses were a duplex, either upper
lowers, or side by sides. Each house style respectively looked identical to the other houses
on the street, and there wasn't much space in between the houses. By having so many houses
that close together on such a small block, it wasn't very appealing to the eye. Depew for the
most part actually looked pretty run down. However, there was never too much traffic. All
of the major businesses were near transit road, so the majority of the traffic was directed there. With Transit being a very straight road,
it was easy to navigate. There was never a huge traffic issue in my town.
http://www.landsat.com/depew-new-
york-aerial-photography-map.html

19. Response to Pruitt Igoe Project, Talen, and Larson
Imagine that you are part of an urban planning and design firm working with Emily Talen (author of “DesignThat 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-Igoe Project failed because of the area that it was in, despite the
hopes that it would be successful. By being in a poor district, it was susceptible
to crime, drugs, violence, etc. that usually plagues poor communities. I think that
it could have been more successful had the developers taken into account the
location when it was planned out. It also failed because families weren’t allowed
to express themselves through designing their apartment and customizing the
look. The buildings were run down and weren’t visually appealing13. If I were
able to change and improve the Pruitt building, I would focus on trying to build a
building that allowed the community to come together. When you have a strong
community, the crime rates and drug problems decrease. As Larson said in his
13 Online. United States: First Run Features, 2012. September 27, 2015. Accessed May 02, 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKgZM8y3hso.
http://www.pruitt-igoe.com/the-pruitt-igoe-myth/

20. Ted Talk, one way to do this is to break up the area into small communities14. Not only does this put an emphasis on cultures and
communication within a neighborhood, but it provides a means for a communication network between the small communities to form
a mesh network. Talen on the other had would put an emphasis on mixing the community together and creating diversity within the
community15.
14 Larson, Kent. Kent Larson: Brilliant designs to fit more people in every city | TED Talk | Ted.com. June 2012. Accessed May 02,
2017. https://www.ted.com/talks/kent_larson_brilliant_designs_to_fit_more_people_in_every_city?nolanguage=en%23t-367652
15 Talen, Emily. “Design that enables diversity: The complications of a planning ideal.” Journal of Planning Literature. June 19, 2015.
Accessed May 02, 2017. https://ublearns.buffalo.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-4058552-dt-content-rid-
14825578_1/courses/2171_14992_COMB/Design%20that%20enables%20Diversity%281%29.pdf

21. Response to F.L. 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?
Olmstead made this claim about Buffalo because
Buffalo has all of these parks, without disrupting society. When
Olmstead planned to incorporate Central Park into New York
City, they had to get rid of communities and buildings in order
to make a space for nature when nature should just be natural16.
Buffalo wasn't like this. Our parks were natural and left as they
were, and they were/are shared by everybody, not just specific
groups of people. They symbolize a place where people can
come together. I think that Olmstead would still make this
claim because our parks are still around, and we haven't
changed or disrupted them. There’s also a wide array of things
to do around certain parks in Buffalo such as Delaware Park, so
people have a chance to interact with one another as they cross
paths.
16 Rich, Nathaniel. “When Parks Were Radical.” The Atlantic. August 12, 2016. Accessed May 02, 2017.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/09/better-than-nature/492716
http://www.dailypublic.com/articles/06042015/paving-olmsted

22. Response to Walter Hood's Work
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).
A place in my hometown that should be memorialized are
these waterfalls that are surrounded by a park. Many people come to
these falls to go cliff jumping or hiking. I had gone there last
summer, and the hike is beautiful, and the cliffs are so high that
jumping off of them alongside the falls is exhilarating. I think that
this park should be memorialized and left exactly the way it is
because it is enjoyed by people while it is untouched. The park acts
as a place that brings people together. It is a landscape that should be
left as is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WgiCzhhcmE

23. 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 or groups of African heritage as providing a very limited view of the history of the
transatlantic slave trade, resistance and abolition (Hudson 2007).” The lessonhere 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.) (NOTE: Limit your response to less than 250
words.)
This is a propaganda poster to try to get people to enlist in the army during WW2. The poster uses racist remarks to degrade
the Japanese during WW2, especially after the Pearl Harbor bombing. If I were Japanese, I would be upset with this form of
propaganda. Not all Japanese were murderers, and the United States did a lot of damage to the Japanese Americans that were living in
the country at the time. We had put them in our own forms of concentration camps, took away their homes, etc. because of our intense
fear that they would turn their backs on us. If I was a Japanese American and I saw this propaganda poster, I would have felt isolated,

