ARC 211 American Diversity and Design Alan Lam

ARC 211 - American Diversity and Design – Spring 2017
University at Buffalo – State University of New York
Online Discussion Questions
Alan P. Lam
http://cfa.aiany.org/corecode/uploads/event/uploaded_images/corecode_aianycfa/diversity%201_resieze2_9982.jpg

Introduction
Hi everyone and welcome to my presentation covering all of my responses to questions given by an ARC211 (Also as American
Diversity and Design) course. Both diversity and design haven’t really been a huge part of my life up until now. After taking this
course though I can see why both of these things are essential and in some ways more important than simply accomplishing a goal in
any way you can. What I found particularly interesting and compelling about this course was looking at the perspectives of certain
groups of people who are very different from me. It’s easy to detach yourself from others when they share nothing in common with
you, but after reading all of the articles about other groups of people provided by this course, I can see that we all share commonalities
even if we look like we don’t. The following pages document my responses to the online discussion questions in the Spring 2017
version of ARC 211 American Diversity and Design at the University at Buffalo – State University of New York

Response to “What is design?” from Hello World
The author opened her chapter with the example of Ying Zheng, the ruler of the Qin empire, one of the most powerful and
enduring empires I the history of China. She explained how design innovation contributed to Ying Zheng’s success. For
example, in the development of weaponry, he resolved many problems by standardizing parts, and this single innovation gave
his armies great advantage over other armies.1
For this discussion, let’s move away from 246 B.C. China, and into the U.S. Describe an innovation or invention (can be
current or historical) that gave advantage to a group of people in the U.S. or to the population as a whole. What were the
social impacts of this innovation? Were any groups negatively impacted by this innovation? For example, the
telegraph, developed and patented in the United States in 1837 by Samuel Morse, permitted people and commerce to transmit
messages across both continents and oceans almost instantly, with widespread social and economic impacts. This heightened
communication speed allowed business persons to make decisions with up-to-date information, often resulting in big profits.
Those without access had to rely on outdated information, which put them at a disadvantage.
The invention of the assembly line by Henry Ford was no doubt a huge benefit for people in the U.S and even the rest of the world.
With the assembly line came a more efficient and more cost effective way of constructing and building object in a fraction of the time.
This increase in productivity of certain goods allowed for affordable products for the U.S population and also sparked an increase in
job opportunity for many people, even those with very low skill sets. This was especially ideal for immigrants and made the prospect
of coming to the U.S much more appealing due to the availability of jobs for these assembly lines.

Even though the assembly line and mass production were largely beneficial to the population of the U.S there were many that suffered
due to Henry Ford's creation. For one, those who specialized hand crafted products themselves for a living became obsolete as they
simple could not keep up with the speed of the assembly line utilized by larger corporations. Secondly even though the assembly line
allowed for anyone to accept a job at one of the many facilities using
it, it also meant that workers were expendable and were heavily taken
advantage of by their bosses. Lastly though products made by the
assembly line were much quicker than usual, they we're often of lower
quality as each individual product had less care and attention that a
normal hand crafted product may have had.
1
Rawsthorn, A. “Hello World” Where Design Meets Life
https://ublearns.buffalo.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-3998926-dt-content-rid-
14593886_1/courses/2171_14992_COMB/Hello%20World%201.pdf
Accessed on February 2, 2017
https://brand-quarterly-veseycreative.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/00112.jpg

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.”1 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.)
As humanity has grown more conscious about the physically disabled a bevy of designs of existing products have been altered in order
to better accommodate these people. One such design alteration comes in the form of buses (and to some extent all forms of
transportation). Before buses we're very high floored which made them very inaccessible to those with impaired legs. As time went on
though many buses started to change their form with these people in mind. Such changes include installing wheelchair lifts to the back
of buses, adding wheelchair ramps, making more low floored designs, and adjusting the sizes of doors. These changes were made

largely so that more people could have access to public transportation, as the world had started to become more inclusive in what the
population is able to do.
1
Beth Tauke, Korydon Smith and Charles Davis,
“Introduction”, in Diversity and Design Understanding
Hidden Consequences. (Routledge, 2016), 1-13
https://images.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/sak/images/53861.jpg

Response to Media/Society Chapter and TED Talk on Photographs
Where would you place the images shown in Photos That Changed the World into Croteau and Hoynes' diagram entitled
“Model of Media and the Social World”? Identify a mass media photograph taken in your own lifetime that has 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?
I would place the images shown in Photos That Changed the World2
in the media message or product section of Croteau and
Hoynes diagram1
. This is mostly for a very literal reason, in that they are
quite literally products and messages told through and by the media.
Each image holds some sort of meaning and while some may place them
into the Readers and audience section due to the myriad of interpretation
from these photos, I think it's much more appropriate to classify these
images based on tangible meaning.
Here's a photograph of the 2016 Rio Olympics closing ceremony. The
picture's message about the event is quite clear; this was a glorious and
exciting event filled with competition, thrill, and unwavering passion. No
matter what one's actual opinions are about the Olympics one has to
appreciate the spectacle and pride on display.
https://ublearns.buffalo.edu/courses/1/2171_14992_COMB/db/_3566733_1/Terminam_os_Jogos_Ol%C3%ADmpicos_Rio_2016_
%2829040726262%29.jpg

1
Croteau and Hoynes. “Media/Society: Industries, Images, Audiences.” Media and the Social World
14624120_1/courses/2171_14992_COMB/Media_Croteau_Hoynes%281%29.pdf Accessed on February 11, 2017
2
“Photos that changed the world.” Accessed February 11, 2017
https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_klein_photos_that_changed_the_world

