Erin Lee Blog 6

In this interconnected world of today the limitations are immense, but “if designers enjoy giving form to ideas” then there is always a solution to those barriers. So many possibilities add to the creative thought process of designers that they begin to serve the audience more. “If designers were made of ideas, they’d be their own clients. Creativity is difficult to obtain when a client has no idea what they want. We not only have to be creative on the spot but designers have to educate clients on quality and all the details to better serve their needs.
New media does present the “new” direction. Pleasing readers and the new generation suffering from attention deficiency order may be annoying and difficult for older people to grasp, but younger people will always risk it. The youth of today will be the first to jump on the wave of experiences of experimentation and discovery. But with any good idea comes history. A variation of a pre-existing idea, for example I just did a simple Google search on the Mona Lisa. The result was 155,000 different variations of the same painting, the same idea. Many designers and creator have taken this 16th century painting by da Vinci and re-created it to be amusing, or to fit the popular look for women today.
Absolutely designers need to reintegrate disparate fields to push ideas and results to the next level. People want to be visually entertained. It is a daunting task but someone has to do it. The New Media Reader contains a chapter titled The End of Books. The internet has taken on such a large part society. I’m struggling to recall he last time I cracked open a dictionary. This computer technology has amazing possibilities. The “incredible diversity of information available gives great credit to the creativity and ingenuity providers, and points to a very exciting future.” Damn straight! But where are we going to draw the line on technology? How much is too much? All these possibilities bring out a whole new issue with media.

The next big thing is unknown. Who knows where designers and the creative world will be in ten years, even in a matter of days it’s out with the old and in with the new. As an artist and designer I could care less about the next big thing. It is too exhausting to try and keep up all the time. Staying educated on the issues and possibilities at hand is important because we have to keep an open mind. I stop and think what is right for me to do and I stick by my choices.

Blog #6

• In an interconnected world, what are the limitations of design when cultural, political, economic biological and environmental systems are increasingly open?

As all of these systems become increasingly open and recognized by people, one of the limitations we have as designers is reaching a larger audience. In this information age, where its so much easier for anyone to learn about so many different cultures and become informed, it becomes harder to narrow down audiences in design. 50 or so years ago, if you were to try to target an audience of 18-24 year old men in America, you would be able to generalize what would appeal to them much more than you would today. As all of these systems become more open, we become more limited in who we can target and still create succinct design.

• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.

I think this depends on how new “new direction for design” is. Right now, as was said in the reading, people demand information to be quick and easy because we face information overload these days. For a person to read a book now is much less common than before with the advent of YouTube, MySpace, Twitter, text messaging, and the like. These new forms of media communication have absolutely presented new directions in design. Not too long ago, NPR was talking about how a new Panic! at the Disco music video was made to cater more towards small screens such as the iPhone and low resolution video such as YouTube. In the video, there are many more close-up shots and high contrast imagery that will be clear on these small, low-res screens. They went on to describe how much of a change this was compared to something like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video, which featured very dark, low contrast imagery and wider shots overall. When you look at this video on an iPhone or on YouTube, you can barely tell what’s going on. This trend of designing for these new mediums will no doubt continue as the iPhone and other similar mediums become standard.

• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.

The idea of bringing ideas and styles from different fields together can be seen in many ways already. For instance, many web sites try to make videos that are very similar in style to television (such as this site) to give users information in a way that has been long established and that they’re used to seeing. Another example of this is podcasting; it’s essentially bringing talk radio to the web. I think an interesting application of this idea would be to turn the tables on what’s been done already and bring interactivity to a medium such as television. Bringing a non-interactive medium such as television or radio to the web to allow for interaction seems like a natural progression, but I think doing the reverse would be even more revolutionary.

• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.

I think the next big thing in design is going to be completely eliminating physical, tangible medium. The iPhone is a perfect example of the success and ease in dissemination of new media. Now anyone can make and post an app on the iTunes App Store and can become an instant success because of how fast their app can spread. The video game industry is taking a similar path and is taking steps towards eliminating games being released on discs in stores and distributing them online only. I think this could happen for almost every physical medium out there now. Not too long ago, a school district in Florida went completely paperless, so now all of their text is distributed digitally. I think that the next big thing is designing for non-physical mediums exclusively.

• In an interconnected world, what are the limitations of design when cultural, political, economic biological and environmental systems are increasingly open?

Well, it seems like the biggest limitation would have to be the creative minds designers. For a long time, information about other cultures was hard to find, but now with the advent of the internet, and the connectivity involved, even a 3 year old can hop on the web and learn everything about world cultures. Because our systems are becoming more and more open, cultural ideas are starting to blend, and with that, the blending of ideas, beliefs, and ultimately: designs. So the limitation lies in the fact that designers now have to gear their work towards a mixture of culture and political ideas, all blended into one. Conflicts are bound to arise.

• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.

Absolutely. Our society has drastically changed over the last century alone. Media is constantly becoming quicker, more eye-catching, and effective, all in order to fulfill the needs of a modern society. This is present in television and movies. Back in the day, the level of suspense and drama a movie had to offer would appear to be a lame rendition in today's society. Also, with the advent of the internet, cell phones, and other portable devices, designers are constantly having to change directions and push the edge of "new" design. And quite frankly, humans get bored. If a webpage doesn't load within 6 seconds, we're usually off to a new page Also, within the last decade, networking sites, such as Facebook, Myspaceand Twitter have really pushed the edge as far as "new" media. These sites have really defined a new generation of media-goers.

• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.

Yes, I believe that designs will always benefit from reintegration of older work. I don't know if I fully agree with the idea that "everything has been done before", if that were the case, why are we all studying design? I think there are still a ton of creative ideas yet to be explored. But yes, the reintegration of older designs would definitely help as a jumping off point.
Lessons about TypeThis is a good example of the combination of older designs and new technique. It has a very old-time feel to it, but uses brand new technology.


• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.

Well, I definitely think the biggest leaps are being made in the world of 3D animation. Technology is becoming so advanced, and CGI actors are popping up in movies all over the place, so I would think that more realistic facial animation would be the next big thing.
This is a good example of new technology.

Also, I think interactivity is growing in many ways. I heard about microsoft'sTable Top Computer a few years ago. I definitely think its ground breaking technology, and I envision the future using lots of hands-on interactivity.

Blog 6

• In an interconnected world, what are the limitations of design when cultural, political, economic biological and environmental systems are increasingly open?
Well, in a digital world we run into digital problems as designers. We must work within the platforms and within the paramaters that we are instructed. As we become more connected and more and more ideas and design are exposed to the world, the world becomes saturated with overlapping content and the threshold of new design seems to be reaches. So with the world connected, we have the issues that we must face in a digital world. Not everyone staring at a computer screen worldwide has the same resolution as the designer had when they created the design. Political and economic barriers seems to as well seem to make it difficult for everyone world wide the ability to see content on a level playing field.
Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.
New media certainly does provide an additional platform to display design. But as the article suggest, with the limitations of screen resolution on a plethora of devices nowadays, content becomes more important than how the design may look on a digital device. Screen resolution is no match for real life design so every though there may be more platforms to display design, those platform may inhibit design, forcing design to conform to the more limiting requirements. http://www.theloopdesign.com/images/Medias.jpg. Web design can be beautiful, but it is still content on a flat screen.
• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.
I would think that it is always time to integrate disparate fields of design, especially now as there are so many different types of platform to work with and fuse to create new design. Even though technology may present some issues with how the end products due to screen limitations, video worked into any other media can generally be interesting. I like the idea of creating motion projects that are set up for a dome projection, like at the planetarium. The dome I would thing would create some interesting challenges for designers display their message.
• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.
I think Flash is going to take us as designers in an interesting direction. It used to be that flash websites were cumbersome and slow and just about the “eye candy”. But with the way software like Dreamweaver and Flash are more seamlessly bridging the gap between website and full on interactive experience, The new flash sites are becoming more than just great eye candy, and providing a structurally immersive experience supported by appropriate and interesting content.

Blog # 6

• In an interconnected world, what are the limitations of design when cultural, political, economic biological and environmental systems are increasingly open?

According to Graphic Design and the Next Big Thing, the limitations of design are in the communication of the meaning. He says “designers are visual types who have a
tendency to either obsessively reduce or overly complicate the ideas of their clients,
often without much concern for what is actually communicated.” In other words Designers become so wrapped up in the design in loose the meaning that they where striving for to begin with. In the world we live in, the people are so bombarded with design and image that the meaning of image can be lost.

• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.
The world of design has been flipped over. New media creates new ways to experience design. In the past couple of years the world has connected through the internet. Design become more toward new media. The reading explain his distaste for the limitations of the internet But I think sites can only become more innovative and interactive. Site like youtube and facebook have create a new way to present media to the world. Although I can see what Rudy VanderLans is say, One problem is that it has limited graphic possibilities. The coarse resolution of the computer screen, the inability to fix layouts and typefaces, and the overpowering presence of the browser's interface all restrict the designer's ability to impart a specific visual character to a Web site.” Most site can only be contain the grid structure that limits the imitation. The Cheetos website push the envelope int ways of design. It create a new experience with its product that the fun and interactive. http://cheetos.com/

• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.
I think that designers have started to be reintegrating into the new direction of design. Design is exploring it potential for bigger and better thing in the world. The world is becoming more and more digital and thus so does design.

• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria?