24. and I would have felt that my own county hated me and did not care what became of me, simply because I looked similar to the people
the perpetrated the bombings at Pearl Harbor.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/anti-japanese-
propaganda-poster-during-world-war-ii.html

25. 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. (Use the beliefs or principles that are most relevant to your
critique rather than all of them.) (NOTE: Limit your response to less than 250 words.)
I unfortunately have never been to the MLK Memorial or the
National Museum of African American History. However it is my
understanding that the MLK Memorial was to recognize and celebrate
the civil rights movement, and to encourage people to always stick up
for what is right, no matter how small the issue may seem. This
correlates with one of equityXdesign's core beliefs that "Our individual
actions can cumulatively serve to maintain existing forms of inequity -
or they can serve to dismantle systems of oppression"17. If every single
person constantly sticks up for what is right, they can dismantle
oppression. I believe that this is what the MLK Memorial was meant to
represent.
17 EquityXdesign. “Racism and inequity are products of design. They can be redesigned.” Medium. Nobember 15,2016. Accessed
May 02, 2017.
https://medium.com/@multiplyequity/racism-and-inequity-are-products-of-design-they-can-be-redesigned-12188363cc6a
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther-King-
Jr/images-videos

26. Response to "Landscape Stories" Chapter
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 keepor 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? (Limit your response to 250 words.)
Something in my home that describes my ethnic background are
these photos that I have of my dad from a Saint Patrick’s Day parade. My
dad is mostly Irish, and he celebrates the holiday every year to remember
where his family came from.
I grew up in Massachusetts, particularly near Boston. There is
definitely evidence of cultural influence in Boston. One of the most evident
is Boston's Chinatown. There are many attractions, activities, and
restaurants that people can go to, to get the best experience of the Chinese
culture. It is most definitely preserving the culture for future generations.
http://boston-chinatown.info

27. 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? (Limit your response to 150 words.)
I think that ethnic referencing is okay, as long as the term is not derogatory. For
example, the "Fighting Irish" or the "Boston Celtics" are not derogatory terms. However, to
Native Americans being called a "Redskin" is derogatory and offensive. It is understandable to
want to include ethnicity when considering the name of a sports team, but if the purpose is to
include the ethnic group, it would be wise to not insult them by using a term that that ethnic
group disapproves of. The article about Sports Branding did a really good job explaining this
when thy said that the Cleveland Indians adopted their name in 1915. At this time, so-called
civilization regulations were forbidding Native Americans to speak their languages, or practice
their religions, or leave their reservations. This meant that American Indians couldn’t perform ceremonial dances, but pretend
American Indians in costumes could do so on the sideline of a sport18.
18 Sports, Erik Brady. “The real history of Native American team names.” USA Today. August 25, 2016. Accessed May 02, 2017.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2016/08/24/real-history-native-american-team-names/89259596/
http://www.clipartkid.com/washin
gton-redskins-logo-cliparts/

28. 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? (Limit your response to 200 words.)
I chose this image because it shows that no matter what your beliefs are, no matter
what your sexual orientation is, no matter what gender you are, and no matter what
the color of your skin is, we are all the same. We discriminate against each other not
only by gender, but by religion, by skin color, etc. And when we discriminate against
each other, we create conflict. Gender equality, as well as racial equality, and
religious tolerance, would solve so many of the world's issues. This image
communicates the gender issue by displaying that underneath our physical
appearances, we are all the same. Underneath all of the things that we categorize each
other with, we are still human.https://nichooper.com/my-
thoughts/compassion-focused-
politics/underneath-we-are-all-the-same-
i12925/

29. 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 passeda 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? Use the SEE-IT method to respond to this
question. (Limit your response to less than 250 words.)
I think that people should be able to use whichever bathroom they identify with. If a person
identifies as a male, they should use the men's bathroom, if they identify as a female, they should use
the women's bathroom. If they don't identify as either, then they should be able to choose whichever
restroom fits their identity best. People are in the bathroom to go to the bathroom. While I can
understand the concern regarding their safety, if a man or woman is using a bathroom that they don't
identify with to harm the opposite sex, the government has specifically targeted the LGBTQ+
community with this law. I would solve the issue by creating a men’s, women’s, and/or a gender-
neutral bathroom available.
https://www.pinterest.com
/explore/gender-neutral-
bathroom-signs/