Response to Articles on Hats as Communication Design
Typically, we do not think of hats as elements of mass media or social media. However, the two hats (red and pink) discussed
in the articles certainly have taken on that role. Why are the two hats (red and pink) mentioned in the articles vehicles of
communication design? What meanings do each of the two hats carry? In terms of communication design, how are they
similar? And how are they different from one another?
Both the red and pink hats aren't just hats, they each carry different meanings because people have associated meanings with these hat.
The design of a hat is secondary to what people have associated with the color in combination with a hat. To people the red had
symbolizes the prospect of America becoming great again and the ideal of improvement that comes along with it1
. For the pink hat it
symbolizes women's rights and the ability that women hold to refuse terms that they aren't comfortable with2
. Both hats may have
completely and in some cases opposing meanings, but they also share quite a few similarities. For one they each instill confidence and
pride in those who believe in the messages that they symbolize. Another commonality between the two is the ideal of controlling one's
life and changing the course of history for the better.
1
Budds, D. “The Worst Design of 2016 was also the most effective” Trump’s Make
American Great Again” hat was pervasive potent and deeply misunderstood
https://www.fastcodesign.com/3066599/the-worst-design-of-2016-was-also-the-
most-effective Accessed on February 11, 2017
2
Rogers, K. “Fashioning Protest for the Women’s March on Washington”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/fashion/womens-march-washington-fashion-
protest.html?_r=1 Accessed on February 11, 2017
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0685/0697/products/P1Red_Hat_large.jpg?v=1443069742

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 world1. 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?
Henry Ford introduction of the assembly line (and to that extent mass production) allowed for products that could be made in a
fraction of the production time before1
. This allowed several products to become cheaper and thus the general populous were able to
obtain them more easily. When you take into account that these products included such things as cars and radio the social impacts are
clear enough. More cars could possibly lead to a higher incentive to travel around increases socialization of people overall, while
things like radios lead to entertainment and a higher exposure to certain media messages. Also in the passage there's mention of how
the government pushed for the increase of industry through the creation of certain groups which might have led to more people
accepting this new age of growth and technology. I'd also imagine that smaller companies and family produced goods saw some sort
of decline during this time while big companies who can afford the machinery necessary for mass production grew bigger, ultimately
leading to a more mechanical based society.
Although it's unclear exactly how far computers and machines will grow, the possibility of self-designing robots and AI (as proposed
by the TED talk) seems like the next logical step in manufacturing. If this happens though I can see a lot of people being replaced by

machines and out of a job, which may ultimately steer humanity to focus on skills that have less to do with designing and more to do
utilization and reasoning. In other words people may end up thinking more about why something needs to exist and how it can be used
rather then how it'll be made, if that makes sense. That begs the question though; if we'll have robots that design products in the future,
will we have robots that can replace human labor entirely?
1
Heskett, J. “Industrial Design”
https://ublearns.buffalo.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-4046062-
dt-content-rid-
14698373_1/courses/2171_14992_COMB/Heskett%20-
%20ID.pdf Accessed on February 18, 2017
http://henryford-leadership-legacy.weebly.com/uploads/4/4/2/4/44246015/9093546_orig.jpg

Response IDEA Awards and Cradle-to-Cradle Video
Which of the 2016 IDEA Gold Award products seems to defy the Cradle-to-Cradle concept developed by architect William
McDonough and chemist Dr. Michael Braungart? How does this product resist or disregard the concept? Provide an example
of any products that embrace Cradle-to-Cradle design, please describe and cite.
I think that the Rolls-Royce Dawn goes against the Cradle-to-Cradle concept. The cradle-to-cradle concept focuses around renewable
energy and a design that increases diversity and is flexible to adapt to its environment1
. Nothing about the Rolls-Royce Dawn
automobile seems to suggest that it follows either of these things, it seems like it's simply made to be as comfortable and stylish as
possible without really worrying too much about the
environment. I don't even see much use for the materials it's
made out of once it breaks down or it rusts.
A really cool design that accepts the cradle to cradle concept is
this biodegradable algae bottle.
http://inhabitat.com/biodegradable-algae-water-bottles-that-
provide-a-green-alternative-to-plastic/
Basically you can grow your own bottle out of algae and once
the bottle has no more water in it, it will immediately break
down. This will reduce the use of plastic considerably (which
usually take much longer to break down than this algae bottle.)
You could probably even eat the bottle if you wanted to2
.
http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2016/03/Algae-Water-Bottle-Ari-J%C3%B3nsson.jpg

1
“Introduction to Cradle-to-Cradle” Accessed February 18, 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMsF1P-_vWc
2
Cooke, L. “Biodegradable algae water bottle provides a green alternative to plastic” http://inhabitat.com/biodegradable-algae-water-
bottles-that-provide-a-green-alternative-to-plastic/ accessed on February 18, 2017

