Arc 211 American Diversity and Design Constantinos Landis

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/21st-century-urban-city-planning-jeremy-s-snow
University at Buffalo – The State University of New York
ARC 211 – American Diversity and Design – Spring 2017
American Diversity and Design Online Discussion Questions
Constantinos Landis

Diversity and design has been a very interesting opportunity to learn and contemplate some major aspects of our society. This ranged from housing
developments, to monuments, to overall city layouts. This course helped me learn about the finer points which go into designing a wide range of structures, the
most interesting of which for me was the larger housing centers. These centers are hugely important to communities and before this class, I had really no
detailed information on how they were built, why they were built, and what their overall objective was in a community. The discussion aspect as a whole was
the part I found most interesting. Because one of my majors is Political Science, I am used to discussing a wide range of political issues which may or may not be
critical issues. In this case we had the opportunity to respond to a wide range of engaging questions and interact with our peers in response. While these were
interesting conversations, my views represented in the discussion aspect of the course haven’t changed, although my views on some topics, which were not
covered in discussions, have changed slightly mostly due to the detail of the lecture.
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.

https://www.eremedia.com/tlnt/measuring-the-value-of-
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Response to “What is Design?” from Hello Word
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.
When Sir Alexander Fleming discovered the first modern use of antibiotics through the
use of Penicillin. This medical breakthrough led to society being able to treat various
bacterial infections and spurred further medical research. This advancement allowed for
increased quality of life standards, especially in urban centers, but was not widely
available when first synthesized. In early years this was sometimes kept from minority
groups and restricted to exclusive populations within the US. Because of this
innovation, people were able to live longer, healthier lives while minority groups in
many cases did not have access to this more modern healthcare.

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Response to “Introduction” from Diversity and Design
The editors state that “diverse participation in the design process, from both professionals and
public citizens alike, yields more equitable results.” This makes sense, but typically has not
been the case. Nonetheless, many marginalized groups have impacted design in ways that have
changed our visual and physical worlds as well as our systems, policies, and institutions. For
example, in the 1960s, disability rights advocates designed media events to raise awareness
about barriers in the physical environment. They persisted with their efforts for decades, and,
finally, in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act became law. It mandated accessibility in
public accommodations such as restaurants and stores, public transportation, communication,
and other areas of public life. This dramatically changed our physical environment (from curb
cuts to ramps to automatic doors) and the results made public life more equitable.
Now it’s your turn. Describe a design that was impacted by a diversity group. How and why did
it change form and/or circumstances? (Note that a design can be anything requiring planning
and development prior to the production of an action, system, visual, material object, or
environment. Also, keep in mind that, for our purposes, a diversity group is a group of
individuals who are underrepresented in society in some way—children, older adults, the
economically disadvantaged, those with cognitive disabilities, etc.)
One major design which was impacted by diversity groups was the bilingual or multilingual sign in public transportation and design. This
includes mass transit and institutional signs and warnings being presented in a native language as well as a widely used or specific regional
secondary language. A good example of a region specific language being used would be in Port Angeles, Washington. Here, signs are not only
presented in English, but also in Klallam, in order to preserve and renew the area's Klallam culture. This development of bilingual and
multilingual signs aids in smooth communication and integration of more diverse communities and has been evolving to meet the demands of
any new communities which happen to arise.

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?
Because of Ford's innovation in assembly line technology and logistics, the American workforce was able to complete larger projects, such as
automobiles for example. This higher level of production led to a drastically increased profit margin, which often manifested itself in the form
of increased wages for Ford's workers at the time. During this time period, the increased wages led to a fairly substantial increase in
consumption, which for the consumer market economy at the time, led to significant economic growth and contributed to the cycle of growth.
This was a relatively new and pioneering concept because it paved the way for increased wages and the birth of concepts such as the five day
workweek. This, combined with a high volume of low skilled workers allowed Ford to lower the prices of his cars and gave workers the
opportunity to spend more money in the economy. Because of the required space and logistics needed to accommodate this new method of
manufacturing, cities were the obvious location of many of these new plants. This facilitated the movement from rural areas to cities, and the
boom in city population and size.
The most notable changes in automation in today's manufacturing would include smarter automation and the introduction of AI. AI makes
manufacturing quicker and more versatile, giving larger companies the ability to expand markets wider than previously possible given the
restrictions of current labor logistics. This has the immediate effect of making human labor cheaper and not as essential. This could mean a
decrease in employment from larger conglomerates, and decreased wages. On the other hand, this could be seen in a more idealistic way by

remembering that this could lower the cost of manufacturing and actually providing a universal level of support for every citizen. The concept
of universal income or aid is not a myth, many prominent economists have explored this avenue of economic growth, approaching it from the
point of view that people who have less to worry about will pursue careers which provide the most social utility and personal gratification.

