1. University at Buffalo - State University of New York
ARC211 - American Diversity and Design – Spring 2017
Online Discussion Questions
Isabelle Bertino
http://www.britishskinfoundation.org.u
k/Community.aspx
2. Introduction
Hello
My name is Isabelle Bertino. I came into this course without any experience in architecture, and
now, coming out of it, feel as though I could study the subject for another hundred years. I’ve
had the privilege to not have to worry about the way things are designed- even the simplest of
things like stairs or doors.
This class has opened my eyes
in noticing design and how
good or bad design can have
greater effects than we realize;
it’s hard to not notice design,
and I find myself critiquing
and thinking about the ways I
would change bad designs.
Not only were my own beliefs
challenged, but I was given the opportunity to speak with people from around
the world and see the many ways design is shaped to fit the needs of people.
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.
Isabelle Bertino
3. Response to “What is design?” from Hello World
On “What is design?” from Hello World: Where Design Meets Life by Alice Rawsthron
The author opened her chapter with the example of Ying Zheng, the ruler of the Qin empire,
one of the most powerful and enduring empires I the history of China. She explained how
design innovation contributed to Ying Zheng’s success. For example, in the development of
weaponry, he resolved many problems by standardizing parts, and this single innovation gave
his armies great advantage over other armies.
For this discussion, let’s move away from 246 B.C. China, and into the U.S. Describe an
innovation or invention (can be current or historical) that gave advantage to a group of people
in the U.S. or to the population as a whole. What were the social impacts of this innovation?
Were any groups negatively impacted by this innovation? For example, the
telegraph, developed and patented in the United States in 1837 by Samuel Morse, permitted
people and commerce to transmit messages across both continents and oceans almost
instantly, with widespread social and economic impacts. This heightened communication
speed allowed business persons to make decisions with up-to-date information, often resulting
in big profits. Those without access had to rely on outdated information, which put them at a
disadvantage.
Although this invention is an obvious choice, I believe the computer/laptop is a good example of
one that had a large impact on the United States (as well as global) society. As most of us use
computers on a daily basis to access information made public across the world, there really
seems to be no limitations on the uses of
such a technology, taking into account
the ability to hack has become even
widely used. However, as large brands
such as Apple become more
popular, computers are becoming more
expensive. Especially when they were
first invented, the few people who could afford them were the
richer people in society, allowing them to access worldwide knowledge (once the web was
created) and further their education. I would say on a whole those technologies have had a
positive impact on society as a whole, even though many people weren't able to experience such
technology until several years after its' invention.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/7990029
1
4. 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.)
One of the most common appliances in households today,
the refrigerator, is a product that has gone through many
variations. Some of the oldest fridges had latches that held the
door shut. While it could be opened from the outside, the door
could not be opened from inside. While at first this didn't seem
like such a problem, eventually as the older fridges were thrown
out, kids began playing in them for games such as hide-and-seek.
Unfortunately, this meant that kids who hid in old fridges could
not get out of them once shutting the door, and to further that,
there was only a limited amount of oxygen inside the fridge.
These incidents led to several children's deaths and a cause for
redesigning the fridge door. From then on, new fridges were
mandated to have a magnetic mechanism that would hold the door
shut yet would allow a person to open the door from inside1
.
Although this example comes with a tragic back story, it shows
how designs evolve when such faced with situations of diversity.
1
Kraus, J F. “Effectiveness of Measures to Prevent Unintentional
Deaths of Infants and Children from Suffocation and
Strangulation.” Public Health Reports 100, no. 2 (1985): 231–40. http://www.ebay.com/itm/26198267
1700
5. Response to Media/Society Chapter and TEDTalk 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?
The photos shown in Jonathan Klein's TEDTalk would be best placed, in my opinion,
somewhere between "Media industry" and "Media message or product." The physical forms of
the photos that are produced online or printed in newspapers hold a message to which it is the
reader or viewer's perception of the photos that give them a message. However, they are also a
part of the media that produces them, for I believe we would hardly see photos that the media
industry didn't feel viewers would have some experience with.
An example that I'm sure many people have seen is of a little boy in Aleppo, sitting in the
backseat of an ambulance after having been rescued after a bombing. Although the photo
represents the horrors those living in Aleppo face (and are still facing), it also forces its viewers
to face reality. While much of the western world is aware of the situation, we feel somewhat
disconnected because it is not happening to us. Though the photo is certainly not staged in any
way, the fact that it is a child shown going through such an awful, heartbreaking situation brings
to light the true innocence of the people who live there. It is a reminder that there are truly
horrifying things going on that aren't happening directly in front of us.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/08/18/490461992/
6. Response to Articles on Hats as Communication
FROM: “Fashioning Protest for the Women’s March on Washington” and “The Worst
Design of 2016 Was Also the Most Effective”
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?
State: Mass media/social media has created a society in which communication design has
become extensively used.
Elaborate: Because of the ability to spread
images, ideas, and beliefs and much more
through social media, communication design
has been essential to making public (aka what
goes on in our everyday lives, not online) what
has been spread through the media.
Example: The pink/red hats in the articles are
perfect examples of promoting ideas that
flourished through media and, having become
"markers" of certain beliefs, were designed to show represent aspects of a persons' beliefs.