Response to Ballantyne and Peter Zumthor Articles
Andrew Ballantyne and Peter Zumthor present ideas about architecture that seem to value the sensorial and material
elements of life. How are Ballantyne’s and Zumthor’s viewpoints on architecture alike? More importantly, how do they differ?
(Use the SEE-IT method to respond to this question.)
Ballantyne and Zumthor both share many of the same ideas about what architecture is supposed to represent and how buildings should
be designed. For one both of them believe that architecture should have some sort of representation of the situation society is
undergoing. Zumthor asserts that architecture usually reflects on its builder along with "the place where it stands."2
, while
Ballantyne refers that a building's use in "everyday life" and how it was used in the past is extremely important for architecture1
. They
both also believe that knowing about architectures of the past is important for a current architecture's understanding. Even though
Zumthor states that he wipes previous academic knowledge while designing his works he still implies that integrating previous
experiences in history can help one contribute meaningful designs of their own, and Ballantyne references many past architectures in
his article as well.
Where Ballantyne and Zumthor differ is their belief in the aesthetics of a building. Zumthor focuses greatly on how a building is
designed and believes that just looking at how a building is designed can help surface emotion and present feelings/memories that are
extremely important2
. Ballantyne basically runs counter to this idea. He believes that the aesthetics alone aren't enough to correctly
appreciate architecture. He believes that it is more important to consider how the architecture was used in the past and its role at the
moment it was initially designed, bringing up the roman Colosseum as an example of misunderstood architecture in modern times1
. In
essence Zumthor approaches architecture more emotionally, while Ballantyne prefers a more pragmatic outlook.

http://static5.depositphotos.com/1009645/435/v/950/depositphotos_4355569-Architecture-Blueprint-Of-A-House.jpg
1
Ballantyne, A. “Architecture, Life, and Habit” https://ublearns.buffalo.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-4051548-dt-content-rid-
14735253_1/courses/2171_14992_COMB/Ballantyne.pdf Accessed on February 25, 2017
2
Zumthor, P. “Thinking Architecture” https://ublearns.buffalo.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-4051636-dt-content-rid-
14749617_1/courses/2171_14992_COMB/Zumthor_A%20Way%20of%20Looking%20at%20Things.pdf Accessed on February 25,
2017

Response to All Module 4 Materials
Your readings and viewings this week present different ways of thinking about architecture. Mies Van der Rohe describes
architecture as “The will of the epoch translated into space.” Andrew Ballantyne describes architecture as the background for
life. Jeanne Gang describes it as the act of building relationships. All agree that architecture can change based on context and
culture. Choose two works of architecture from any of your materials this week – one with sensibilities about the past and one
with sensibilities about the present and/or future. How do each of these buildings either reflect or challenge their cultural
contexts? (Use the SEE-IT method to respond to this question.)
The WainWright building reflects perfectly the situation that America was in during the 1800's. With the huge growing rate of
America's population at hand buildings needed to be absolutely efficient at saving space2
. The building's height takes care of this need
and the way that it embraces its steel frame is symbolic of the growing technology at the time.
If we want to look towards the future, the
architectural material made from Shrimp Shells (talked
about in Neri Oxman's TedTalk1
) looks to help the
environment for years to come. The waste of material and
maintaining of the environment is something that is clearly
more conscious during present day, and it seems as though
this new shrimp shell material (which can be used for
buildings) wants to address this issue as disposing of it into
the ocean or soil will help marine/plant life.
http://interactive.wttw.com/sites/default/files/styles/tenbuildings_hero/public/tenbuildings/TB302ss.jpg

1
“Design at the Intersection of Technology and Biology” Accessed February 25, 2017
https://www.ted.com/talks/neri_oxman_design_at_the_intersection_of_technology_and_biology
2
“10 Buildings that Changed America” Accessed February 25, 2017 http://www.pbs.org/program/ten-that-changed-america/10-
buildings-changed-america/

Response to Levy Article
John Levy’s article, “An Overview: The Need for Planning,” discussed ways in which planning can determine the
characteristics of a place1. 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 New York City and there are many different characteristics defined by planning there. For one every ounce of space is
used in NYC, most of the time the "buildings" in Brooklyn have zero space in between them, and to add to that most of the buildings
are pretty lengthy vertically, but nor horizontally. This is to ensure that there is as much space as possible to fit the
enormous population size of NYC. With such a huge population size, it's only appropriate that the buildings were planned to
accommodate. This use of space gives NYC a very compact feel that doesn't feel as open or scenic as other places. It does have a
charm of its own though, and the high amount of space allows for a higher density of people in a single spot that helps builds some
sense of community
Another important characteristic of NYC is the size of the streets. The streets in NYC very much follow the planning of the buildings
in that they use as much space as possible. It really depends on where you are in the city, but usually residential areas have narrow
streets so that they don't intrude on the building sizes so that they can house more people. On the flip side places where people are
likely to commute, like in Manhattan or on highways there are very wide streets so that the high magnitudes of cars can get to where
they're going as fast as possible (to varying degrees of success). These streets gives the famous hustle and bustle of city life, while the
narrower street give off a more squished and communicative feel.

http://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/5699802bc6772b7614567435/2:1/w_2560/new-york-city-guide.jpg
1
Levy, John M. "An Overview: The Need for Planning." Contemporary Urban Manning. https://ublearns.buffalo.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-
4058550-dt-content-rid-14825573_1/courses/2171_14992_COMB/Levy%2C%20Urban%20Planning.pdf Accessed March 4, 2017