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Response 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? Please provide your
own example of a product that uses Cradle-to-Cradle design. Describe and cite sources.
Given the thesis behind the Cradle-to-Cradle concept, which is to switch from using materials in the traditional sense to using those same
materials in a cyclic and renewable fashion, the Rolls-Royce Dawn seems to be the very antithesis of this ideal. One of the foundations for the
Cradle-to-Cradle concept was to base innovation on renewable energy sources, and given the history and functionality of most high-end
luxury vehicles, this Rolls-Royce will most likely run off of traditional fuels and petroleum products and will most likely have a lower fuel
efficiency than most other automobiles on the market. Current estimates of the fuel consumption of several Rolls-Royce models place it
relatively low, with averages hovering around 11 MPG in the city and 19 MPG on highway conditions. The IDEA article makes no claims of
electronic battery capability or any other alternative fuel sources for the vehicle in question. While this vehicle may be able to use more efficient
petroleum products to reduce carbon emissions or make the engine operate more efficiently, this only meets a preliminary step in the Cradle-to-
Cradle process, and can never hope to achieve the "resource borrowing" ideal of the Cradle-to-Cradle theory as a whole.
A product which adopts the Cradle-to-Cradle design, or a reasonable facsimile given what is possible with our current technology, would be the
ReCycle. This is a bicycle which is handmade using recycled materials, and obviously does not require any fuel other than a willing participant.
This would satisfy the idea of borrowed materials to a certain extent and remains greens all throughout it's lifetime. After the bicycle has been
used for long enough, the components can be reused for future models or at the very least, parts for any future products.
Fuel Consumption: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/35564.shtml
Green Bicycle: http://www.riderecycle.com/

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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? (Use the SEE-IT method to respond to this question.)
Ballantyne seems to adhere to a point of view from which buildings are critiqued
based on their pragmatism as a whole, including the architecture, rather than each of
the two as separate aspects. He compares how different groups look at certain
buildings, meaning that tourists will have a different view of a building as opposed to
someone who has to see the building in their day to day lives. Zumthor has similar
ideals but seemed to focus on the materials and feelings in a building, conveying the
idea that materials can decide how a structure is perceived in a specific context. He
does express similar views to Ballantyne in reiterating how the pragmatism or
functionality of a building should be taken into account without singling out any
single category.

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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 concept forwarded by Neri Oxman which revolves around microorganisms and a merging of digital fabrication and the organic world,
clearly represents a future eventuality in which production develops a much closer relationship with nature in general. Today, industry
revolves around the extraction and consumption of resources, with a focus on maximizing utility while minimizing risk and costs. This new
concept put forward by Neri would be a direct contradiction to this way of operating, given that her method would place all resources in a
balance, which might not meet the pace of current production or scale. Despite the obvious technological and ideological barriers, Neri's new
way of manufacturing and producing would most likely prove to be more economical and would have a smaller impact on the environment.
The Seacram skyscraper is a clear symbol of the past which was groundbreaking when it was first constructed. This skyscraper diverted from
the traditional pre-war design, which focused on decoration around cement and traditional materials, to naked steel with and all glass design
which spearheaded the post-war designs which are widely used today in many cities around the world. This building also set itself apart with
the materials used and the detail which went into it's construction. This could also be a testament to the culture or the changing of the culture
for the time period. Old buildings did not place much stock in fine details and materials, but rather efficiency. This building set a new world
standard look and set a new look which would become the standard for a more "modern" look.