However, the two hats are different in how
straightforward they display those beliefs. The pink
"Pussyhat" hides none of its intentions, meant to show
the purpose for which one would wear the hat; the red
"Make America Great Again" hat does the opposite.
Not in a malicious way, but the red hat doesn't put
show straight out what it stands for; instead, the
meaning is concealed within its' simplicity.
https://www.mercatornet.com/features/view/why
-the-pussy-hat/19292
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/
world/588139/surprise-and-euphoria-at-
trump-headquarters-in-ny/story
7. 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?
The first thought that comes to mind when thinking about Ford's production line is "faster." It
certainly is true that the production line was a revolutionary idea, meant to bring about easier
manufacturing. However, what it also meant was that production would be faster (this idea of
faster being associated with better). The production line was what set the stone rolling;
from there on out, products were expected to be made faster and easier, and thus this idea was
implanted into the brains of societies not only in the U.S. but across the globe. Today we are
certainly all aware of this "faster is better" idea since we face it every day, and it has become so
ingrained into our own personal work that there is nothing that isn't rushed. For example: we
want the videos we watch to be short and get straight to the point; we can't wait to have our
online products, so we have them rush ordered; we hate having to wait in lines, so we've created
devices to order ahead and only run in stores to pick up.
In relation to actually manufacturing, besides the production line indeed making the process
faster and easier, this mentality also led to greater problems for the world. With the intention of
getting products out as quickly as possible, corporations are willing to use whatever materials are
available to do so. From this we have seen the effects already (the video on the cradle-to-cradle
concept shows this), and it unfortunately means the Earth is being depleted of its resources with
no other way of gaining them back.
http://dataconservation.com/Services/Detail/Food-Consumer-Products
8. Yet, I personally believe we are in a time of invention and creation; people today are realizing
what our problems are and are thinking of ways to change that. Maurice Conti was right: robots
and artificial intelligence will be gradually
coming into the workforce. However, again as
Conti said, it will be a cooperation between us
and them, rather than them overpowering us.
We will be able to come up with ideas that
can help us fight the problem humanity faces
today, whether it be pollution, depletion, or
issues involving poverty and wars. The "faster
faster" society may create a problem, but it's
the necessity to reach this goal as soon as
possible that will give us the push to do so,
and we will have the technology to do it.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/application
s-ai-different-industries-list-whos-doing-
what-ghosh
9. Response to IDEA Awards and Cradle-to-Cradle Video
Which of the 2016 IDEA Gold Award products seems to defy the Cradle-to-Cradle concept
developed by architect William McDonough and chemist Dr. Michael Braungart? How does
this product resist or disregard the concept? Provide an example of any products that
embrace Cradle-to-Cradle design, please describe and cite your source(s).
State: The Access Strength fitness equipment goes against the cradle-to-cradle concept.
Elaborate: Similar in many ways to other pieces of fitness equipment, the Access Strength
machine brings nothing new to the table.
Elaborate: Whilst being a machine that is supposed to "lower barriers in fitness/rehabilitation for
consumers," there is no particular feature about the Access Strength that truly pushes it past the
boundaries of other fitness machines. In fact, a simple Google search will display several others
that do similar functions. A further look into the technological aspect of the equipment even has
me wondering if this may become a form of health care that people would soon be expected to
have (maybe not this exact machine, but something similar) as the Include Fitness website
describes it's analyzing aspect to "Print reports, send PDFs, or integrate with both consumer and
practitioner platform."1
1
“Include Fitness - The IFCloudTM
.” Accessed May 2, 2017.
http://includefitness.com/products/the-ifcloud/.
State: The Robin smartphone embraces the cradle-to-cradle concept.
Elaborate: With endless space for storage, the Robin smartphone saves us from buying phones
with more and more storage.
Exemplify: Every year, people swap out their old phones for new ones, choosing to get devices
with more storage space than they previously had; we can even find cases of people getting a
different version of the same phone just to have more storage. With the Robin, however, there
will be no need to buy a new phone just for more storage space. Not only will this type of phone
save costumers money from constantly buying new phones, it will stop the unnecessary throwing
out of their older, less-storage counterparts. The use of the cloud to hold storage at one price
when buying the phone (rather than buying a new phone with more storage capability, or having
http://includefitness.com/products/the-ifcloud/
10. to pay increasing amounts of money for storage) is a way to utilize online technology without
being wasteful of physical materials. 2
2
“Robin.” 2016. Industrial Designers Society of America - IDSA. June 29.
http://www.idsa.org/awards/idea/communication-tools/robin.
http://www.idsa.org/awards/id
ea/communication-tools/robin
11. Response to All Module 4 Materials
Your readings and viewings this week present different ways of thinking about architecture.
Mies Van der Rohe describes architecture as “The will of the epoch translated into space.”
Andrew Ballantyne describes architecture as the background for life. Jeanne Gang describes
it as the act of building relationships. All agree that architecture can change based on context
and culture. Choose two works of architecture from any of your materials this week—one with
sensibilities about the past and one with sensibilities about the present and/or future. How do
each of these buildings either reflect or challenge their cultural contexts? (Use the SEE-IT
method to respond to this question.)
Steel Dome (shown in Neri Oxman's TEDTalk)- sensibilities about the past
State: The steel dome is a structure which holds the sensibilities of the past.
