Arc 211 american diversity and design dongfang fu

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University at Buffalo – State University of New York
ARC 211 AMERICAN DIVERSITY + DESIGN
Spring 2017
Dongfang, Fu
http://u.osu.edu/walker.1638/

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Table of Contents
The Cover................................................................................1
Table of Contents...................................................................2
Arc 211 American Diversity and Design Discussion Questions 2
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.  p19
2. Response to "What is design?" from Hello World
On “What is design?” from Hello World: Where Design Meets Life by Alice RawsthronThe
author opened her chapter with the example of Ying Zheng, the ruler of the Qin empire,
one of the most powerful and enduring empires I the history of China. She explained how
design innovation contributed to Ying Zheng’s success. For example, in the development of
weaponry, he resolved many problems by standardizing parts, and this single innovation
gave his armies great advantage over other armies.
For this discussion, let’s move away from 246 B.C. China, and into the U.S. Describe an
innovation or invention (can be current or historical) that gave advantage to a group of

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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 out-dated
information, which put them at a disadvantage. P20-21
3. 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, keep in mind that, for our purposes, a diversity

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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.) p22,23
4. Response to Media/Society Chapter and TED Talk on Photographs
FROM: Chapter in Media/Society and TED Talk Photos that Changed the World
Where would you place the images shown in Photos That Changed the World
into Croteau and Hoynes' diagram entitled “Model of Media and the Social World”?
Identify a mass media photograph taken in your own lifetime that has served as an icon of
an event. (Feel free to add an attachment.) What roles does this photo play in the
communication of the event? P24
5. FROM: “Fashioning Protest for the Women’s March on Washington” and “The Worst
Design of 2016 Was Also the Most Effective”
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 the
two hats (red and pink) are mentioned in the articles vehicles of communication design?
What meanings does each of the two hats carry? In terms of communication design, how
are they similar? And how are they different from one another? P25-26
6. 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

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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?p27.28
7. 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 site sources p29-30
8. 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 p31-32

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9. 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.) p33-34
10. Response to Levy Article
Here is your discussion question on the Levy article. Please post your own response, and
respond to at least two other students' responses.
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? P35-36
11. Response to Pruitt Igoe Project, Talen, and Larson
Here is your discussion question on the Pruitt Igoe project, the Talen article, and
the Larson lecture. article. Please post your own response, and respond to at least two other
students' responses.
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

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original urban planners/designers of the project? Why would your strategies be more
effective?p27-38
12. 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? P39-40
13. 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 approachto 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). P41-42
14. 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

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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.) p43-44
15. Response to Charles Davis and equityXdesign's Work
Critique either the MLK Memorial or the National Museum of African American History
and Culture using equityXdesign’s core beliefs and/or design principles. (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.) p45-46
16. Response to "Landscape Stories" Chapter
This is a two-part question. Please post your own response by Friday, March 31at 10:00 am,
and respond to at least two other students’ responses by Sunday, April 2 at 10:00 pm.
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 plac e 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

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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 interpets 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.) p47-48
17. Response to Article on Sports Branding
This thread will focus on the ethnic characteristics of sports branding. Please post your
own response by Friday, March 31at 10:00 am, and respond to at least two other students’
responses by Sunday, April 2 at 10:00 pm.
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.) p49-50
18. Response to "Visualizing Gender" Chapter

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Please post your own response by Friday, April 7 at 10:00 am, and respond to at least one
other student’s response by Sunday, April 9 at 10:00 pm.
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.) p51-52
19. Response to Bathroom Bill
Please post your own response by Friday, April 7 at 10:00 am, and respond to at
least one other student’s response by Sunday, April 9 at 10:00 pm.
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

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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.)p53-54
20. Response to Hidden Ways
Author Steven Flusty categorized five types of disciplinary architecture that perpetuate
what he calls urban spatial injustice: 1) stealthy, 2) slippery, 3) crusty, 4) prickly, and 5)
jittery. Go out into the city of Buffalo, and find/photograph two examples from the list of
five. Identify what type of space you've photographed and why it might discriminate
against a specific population. List the location of where you took the photograph, and make
certain that you are in at least one of the two pictures. p55
21. 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? P56-57

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22. 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? P 58-59
23. 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? P60-61
24. 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.

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In the Smithsonian online exhibition, the story about the superhero hand, and Elise Roy’s
TED Talk, you saw examples of ways to engage disability that use the social model rather
than the medical model. In the Disability and Design PowerPoint, you were introduced to
the concept of Universal Design (UD) (sometimes called inclusive design, design-for-all, or
human-centered design). Certainly, UD embraces the social model of disability. In this
same PowerPoint, you saw positive and negative examples of each of the seven principles of
universal design.
For the Module 12 Thread 1, please select one of the seven universal design principles, and
post photographs that show both a positive and a negative example of the principle. Then
address the following question: How do your examples empower or disempower various
people? Describe the specific features of the positive example and the specific features of
the negative example. Discuss ways that the positive example could be even further
improved. P62-63
25. 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%)

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 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 collective situation, we
need to consider how the consequences of majority choices for children might change who
we are as a species.
In the film trailer FIXED, you were introduced to the dilemma of living in a culture in
which the “science-fiction of human enhancement” has become almost a way of life, from
prenatal genetic screening to bionic body parts. In the video, “A Man with Three Ears” you
are introduced to an artist who is using current technology to move humans beyond their
current abilities. Last week, Juan Enriquez asked us if it is ethical to evolve the human
body. All of these videos suggest that the concept of disability ‘as we know it’ could cease to
exist in the future.
This leads us to this week’s discussion question:
What lessons do you think we should learn from history when thinking about emerging
enhancement technologies and reproductive technologies? What are some of the possible

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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? P64-66
26. Response to Titicut Follies
The state of Massachusetts tried to ban the 1967 documentary Titicut Follies, arguing that
director Frederick Wiseman had violated the patients’ rights by not getting written
permission to film them. The case went to court, and Wiseman argued that he had consent
from their legal guardian, the institution. After a judge ruled in favor of the state, the legal
appeals carried on for several years: in 1969, Massachusetts allowed the film to be shown to
doctors, lawyers, and health care professionals; in 1991, a superior court judge ruled it
could be released for the “general public,” as privacy concerns were no longer at issue, so
many years later.
Should Wiseman have been allowed to film the residents of Bridgewater Massachusetts
Correctional Facility? Why or why not? How might this film be of value to designers
(communication designers, product, designers, architects, interior designers, planners,
landscape designers, systems designers, and/or social designers)? In other words, what
might they gain from this film that they could use in their work? P67-68
27. Response to PPT, The Architecture of Autism, Public Space
Prelude: Wolf Wolfensberger's seminal work "The Origin and Nature of Our Institutional
Models" posited that society characterizes people with intellectual disabilities as
sub-human and burdens of charity, He argued that this dehumanization, and the
segregated institutions that result from it, ignored the potential productive contributions