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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 village I grew up in is a small one, with roughly 11,000 people. I grew up in
Fredonia, the village itself is located further out in the country, so there are more parks
and open areas in general. The planning around the village tends to be more traditional,
with the commercial buildings towards the center of town, coupled with a larger park
next to the town hall. There aren't any particular regulations which stand out in
particular, but the style of certain areas does stand out. Certain parts of the town
have Victorian style houses and buildings, which are all built on the main street which
runs through the village. This could be an example of how the village capitalizes on
certain properties in order to attract more people and make the center of town more
aesthetic to walk or travel through. Since the properties further out tend to be less
impressive compared to the larger Victorian houses and other commercial buildings,
planning wise, it would make sense to have the center of attention focus on them. Apart
from the buildings, there is one larger park in the center of town with smaller parks on
the outskirts of the village. Fredonia does have several historical sites, while most are in
the center of the village, some still exist further out but the village mostly built around
the older buildings in the center which were built in the mid 1800's. All of these
characteristics give Fredonia a historical look with a traditional design of having the
commercial industries in the center of town.

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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?
Kent Larson bases his views on the idea that cities should retain more traditional methods of developing cities, meaning that cities should be
developing with goods, residencies and services spread throughout the city, rather than only accessible through personal automobiles. Along with
these basic planning ideals, Larson also stresses the importance of easy-to-access, clean, and sharable mass transit, which connects residents with
commercial enterprises and workplaces.
Talen focuses more on a social aspect of planning it would seem, stressing the importance of maintaining socially and economically diverse
residential areas. Given the example of Pruitt Igoe, initially the conditions were favorable and encouraged residents to live and maintain a livelihood.
However, as conditions began to deteriorate, poverty began to become more concentrated in these larger public housing arrangements. Talen, who
favors integrating society on all levels, would most likely suggest that these public housing areas be available to all levels of income classes and all
socioeconomic backgrounds. This would most likely maintain the initial levels of operation of these public housing areas, given that maintenance
came from rent profits. When the value of the property began to fall, so did upkeep, and the solution would seem to be to maintain the value of the
property through diversity and economic incentives. This would cut down on any issues related to segregation and income disadvantages.

Personally, I would use a hybrid of the above strategies. Basic economics would state that maintaining a value in the properties through Federal or
state subsidies would maintain the public housing for the residents and support their value on the market, which would allow for individuals from
more economic backgrounds to move in. I would strongly agree that diversity on all levels would have cut down on the racial and income segregation
which occurred in Pruitt Igoe. If we took Larson's advice, I would also suggest that businesses and services would become more integrated near the
housing and maintain stronger infrastructure and transportation, which would give a more equal opportunity for residents to find work, and spend
money in desired businesses. This would also allow individuals who make less money to save in transportation by not having to own a personal
vehicle by default, with this system, everyone living closer together with more access to the same services would cut down on potential segregation
and even keep property prices higher so as to ensure these properties remain maintained and retain market interest from both State and public
investment. I believe my strategy involves some degree of hindsight in that it took the best ideas, in my opinion, from both of these urban planners
and applied them in a specific situation.

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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?
The idea behind Olmsted's design, was to incorporate parks and green space into the
city, with a seamless integration with the rest of the facilities he designed through an
updated infrastructure system. Given his past project, which was to design Central Park
in New York City, and inspiration from areas such as Capitol Hill, Olmsted planned one
of the first cities with this built in park system. His parkways would serve as a kind of
structuring for the city as a whole, making it possible to easily reach the parks from
almost anywhere in Buffalo. When we move to modern day Buffalo, given the faith
Olmsted placed in transportation and infrastructure, I do not think he would agree with
today's design. One of the main reasons would be that Buffalo does not take advantage
of the potential public transportation that exists in the world today. Olmsted had kept
connectivity in mind, and given what is possible today, with faster trains, efficient bus
systems and bike lanes, Buffalo does not seem to go to any significant length to attain
more efficient public transportation. If we were to look to cities in the modern world
which have heavily invested in public transport, we see cities such as London or Berlin,
cities which both allow for an extensive network of public transportation, which is also
done in a way which leaves as little impact as possible on the environment.