Elaborate: The steel dome represents the past- not in that its structure follows an early design,
but that its principles are demonstrated through its design. Steel has been one of the most widely
used materials across the world- just look at most of the buildings in cities, or the cars we drive,
or the utensils and tools we use. It is a staple of what we know works, of what we are used to. Its
reliability is what made it such a popular product to
use.
Exemplify: Here we see a building in Buffalo which
was recently burnt down. The building was a steel
plant called Bethlehem Steel. This picture, while the
burning down of the building was unintentional, may
be seen as a metaphor as the slowing of steel usage
and the growth of organic materials.
Infer: As we become more conscious of our world's
depleting resources, we are looking away from these
older means of construction.
Think deeper: Will we one day be able to turn steel
and other industrial materials into organic materials which may be further recycled/reused?
Silk Dome (shown in Neri Oxman's TEDTalk)- sensibilities about the present/future.
State: The single-thread silk dome is a structure which holds sensibilities about the
present/future.
Elaborate: Every day we are looking for new, organic materials to use which are un-wasteful.
The single-thread silk dome is perfect example of what we as a society strive for now, a way to
use materials smartly and efficiently. In a time when scarcity is becoming more and more
apparent, we are forced to look organically; now more than ever things are being made "by
nature" and thus we are becoming mindful the usefulness of the things we're given.
https://buffalonews.com/2016/11/21/look-inside-
charred-remains-bethlehem-steel-building/
12. Exemplify: Perfect examples of this is the abundance of
biodegradable products that we can find basically anywhere
nowadays. A particularly interesting product is a folder
(looks like plastic) such as one that we'd use for school or
work. Like other degradable products, it will not simply sit
in garbage dumps but instead decompose and return to its
natural organic state (as it is made of organic materials).
Infer: There may soon be a day where nearly everything we
own is biodegradable, from the most mundane of products
to machines we couldn't think of.
Think deeper: Even though more products are being made to
be biodegradable/are made mindfully, what does this mean
for the products we have that aren't that way? How can we solve the issue of the mass amounts
of un-biodegradable products that will eventually be thrown away?
www.c-
lineproducts.com/news/biodegradable-
news.html
13. 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?
State: Ballantyne and Zumthor both stress the functionality in design and architecture, though
Zumthor argues the topic in greater respect to aesthetic.
Elaborate: Between Ballantyne and Zumthor, there is a definite connection about the ideals of
designing, constructing, and the purposes of a building. Both seem to agree that the mere look of
a building does not fully give it its' purpose. Ballantyne however argues with a more pragmatist
(as he himself wrote) lens; a building, especially houses, need not to be valued simply on
aesthetic but rather on the function that they serve to those who use or inhabit it.2
Zumthor similarly agrees that the function of a building isn't simply the design, but he does
address the importance design can have on the impact of a building.1
Exemplify: Zumthor, near the end of the reading, writes "Form and construction, appearance and
function are no longer separate. They belong together as a whole."1
This ties together his
argument that we cannot only value a
building on one side of the coin or the
other: to realize its true purpose, we
must look at architecture of buildings
as a whole. Ballantyne, on the other
hand, used Eileen Gray's home design
as an example for his argument; it
was not designed to be aesthetically
pleasing, rather, that it was designed
to meet her expectations of what was
to be taken out of her home (not
literally taken, but the experiences she
would gain from its design). Being on
the sea, she wanted the side of the
home facing it to be open so she could see
it.2
Infer: The value of buildings, whether they are small homes or skyscrapers, depends on the
interactions of those whom come in contact with it, thus making it a subjective matter. No one
can be forced to view a structure in a certain way, or be forced to hold it with a certain value.
Think Deeper: Are homes that are built to look similar (for example, in suburban areas) forcing
the occupants to have similar experiences based on their designs?
1
Zumthor, Peter. 1988. “A Way of Looking at Things.” In Thinking Architecture. Birkhauser.
2
Ballantyne, Andrew. n.d. “Architecture, Life, and Habit.” The Journal of Aesthetics and Art
Criticism.
https://capmoderne.com/en/lieu/la-villa-e-1027/
14. Response to Levy Article
John Levy’s article, “An Overview: The Need for Planning,” discussed ways in which
planning can determine the characteristics of a place. For example, some smaller towns
restrict the heights of buildings to maintain a certain scale. How did planning define the
character of the place in which you grew up?
Where I grew up, we needed lots of land for farming. Many of my neighbors (though there aren't
actually many neighbors) are in the agricultural industry and thus vast amounts of good land was
necessary to allow for this industry to be successful. Where I live, the farmers market is in
fact the place where great deal of my community goes to buy food. Because the land was so
good for farming, when the town planners were laying out the land, they knew that there was to
be little amount of development so to allow more area for farming; even today, there are many
restrictions of where people may build to prevent more land from being used for irrelevant
purposes (compared to what the town needs). The houses are spread very far apart, and despite
where there is land used for farming foods that are grown in the ground, many trees were
untouched since syrup is a huge commodity in the area as well.
https://www.farmland.org/our-work/areas-of-focus/farmland
15. Response to Pruitt Igoe
Project, Talen, and Larson
Imagine that you are part of
an urban planning and
design firm working with
Emily Talen (author
of “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?