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that all people can make to society. He pushed for a shift in policy and practice that
recognized the human needs of those with intellectual challenges and provided the same
basic human rights as for the rest of the population.
The Scenario: Imagine that you and your four children live in Amherst, New York in a
$650,000 home at the end of a cul-de-sac on the edge of a ten acre woods. The town has
purchased a one acre lot three houses away from yours, and plans to build a group home
for ten intellectually challenged adults.
As a resident of the neighborhood, would you support or oppose this proposal and why?
You've learned additional information about the residents of the proposed group home in
your neighborhood. In 2013, three of the ten intended residents exhibited challenging
behaviors including screaming, public masturbation, repetitive rocking, and echolalia
(elective incontinence). However, these behaviors have not occurred since then.
How would this change your opinion about the construction of the group home in your
neighborhood?
The residents in your neighborhood voted (14-3) to reject the town of Amherst’s proposal
to build a group home in the neighborhood. Town officials agreed that the home would not
be built in your neighborhood if you and your neighbors could develop a workable
alternative.
What are some possible solutions that would allow the residents of the home to be provided
with “the same basic human rights as the rest of the population”? P69-70
28. Response to The Connection Between Religion and Urban Planning by David Engwicht

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In his article, David Engwicht discusses the fact that religions (of all types) have played
major roles in the development of our cities. Today, places of worship are primary
components of almost all urban centers. Author Lorne Daniel writes “From their often
active role in supporting people who live in city centers to their iconic influence on design
and use of space, religious structures tell us a lot about our history, our current needs, and
where we might be headed in the future. This is an aspect of our urban future that
planners and urbanists should attend to.”
Identify a place of worship with which you are somewhat familiar. (If you are not familiar
with any places of worship, do a bit of research on one in your own city or town.) Show a
photograph of this religious structure. (You may use photographs from the web.) What
roles has this place served in the development of your city/town? How has it influenced the
design of the area around it? How has its role changed over time? What roles could this
place of worship play in the future development of your city/town? P71-72
29. Response to Prospects for the Future of Diversity and Design
Consider the quote in your syllabus from educator Michael J. Shannon: “Design, as
vision in action--the intersection of understanding and creation--is a universal human
capability that can play a fundamental role in social evolution, in the process that
transforms resources, energy, and information to make our world.”
At the beginning of this course, we discussed the idea that we are all designers regardless of
our profession or field of study. We’ve asked some big questions along the way, and the
conclusion section of our textbook raises additional issues that require input from people
who might not consider themselves to be part of the formalized design professions.

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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? P73-74

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Introduction
Hi, I am Dongfang, Fu. I major in Economy.
After taking the American Diversity and
Design course, I start to notice kinds of
designs around me, for example,
architecture and landscape designs. There
are lots of amazing designs that both
embrace diversity and make the world
diverse. Also, I start to reflect what
improvements designers can do to make
everything even better. I learned a lot from
the course, from the reading materials,
videos, and those thought provoking
discussion questions from Professor Beth Tauke and the inspirational discussions from my
discussion group, Randy’s Group. One important idea I get from the course is that design not just
about design techniques and skills, it is also about giving the user the experience. Every aspect of
the course is appealing, especially we have discussion groups where we discuss with group
members a certain top each week, the discussions are rewarding because they develop our skill
of critical thinking and many ideas from the discussion responses are really amazing. The course
makes realize design is close to us and relates to us and we each can make a contribution in the
design field.
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 NewYork
Xiruo, Wang

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Response to "What is design?" from Hello World
On “What is design?” from Hello World: Where
Design Meets Life by Alice RawsthronThe author
opened her chapter with the example of Ying
Zheng, the ruler of the Qin empire, one of the most
powerful and enduring empires I the history of
China. She explained how design innovation contributed to Ying Zheng’s success. For
example, in the development of weaponry, he resolved many problems by standardizing
parts, and this single innovation gave his armies great advantage over other armies.
For this discussion, let’s move away from 246 B.C. China, and into the U.S. Describe an
innovation or invention (can be current or historical) that gave advantage to a group of
people in the U.S. or to the population as a whole. What were the social impacts of this
innovation? Were any groups negatively impacted by this innovation? For example, the
telegraph, developed and patented in the United States in 1837 by Samuel Morse,
permitted people and commerce to transmit messages across both continents and oceans
almost instantly, with widespread social and economic impacts. This heightened
communication speed allowed business persons to make decisions with up-to-date
information, often resulting in big profits. Those without access had to rely on out-dated
information, which put them at a disadvantage.
I think one invention made huge social impact is the Spinning Jenny invented by Hargreaves in
Britain during the Industrial Revolution. Spinning Jenny was a weaving machine. The machine
greatly speeded up the weaving in textile industry of the time, which enabled mass production of
textile products. This weave machine together with other machines promoted the Industrial
revolution in Britain, America and France and Germany. Industrial Revolution influenced the
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinning_jenny

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history human beings profoundly in terms of how we live. Also, The Industrial Revolution
enabled these nations became the most powerful industrial nations of the world. I think those
nations who didn’t apply the machine in textile were negatively influenced because with hands
weaving, their textile products could not compete the textile products in prices and quality, thus
they bankrupted and imported textile products from countries that used the weaving machines.

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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, 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.)
Tactile paving on the pedestrian is a design impacted by the blind. The small Concave and
convex blocks in the pedestrian are helpful in helping blind person walking without getting lost
or bumping in other people or dangerous objects. Before 1961, there was no tactile paving on
pedestrians; it was dangerous for blind persons to walk. The guideline Making Buildings
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactile_pav
ing

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Accessible to and Usable by the Physically Handicapped published in 1961 that required
accessible use of facilities of diversity group. Therefore, tactile paving for the blind was
designed.

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Response to Media/Society Chapter and TED Talk on
Photographs
FROM: Chapter in Media/Society and TED Talk
Photos that Changed the World
Where would you place the images shown in Photos
That Changed the World into Croteau and Hoynes'
diagram entitled “Model of Media and the Social
World”? Identify a mass media photograph taken in
your own lifetime that has served as an icon of an
event. (Feel free to add an attachment.) What roles
does this photo play in the communication of the
event?
TED Talk Photo that Changed the World mainly talks about some images that made by media
has the power to encourage public to do something to change the situation, I think it is suitable to
place the images in page 24, below the Chapter A Model of Media and the Social World in the
article “Model of Media and the Social World” to best explain the relationship between how
mass media produce messages to influence the public and the public have the rights to interpret
their messages in their own way.
The photo of 911 terrorist attacks is an icon that reminds us of the attack. In my opinion, the
photo has three roles. Firstly, the photo was to support the news that the attack did happen.
Secondly, to explain with graphic details to the audience where did the attacks happen, what did
the terrorists did to the places, and what damages were caused. Thirdly, to make us reflect, what
can we can do to comfort families and friends of the victims and how can we stop the terrorist
attacks.
http://baike.baidu.com/link?url=Ws1X9DHZa_X2FWZovM1N1VApz0k
-6q5TrJUfffRO37CJyiKXg-3oi-82tllIhTNRwfb_ciAiCsanMbi9FRKBA9
OSeTtDmPWEPOIXPRJOnJ-29FbmRRpEVjbWkglURCy2LdsmYUKD
CgVb7V2FtCoEVa