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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).
On UB North Campus, I would commemorate the alumni who have studied at UB
who have achieved great deeds in general, as a way to inspire current students on
campus. Using the first method in the triad of investigation, I would design this in a
way which placed it in a centrally located park on North Campus, with additional
seating areas, or possibly areas for outdoor activities. This would server to make the
space more practical for everyday use, and involve more students and faculty in the
day to day operation of the memorial. In order the commemorate some of the
amazing achievements of these alumni, I believe it would be useful to place a small
symbol of any specific achievements on this memorial, for example peer to peer bit
torrenting was created by a former student of the University, therefore it may help
to place a symbol of this technology on the memorial given that this was able to
completely revolutionize Internet information transfer. Finally this memorial
would be designed with a simple description of the achievement paired with its
alumni in order to further inspire students as they study on campus.

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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 heritage as providing a very limited view of
the history of the transatlantic slave trade, resistance and abolition (Hudson 2007).” The lesson
here is that how a viewer sees an image is dependent upon his/her social, economic, and cultural
position. Keeping this in mind, find another iconic graphic that addresses racial issues and post it
for others in your group to view. (Add it to your response by clicking on the picture in the tools
section. Do not add it as an attachment that needs to be opened.) How do you interpret the
graphic? What is its meaning? Now imagine that someone from a racial and cultural background
different than your own is looking at the same graphic. Briefly describe this person. How might
s/he interpret its meaning? How might this differ from your interpretation? What are the possible
reasons for these differences? (Consider the three assessment principles mentioned in the article to
help you: a technology of vision, an instrument of empathy, and a symbol of control.)
This is a slightly older picture but still addresses racial issues. Jesse Owens is considered one of the most influential track and field athletes in history
during his time competing in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, winning four gold medals in various events. During this competition, this iconic
photo essentially crushed the Nazi image of Aryan race supremacy and showing the world the faults in that ideology. If someone were to look at this
from a different cultural or racial background, they would see almost the same message, which in this case would be heavily influenced by when this
was looked at. From a present day view, the Aryan supremacy theory seems ridiculous already and most do not need to be convinced. Back in the
1930's and 1940's, Nazi Germany was spending huge amounts of effort to advertise on how perfect the Aryan race was, and this photo and the
Olympics from that year would serve as a critical hit to that Aryan image.

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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.)
When we look at the MLK Memorial with the equityXdesign's first core belief, the
design behind the memorial seems to adhere to the idea that we take and hold onto the
best traits which advance beyond archaic practices. I think this is shown in the memorial
through the design of pushing MLK forward, seemingly out from the center of the larger
stone mountain face, and etching quotes on either side of himself. The design has set up
the memorial to convey strength and advancement by figuratively separating MLK from
the surrounding mold, which could be seen as the archaic and prejudiced views of his
time period, and advancing his own views of racial inclusion for the future to use. This
also ties into the second core belief of radical inclusion. Given MLK's background as a
well-spoken man with many famous speeches focusing on this belief, the memorial
seems to innately subscribe to this second core principal. The third core belief of
equityXdesign is not explicitly shown in this example, other than by using MLK's life as
a guide rather than what can just be seen carved in the rock edifice.

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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 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?
My home is fairly old, built as one of the first homes in the town of Fredonia. Given that my family is Greek, the obvious point in my home which
reflects that would be our sitting room. It was designed with columns and slightly higher ceilings. I would only consider it ethnic because of its
design and color. The white-washed look is common in Greece in more rural areas, so that look combined with columns would make it the most
ethnic place in the house in my opinion. The town I grew up in is fairly homogeneous with no underrepresented groups in the area. My town had a
higher population of farmers in general. The center of the town and all of its landmarks revolve around Civil War memorials.

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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?
In the case of sports teams, many of them got their names years ago, and the designers may
have not given as much thought to the repercussions these names may have in the future.
At the time they may have seemed like good jokes or existed to be ironic in some way. I
personally believe that sports teams should not be using ethnic references as it advances
negative stereotypes in many cases and while it may seem like more common sense to
reject the symbol and treat it as a novelty, certain groups within the population are likely to
accept these stereotypes over time. It can lead to accepting these and even defending them.
There has been a recent push to change the Redskins name but surprisingly, a fan base
defended the symbol. I would think that is evidence that these symbols can stick with a
specific population.

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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?
This picture uses the second approach, stories in data, by displaying a statistic on inequality in education between the two genders across the world. I
believe this graphic is a good example because it conveys the main idea of education inequality while not reducing the issue too much or "dumbing it
down" as the reading suggests some graphics are guilty of. The graphic also doesn't become too complicated but rather keeps to two simple statistics
which are difficult to misconstrue.