I think I would approach a project like this with the mindset similar to what Talen might think:
we are not merely trying to build a place for people to live, but to create a place where a
community could develop and thrive. While an obvious downfall of Pruitt-Igoe was the lack of
care for the buildings, the planners seemed to have only the intention of a place where poorer
people could live. This isn't to deny the experiences of joy or happy times those who lived there,
but the overall demise of the project showed a lack of care (for both the buildings and the people
inside them).
To make this sort of project worthwhile, planners would need to go to the communities they
hope to replicate and find what works. Maybe it's the community centers, or a localized shopping
mall. Unless there is the perspective of those who live in that setting, the full understanding of
how to create a long-lasting community are unlikely to be created. Secondly, there would need to
be an understanding of what kind of costs we have. I believe another fault of Pruitt-Igoe was the
lack of realizing what came after the buildings were created. There was funding for maintenance
for a certain amount of time, but that dwindled off and slowly became the job of the residents to
fund it. If it means building less buildings (if the choice were to build high risers or shorter
buildings such as the Pruitt-Igoe) to have enough to afford the maintenance, then so be it. And
https://designerlythinking.files.wordpress.com
/2011/04/pruitt-igoe.jpg
16. thirdly, moving away from ridiculous rules and
regulations and more attention to a family's
needs. Hearing that eligibility for P-I residency
required the father to leave was appalling. That
one rule showed the complete lack of humanity
of the builders and exposed their true intentions.
To create a community there needs to be
inclusion; thus, our main concern would be:
how can we accommodate a family, even if it is in unfortunate situations? When designing, one
would need to realize that this is supposed to be homing for people of every class. The houses
would need to be made economically so as not to impose a huge cost to those buying/renting,
while still creating a sense of home.
Larson, who talked about inventions that could save space and reduce costs all while creating
personalized lofts, would most likely plan to build a high rise. The building itself would promote
self-sufficiency, much like the transforming car or apartment he showed.
Talen would likely focus on a warmer environment, where there is a central place for a
community. Instead of high risers, she'd build townhouses that covered some land with all of the
aspects of a town to come with it (ex. library, grocery stores, maybe a mall). A place where not
everything is the same without trying to be too obviously "diverse" (here I mean that the
buildings aren't so different from each other that there's a lack of coherence).
http://www.grandhaven.org/city-
services/community-center/
17. 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?
Because of Buffalo's ability to meld the layout of a growing city as well as the appeal of nature,
Olmsted felt it was perfectly designed. Unlike other cities, where there are very specific areas
that are designated for parks, Buffalo created a setting in which people lived in parks rather than
around them. Even with a grid set in place, Olmsted's design throughout the city made one feel
as if they were driving in one big park with a city at the end and managed to take away that sense
of being in one big ball of metal one feels when in big cities. This factor of "opening up" the city
is what made such an impact on designing other areas throughout the country.
I think Olmsted would most likely not make this claim today, with some exceptions. The nature
of American society has pushed industrialization to the brink, so anything not furthering this
cause is unnecessary; thus, as stated in the video, many of the parks were either scaled down or
completely lost. Going to see Niagara Falls (on either side, really) has lost so much of its charm
because of the massive buildings or factories erected there, losing any connection to nature the
http://library.buffalo.edu/maps/buffalo-
wnymaps/location/olmsted.html
18. area once had. There's still some land that is free of any major development, but it's state shows a
lack of any sufficient care; the line of tourist attractions along the edge of the river and falls, too,
takes away a lot of its original beauty.
However, this does not mean Buffalo has lost all of its original designs. We can still see in the
way parks are ingrained in the lifestyle of the city; take a drive down Elmwood to really see this
fluidity of parks throughout some areas. To say that Buffalo is completely lost of Olmsted's
designs isn't true, they're just harder to find.
19. 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?
In Buffalo, the second highest cause of death is cancer, something that is well known.1
Roswell
Park Institute has been a crucial asset to fighting this cause, and while the institute itself is named
after the surgeon Roswell Park, I believe there should be another reminder of his and the
organizations efforts. For or this reason, I would build a Roswell Park statue with an area around
it. This area around it, however, isn't going to be just any type of garden: it should represent the
determination and strength of fighting the disease through a beautiful design.
"The Everyday and Mundane" aspect of this
project will be a very simple layout. As most
of us do not have cancer/battle this type of
disease, we are often caught in taking things
for granted. I think a park around his statue,
with trees and a mini waterfall (resembling
Niagara Falls) will serve as a basic reminder
that we should appreciate the things we don't
realize we are lucky to have and experience.
The area should be grassy with trees, while
being kept as natural as possible. It will serve
as a sign to "stop and smell the roses" because
so few people realize how lucky they are to be able to do so.
The "Commemoration" and "Life Ways" aspects will be very similar to each other, so here I
combine them. Like many other designs that are meant to represent the culture of those it was
built for, this project will need more than just one input of designers. Because of this, as many
peoples' experiences of this disease are very important. Like the wall Walter Hood designed, this
area should show personal accounts of people who work at the institute or are patients there.
Circling the statue should be the Niagara Falls-replica, but as it will be a sort of fountain, it will
need to have encasing. The encasing could be made out of pictures or quotes from people,
possibly engraved on marble.