25
Response to Articles on Hats as
Communication Design
FROM: “Fashioning Protest for the
Women’s March on Washington” and
“The Worst Design of 2016 Was Also
the Most Effective”
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 the
two hats (red and pink) are mentioned in the articles vehicles of communication design?
What meanings does each of the two hats carry? In terms of communication design, how
are they similar? And how are they different from one another?
The red trucker hat, with the slogan “Make America Great Again” functioned as the vehicles of
dissemination for Donald Trump’s presidential election campaign. “The New York Times style
section called it "an ironic summer accessory"”, people of different ages and races were seen
wearing the hat everywhere, which helped to promote Donald Trump’s election slogan and the
hat is helpful in making Donald Trump succeed in the election. The day after the election,
thousands of women wearing designer pink hats marched against Trump’s victory in Washington.
Women wearing special designed hats inscribed with the phrase “Already Great” to protest
against his speech on insulting women, they hoped that their clothes and accessories could also
help to propagate some of their statements.
https://www.fastcodesign.com/3066599/the-worst-design-of-
2016-was-also-the-most-effective

26
Both the red and pink hats are vehicles of communication design for the following two reasons.
One reason is that both hats are inscribed with slogans to propagate their idea to the public, and
their slogans are easy for people to see and remember. Another reason is that they function as
symbol to unite the public, those who wear the hat indicate they support the slogan.
The red hat with the slogan “Make America Great Again” carries the meaning of Donald
Trump’s promise to American people on his victory, it is a hat with a slogan to unite people and
attract voters to vote for him. The pink hat worn by women protesters carries the meaning of
what women want to express about Trump’s speech about women. They want to create
“statements that can last in people’s minds and become a part of the vernacular.”
In term of communication design, both designs of hats effectively express their key beliefs
clearly and both successfully convey their ideas to the public. The difference lies between the
two hats is that red hats of Donald Trump’s team are to publicize their ideas while the pink hats
are mainly to gather women around to express their anger.

27
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?
In 1913, Henry Ford applied mass production method to his car company, which involved “new
concepts of the standardization and integration of the production line”1
to allow mass production
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2149326/From-concept-
completion-McLaren-lifts-lid-state-art-factory-new-170-000-supercar--
compares-Henry-T-Fords-production-line-1912.html

28
of cars with much lower costs. The adoption of the production line influenced US society
profoundly in many aspects both directly and indirectly. I can identify three major changes. First
notable change was to Ford Company, the production of cars increased rapidly while the costs
lowered thanks to the production line, which enabled the profits to sky rocketed several years
after the adoption of the production line. This quickly made Ford a tycoon around the world.
Secondly, the method was adopted by companies of various fields due to its success. For
example, companies like General Motors, US Steel Mass later adopted the production line, and
mass production method gradually replaced the traditional methods of production, which made
American companies competitive. Finally, mass production of cars made card affordable to
working people so that it speed up the popularization of cars. And cars are a greatly influence
American society, it is another topic though.
Yes, the changes remain with us today. Major companies still apply mass production methods so
that necessities are accessible at reasonable prices. In addition, cars are necessities for American
people and America is called “the country on wheels”.
On watching the video Maurice Conti’s TED Talk, I do believe that predictions will come true in
the future. In the future, manufacturing processes would be digital. Digital manufacturing means
some part of the manufacturing word would be done by robots and human kind would be left to
deal with more complex issues. What is more, visual factory would be applied. 3 D printing
would finish the work of mass production. I am sure this would change American society again,
but I cannot picture exactly what changes would it bring about. But I predict that we will witness
innovative products to be produced to improve our life and change society and people will be
less tired working thanks to new methods of production.
1
Industrial Design. UB Learns Online. May 2, 2017. ARC 211 America Diversity and Design.

29
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 site sources
The Video Introduction to Cradle to Cradle introduces very briefly 2 strategies to solve the
problem of growing population meeting with scarce resources and waste. One of the effective
strategy is the cradle to cradle design. Cradle to cradle in design product intends to recycle all
materials we use, depend on renewable energy, solar energy for example and celebrate diversity
to make designs functionality, beauty and quality. Cradle to cradle design would create a world
where everything is recyclable.
After examine every 2016 IDEA Gold Award products carefully, I think the luxury car The Rolls
Royce Dawn defies the cradle to cradle concept. Firstly, the car engine depends on the
non-renewable resource, gasoline to start and will cause emission of toxic gas, this defies the
cradle to cradle concept of depending on the renewable energy. Secondly, The Rolls Royce Dawn
cars are such luxury cars that every part of the cars is made of classy and special made materials,
which means they will unlikely to be reused by other brands of cars, neither a brand new Rolls
http://www.jurlique.com/the-jurlique-story

30
Royce will reuse parts from dumped Rolls Royce cars, in addition, parts from the cars are no
degradable. This defies the cradle to cradle concept of recycling all materials we use.
The skin care brand Jurlique from Australia embraces cradle to cradle concept. I know the
information from their brand website (http://www.jurlique.com/sustainability-us). Most
ingredients of their skin care products are extracted from plants, for example, roses and the
plants they need are grown organically in a farmland in Australia, and also growing plants is a
good way to celebrate diversity. Then all the containers they use to hold the skin care products
are either reusable or degradable several years after buried in the earth. The following are claims
they make to have achieve
1. We save 2,000kL of water every year by transporting it from our factory to our farm just down
the road to help our plants grow.
2. We have saved 1,102 trees by reducing our carbon emissions by 20% (and counting!).
3. We implemented 260 solar panels on our farm and warehouse producing 65KW of energy per
year.
4. We transitioned some of our old aluminium tubes to plastic packaging eliminating 70% of
wastage during production and saving four trees every 1,000kg of product we produce.”
I think what they are doing embraces the key concepts of cradle to cradle design, depending on
the renewable energy, recycle everything and celebrating diversity.