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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?
On the one hand, the bathroom bill was an attempt to avoid any safety concerns citizens
may have had in using a public restroom. In that regard, this law would make it so no one
could enter the opposite sex's bathroom, theoretically reducing the risk. Also, this may be a
push to potentially avoid any violence towards any trans-gendered individuals using public
facilities. The opposing argument would point out that there have never been any attacks in
public restroom facilities due to trans-gendered individuals moving into incorrect
bathrooms. This may have been a reactionary measure which may require a little more
thought and slightly more open dialogue on the issue.

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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?
Given that there are no parameters for the resources available for this task, as a planner and designer I would first make sure the public transportation
was centrally planned and easily accessible by Tammy and others in her situation. Once the transit system is in place, I would work to create a robust
pedestrian system, comparable to most European cities which make it far easier for pedestrians to get around and navigate the city without much
hindrance from automobile traffic. Given the combination of these two factors, Tammy would be able to reach both her job and various services and
locations around the city at a lower cost and in a time effective manner. Next, I would work to update and upkeep the infrastructure in general,
besides adding to general scenery, this has the more practical effect of raising the property pricing by a small percentage, giving Tammy more value
for her property and the property around her. This in turn could lead to long term economic gains for her community and may, in the future, lead to
economic benefits that Tammy would directly feel such as increased hourly wages. All of the methods listed above would create a robust community
which maximizes how much each individual can do and gives them the most options for the least amount invested into the system itself I believe.

http://i2.wp.com/shawglobalnews.files.wordpress.com/201
3/02/regent-park-
aerial.jpg?crop=2px%2C0px%2C617px%2C411px&resize=72
0%2C480&quality=70&strip=all&ssl=1
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?
Given that some of the problems which led to the downfall of the initial project were
lack of integration and poor maintenance, I believe those two areas would be the
logical starting point for improvements. Given that the text pointed out that the
elderly are not always guaranteed infrastructure in Canada, which would also fit into
maintenance I believe. Firstly, the planning of the residential area should be sure to
connect with the rest of the city and even incorporate public transit. This would allow
for the freer movement of tenants around the city and provide for more traffic through
the housing complex in general. This would serve as both a way to reduce criminal
activity, and also to integrate the tenants with the surrounding city in a positive and
even economical way. Secondly, there would have to be a renewed effort to maintain
the facilities and any new accommodations for the older population. This would serve
to not only maintain property values in the long run, but also keep people happy in
general. This coupled with the improved and maintained transit system would ensure
that every population would have mobility in their community and more opportunities
than before.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/human-evolution-future-
manas-sahoo
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?
With the possibility of genome editing, which has been gaining traction in the medical community, I think we would see a reduction in health care
costs and a drastically increased population. This increase in population would force designers to construct cities and organize cities around the idea
that there will be many more people. This would mean that cities and urban centers in general would have to be very space efficient, and be able to
sustain itself and its infrastructure under such a heavy workload. This would mean that basic infrastructure such as sidewalks, rail systems would
have to be built to be more long lasting. Additionally, designers may have to scrap certain ideas which have been taken as basic such as ramps and
other accommodations for disabled individuals. I only add that idea because of the possibility of gene editing and medical advances, which would
most likely greatly reduce or eliminate many of the debilitations which plague populations today.

http://www.livemint.com/r/LiveMint/Period1/2016/02/16/
Photos/g-CRISPR_web.jpg
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.
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.
Response to Survey, FIXED, and Stelarc:
Memory: Excellent (43%)
Athletic
Ability:
Excellent (43%)
Weight: Average (79%)
Disease
CarrierL
None (89%)
Beauty: Somewhat Attractive
(46%)
Empathy: Very Empathic
(38%)
Creativity: Very Creative (37%)
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%)