Response to Pruitt Igoe Project, Talen, and Larson
Imagine that you are part of a urban planning and design firm working with Emily Talen (author of “Design That Enables
Diversity”) and Kent Larson (who gave the TED Talk "Brilliant Designs to Fit More People In Every City" The thee of you
have been tasked with developing a plan to rebuild Pruitt Igoe in St. Louis. City officials told the three of you that that they
want to do it right this time. Identify three strategies for rebuilding Pruitt Igoe in ways that promise to be more successful.
What would Talen do? What would Larson do? What would you do? How would your strategies differ from those of the
original urban planners/designers of the project? Why would your strategies be more effective?
The Pruitt Igoe was mostly a failure due to 3 several factors; it's location, the low maintenance of the buildings, and the racial
segregation Pruitt made between blacks and other races1
, all of which would be my primary focus if I we're rebuilding it. Talen and
Larson would have very different approaches to rebuilding the Pruitt Igoe, but in essence they both seek to improve on at least one of
the flaws mentioned. Talen would tackle the racial segregation and low diversity that Pruitt Igoe had by creating centers of
communication and buildings that would naturally draw people that are nonstandard for an area2
. Larson on the other hand would
focus on the plot of lands poor location, along with the lack of space within each apartment. The compact and adaptive living spaces
along with the efficient cars in his TED talk would both come in handy to address these issues3
. I feel as though that I would try to
combine both of their ideas together. None of the two are necessarily wrong in what they address for the new Pruitt, they're just
working on different areas and it would be great to get a solid spread of both their ideas. The original planners of the project seem to
only focus on fitting as many people as possible within a small space. This is fine in theory, but the strategies mentioned here would
be much better for a plethora of reasons. For one technology is far more advanced nowadays so fitting more people within a smaller
space without completely sacrificing convenience is much more doable. Another point is that having more diversity and a way to
travel to work places more efficiently overall reduces stress within the community and helps the lands economy thrive due to a wider
range of talent.

http://www.pruitt-igoe.com/YAMA/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/P-I99.jpg
1
“The Pruitt Igoe Myth” Accessed March 4th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKgZM8y3hso
2
Talen, E “Design That Enables Diversity: The Complications of a Planning Ideal” Journal of Planning Literature
14825578_1/courses/2171_14992_COMB/Design%20that%20enables%20Diversity%281%29.pdf Accessed March 4, 2017
3
“Brilliant designs to fit more people into every city.” Accessed March 4, 2017
https://www.ted.com/talks/kent_larson_brilliant_designs_to_fit_more_people_in_every_city?nolanguage=en%23t-367652

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).
I grew up in Brooklyn and if there was any one place that stood out and felt necessary to memorialize is the Green Wood Cemetery
near Sunset Park. I feel that this cemetery is the
perfect place to commemorate and remember
those who have died in New York. I wouldn't
touch any of the tombstones since they'll give
off a sense of how long ago someone had died.
I would however allow more forestry to grow
including trees and many more flowers, which
will symbolize and reinstate the messages of
death and life. The roads within the cemetery
could also do some redesigning, maybe being
more in tuned with the nature I intend to grow
within the cemetery.
https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/26/4d/a4/green-wood-cemetery.jpg

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 world1." What was the basis for this
claim? Would Olmsted still make that claim today? Why or why not?
I feel as though Olmsted claimed that buffalo was the best planned city in the world many because of the city's ability to integrate both
green space and modern buildings/commercial area. In the video Frederick Law
Olmsted: Designing western New York they mentioned how the planning of three of
the parks Olmsted designed, along with their interconnectivity with each other
allowed, people to feel like they were in a city one moment and a park the next
moment1
. This combination of both civilization and the wilderness along with the
numerous different bodies of water surrounding buffalo (such as the Niagara Falls)
are what I believe were the bases to Olmsted's argument. These things still hold true
today as well, even in UB alone there are plenty of places that seem to combine both
nature but civilizations and the Niagara Falls along with other bodies of water
still hold today.
1
“Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing Western New York” Accessed March 11, 2017
http://www.pbs.org/video/2365468061/
http://www.olmsted.org/storage/images/04_The_Olmsted_Legacy/Frederick_Law_Olmsted_Sr./photo_1_0013.jpg

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.)
This graphic image shows a black slave showing his wounds from a whipping that his master gave him.
For me this image very clearly shows how much punishment and abuse slaves of the past had to go through, and the absolute disregard
their "owners" had for their wellbeing. It's a strong image that shows how poorly slaves were treated and I believe it enhances people's
desire to care for their fellow human beings.
However another person may feel like the image invokes something different. While I see this image as an opportunity for people to
gain a new perspective and become better people, someone else might think that this image should show that there should be some
justice for black slaves. Blacks were treated so poorly and were abused so much, yet they never truly obtained any sort of consolation

for their suffering. This image only further supports this claim and may make others feel as though black slaves deserved something
for enduring such suffering.
I can see that perspective existing, and I suppose it's understandable I don't see it that way. After all these weren't my ancestors and I
don't feel anything particularly personal about this image. I agree that the slave torture was terrible and cruel, but desire nothing more
since it's not directly connected to me or my heritage. Someone who is black does have a more personal connection though and maybe
it's because of that that they have this different perspective.
https://ametia.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/whipping.jpg https://ublearns.buffalo.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-4064214-dt-
content-rid-15008609_1/courses/2171_14992_COMB/Slaveshipposter%281%29.jpg

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 principles1. (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 MLK memorial and everything it stands for very much follows the 5 design principles of equityXdesign's1
.
1. Design at the margin: The MLK memorial represents that those in power alone cannot fix inequality, rather it takes those who are
both oppressed (in this case black people) and those in power to truly mend inequality.
2. Start with yourself: The memorial can help someone understand the past and to that extent themselves. Knowing about the ideals of
MLK can help one form their own ideals and eliminate bias.
3. Cede Power: MLK believed that everyone should be equal and united. This memorial which is littered with MLK's ideals via quotes
will spread his thoughts on unity and togetherness.
4. Make the invisible visible: The MLK memorial provides an excellent opportunity to reflect about the past and seek the truth behind
history. Whether via quotes or the glorious statue of him as though he's looking over the world he helped shape.
5. Speak to the future: This one doesn't need much explaining. The memorial is filled with MLK quotes and these quotes will be read
by hundreds of thousands visitors who will echo his ideals into the future if inspired by them.