31
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
Before reading and watching the materials about architecture of this week, I think little about
architecture and just took for granted for the different buildings around me, but now I start to
notice them, besides I also realize that architecture is not just cold concrete constructions, but
also architecture involves humanity and humanity is actually an important aspect needing taken
into consideration. And I believe good design of architecture is a balance between careful
consideration of humanity, visual beauty and fitness to cultural context.
http://www.archdaily.com/576630/arcus-center-for-social-ju
stice-leadership-studio-gang/54891ca4e58ecec572000093-ar
cus_steve_hall_-c-_hedrich_blessing_015-jpg

32
One example of architecture design with sensibilities of the past mentioned in the weekly
materials that seems to challenge the cultural contexts, the villa designed by Eileen Gray
mentioned in Architecture, Life and Habit. In designing the villa beside the beach, Eileen Gray
focused on the humanity aspects, giving “priority to body and habit”1
instead of caring for the
“contemplation of pure and authoritative form”2
. Her concept of designing the villa seems to
challenge the mainstream concept- the “truths in construction”3
of architecture design of her
time.
Another opposite example of present design is the Arcus Center designed as a center for social
justice leadership mentioned in TED Talk video entitled "Buildings That Blend Nature and City".
I think this present building reflects cultural context in two ways. First, the designing of building
helps to “bring down traditional barriers of different groups”4
to make meaning conversations
possible and we can see from the video, it is working smoothly. Second, the construction of the
building made of coral wood is easily constructed and it is also environmentally friendly for less
release of carbon.
1, 2, 3
Architecture, Life and Habit. UB Learns Online. May 2, 2017. ARC 211 America Diversity
and Design.
4
Gang, Jeanne. “Buildings That Blend Nature and City,” TED Talk,
https://www.ted.com/talks/jeanne_gang_buildings_that_blend_nature_and_city Accessed on
May 2, 2017.

33
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.)
In the article Architecture, Life and Habit,
Ballantyne introduces his pragmatist aesthetics concept. Byllantyne believes that architecture is
more of utility function than aesthetic values unless the buildings of history, people will form
certain habits living in certain houses. Meanwhile, houses embrace the ethos of people.
In A Way of Looking at Things, Zumthor shares his views on designing buildings, which covers
aspects like materials, construction, and spatial quality and so on.
Ballantyne and Zumthor’s viewpoints on architecture has one thing in common, they both agree
that an important function of architecture is for people to live in a comfortable way. Ballantyne
expresses this pointing by saying that architecture is our “shelter”1
and good design is “fitness of
the match between the place and the life and ethos”2
. And Zumthor expresses the similar idea
that good building is “capable of absorbing the traces of human life”3
.
The above similarity is so far their point views goes. Their view points are basically different.
Ballantyne seems to be care little about those artistic values of architecture judging from what he
http://www.archdaily.com/868712/lapa-house-martin-dula
nto/58e6c26ae58ecebb93000018-lapa-house-martin-dula
nto-photo

34
says in his article, but he focuses on the relationship between people and architecture, both the
practical function of buildings and the reflection of ethos of people, in conclusion “fitness of the
match between the place and the life and ethos”4
. For example, he says that “building is not the
focus of attention, but habituated background of life”5
. Zumthor cares the artistic aspects along
with its pragmatic function of architecture. He cares many aspects that contribute to good
architectural design, for example the material used for architecture, the construction, the forming
of buildings, how the architecture can be designed to fit the landscape, the combination of
creativity with rationality, spatial quality and the visual beauty of architecture design.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Architecture, Life and Habit. UB Learns Online. May 2, 2017. ARC 211 America
Diversity and Design.

35
Response to Levy Article
Here is your discussion question on the Levy
article. Please post your own response, and
respond to at least two other students' responses.
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?
I grew up in Zhengzhou, China, an ancient city of
over 7 thousand square kilometers in middle China, along the downstream of the Yellow river.
Like many other Chinese cities, its appearance is changing quickly, more and more tall buildings
are being built to accommodate the growing population. Currently, there are combinations of old
buildings, time horned buildings and tall modern buildings in the city. I think two very important
planning shapes the city into how it looks like today.
One is that the city has been functioning as a transportation center dating back to ancient China,
where railways and roads crossing from north China to south China and from west China to east
China. The railway station locates in the center of the city so that the railways looks like a cross
with nets to different locations in the city.
http://baike.baidu.com/link?url=SOwZlZf5Sf3nCf
p90JtQNVOWeyJsZki42D-ZmAkhnNzu2DYhqh-
VMbV_9SmzwtM1W46eNtXaKrKchg8wqEvGV
MXa4WIykEwz7vkl4alKzH7

36
The other is that the city is of annular like with a big center, the big center functions as the
commercial and recreational sites that serves the people of the whole city and there are few
residential sites in the center due to the high price of the houses. Besides the city has 6 major
districts, each has a commercial center to serve the people nearby; there are shopping malls,
schools, hospitals, libraries and parks that people can go to in these districts. People just scatter
around in groups of tall buildings in these areas. Like most Chinese cities most residential and
commercial housing are tall buildings in the city and many growing shorter building in the
suburbs. The traffic of the city is grid like due to the flat landform.

37
Response to Pruitt Igoe Project, Talen, and
Larson
Here is your discussion question on the
Pruitt Igoe project, the Talen article, and
the Larson lecture. article. Please post your
own response, and respond to at least two
other students' responses.
Imagine that you are part of a urban
planning and design firm working with
Emily Talen (author of “Design That
Enables Diversity”) and Kent Larson (who
gave the TED Talk "Brilliant Designs to Fit More People In Every City" The thee of you
have been tasked with developing a plan to rebuild Pruitt Igoe in St. Louis. City officials
told the three of you that that they want to do it right this time. Identify three strategies for
rebuilding Pruitt Igoe in ways that promise to be more successful. What would Talen do?
What would Larson do? What would you do? How would your strategies differ from those
of the original urban planners/designers of the project? Why would your strategies be more
effective?
The emotional documentary The Pruitt-Igoe Myth introduces the Pruitt-Igoe housing project in
St. Louis, the project was a success in the very beginning, providing better housing for some
poor families, there were so happy to move in and the design of building was regarded as an
innovation. But due to lacking of proper management later, the project failed.
In TED talk, Larson provides solutions for cities to fit more people. Like sharing public transport
to save space and solve traffic jam, designing multifunctional living houses and sharing work
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pruitt–Igoe

38
spaces. I think Larson would make what he says in TED talk come true in rebuilding the project.
He would invite more advanced technologies in designing the interior of the houses to make
them more comfortable and conveniently to live in. Besides, he would develop a shared public
vehicles and bicycles.
In Design that Enables Diversity, Talen argues that inappropriate design in city planning causes
segregation so there are design strategies to promote diversity in cities. And Talen believes
diversity maintains place vitality, economic health, social equity and sustainability. Then
certainly, Talen would make designs to embrace diversity in rebuilding the project. Talen would
make the land of both for residential and commercial use to invite vitality instead of only
residential area only. He would also combine different types of house in the region so that
different people can find suitable place for them.
I would agree with both of their strategies and I would just add three more to improve the project.
Firstly, I would add to Larson’s shared bicycles and vehicles good public transportation system
like buses and metros which would make it very conveniently to move around. Secondly, the
planning would include such recreational facilities like parks, libraries, restaurants, cinemas,
gyms and so on. Thirdly, part of the rent income would be used to employ professional
companies to manage the place to keep it clean, safe.
The project is more effective than the old one in that it maintains the vibrancy because of the
combination of residential areas with commercial and recreational, this also helps to maintain
diversity. What’s more, it is easy to go around thanks to the public transportation system. Finally,
the houses are more comfortable to live in and there is professional management.