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.
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?
If we look at the genetic side of enhancements, purely the chemistry behind it, we would be able to see a bevy of improvements. Mainly that ability
to remove many diseases which currently affect many people in our lives. Genetic enhancements could go a step further by engineering children to be
smarter, faster, stronger, and more resilient than anyone has ever been in the past. I believe this, as amazing as it sounds, would lead to a certain
degree of inequality. Given that these procedures must cost some amount of money, some subset of the population will be unable to attain these
gains. This can lead to what was referenced in the "Fixed" trailer as specific genetic cliques. Meaning that people with a certain modification may
want to associate with others with a similar modification or with those who are modified in general. Unless there was a strict regulation which made
only certain enhancements universal, certain individuals would be unfairly matched against others in almost every aspect of our society. An easy
example being sports. Would we allow those who are enhanced to face those who aren't?
The other aspect of modifying people through prosthetics I think is a different issue. Having a perfected system of genetic modifying would almost
remove the need for prosthetics in healthy individuals. I believe these would only be applicable to those with some form of disability, and would only
serve to place them on a level playing field. Negatives in this instance would only exist if the prosthetics could out-perform both normal and
genetically enhanced humans.
Basic ethical questions are raised through these enhancements however, mainly that children at such a young age or even in the womb have no choice
in what is being done to them. While the parent might see fit to invest in a child's strength, the child may have an interest in the arts rather that
wrestling. The conundrums are endless when we disregard the wants of the child and impose an enhancement on them with no input.

http://tcrc.eu/en/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/ethics.png
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?
Legally speaking, given that the court did not accept the initial argument that the institution's
permission was enough, I do not believe that this film should have been released to the general public.
This opinion is purely legal in my opinion given that the laws are very clear on this issue especially
where medical records are concerned given how strict HIPPA tends to be. However, this being
released to professionals does have the benefit of outlining any hardships patients may be facing.
Experts may have been able to begin designing more comfortable living arrangements for patients with
more accessible building plans, or plans for buildings which allowed for easier maintenance.

http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/storymaker-
slideshow-history-mental-asylum3-514x418.jpg
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”?
I would personally support this proposal because having studied psychology myself, I realize how difficult and stressful rehabilitation can be in many
situations, and the property outlined seems to be in a nice area with relative quiet. The additional behaviors do not change my initial opinion. With
these new symptoms comes the need for more care in my opinion, not the need to hide the patients from the general public. They deserve a nice area
to recover in. If we have to create an alternative, I would suggest maybe adding more employees to watch the patients more carefully to ensure that
they don't cause undo harm or unease to the citizens already living in the area. Given that the unease was most likely initially due to just being
uncomfortable around the patients.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3474474448_bbcf1a34b
a.jpg
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?
This was the church of my childhood. This is the church of the Annunciation, which is a Greek Orthodox Church in Buffalo where my family has
gone to church for years now. The church itself involves itself in the community to a fairly high extent, with volunteer programs and large open
masses, with special events on feast days in the Orthodox faith. The design is rather large and imposing, as well as fairly ornate as most Orthodox
churches tend to be. The area around the church has become quite used to the services held there as many come on special feast days or major
religious holidays who may not even be from the Orthodox faith. Since its conception, the church has offered more and more public events with more
focus on Greek culture. Early events extended volunteer programs to those in need in the area. Current events also include a large Hellenic Festival in
which there is Greek food, dancing and art. This has served the community by bringing in new people to the area for a few days in addition to some
additional revenue, not only for the church, but for any businesses in the area. This church has the potential to remain a crucial aspect of its
community by bringing people together and expanding on its community events.

http://theglobalstate.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/imrs-1.jpg
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?
One of my majors is political science with my specific concentration being foreign relations. This field faces some very interesting problems with a
wide variety of details which are fascinating to take into account. When we work with foreign policy, it is not enough to merely think of a current
solution, analysts must take into account the history and behaviors of all parties involved as well as any future interests they may have and how the
international community operates as a whole. For this piece, we will use the Ukraine conflict in Crimea as an example. There is no real solution at
this point in time which is what makes this so interesting. Analysts and diplomats must take into account how the governments of Russia and Ukraine
operate, how their constituents feel, how past cultural relations will affect negotiations and so much more. The most reasonable course of action
currently is to actually study the root of the problem, taking into account the motives behind the invasion and the finer points behind the whole 23
year incident. The past history can be crucial in negotiating a resolution to this issue which has so far stymied the whole of the international
community. (Minus Russia most likely)

Arc 211 American Diversity and Design Constantinos Landis

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