1
Erie County Department of Health. “Erie County New York Community Health Assessment
2014-2017.”
https://www.roswellpark.org/commercialization
20. 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. 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.)
The "Black Lives Matter" poster represents to me the realization that the equality so many
privileged people believed existed in the US does not. It is a wake-up call that, based on the color
of my skin, I am treated differently and thus I need to acknowledge that. Although I myself may
not be contributing to the racism that exists in this country, as a fellow citizen I cannot sit back
and allow other to discriminate and cause violence towards those of differently colored skin.
Thus "Black Lives Matter" does not equal "Other Lives Don't Matter" but instead that the black
community should be treated just the same as any other.
To someone in the black community, it might represent the continuous oppression they face,
even as society is as "progressive" as it thinks it is. This banner/phrase would mean equal
treatment to oneself, as the only difference between races is the color of the skin.
http://5pillarsuk.com/2016/12/25/hamza-yusuf-
stokes-controversy-with-comments-about-black-
lives-matter-and-political-islam/
http://yourblackworld.net/2017/02/14/black-
lives-matter/
21. Our interpretations are different because we've experienced completely different lives. This
graphic has a great significance as it asks for people to acknowledge that they matter just as
much as others, while I've never had anyone question my importance based merely on my skin
color.
22. 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.)
What particularly struck me about the
Martin Luther King Memorial was
the decision to remove the additional
spaces that would have been left for future Civil Rights Movement leaders, as was discussed by
Charles Davis.1
Looking through the equityXdesign Design Principle 5: Speak to the Future, we
can see that this exclusion was a concealed attempt to draw attention away from furthering the
movement. By removing those spots, the designers thus closed any attempt to bring more aspects
of the fight against inequity to the nation's capital. Moreover, one may look at this as a way to
stop the movement from causing any non-peaceful acts, or that leaders of non-peaceful acts
would have no importance to the cause in the way that Martin Luther King was recognized by
the government. Had those spots been open, it would have been an amazing representation of
America's every-changing ways, and that the fight for equity is constant.
1
Davis, Charles. 2016. “No Longer Just a Dream: Commemorating the African American
Experience on the National Mall.” In Diversity and Design: Understanding Hidden
Consequences, 19–36. Routledge.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/16/martin-luther-
king-memorial-changes-made-for-50-
anniversary_n_3770471.html
23. Response to “Landscape Stories” Chapter
First, let’s start with your own home. Describe a place in your home (indoors and/or outdoors)
that you think of as representative of your own ethnic background and discuss why you
consider this place to be ‘ethnic’. –OR-- Describe an object in your home that you think of as
representative of your ethnic background and discuss why this object is considered to be
‘ethnic’. (If possible, add photo/s.) Is this object or place something that you will keep or
continue when you establish your own home? Why or why not?
Now let’s move into your community. In “Landscape Stories,” the authors show how
landscape architects develop a historical narrative that sifts through and interprets the culture
and material of underrepresented groups. Think about the community where you grew up.
Describe and discuss any evidence of cultural influences on the physical environment in your
community. If possible, describe evidence of the cultural influence of an underrepresented
group. (If possible, add photo/s.) Is this cultural influence being acknowledged or preserved
from future generations? Why or why not?
One of my favorite things in my house that
represents my heritage/ethnic background is
the family stroopwafel maker. Because my
mom's side of the family is Dutch, and she is
the eldest amongst her siblings, we were given
the stroopwafel maker that's been handed down
throughout our family for many years. During
the holidays, it is tradition for the whole family
to come to one house and make
stroopwafels together, a famous, delicious
Dutch cookie. It represents a tradition we've
had in our family for as long as I (or anybody
older than me in the family) can remember, and I want to keep the tradition going.
My community is a bit of a different story. The rural setting of where I grew up is so spread out,
interaction amongst neighbors is very uncommon; because of this, there aren't many ethnicity-
specific influences that can be found there. There aren't any major community centers (besides
one or two small churches) that represent the culture of the people who grew up in the area.
Because of its "quietness", not many people put their ethnic ties on display and opt instead for a
rather plain exterior. By the occasional running-into of our neighbors do we learn of any culture
they relate to. I don't believe this means we are trying to "hide" our ethnic backgrounds, but
instead they just play a less-important role in the physical area in which we live.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/12/str
oopwafels_n_5296164.html
24. https://blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/jour-200-fall2015/2015/12/14/
Response to Article on Sports Branding
Recent controversies about sports branding focus on ethnicity. The Washington Redskins
team is just one example of the larger controversy, but it receives the most public attention due
to the name itself being defined as derogatory or insulting in modern dictionaries, and the
prominence of the team representing the nation’s capital. Should sports team branding
designers use ethnic references (Fighting Irish, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Braves, etc.)? Why?
Why not? What are some of the complexities of this issue?
I say there should be no use of ethnic references. In cases for Native Americans, especially the
Redskins, such references are derogatory and have never been a "sign of respect." Regardless of
ethnicity, we all feel connection to it, and thus the use of any ethnic images or terms that may
exploit it will cause some bad feelings. What I find particularly complex about this is that those
of other ethnicities than those most often exploited feel little empathy when addressing this issue,
whereas they may likely be upset if their own ethnicity is the butt of the joke. No person has the
right to tell a Native American that they shouldn't be offended because Redskin "represents
respect" when there's never been a time where that was true.