39
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 video Olmsted, Designing Western New York
introduces public parks and parkway system of Buffalo
designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. The
system is highly valued by citizens of Buffalo, landscape critics, researchers and landscape
designers. Such word as groundbreaking is used to show how people think about the park system
in the video.
I think 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." on the basis that firstly, the
system was initiative, it was the first system to connect city infrastructure with parks. Secondly,
the parks and parkways blending with buildings and infrastructure make Buffalo a city “within a
park”, a city full of green open space and looks natural.
Olmsted could still make that claim today if he designed the park system today. I am sure there
are better planed cities already, but I am not sure whether there would have been a similar park
system elsewhere if Olmsted had not initiated his design in Buffalo. Based on the point mention
above, he can make that claim. In addition his idea of putting a city in a park system is wonderful;
he made the system work and is still working well, the blending of buildings with park scenes
makes the city beautiful and the pathways works well for cars and people, also the public spaces
http://lalh.org/buffalo-park-system-buffal
o-new-york/

40
functions well, therefore, he could also make his proud claim today.

41
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).
Walter Hood’s Triad of Investigations is landscapes designs based on (1) everyday and mundane,
(2) commemoration, (3) life ways1
.
August Wilson Park and Hill Community in the TED talk applies “everyday and mundane” and
“life ways” investigations and the commemoration investigation apply to the Shadow Catcher
project in the University of Virginia.
There is one landscape I would like to make some change in my hometown using “everyday and
mundane” Triad of Investigation, Zhengzhou. One branch of the Yellow river runs in front of the
community where I live. To make the house prices higher and make the place more beautiful, a
cement river bank with trees on two sides of the bank, was built where cars can drive through it,
and people can not have fun along the river. I think it ruined the natural beauty of the river, and
also ruined the fun of living close to the river. People in my community also lack a public place
Shenghuo,Chenshi

42
to relax or take a walk; instead, they lock themselves in their apartments most of the time when
they come back from work of school.
If I were to supervise the work, I would like keep the riverside the way it looked, no man made
banks. By doing so, the beauty of the natural river bank can combine with the houses nearby to
create a natural beauty. In addition, this could also invite some communication between people
of my community and the river bank. People could go fishing in the river. We could have picnics
along the river bank and fly kites like when we were young. Children have a place to hang out
and adult can have a walk along the river bank. The local plants and animal can exist again
instead of being eliminated completely. Along the street of the riverbank, I would also like to
open some shops and restaurant where people can drink and eat, also supermarkets would be
open, people in the community don’t have to shop on the way back home any more.
It is much better than a man made bank where only cars can run. The everyday and mundane
plan would make people in the community feel like living in the place, they could have a life in
the community instead of treating their apartments only a place to accommodate.
1
Diversity and Design: Understanding Hidden Consequences – B. Tauke, K. Smith, C. Davis,
eds. (Routledge, 2015)

43
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.) (NOTE: Limit your response to less than 250 words.)
I chose this photo taken on the 2016 Oscar Award. Three Asian kids wearing suits and handling
suitcases were invited to send the letters representing PWC to the host.
I understand that the Award just made a joke and wanted to say something funny, but they didn’t
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/child-l
abor-isn-t-funny-twitter-reacts-oscars-asian-joke-n52
7731

44
intend to make fun of Asians in an offensive way. For me, the dressing of the kids is a kind of
stereotype of Asians that ignores the diversity in Asia. In addition, the host introduced the three
kids as “the most dedicated, hard working representatives” in a prank way. Asians are dedicated
and hard working; I would feel awkward and do not know what to say if someone laughed at
Asian dedication and hard working in front of me.
I think a people other than an Asian might think the dressing of the kids funny because they look
really like many working people in Asian countries and he/she might not feel awkward about the
teasing. One major difference of interpretations of the photo is the cultural differences and
language barrier between Asians and other groups of people. Asians talk little and work silently,
and poor English make things worse, all these contribute to the image of Asian-work silently.
Therefore, the photo as a “technology of vision” prefigures “their own reception, enabling the
recirculation of past meanings and understandings”.

45
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.)
The three beliefs: see, be seen and foresee is explained as beliefs of (1)historical context matters,
(2) radical inclusion and (3)process as product.1
Design of the National Museum of African American History reflects the core beliefs of
historical context matters and radical inclusion. The triple-stacked crown emulating the crown of
African kings “recalls the remote past of African royalty and celebrates cultural achievements of
African diaspora in the United States”, the idea embraces what the beliefs believes “To
understand the present time and space we occupy, we must understand the inherited legacy
surrounding the thing we are designing”. I think the abstraction of African history in the design
helps African Americans as well as other groups of people to understand their origins and history
so that we can have a better understanding of them now.
The design includes abstraction of Africans, Haitians and African Americans folk art forms into a
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/24/495302034/national-museum
-of-african-american-history-opens-its-doors

46
single object, this belief of radical inclusion allows people from different part to build closer
connection and makes sure their history and contributions are equally valued.
1
Caroline Hill, Michelle Molitor, and Christine Ortiz. “Racism and inequity are products of design.
They can be redesigned,” Medium.com,
https://medium.com/@multiplyequity/racism-and-inequity-are-products-of-design-they-can-be-redesign
ed-12188363cc6a Accessed May 2, 2017.

47
Response to "Landscape Stories" Chapter
This is a two-part question. Please post your
own response by Friday, March 31at 10:00
am, and respond to at least two other
students’ responses by Sunday, April 2 at
10:00 pm.
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 plac e 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 interpets 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.)
I am from China; I think one corner of my family apartment is truly representative of my ethnic
background. Many middle age and elderly Chinese people like drinking tea, so do my parents.
XiaoJun, Fu

48
My parents brought a tea table made of trees with carves of Chinese trees and hills and tea pot, as
you can see the picture below. Like many Chinese, my parents invite friends on weekends or
holidays to drink tea and share the tastes of different teas sitting around that table. Presently, I do
not think I will keep a table like that in my future home, because I do not drink tea and I am
afraid the table will not match the decoration of my future home.
My hometown Zhenzhou in Henan Province is an ancient Chinese city with much historical
architecture; unfortunately, most were removed for modern building buildings. My community
where I grow up is new, but the landscape of the People’s Park of Zhenzhou not far from my
home represents the cultural of my hometown. As you can see from the picture, the rebuilt
pavilions, stone sculptures and greening, the whole landscape restores the traditional look of a
Zhenzhou, and the park is a cultural reflection of my community. Future will preserve the
special cultural influence because most Chinese traditional landscapes are disappearing and the
park is built to preserve the tradition.