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1304599/images/o-MARTIN-LUTHER-KING-MEMORIAL-CHANGES-facebook.jpg
1
Medium.com staff. “Racism and inequity are products of design. They can be redesigned.
: The Complications of a Planning Ideal” equityXdesign https://medium.com/@multiplyequity/racism-and-inequity-are-products-of-
design-they-can-be-redesigned-12188363cc6a Accessed March 17, 2017

Response to "Landscape Stories" Chapter
First, let’s start with your own home. Describe a place in your home (indoors and/or outdoors) that you think of as
representative of your own ethnic background and discuss why you consider this place to be ‘ethnic’. –OR-- Describe an object
in your home that you think of as representative of your ethnic background and discuss why this object is considered to be
‘ethnic’. (If possible, add photo/s.) Is this object or place something that you will keep or continue when you establish your
own home? Why or why not?
Now let’s move into your community. In “Landscape Stories,” the authors show how landscape architects develop a historical
narrative that sifts through and interprets the culture and material of underrepresented groups1. 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.)
In my house we have Chinese ornaments hanging around, mostly near doorways or where ever we can hang them without interfering
with our daily lives. There red and usually have a Chinese symbol on the front of them written in gold. It's pretty clear why these
ornaments are considered to be ethnic. They represent my Chinese heritage, both from there red color (usually a sign of good luck in
china) along with the characters written in front of them (which is our main language). I never felt much connection to my
Chinese heritage so it's unsure whether I'd put them in my own home going forward, but I definitely wouldn't be opposed to hanging
them in my house.
The area where I grew up in Brooklyn was very focused on Asian culture, we often joked that us Asian ruled over our specific avenue
and the environment definitely reflected this. Everywhere on this specific avenue there were Asian speaking symbols everywhere,
alerting everyone about restaurants, cheap dollar stores, etc (with some healthy English strewed to help everyone else). They were

mostly Chinese, but there were some Korean and Japanese here and there. There were also different asian buildings sprinkled around
such as temples, or specifically designed restaurants represented Malaysian or Vietnamese architecture.
1
Owens, Patsy Eubanks, Maggie La Rochelle, and Jennifer McHenry “Landscape Stories: Unearthing the Culture of Agricultural
Communities in the Central Valley” https://ublearns.buffalo.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-4073088-dt-content-rid-
15052527_1/courses/2171_14992_COMB/Traces%20of%20Ethnicity%20in%20Landscape_1.pdf Accessed March 31, 2017
http://g01.a.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1wEMDHVXXXXbVXFXXq6xXFXXXr/Hot-Wholesale-Fashion-Jewelry-10pcs-Handmade-
Braided-Trumpet-Chinese-knot-tassels-Multicolor-String-Charm-Woman-Good.jpg

Response to Article on Sports Branding
Recent controversies about sports branding focus on ethnicity. The Washington Redskins team is just one example of the
larger controversy, but it receives the most public attention due to the name itself being defined as derogatory or insulting in
modern dictionaries, and the prominence of the team representing the nation’s capital. Should sports team branding designers
use ethnic references (Fighting Irish, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Braves, etc.)? Why? Why not? What are some of the complexities
of this issue? (Limit your response to 150 words.)
It seems very limiting and too strict to not be able to make any sort of reference whatsoever when it comes to sports branding or
branding in general, however I also think that the issue when taken to the extreme can also cause a lot of problems down the line.
That's why I think that it's not a yes or no situation and believe that
there should be some sort of middle ground or some limit to this sort of
thing. As to what this limit is I cannot say for sure. Maybe it can follow
that unless a reference offends people then it can be used, but then you
run into the issue of certain groups finding just about everything
offensive. Maybe I don't think too much about the Celtics, but another
more fanatic group may insist there's something wrong with it.
https://3degreez.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/brand-strategy.jpg

Response to "Visualizing Gender" Chapter
In their chapter “Communicating Gender,” Maya Ganesh and Gabi Sobliye discuss two primary visual advocacy approaches:
1) get the idea, and 2) stories in data1. 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.)
The approach used in this image is stories in data as it takes information/statistics and tries to transform them visually to advocate for
gender inequality1
. The designer of this picture is trying to show visually how much less women make than men in Europe. The design
is clean and it is immediately apparent that the women are
under the men, implying that they're being treated as
less. The text along with the images gets the message across
along with the issue. One issue that this image may have is
that it's not very specific about the places in Europe where
this pay gap is the most prominent or other statistical
analysis that could go more in depth about the issue. Maybe
the graphic could be converted into other currencies such as
dollars, wons, etc so that more people can see the actual
magnitude of this pay gap.
Citation: http://genderstats.org/ http://genderstats.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/gender-equality-europe-768x445.jpg

1
Maya Indira Ganesh and Gabi Sobliye. “Communicating Gender: The Challenges of Visualizing Information for Advocacy”, in
Diversity and Design Understanding Hidden Consequences, ed. Beth Tauke, Korydon Smith and Charles Davis. (Routledge, 2016),
137-152