25. Response to “Visualizing Gender” Chapter
In their chapter “Communicating Gender,” Maya Ganesh and Gabi Sobliye discuss two
primary visual advocacy approaches: 1) get the idea, and 2) stories in data. Find a new
example of either of the two visual advocacy approaches to gender issues, and post it in this
thread. Cite the source.
First, identify the approach. Then explain how the designer uses the approach to
communicate a gender issue. Is the approach effective in this example? Why or why not? How
could this graphic be improved?
This graphic is a representation of a "stories in data" approach and compares the female and male
rape victims’ statistics. Although it may seem like a basic representation of statistics, the design
itself has a very subtle yet
important effect on the viewer
that points us towards the
important information. By
using the contrasting colors
and filling in the number of
victims of each gender, we
can really see that there is a
much greater difference
between the two genders. I
think if I were to try and
improve this graphic, I would
use a more obvious contrast
between the two sets of data, only to reinforce the fact that there is a much greater number of
female victims than male.
https://www.rainn.org/statistics/scope-problem
26. 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.
For Using Assigned-Gender Bathrooms: Due to sexual assault cases of women in female
bathrooms by males, people should have to use the bathroom of which gender they were
biologically assigned to prevent any such instances. Not only is this to protect women (as well as
men in their own bathroom), but to keep things the way they've always been. Some people don't
feel comfortable with the idea of "transgendered" so they need to be taken seriously.
Against Using Assigned-Gender Bathrooms: Because of the severe lack of cases in which
females are assaulted by males who are pretending to be transgendered as well as the evidence
showing that there is more to our biology than just female and male, people should be able to use
the bathroom to which they identify.
As a designer, like many others in this group discussion, I would design unisex bathrooms as
well as separated bathrooms. Many other countries have been using unisex restrooms for a long
time and show that there are relatively few assault cases because of it. However, we can't assume
all people will immediately be comfortable with it, so we should give them the option. But this
doesn't mean transgendered people must use the unisex bathroom; merely, this will give people
the option to do whatever makes them comfortable.
http://unitedliberals.blogspot.com/2016/04/nc-
bathroom-bill-has-even-more.html
27. 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. Identify the location where you took the
photographs, and make certain that you are in at least one of the two photographs.
The first picture is of a set of benches
in downtown Buffalo. These benches
represent "prickly" spatial injustice as
the arm rests are spread just far
enough to allow a person or two to sit,
but not enough space for anyone to
lay down. These discriminate against
those who are homeless, as a space
that could have been where someone
would lay down was made to ensure
people can't do so comfortably.
The second photo is one I took outside of Buffalo on
Grand Island. Behind me is a walking/bike path that
covers much of the island. However, it is very difficult
to find as it is mostly hidden by trees (except the small
portion behind me) and there are no major signs that
would lead anyone to this place without already
knowing about it or stumbling across it. For that
reason, it is a "stealthy" spatial injustice and
discriminates against everyday people. The path
initially leads to an electric tower, so it also seems as if
it is for workers only.
Isabelle Bertino
Isabelle Bertino
28. 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 do to help
Tammy and her family achieve their goals? What approach will your team take to
address this difficult problem?
I would build a community center in the poverty-stricken areas, but instead of having contractors
come into build it, I would have it built in a similar fashion as the "Habitat for Humanity" way,
except allow those in poverty to aid in building
it as well as pay them to participate. Along
with this, the community center may be used as
a home for an organization that pays those who
work to clean up the area. In the video,
Tammy said she wanted to clean up around her
house, but didn't have the resources to do so.
With a program such as this, not only will the
community benefit from the clean-up, but those
in poverty will be able to clean their own neighborhood while earning money to do so. This may
seem like a small start, but it's obvious that the living situation for many in poverty is not great
and this would be a good place to start.
I would think to keep this community center closer to
this poverty area. In the video, it looked as if where
Tammy worked was in a small town, not in a poverty-
stricken place. Depending on how many others face
this situation, I might say to keep it closer to where
Tammy lives (and others in similar situations).
http://www.aisap.org/blogs/janice-
crampton/2015/09/28/from-the-
seat-where-i-sit-september-2015
http://www.pbs.org/video/2365121632/
29. 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?
What I believe would help integration of older people would be a community
center/council. Obviously the planners had the right idea in the beginning, using the knowledge
gained by residents to create an area that would benefit many people, especially the elderly and
those of low-income. However, they fell short in only speaking with them at the start, meaning
their original intentions quickly
fell away. With a community council
that meets regularly, not only
will residents be able to rebuild the
cross-generation relationship that was
lost in the new buildings, but they
will also be able to hear the diverse
concerns those residents have. This
center could be held in one of the buildings, or
could be built in the middle of all of them. If I really was pushy about this, I would say change
the who guideline system set in place for the buildings. Instead of having one building for elderly
residents, choose several low floors (1-5) for the elderly to live in. If more room is needed, then
they can extend the floors higher. This way, the elderly will be living with those of other
generations as well as being in safer conditions (the book mentioned how being too high up was
a major safety concern in regards to fires or elevator malfunctions).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbe
ing/11812307/Mixing-young-and-old-
people-can-extend-lives.html
http://globalnews.ca/news/
243057/background-
torontos-regent-park/
30. 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?