49
Response to Article on Sports
Branding
This thread will focus on the ethnic
characteristics of sports branding.
Please post your own response by
Friday, March 31at 10:00 am, and
respond to at least two other
students’ responses by Sunday,
April 2 at 10:00 pm.
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 using ethnic references in sports branding is very sensitive, actually, using ethnic
references in any design is very sensitive. That does not mean we should totally ban the
application of ethnic references. Designers should be really careful when applying ethnic
references to their designs; they should avoid using words, logos, images that might insult, mock,
or offend that group of people in any way. Gover says in the end of the article “They never honor
the Native American truth”1
. This needs careful considerations and true understanding of the
culture of ethnics when applying ethnic references. Meanwhile, I think it is a good idea to use
http://www.redskins.com/index.html

50
ethnic references when the branding is truly to honor, respect and appreciate the culture of the
ethnic.
Brady, Eric. “The real history of Native American team names,” USA TODAY Sports,
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2016/08/24/real-history-native-american-team-names/89
259596/, Accessed on May2. 2017.

51
Response to "Visualizing Gender"
Chapter
Please post your own response by Friday,
April 7 at 10:00 am, and respond to at
least one other student’s response by
Sunday, April 9 at 10:00 pm.
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.)
In the chapter “Communicating gender”, stories in date means “find ways of telling stories that
strengthen the information”1
. The image I posted is the ratio of every 100 baby girls to the
number of baby boys from 1970 to 2014 in China.
The image is the stories in data approach. The story behind this image is a long time
discrimination against female in China, the case is especially serious in some rural and poverty
stricken areas. The gender imbalance at births does not happen naturally, but because of
deliberate intervene. Couples practice deliberate abortion once they find way to know the fetus is
a girl even if the fetus is very healthy and even some new born baby girls were ditched in the
hospital or on the street, resulting in many deaths. The approach is effective in this example
http://china.org.cn/china/2015-09/17/content_366
10831.htm

52
because we all know what caused the gender imbalance as soon as we see the image.
1
eds. (Routledge, 2015)

53
Response to Bathroom Bill
Please post your own response
by Friday, April 7 at 10:00 am, and
respond to at least one other
student’s response by Sunday,
April 9 at 10:00 pm.
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? Use the SEE-IT method to respond
to this question. (Limit your response to less than 250 words.)
(Other students in your group can comment on which of your two arguments is the most
convincing and why.)
The bill signed requiring “people to use the bathroom that corresponded with the biological
http://www.chinanews.com/gj/2013/10-18/5398741.shtml

54
gender written on their birth certificates” caused controversies; both sides have strong points on
the issue that needs examine carefully.
Yes, they should. Firstly, some non transgender people feel uncomfortable sharing bathroom with
transgender people because they used to belong to the opposite gender. In addition, non
transgender people cannot tell normal transgender people from some perverts, so people feel
sharing bathroom with transgender people is not safe.
No, they should not. Firstly, people cannot choose their gender at birth, but they have the right to
choose who they want to be and their choice should be respected. Secondly, for transgender
people, they feel they belong to the gender who they share the bathroom with. Thirdly, they feel
they just go to the bathroom like a person, then nothing, why should people make a fuss over it.
I would solve the problem by making both women and men’s rooms about 3 single cells with
both urinal and toilet in it, with the word “agender” written on the doors. Transgender people can
go to those private single cells.

55
Response to Hidden Ways
Author Steven Flusty categorized five types of
disciplinary architecture that perpetuate what he calls
urban spatial injustice: 1) stealthy, 2) slippery, 3)
crusty, 4) prickly, and 5) jittery. Go out into the city of
Buffalo, and find/photograph two examples from the
list of five. Identify what type of space you've photographed and why it might discriminate
against a specific population. List the location of where you took the photograph, and make
certain that you are in at least one of the two pictures.
I am in Canada now so I took some photo in Toronto. The
chair I was sitting located on 5 northtown way in Toronto.
The chair fits into the prickly category because while people
can sit and have a rest during the day( it is uncomfortable to
sit on it for a long time), the designer made the shape of the
two chairs impossible for homeless people the lie down to
sleep at night.
The next photo is an apartment located on 25 town centre
court in Toronto. I did not know the price of the apartment,
but the apartment definitely fall into crusty category with guard inside the building and a key
card to enter the gate of the building. They do this to exclude poor people out of the building and
the guard inside the building and key card to enter the gate are signs that the building belong to
the rich only.
Shuang,Li
Dongfang, Fu

56
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?
First of all, I am really proud of Tammy and I hope her life will be better. If I were a designer of
iPD in the program to help Tammy out, I would provide a loan for her free of interest. With the
money loaned from our program, Tammy could rent a better apartment for her and her sons, and
she could run a small little shop near her apartment, like selling some drink, ice cream or
something like that. Meanwhile, out team would give her ideas to make sure her business
successes. The money earned from running the small business would enable her to pay back to
our program monthly and support her family. As the shop is near her new apartment, she would
have more spare time, she could use the time to read or attend some class to help her to become a
https://cnam-film-library.myshopify.com/products/people-like-
us-social-class-in-america

57
teacher someday. Once she gets the chance to study in some college, we will loan her the tuition
fees and she would pay back when she get a good job.
In the interview, her sons show ambition and the willingness to change their situation in the
future, but they seem a little lazy. As a designer, I would talk to him about “just do it” without
hesitation and we will find some charity organization to help with their tuition fees and
encourage them to apply for scholarships.
Our program would enlist charity donations to provide loans free of interests to people in order
to help them get started. The money we receive from donors would used to provide loans and
donate to people like Tammy to help them out. More often, we provide ways for them instead of
giving them money.

58
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?
Firstly, to ensure social integration for the older people, it is not a good idea to house them in the
tallest buildings anymore, because living in tall buildings, some older people have problem going
out or many others avoid going out frequently because of the inconvenient of going out, which
dramatically lessens social opportunities.
Second action is to scatter older people in different buildings instead of housing them in senior
only buildings because only meeting older people like themselves makes older people feel
isolated from the society. Living in mixed buildings, older people will meet different people and
this could make them feel they are member of the society and they will have the willingness to
communicate with people.
Thirdly, the urban gardens and parks are of great value in ensuring more social integration. The
urban gardens can be distributed to older people to plant some flowers and vegetable as they like,
in the process of planting and caring for the plants, older people can meet each other and share
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regent_Park

59
the ideas of planting and sharing vegetable and flowers they plant. There can be some activities
or contests each year on the theme of growing plants and older people can join the contests.
Gardens should be open to all instead of going to separate gardens so that older people can meet
each other in the gardens and talk to each other.