Response to Bathroom Bill
Last year, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed into law a bill that repealed local LGBT anti-discrimination laws,
and required people to use the bathroom that corresponded with the biological gender written on their birth certificates. This
prompted massive backlash. McCrory stated, “You know, we all have to make adjustments in life. And we’ve had the proper
etiquette situation for decades in our country, and all of a sudden through political correctness we’re throwing away basic
etiquette.” Just this past Thursday, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill to repeal the law while placing a
moratorium on nondiscrimination measures.
Should people be required to use the bathroom that corresponds with the biological gender written on their birth certificate?
State why AND state why not. In other words, to receive full credit for this question, you need to present an argument for both
sides of the issue. As a designer, how would you solve this gender dilemma? 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 argument for people being able to use bathrooms that don't correspond with the biological gender given at birth mostly has to do
with feelings of un-comfortability or confusion, which is very understandable. When someone is in a place where they feel as though
they do not belong it can make them feel alienated, lonely, or anxious. In the case of being transgender feeling one way and looking a
different way can definitely instigate this sort of awkward feeling. Letting these feelings prevent people from performing a basic task
such as going to the bathroom is absurd.
On the other hand having people only be able to use bathrooms of their biological gender isn't without it's benefits either. For one, it
prevents people from taking advantage of the system. Anyone can dress up one way and go into whichever bathroom they want which
can cause big issues, unless we want to check everyone every time they go to the bathroom. Another point is that allowing this sort of
liberty in bathrooms can cause an increase in un-comfortability to people whose biological sex DO match their gender.

As a designer I would try to design an bathroom environment that tries to reduce anxiety or un-comfortability. Paint the walls and
floors with certain patterns and colors that feel inviting and unifying, or perhaps more stalls for more privacy and security. More
gender neutral bathrooms would also be a nice step, but I'm worried about the cost or space for more of those.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ef/1f/1b/ef1f1bed1059e7e40aff7820897351ab.jpg

Response to People Like Us
After almost two decades of public assistance, Tammy Crabtree took herself and her family off the welfare rolls. But her job
cleaning bathrooms at a local Burger King barely paid the bills. Crabtree wanted to do better and hopes to go to college and
become a teacher.
Imagine this scenario. You are a designer who works at the well-known firm, iPD (Integrated Planning and Design). You work
on a team with planners, urban designers, policy designers, architects, and social designers. You have been tasked to
develop/design a way for Tammy Crabtree and her family (and others with situations similar to Tammy’s) to move themselves
out of poverty. What will your team to do to help Tammy and her family achieve their goals? What approach will your team
take to address this difficult problem?
The first thing I would do to help people move themselves out of poverty would be to design some sort of resource that informs people
of all of their educational options. What colleges are nearby, if they have online courses or not, how much their tuition is, how far
away they are from a person's home, pre-requisites, etc. This information can also include specific routes to colleges based on certain
factors like cost or timeliness. This may seem minor at first, but I think people underestimate how much of a difference knowing these
kinds of things can make and having some sort of central hub for this info can be a big help to many.
The next thing I would do is design a program that assess a person's situation and tries to provide job opportunities and benefit for a
limited amount of time depending on what sort of degree they're going for and their current living conditions. For example if
Tammy wants to become a elementary school teacher and is currently in poverty, then the plan I'm suggesting can provide her with a
low paying job and other assets that helps take care of her and her family's health for 4 years after she starts college (since that's the
typical amount of time it takes to earn a teaching bachelors). After 4 years though these benefits expire and can't be taken again, which
encourages her to be serious about her education and get her degree1
. The program can also be designed so that a certain expectation

must be met for Tammy to continue to receive benefits (such as maintaining a certain GPA or taking a certain amount of credit per
semester.)
http://www.childrensdefense.org/library/PovertyReport/assets/images/child-poverty.jpg
1
Huntsman, J and Lieberman, J. “A Common Sense Plan to Reduce Poverty,” Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity,
https://spotlightonpoverty.org/spotlightexclusives/common-sense-plan-reduce-poverty/ Accessed on April 14, 2017.

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 Park1?
Smoother terrain in the park will make it easier on the elderly to get around without hurting themselves and would even serve as a
bonus when helping those who are less physically
able. Another idea to help the elderly integrate into
Regent Park1
is the addition of benches and more
signs for directions. Benches help everyone, but I
think the elderly in particular can benefit from them
so that they can relax and take in the view. Posting
signs and maps around the park in a higher density
might help elderly who have a bad memory not get
lost.
1
Carroll, M,J. “(Re)forming Regent Park:When
Policy Does not Equal Practice” in Diversity and
Design Understanding Hidden Consequences, ed.
Beth Tauke, Korydon Smith and Charles
Davis. (Routledge, 2016), 209-223
http://www.bajiroo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/funny-old-people-party-hard-lol-pics-images-photos-7.jpg

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 beyond1 is quite possible for many of us in this D+D class. Assuming that his
assertion is accurate, how do you think extended life spans will change our societies and built environments? What new issues
might designers face because of extended life spans?
With an increase life span the number of people on earth is going to grow even more than it is already. This increase in population
probably means that designers will have to plan things based more around reserving space in living environments and expanding space
in areas of transit. As for what an increase lifespan
does to society, more population probably means that
more people are going to be out of a job. Even people
nowadays have trouble finding work and I can only
imagine what an increase in population would do for
the job market. This is especially true since people's
physical abilities may be sustained for longer and it
might take longer for them to retire or be replaced.
The built environment will have to change to
accommodate for this higher population with wider
roads and higher buildings.
http://www.towncentervillage.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Live-Longer-Live-Well-Logo.jpg