If there is ever a possibility to extend the length of life, the first thing that would need to be
addressed is the rapid growth
in population of the world
(this is only initially, however-
we would reach equilibrium
eventually). With people
living to 120, that would mean
less people are dying, leading
to a living space
problem. Designers will
have start to looking into
evolving lands we've previously thought inhabitable to livable areas. I do not think the structure
of our societies would change much, though. Instead, the age-range for specific lifestyles may
change. For example, you may be expected to work until your 80's or 90's instead of the
usual 60/70's; college may start at 25 or 30 instead of 18 or 20. Lifestyles will remain relative as
we adjust to this greater span of life. Our society may need to realize the abilities of the elderly
and create more jobs for them (I'm talking about 80's/90's, not 110's/120's).
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/
05/another-obama-record-number-of-
americans-working-past-65-at-all-time-
high/
31. 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.
My focus was Flexibility in Use:
Negative example: Positive example:
https://www.rentbyowner.com/property/exec
utive-lakefront-home-pool-new-deluxe-
pontoon-boat-one-level-no-stairs/HA-913916
https://commons.wikimedia.o
rg/wiki/File:Colmslie_Pool
32. In the negative example there are no stairs, ramps, or railings to help swimmers easily enter/exit
the pool. Thus, there is only one way to enter/exit. People with disabilities, children, and the
elderly may have a difficult time maneuvering into and out of the pool. The positive example
gives a multitude of ways to get in/out of the pool. Swimmers can climb over the side, use the
railing, or use the ramp; here, we see a design that allows people of all ages and abilities to safely
and easily enter/exit, thus access is much broader. To enhance the positive example, I would
remove the large barrier between the end of the ramp and the rest of the pool. This will allow
those using the ramp (that may not be able to see over the edge as it currently is) sight beyond
the ramp, as well as sight of others onto the ramp to ensure those using it may quickly receive
help if necessary. I may also suggest adding another ramp elsewhere in the pool. While some
pools may not be large, this one looks like it extends some ways. Moving through water is not
always easy, and it may be too difficult for some to make it back over to this ramp. Another one
will ensure people can safely enter/exit the pool from other areas.
33. Response to Survey, FIXED, and
Stelarc
Currently, we have the technology
for you to choose many of the survey
characteristics in your future child,
and this ability to choose poses some
ethical questions. Of course, we all
want the best for our own child.
However, as we move into a more
collective situation, we need to
consider how the consequences of
majority choices for children might
change who we are as a species.
In the film trailer FIXED, you were introduced to the dilemma of living in a culture in
which the “science-fiction of human enhancement” has become almost a way of life,
from prenatal genetic screening to bionic body parts. In the video, “A Man with Three
Ears” you are introduced to an artist who is using current technology to move humans
beyond their current abilities. Last week, Juan Enriquez asked us if it is ethical to
evolve the human body. All of these videos suggest that the concept of disability ‘as we
know it’ could cease to exist in the future.
This leads us to this week’s discussion question:
What lessons do you think we should learn from history when thinking about emerging
enhancement technologies and reproductive technologies? What are some of the
possible consequences (both positive and negative) of being able to design our bodies
and the bodies of our children? What ethical quandaries do these technologies pose?
I think what's extremely important to remember as these advancements are made is that we don't
want to create a "better" race/species. As humans, we are different from each other- different
traits, different personalities, different abilities. While reproductive technologies progress, we
may face humans who hardly vary from each other. Everyone is going to want to have the "best"
characteristics in their baby, thus we may be limiting our diversity in the future (these "best"
characteristics being greatly culture-specific, as we find "ideal" different in every culture). I do
think there are some positive consequences that may come from this technology, though.
Deleting genes that cause short life spans, or awful diseases is one aspect that will benefit
society. Helping those who have lost limbs/other functions is another amazing possibility we
https://www.artslant.com/global/artists/show/10781-
stelarc?tab=PROFILE
34. could reach (i.e. growing organs, limbs,
brain-controlled prosthetic limbs). As we
saw in the "FIXED" trailer, we aren't
striving to "fix" people with disabilities,
just help them make their life
easier. However, we cannot let ourselves go
so far with this to create some sub-species
of humans that are thought of as "better" than others, since this will lead to discrimination. There
are epidemics around that world that showcase problems that may come from this, such as the
desire to have a boy instead of a girl because they are "stronger." Instead of creating a super
human, we should think about how we can help the humans of today.
http://www.midmooandp.com/
35. Response to Titicut Follies
The state of Massachusetts tried to ban the 1967
documentary Titicut Follies, arguing that director
Frederick Wiseman had violated the patients’ rights by
not getting written permission to film them. The case
went to court, and Wiseman argued that he had consent
from their legal guardian, the institution. After a judge
ruled in favor of the state, the legal appeals carried on
for several years: in 1969, Massachusetts allowed the
film to be shown to doctors, lawyers, and health care
professionals; in 1991, a superior court judge ruled it
could be released for the “general public,” as privacy
concerns were no longer at issue, so many years later.
Should Wiseman have been allowed to film the residents
of Bridgewater Massachusetts Correctional Facility?