60
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?
Firstly, as people live longer, there definitely will be much larger population on the earth, which
means the earth will be much more crowded than it is now. More schools, hospitals, public
facilities and houses will be needed to ensure they are enough to meet the needs of the
population. To guarantee that people can enjoy all basic facilities, we will live in much smaller
space, and there will be more skyscrapers and buildings will be closer. Most of us will feel
crowded. Secondly, our retirement will be postponed. This requires that there are more
elderly-friendly facilities on our way to work, for example, slower and steadier buses and
restaurants selling for healthy for aging people. Companies need to improve some designs to
make elderly workers more comfortable as well, for example, to provide rooms to take a short
break after lunch and build a small clinic in the company in case some medical emergency
http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/stories/what-wil
l-humans-look-like-in-100000-years

61
happen to their elderly employers.
Extended life span actually influences everyone. One major new issue designers face is how to
improve designs to make sure our life get better in the future while there is a larger population
and the earth is doing crowded. Other issues include designing good nursing house or nursing
communities for people, and designing communities that are convenient to walk shop and
entertain for elderly people.

62
Response to PPT, Smithsonian, and Roy
The two most frequently mentioned
models of disability are the ‘social’ and
the ‘medical’ models. The medical model
of disability views disability as a medical
‘problem’ that belongs to the disabled
individual. The social model of disability,
in contrast, draws on the idea that it is
society that disables people, through designing everything to meet the needs of the majority
of people who are not disabled. There is a recognition within the social model that there is a
great deal that society can do to reduce, and ultimately remove, some of these disabling
barriers, and that this task is the responsibility of society, rather than the disabled person.
In the Smithsonian online exhibition, the story about the superhero hand, and Elise Roy’s
TED Talk, you saw examples of ways to engage disability that use the social model rather
than the medical model. In the Disability and Design PowerPoint, you were introduced to
the concept of Universal Design (UD) (sometimes called inclusive design, design-for-all, or
human-centered design). Certainly, UD embraces the social model of disability. In this
same PowerPoint, you saw positive and negative examples of each of the seven principles of
universal design.
For the Module 12 Thread 1, please select one of the seven universal design principles, and
post photographs that show both a positive and a negative example of the principle. Then
address the following question: How do your examples empower or disempower various
people? Describe the specific features of the positive example and the specific features of
the negative example. Discuss ways that the positive example could be even further
improved.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g7171215-d941502-Review
s-Travelodge_Heathrow_Terminal_5-Colnbrook_Slough_Berkshire_En
gland.html#photos;geo=7171215&detail=941502
https://www.zhihu.com/question/21950633

63
The principle of equitable use in universal design is “equally usable by everyone” 1
and “does not
isolate or stigmatize any group”2
. Buses are supposed to be used by everyone who needs them to
go out. However I noticed that some buses are not available to people with a wheelchair. The left
image is a positive example while the right image is a negative example of equitable example.
The bus on left has a pedal which allows people on the wheelchair to get on and off the bus,
people do use wheelchair can either use it or ignore it, in addition, children can walk on it to
avoid falling down when get off the bus. The design empowers people on the wheelchair to by
bus conveniently, a convenient going out is essential for people on the wheelchair.
The right image is a negative example of equitable. Most buses in China are negative examples
that need improving. The door of the bus without a pedal disempowers people on the wheelchair
to get on and off the bus. It almost impossible for themselves to get on and off without help from
others, and people have only to carry them to the bus, which is both heavy to do it and a long
wait for other passengers on the bus.
I think the design is already good and if I have to make some improvement, I would add a
component on the bus to fix the wheelchair so that the wheelchair will not move forward if there
is an extreme swerve or sudden break of the bus. This would avoid people on the wheelchair
falling from the wheelchair and getting hurt.
1, 2
Physical Disability and Design. UB Learns Online. May 2, 2017. ARC 211 American
Diversity and Design.

64
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%)
https://laughingsquid.com/stelarc-the-man-with-three-ears/

65
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 collective situation, we
need to consider how the consequences of majority choices for children might change who
we are as a species.
In the film trailer FIXED, you were introduced to the dilemma of living in a culture in
which the “science-fiction of human enhancement” has become almost a way of life, from
prenatal genetic screening to bionic body parts. In the video, “A Man with Three Ears” you
are introduced to an artist who is using current technology to move humans beyond their
current abilities. Last week, Juan Enriquez asked us if it is ethical to evolve the human
body. All of these videos suggest that the concept of disability ‘as we know it’ could cease to
exist in the future.
This leads us to this week’s discussion question:
What lessons do you think we should learn from history when thinking about emerging
enhancement technologies and reproductive technologies? What are some of the possible
consequences (both positive and negative) of being able to design our bodies and the bodies
of our children? What ethical quandaries do these technologies pose?
When it comes to the issue of enhancement and reproductive technologies of humans, we should
always be careful. The lesson we can learn from history is that while technology is powerful in
changing humans, it has risks we can not predict at present. Allow me to the of plastic surgery as
an example; it was quite new 20 years and people were amazed how plastic surgery could make
people what they hope to look like of their faces and bodies, and many celebrities took plastic

66
surgeries to look more beautiful, but the face would be ruined and some look so terrible that they
need to fix them frequently, just because the natural growing of face and body were ruined.
Positive consequences of being able to design bodies include, firstly, disabled persons can find
replacements of what they have miss, for example, the 3D print fingers in the Times article. And
we also can repair some vital diseases through design. In additions some genetic diseases can be
removed so that our children will be free from them. The negative consequences I think would be
unpredictable risks of technology design of our body and abuse of the technology to change how
we look and who we are, when the abuse of technology get out of control, I have no idea what
would happen.
The ethical quandaries about these technologies are they challenge traditions and laws.
Traditional marries of having children and how can laws regulate the use of technologies on
human bodies. If the technologies change our biological traits and social traits, then how will we
identify who we are and who our children are?

67
Response to Titicut Follies
The state of Massachusetts tried to ban
the 1967 documentary Titicut Follies,
arguing that director Frederick Wiseman
had violated the patients’ rights by not
getting written permission to film them.
The case went to court, and Wiseman
argued that he had consent from their
legal guardian, the institution. After a
judge ruled in favor of the state, the legal
appeals carried on for several years: in
1969, Massachusetts allowed the film to
be shown to doctors, lawyers, and health
care professionals; in 1991, a superior court judge ruled it could be released for the
“general public,” as privacy concerns were no longer at issue, so many years later.
Should Wiseman have been allowed to film the residents of Bridgewater Massachusetts
Correctional Facility? Why or why not? How might this film be of value to designers
(communication designers, product, designers, architects, interior designers, planners,
landscape designers, systems designers, and/or social designers)? In other words, what
might they gain from this film that they could use in their work?
Yes, Wiseman should be allowed. It is a great work by Wiseman, he filmed the true story of
insane people’s living condition in that hospital. There were insane persons in the hospital who
were irritable, numb or uneasy. The indifferent look of both the insane people and the staff
troubled me, and also some patients really impressed me by talking about Vietnam war, nuclear
weapon and by saying: “ ...because of the circumstance, because of the situation..., it is the
http://www.zipporah.com/films/22/

68
treatment that I am getting in the situation”. Although they were insane, they had the right to
think, similarly, they had the right to live a more decent life and they needed more attention. This
documentary brings people’s attention to the ignored group, insane people will not disappear, and
brutality and abuse can totally destroy them.
I think the value to designers is that designers can realize people are equal, so designers could
first improve the living condition for insane people and keep the room cleaner. More work can be
done by system and social designers after watching the documentary. System and social designer
can make some changes to the policies to first stop the abuse and stop treating the insane people
indifferently an like they are just machines. And further, it is better that the insane group can be
treated with more care and more humane.