1
“What will humans look like in 100 years?” Accessed April 21,2017
https://www.ted.com/talks/juan_enriquez_what_will_humans_look_like_in_100_years?language=en

Response to Survey, FIXED, and Stelarc
Currently, we have the technology for you to choose many of the survey characteristics in your future child, and this ability to
choose poses some ethical questions. Of course, we all want the best for our own child. However, as we move into a more
collective situation, we need to consider how the consequences of majority choices for children might change who we are as a
species.
In the film trailer FIXED, you were introduced to the dilemma of living in a culture in which the “science-fiction of human
enhancement” has become almost a way of life, from prenatal genetic screening to bionic body parts1. 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
abilities2. 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
Body alteration definitely has its benefits and if we're speaking from a purely logical and survival sort of view then it seems like this
sort of technology is a key component of the future. Not only can this technology helped the more physically and mentally disabled,
but it can also help humans reach new heights with regards to their abilities just in general2
. People will be smarter, stronger, be of the
desired height, and will probably look more attractive overall. Continuing to increase human kind's abilities and reach another level of
potential makes perfect sense to continue the survival of our species.

However with this body alteration comes a little bit of an issue in that nothing people do or look like is necessarily special anymore.
Nowadays if you hear about a absolutely brilliant genius or a superstar athletes it means a lot because you know that they've earned it.
People work hard for their talents and whether their success is of pure innate skill or hard work it's still something that you can
respect. Not everyone can be a genius, not everyone can be a superstar athlete, but if this body alteration process goes far enough; then
everyone could1
. Now it doesn't matter how smart or athletic you are, everyone can get to where you are with these new physical
enhancements. What's the point in watching a sport when you know no one worked for it? What's the point in buying a painting when
you know the artist just bought implants for their skills? A lot of what people consider entertaining losses value because there's less
respect for those who distribute that entertainment. It's cool watching people do extremely difficult things, and little will be difficult if
physical enhancements reach a certain point.
1“FIXED: The Science/Fiction of Human Enhancement -
film trailer” Accessed April 28,
2017https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl4CdnLue-k
2
“Stelarc: The Man with Three Ears” Accessed April 28,
2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNdV8Ilw9Nc
http://cdn-static.denofgeek.com/sites/denofgeek/files/styles/main_wide/public/cyborg_1.jpg?itok=OubaxpFg

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 hand2, and Elise Roy’s TED Talk, you saw examples of
ways to engage disability that use the social model rather than the medical model1. In the Disability and Design PowerPoint,
you were introduced to the concept of Universal Design (UD)3 (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.
The universal design principle I've chosen is simple and intuitive. This principle generally promotes designs that can be used
appropriately even by someone who is unfamiliar to the design or object through natural and instinctual motions.3
These two images are examples of simple and intuitive design, one negative and one positive.

One image is a drawer and immediately it should be clear to everyone how it functions even if you've never seen a drawer in your life.
The handles stick out of the drawer and the gap in between it and the wood is obvious. This instinctively tempt you to put your hand
around it. From there a pulling motion when your hand is in that fist like shape is more natural than a pushing motion since pushing it
doesn't make sense in the context of the drawers dimensions. This sort of design may seem plain, but it's smart, simple and best of all
it allows everyone to use it in a similar capacity without needing any
instructions. It could be improved further by having the handles have 4 slight
curves that fit perfectly in a folded hand, or maybe even have bigger handles to
accommodate for those with bigger fingers.
The other image is a door that needs to be pushed to be open. However as you
can notice there's an annoying flaw with this door in that it has handles just like
the drawer. Using the same logic from the previous paragraph the way the door is
designed instinctively gets you to pull the door when you actually need to push
it. They try to mitigate this confusion by labeling the door push, but it's still a
poor unintuitive design. Not everyone has time to read every single door label,
and what about the people who aren't very fluent in English or are blind? Those
people have to rely on other senses and when doors are designed like this it
naturally make it harder and exclude those people for no good reason. A bar or
even a button would make more sense.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/0d/25/71/0d25713ff4706d48612c37d230b866ea.jpg

1
“When we design for disability, we all benefit.” Accessed April 28, 2017
https://www.ted.com/talks/elise_roy_when_we_design_for_disability_we_all_benefit
2
Smithsonian Staff. “Everybody: An Artifact History of Disability in America”
https://everybody.si.edu/#main-content Accessed on April 28, 2017.
3
“Physical Disability and Design” Accessed on April 28, 2017
15419646_1/courses/2171_14992_COMB/Disabiity%20Lecture%20S17.pdf
https://ublearns.buffalo.edu/courses/1/2171_14992_COMB/db/_3697815_1/embedded/drawer_chest%281%29.jpg