Why or why not? How might this film be of value to
designers (communication designers, product, designers,
architects, interior designers, planners, landscape
designers, systems designers, and/or social designers)?
In other words, what might they gain from this film that
they could use in their work?
I believe it was wrong for Massachusetts to go against
Wiseman and his film, as it's obvious they did so only to
hide the awful conditions of the inmates. This film is
extremely important for designers- if there is any desire to
show mistreatment/problem in or of any state-owned
facility, the means by which they have to do so are very
tricky. This case sets a good example that there are many
ways a designer's work may be censored by the
state/government. However, it also shows how a designer might overcome those challenges (i.e.
ways of filming so that privacy won't become an issue). It is also useful in that the actual film
footage will help those people how to build and design in a way that some bad conditions won't
come about. For example, if newer buildings were better laid out and had more space, it may be
easier to have video cameras in them to ensure no mistreatment may take place (especially in this
sort of setting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titicut_Follies
36. 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”?
My first response is that I would be absolutely fine with a group home being built near my
house, as I grew up with one very close by. Some members of the house near me displayed
several of the behaviors mentioned; the only thing that came from this my parents discussing
with me the topic of people with mental disabilities. I think that there is no wrong place for a
group home, because mandating
places people with intellectual
disabilities can't go is saying
they aren't at the same
level/don't have the same rights
as those without disabilities. I
do think it's important for those
with disabilities to live in group
homes because they provide
them the resources to live
http://virginiahcs.com/disabilities
-principles/
37. relatively independent (instead of staying with parents) lives while still having people that can
help and take care of them when issues arise. From what I see every day, having a sort of
community-based job is extremely important for those who live in group homes. First, they offer
them the opportunity to do something independently (as I've said earlier). Second, they can
interact with the community without feeling as if they don't belong. There are always people
available to help, but they don't have to feel like outsiders. We also need to educate the
community about people with disabilities, so that the stigma that they are "bad" or "harmful to
the community" goes away.
38. Response to The Connection Between Religion and Urban Planning by David Engwicht
In his article, David Engwicht discusses the fact that religions (of all types) have played major
roles in the development of our cities. Today, places of worship are primary components of
almost all urban centers. Author Lorne Daniel writes “From their often-active role in
supporting people who live in city centers to their iconic influence on design and use of space,
religious structures tell us a lot about our history, our current needs, and where we might be
headed in the future. This is an aspect of our urban future that planners and urbanists should
attend to.”
Identify a place of worship with which you are somewhat familiar. (If you are not familiar
with any places of worship, do a bit of research on one in your own city or town.) Show a
photograph of this religious structure. (You may use photographs from the web.) What roles
has this place 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?
The image I have attached is of St. Joseph's University Church, which just so happens to be on
UB's South Campus. This church is very familiar to me, as I used to go to this church very often
when I was younger (and
my extended family
continues to go there).
This church was
established in 1850, a little
more than 50 years after
Buffalo was founded.
Buffalo has been and is a
very religious city, and the
story of this church only
goes to show the
importance of religion in
this city1
.
The church was originally built as a small religious school, very cabin-like. As the population of
Buffalo grew, the necessity to expand this small school became obvious2
. St. Joseph's
University Church was built into a beautiful, Gothic-like (?) structure, with very intricate designs
both on the inside and outside. Again, population size indicated that this one church would no
http://www.ubspectrum.com/article/2015/10/take-me-to-church-
campus-ministries-association-at-ub-brings-together-groups-of-
many-faiths
39. longer be capable of the city's capacity, and thus many churches in and around Buffalo show
very similar designs.
While we may find many new churches popping up, I feel as though the impact of this church
has already been realized in the designs of those other churches. It was obvious that the people of
Buffalo valued Gothic designs, since it's what we see so often. However, we can't forget the
original cabin-style of church, and even some of those churches exist in the city still.
For more information about the church, please check out the source below.
1
“St. Joseph’s Parish.” Accessed May 10, 2017. http://stjosephbuffalo.org/university-parish/.
2
Ibid.
40. Response to Prospects for the Future of Diversity and Design
Consider the quote in your syllabus from educator Michael J. Shannon: “Design, as vision in
action--the intersection of understanding and creation--is a universal human capability that
can play a fundamental role in social evolution, in the process that transforms resources,
energy, and information to make our world.” At the beginning of this course, we discussed the
idea that we are all designers regardless of our profession or field of study. We’ve 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?
Since I plan on going abroad to teach English, the biggest challenge that I foresee for myself
is thing I am most concerned about is a language barrier between myself and the students I will
be teaching. I've been in a teaching position before, so I know clear communication is key.
Although English is not the most-spoken language in world, many countries have decided to
teach the language; I think more English majors should be encouraged to go abroad and teach, as
it has become a widely-desired profession.
However, I am currently learning the language of the country that is my first choice (Korea) so
that this will hopefully not be too much of an issue. I do plan on traveling to different countries
to teach English, but since I love learning languages, I don't see myself taking issue with having
to learn a few new ones.
As an English major, it is extremely interesting to be learning the basics of other languages as I
develop my own native language. Through working in the writing center, I have been able to
learn how to deal with this language barrier (as many students who come in are non-native
English speakers) and improve my own clarity when talking to others.
https://teach.com/where/teach-abroad/