30. Response to Hidden Ways
Author StevenFlusty 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.
While this image isn’t exactly in Buffalo, I thought that it was close enough to document. This image was taken in
Letchworth State Park, which is about a 45-minute drive East of Buffalo. I chose this image because it appropriately fits
the category of slippery. The view that I always go to in Letchworth State Park can’t be seen from the clearly marked
visitor path that is provided, however if you stray from the path there is a small ledge that can be found where the view
of the gorge and the stream below become visible.
The second image is a beach that is about a half hour drive South of Buffalo, on Lake Erie. This beach
appropriately fits the category of crusty. Steven Flusty said, “A crusty space is easy to spot or easy to access – if
not for the gates or structural barriers blocking the way”19. This beach would be highly accessible, but it is
currently deemed private property. The beach is on the property of a family friend, so while it is okay for my sister
and I (as seen in the photograph) to walk on the beach, it is considered trespassing if a stranger were to do so,
making the beach a crusty space because of the structural barriers (my friend’s locked gate).
(Amy Gallagher)
19 Jaffe, Eric. “The Hidden Ways Urban Design Segregates The Poor.” Co.Design. April 28, 2017. Accessed May 03, 2017.
https://www.fastcodesign.com/3034206/slicker-city/the-hidden-ways-urban-design-segregates-the-poor
(Amanda Werner)

31. Response to People Like Us
After almost two decades of public assistance, Tammy Crabtree took herself and her family off the welfare rolls. But her job
cleaning bathrooms at a local Burger King barely paid the bills. Crabtree wanted to do better and hopes to go to college and
become a teacher.
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?
The first thing that I would do to help Tammy would be to get her and her family out of
the area that they live in. I would start by building housing that is income-based, so that
Tammy and her family had a decent place to live that was closer to her work. Secondly, I
would suggest some sort of scholarship program that can help benefit the poor if they
choose to go to school, more specifically for the program that Tammy is going into –
education. If people of poverty have a stable job, a decent place to live, and an opportunity
to go to school, then they can get better employment, which means they can live in a better
house, and they can keep climbing up the social ladder until they are out of poverty.http://www.cnam.com/people-like-
us/film/support_tammy.html

32. 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?
One of the first things that the article talks about is how the people of lower
incomes and the people of higher ages were being excluded from the plans. Their
optimism about the redevelopment turned into pessimism because they were losing
their community connections and being pushed together in a brand new area. The
phasing wasn't inclusive, it was exclusive and segregational. The phasing took people
away from their homes in which they had built new lives elsewhere and didn't want to
return to Regent Park. For those that did, their community ties were broken, and
gardening, the one thing that had been beneficial for the community and strengthened
it, was limited to certain designated areas, in which the tenants had to bid on lots20.
There are many ways in which they could ensure more social integration for the older people. The first action would be to listen to the
concerns of the tenants. The redevelopment team needed to listen to their concerns with what was wrong with the community, but also
listen to what they believed the strengths were. This would have allowed for them to fix what was damaged, but preserve what was
not. They also could have ensured that the buyers of the new development were first time home owners. This would have made the
spaces more available to those who needed it, and prevent the upper class from buying the houses at a cheap rate only to resell or rent
them at a ridiculous price to the elderly or poor that couldn't afford it.
20 Carroll, Mary J. “(Re)forming Regent Park: When Policy Does Not Equal Practice.” In Diversity And Design Understanding
Hidden Consequences, edited by Beth Tauke, Korydon Smith, and Charles Davis, 209-22. New York, NY: Routledge, 2016.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regent_Park

33. 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 everbefore 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?
Well the first way it would change society is by population
increase. If people are living to 120+ years of age we would need more
housing, more government assistance programs, etc. However with a
larger population, there is more opportunity to do research on technology,
biomedicine, etc. As Enruiquez had discussed, we would see a more
widespread use of prosthetics, and other innovations to increase life span
and drastically evolve the human body to avoid extinction21. By
drastically changing the human body, we will be able to prolong life,
improve the quality of life, or even potentially live on another planet if we
decide to change the body in radical ways.
21 Enriquez, Juan. Juan Enriquez: What will humans look like in 100 years? | TED Talk | Ted.com. June 2016. Accessed May 03,
2017. https://www.ted.com/talks/juan_enriquez_what_will_humans_look_like_in_100_years?language=en
http://www.midmooandp.com

34. 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 DesignPowerPoint,
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 sevenprinciples of universal design.
For the Module 12 Thread 1, please select one of the sevenuniversal 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 evenfurther improved.