69
Response to PPT, The Architecture of
Autism, Public Space
Prelude: Wolf Wolfensberger's seminal work
"The Origin and Nature of Our Institutional
Models" posited that society characterizes
people with intellectual disabilities as
sub-human and burdens of charity, He
argued that this dehumanization, and the
segregated institutions that result from it, ignored the potential productive contributions
that all people can make to society. He pushed for a shift in policy and practice that
recognized the human needs of those with intellectual challenges and provided the same
basic human rights as for the rest of the population.
The Scenario: Imagine that you and your four children live in Amherst, New York in a
$650,000 home at the end of a cul-de-sac on the edge of a ten acre woods. The town has
purchased a one acre lot three houses away from yours, and plans to build a group home
for ten intellectually challenged adults.
As a resident of the neighborhood, would you support or oppose this proposal and why?
You've learned additional information about the residents of the proposed group home in
your neighborhood. In 2013, three of the ten intended residents exhibited challenging
behaviors including screaming, public masturbation, repetitive rocking, and echolalia
(elective incontinence). However, these behaviors have not occurred since then.
How would this change your opinion about the construction of the group home in your
neighborhood?
https://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/ny-time
s-examines-architecture-autism

70
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 support the proposal if the group home is built for home for people of autism or
dementia or any group without risky behaviors, but this case is too special and I oppose the
proposal. Housing 3 of the 10 persons who have challenging behaviors is risky for the children
of the family, I might probably worry about them when they hang out considering those
challenging behaviors and I would spend time worrying if the 3 of them would scream again at
night, it is quite disturbing if they scream again. And once they become a problem, I would have
to move, which is troublesome and expensive.
While we want to be inclusive of the ten of them, some of them may cause trouble to
neighborhoods and are not suitable to live in neighborhood with people who have kids. So one
possible solution is to move them to a community built exactly the same as we live, where it is
quiet and good for their heal of the situation, only they be neighbor with people of the same
cases.

71
Response to The Connection
Between Religion and Urban
Planning by David Engwicht
In his article, David Engwicht
discusses the fact that
religions (of all types) have
played major roles in the
development of our cities.
Today, places of worship are
primary components of almost
all urban centers. Author
Lorne Daniel writes “From their often active role in supporting people who live in city
centers to their iconic influence on design and use of space, religious structures tell us a lot
about our history, our current needs, and where we might be headed in the future. This is
an aspect of our urban future that planners and urbanists should attend to.”
Identify a place of worship with which you are somewhat familiar. (If you are not familiar
with any places of worship, do a bit of research on one in your own city or town.) Show a
photograph of this religious structure. (You may use photographs from the web.) What
roles has this place served in the development of your city/town? How has it influenced the
design of the area around it? How has its role changed over time? What roles could this
place of worship play in the future development of your city/town?
There is the Shaolin Temple in my hometown, Zhengzhou. Shaolin Temple was first built in the
year 495 to accommodate an Indian Buddhist preacher named Buddhabhadra. Now, Shaolin
Temple is a place to for Buddism worship, a place to store Buddhist scriptures and a place to
http://baike.baidu.com/link?url=xMYfUpa_Ra7hvpooytteVDLDTw4oqYs
Wxwpq-W2F0FOrOIGXPowSZGdWS-_mNBZoU56jgTcA3wgmNjQ4jy
ZToKoD363r5pROASlqaOBgZAaxEaGRuPqDSETWU_ngBSvC

72
play Chinese Kongfu. Talking about the role Shaolin Temple has played in the development of
the city of Zhengzhou, it is more culturally influenced by it. Zhengzhou in ancient China was
well known to be a center of Buddhist worship. All buildings in Shaolin Temple are built like a
temple and pavilion, some of which have Buddhist scripture and image carves on it, although
other buildings and landscapes out of Shaolin Temple are not influenced by Shaolin Temple. In
ancient times, the roles of Shaolin Temple were the place for Buddhists to worship and sotre
Buddhism scriptures, and monks live in the temples, reading Buddhist scriptures, mediating and
practice Kongfu. Presently, the temple has one more new role, a tourist scene; both Buddhists
and non-Buddhists come here to pray for a good fortune, many foreigners even visits there to see
the Chinese Kongfu performance. In the future, the temple will still keep its present roles, and I
think it will once again be a cultural symbol of Chinese Buddhism culture as it once had been in
history.

73
Response to Prospects for the
Future of Diversity and
Design
Consider the quote in
your syllabus from
educator Michael J.
Shannon: “Design, as
vision in action--the
intersection of
understanding and creation--is a universal human capability that can play a
fundamental role in social evolution, in the process that transforms resources, energy,
and information to make our world.”
At the beginning of this course, we discussed the idea that we are all designers regardless of
our profession or field of study. We’ve asked some big questions along the way, and the
conclusion section of our textbook raises additional issues that require input from people
who might not consider themselves to be part of the formalized design professions.
Think about your own major and/or future profession. What is the biggest challenge,
problem, or question that your field needs to tackle right now? What do you plan to do to
address this challenge, problem, or question either as part of your studies or professional
life?
I major in Economy, the task of economy is to research rules behind human economic activities,
and the production, use and management of values so that to realize the optimize the distribution
of resources. I think the field of economy faces two major challenge, one is the health of world
http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/news-opinion/design-economy-primer-h
ow-design-revolutionising-health-business-cities-and-government

74
economy and the other is mentioned the Diversity and Design book that “wealth inequality as a
primary challenge of the twenty-first century,...the income of the average worker has stagnated,
if not decreased”1
, so the challenge of the economy is how it can narrow the gap between the rich
and the average working people so as to achieve equality in income.
In terms of the relationship between economy and design, I think the two are deeply connected.
As an economist in the future, I can make my own contribution to improve the existing economic
system, for example, a fairer education for people and fair job hunting opportunity, and work
with tax, accounting, and capital to ensure equality so as to narrow the income gap. In addition, I
can work with designers for commercial products to think of ways to better recycle resources as
well as to produce products that are affordable to more people of the world.
1
eds. (Routledge, 2015).

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