Response to Titicut Follies
The state of Massachusetts tried to ban the 1967 documentary Titicut Follies1
, arguing that director Frederick Wiseman had
violated the patients’ rights by not getting written permission to film them. The case went to court, and Wiseman argued that
he had consent from their legal guardian, the institution. After a judge ruled in favor of the state, the legal appeals carried on
for several years: in 1969, Massachusetts allowed the film to be shown to doctors, lawyers, and health care professionals; in
1991, a superior court judge ruled it could be released for the “general public,” as privacy concerns were no longer at issue, so
many years later.
Should Wiseman have been allowed to film the residents of Bridgewater Massachusetts Correctional Facility? Why or why
not? How might this film be of value to designers (communication designers, product, designers, architects, interior designers,
planners, landscape designers, systems designers, and/or social designers)? In other words, what might they gain from this
film that they could use in their work?
I think that Wiseman should have had permission in order to film the Facility. Yes his film did expose certain flaws within the
facilities design, and in a lot of ways his film can teach designers of all kind how to improve their work in the future. However this
burden should not fall on the individual. In an ideal world this sort of wrongdoing and negligence would be evaluated by the
government or inspectors with inspections that are mandatory. If you allow anyone to film anywhere on anyone without permission
then privacy and integrity is at stake for everyone and it infringes on the rights that people should naturally be given.

1
“What will humans look like in 100 years?” Accessed May 5,2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlKUYY9MYQM&t=9s
http://static.rogerebert.com/uploads/movie/movie_poster/titicut-follies-1968/large_v9alKxaEGOYVtlVo0H6Z5cLxJh8.jpg

Response to PPT, The Architecture of Autism, Public Space
Prelude: Wolf Wolfensberger's seminal work "The Origin and Nature of Our Institutional Models" posited that society
characterizes people with intellectual disabilities as sub-human and burdens of charity, He argued that this dehumanization,
and the segregated institutions that result from it, ignored the potential productive contributions that all people can make to
society. He pushed for a shift in policy and practice that recognized the human needs of those with intellectual challenges and
provided the same basic human rights as for the rest of the population.
The Scenario: Imagine that you and your four children live in Amherst, New York in a $650,000 home at the end of a cul-de-
sac on the edge of a ten acre woods. The town has purchased a one acre lot three houses away from yours, and plans to build a
group home for ten intellectually challenged adults.
As a resident of the neighborhood, would you support or oppose this proposal and why?
You've learned additional information about the residents of the proposed group home in your neighborhood. In 2013, three
of the ten intended residents exhibited challenging behaviors including screaming, public masturbation, repetitive rocking,
and echolalia (elective incontinence). However, these behaviors have not occurred since then.
How would this change your opinion about the construction of the group home in your neighborhood?
The residents in your neighborhood voted (14-3) to reject the town of Amherst’s proposal to build a group home in the
neighborhood. Town officials agreed that the home would not be built in your neighborhood if you and your neighbors could
develop a workable alternative.
What are some possible solutions that would allow the residents of the home to be provided with “the same basic human rights
as the rest of the population”?
At first when I hear that 10 intellectually challenged people will have a group home dedicated to them three houses away from me I
am immediately skeptical, however I think I would support this proposal hoping that the challenges these people face are tamed or

mild. Intellectually challenged is too vague honestly, however some sort of criminal record or other negative past would definitely
sway my decision to an unsupported one.
After hearing this new information I become more alarmed. Each of those behaviors are very off putting and definitely leans my
opinion on the home towards a more negative light. However looking at it logically it really isn't that bad. Only 3 out of the 10 have
shown these behaviors and they haven't been repeated in 4 years. Realistically speaking it's very unlikely these sort of behaviors will
occur again during their stay at our neighborhood and thus I still support the group home.
An alternative would be to build the group home further away from the neighborhood or perhaps separate the one group home into 2
smaller group homes in low traffic areas.
http://api.theweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/tw_image_9_4/public/55478_article_full.jpg?itok=ByOMFt2C&resize=1260x560

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
cities1. 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?
Back in New York City there used to be a catholic church named after St. Agatha
that has been around since the early 90's. This church was located right next to a
private school of the same name, and the children who participated in this school
would go to church about once a month to pray. This church's role was obviously
intended to teach the children about the catholic faith and allow those of catholic
beliefs to continue paying worship to their god (On Sunday when school was
closed of course). Though the buildings around the church didn't undergo too
much development due to the church the people around certainly did. Even if
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4117/4930031871_69561f092d_b.jpg

there were many Asian residents around the area many were Christian, which was probably due to the church and its influence on the
community. This role in the community has continued even today and I have no doubt that it will continue on many years into the
future.
1
Engwicht, D “The Connection between Religion and Urban Planning”
https://ublearns.buffalo.edu/courses/1/2171_14992_COMB/content/_4107882_1/Religion___Urban_Planning.pdf Accessed on
May 12, 2017.

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.” 1
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?
My major and future profession is computer science. The biggest problem since the beginning of computer science in general has
always been the efficiency and speed of everything. How fast does this code run? How fast does this computer run? How fast is the
online connection? What are some ways to increase this speed? Obviously there are simple answers such as adding more processors or
running code in a specific way for the computer to have less busy work, but I think there are other ways to improve speed within both
hardware and software. Making code more understandable and organize goes a long way and designing hardware to squeeze in every
ounce of power are both things that I will need to work on within my profession. I plan to evaluate everything I do in computer
science and figuring out a way of designing it to be as efficient as possible and to not waste time or space in order to accomplish
whatever task being asked.

1
Shannon, M.J “ARC 211 American Diversity and Design Syllabus” https://ublearns.buffalo.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-3996577-dt-
content-rid-14604230_1/courses/2171_14992_COMB/ARC211_S17_Syllabus_Student.pdf Accessed on May 12, 2017.
http://coloradopolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/big-data.jpg

ARC 211 American Diversity and Design Alan Lam

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