35. This handicapped picnic table represents "size and shape for approach and use". To most
this would look like a regular picnic table, but because the middle of the benches were cut out to
form seats, it became handicap accessible for those in a wheelchair. A normal picnic table is not
accessible for those in wheelchairs and can be very exclusive and isolating. I chose the picnic
table because it can easily be integrated into society, without people really noticing. I think it
effectively reflects what Roy talked about when she said that if we design for disability first, we
design for all22. In the accessible table, not only can people in wheelchairs sit at the table and
join conversations, but the individual seats allows for people to have more room on the bench. It
eliminates having to ask people to move over so you
can have more room. The regular picnic table does not
allow any room for those in wheelchairs, and it is more likely for people to be pushed together
on the bench. That being said, I think that the handicapped table can be improved. I think that
there should be a section that can be pulled out in the middle, so that if a group of people did
not need the space for a wheelchair, then the middle of the bench could be extended creating a
full bench if the group decided to utilize the space. Then if a handicapped person was present,
the middle of the bench could be removed or slid to the side to create the space in the middle.
22 Roy, Elise. Elise Roy: When we design for disability, we all benefit | TED Talk | Ted.com. September 2015. Accessed May 03,
2017. https://www.ted.com/talks/elise_roy_when_we_design_for_disability_we_all_benefit
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5457
09679817615351/
http://www.fifthroom.com/picnic-
tables/

36. Response to Survey, FIXED, and Stelarc
Our 2017 Design-A-Baby survey yielded the following characteristics as indicated by a majority of you:
 Sex: Male (47%)
 Hair Color: Dark Brown (22%)
 Hair Texture: Wavy (33%)
 Eye Color: Blue (26%)
 Race: Caucasian (36%)
 Height: 5’-10” to 6’-1” (45%)
 IQ: 131-140 (20%)
 Memory: Excellent (43%)
 Athletic Ability: Excellent (43%)
 Weight: Average (79%)
 Disease Carrier: None (85%)
 Beauty: Somewhat attractive (46%)
 Empathy: Very empathetic (38%)
 Creativity: Very creative (37%)
Sounds like an all-around lovely person!
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

37. 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 askedus 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?
When it comes to enhancement technologies, I think we need to be careful.
I think change is a good thing, but mistakes can be made. When we start to mess
with the way that we reproduce, there is a great chance that something can go
wrong. The baby can be born with defects rather than the intended enhancement if
anything were to go wrong, and we would consequently be creating a generation
of kids with more disabilities. The positive consequences are that the
enhancements work, and we end up with a generation of kids with "super powers". Jobs would change because we would be more
efficient with our work, and we would be able to do things that aren’t even imaginable in today’s day and age.
https://samnoakes.wordpress.com/tag/human-
enhancement/

38. 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 servedin 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?
A place of worship that I am somewhat familiar with is the Trinity Church in Boston, Massachusetts. I am from Massachusetts,
and Trinity Church is actually a church that we had discussed earlier in the semester. The church is historical, and it brings people
together from all over the world. Services are offered three times during the weekdays, and five times on Sunday so the people within
the community have plenty of time to worship. The parish is also very involved in community service, programs for children, and

39. CCD classes to educate children on the Christian faith.
They have several choirs, and overall it is a church that is
not only beautiful on the outside, but on the inside and
throughout the community as well. The roles that this
church plays in the city of Boston has a great impact on
both the development of the town, and the design of the
area around it. It allows for the community to strengthen,
and it becomes a welcoming place for gathering. Over
time, its’ role in the city has strengthened, as the church
seeks to be more involved with the people in the
community. It is also currently under a study for
becoming a Boston Landmark, which will bring more
tourists to the area, and influence not just the religious
community, but the economy as well. If the church
becomes a Boston Landmark, then the future
development of Boston will be better.
http://lindsaygriffin.com/2012/04/05/boston-wedding-trinity-church/

40. 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 askedsome 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?
Eventually I would like to be Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. As I haven barely scratched the surface in my field, I don’t really
know much about what challenges Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners face in their profession. However, I have experience in the position
of a Certified Nursing Aide (or CNA). One of the biggest issues that I could see in the nursing field in general, was that there was so
many patients and residents, but not nearly enough nurses or aides. We were almost always short staffed. Nurses are overworked and
underpaid, and due to those conditions, not many people want to become nurses, or once they do become nurses, they decide that the
profession is not for them. I think that one of the biggest issues is that when a nursing team is understaffed, the work becomes
exhausting and overwhelming, and the patients are not taken care of properly, or at least given the full time and attention that they
need and deserve from their nurses. Because I am trying to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, I won’t necessarily have this

41. issue, however because I plan on becoming a Registered Nurse first, I will do
my best to pull my weight, and work hard to ensure that each patient,
resident, or client I see and treat will get the appropriate time and attention
needed from me as their nurse. This will not only help the issue of patients
being treated properly, but it counts towards fixing the issue of being short
staffed if I am showing up for every shift. These goals will help both the
patient, and my professional career.
http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/index.html
?ID=6243