I think that next Big Thing in Design is web design. The design possibilities of web are boundless. The internet creates a place that can innovate as well as inspire new thought. The design can influence people to create more interesting ideas. As was stated before the in the reading the structure of website have been stagnant and dull. The more creative a website is the more response from the user. In the eassy is stated by Paul Roberts that "The irony of the information revolution is that consumers neither like nor expect long texts on their computer screens" suggests a radical shift in people's reading habits. In true I hat website the make me read so much crap that I end hating the site and never returning to it. Although design site are supposed to be cool looking they are some of the more cutting edge in terms of future of web. http://www.stardust.tv/ http://www.psyop.tv/ http://www.shilo.tv/#/work/guinness/

BLOG 6: NOTHING ORIGINAL IN SIGHT!

1) We would like to think that in such an interconnected world that having open systems of information will lead to open design. But, having all this information so open and accessible limits how concise and what we design. Instead of having meaning and simplicity we have to shout to the audience for attention with a gimmick, shock, or over complicated design just to engage.
2) I don’t think new media presents a “new” direction for design, however I think new media provides a new way to present good design or design that has been done before. Like we have all seen time and time again, good screen based design is simply print design done on a computer. All the old tried and true methods, grids, color theory, patterns still are relevant and in practice with new media. Just look at http://www.us.playstation.com/ its all a grid of thirds.
3) I believe designers have already begun to do so, integrating the old with the new. As for giving design a new direction I don’t think I have not seen anything that has surprised me as completely new or unseen in my life. It seems I can always find something to reference it to or compare to. The integration of old and new yields great products though like this Kanye West Video that fuses live action with cartooning by keying out and overlaying color on the live video. Yet once again I’ve seen this done before…. Nothing original anymore…?
4) The next big thing huh…. Well as always we are trying to push computer graphics closer to reality. Check out this Interview about Image Metrics and see for yourself. Besides that Im not terribly sure. I notice a lot of rehashing of the past as always but I really do think with information at everyone’s fingertips vying for our attention we’re going to revert back to good meaningful design not just oversaturated bs. Until that day I’ll be happy to be paid to make that bs and hopefully try to create some meaningful work on my off time.

Blog 6

• In an interconnected world, what are the limitations of design when cultural, political, economic biological and environmental systems are increasingly open?

Personally I would believe that the limitations would derive strait from the designers themselves. By this, I mean that our own experiences and knowledge about these subjects would determine our capabilities to design projects about them. One designer may know more about the economy than another and thus can make a more convincing argument or narrative through their design. I believe Tarkovsky mentions in a documentary interview that creating something we know on a personal level is the only true form of art no matter the medium. Another limitation could be overexposure to such easily accessed knowledge such that designs begin to meld or look similar. By living in a generation that is dominated by such connectivity we sometimes have more trouble finding uniqueness. Our minds cannot expand beyond what we believe is already known.

• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.

Yes, new media does present “new” directions in design. As mentioned in the reading it is very hard for us to think of any of the new possibilities for design after seeing everything that is already created. But when a new form of media or, in a more general sense, reforming of an old media occurs many times a revolutionary designs can emerge from the investigation. For example, typography for a very long time was always associated with print or still based graphics. When motion design took off a wave of new typographic motion designs began to pop up. (Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVPfTlpCKaw&feature=related) While this may not be professionally made it opens the doors for so many other possibilities for the way we imagine the movement of type.

• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.

I personally do not think that there is any wrong or right time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields. Any time we can be influenced or reinvent older fields to create something new is great. It lets us continue to let be inventive but also pay respect to designs we find influential or the ones that worked. A topic I feel very relevant to this discussion is newspapers because as we know they have been in decline since the introduction of web based news and blogs. As discussed in this video http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDtalksDirector a designer took it upon himself to redesign a newspaper in a smaller country with quite miraculous results. While the design in some ways resembles a magazine the idea of creating a design solely for the weekly newspaper shatters the image we associate with them. Overall, this yields new and interesting results because it creates a design focused paper that still delivers news but appeals to the consumer who wants a more interesting medium for news that is not online.

• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.

I really feel that with when these computer surfaces, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89sz8ExZndc & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKgU6ubBgJA&feature=related become a everyday household technology it will reinvent not only the way we design objects, website, pictures and all our forms of media for viewing but how we actually create them. I do understand that this is quite focused on the technology but interactivity is also part of our job as digital designers. We will change the way people interact with their media via these devices because it will take into account how people will access our work with something as personal as a hand instead of a mouse.

Graphic Design and the Next Big Thing (Blog 6)

1.
The limitations of design are based purely on the necessity to convey a specific message to be vehicle that bring meaning to an audience. Contrary to what the Graphic Design and the Next Big Thing article was imagining about design being judged on the message that it conveys, design is judged by its ability to communicate a certain message clearly and concisely. This limits the design to serving that message with all it's aesthetic and design elements being present for only one purpose: to support the message.

2.
New media, web and flash specifically, provides a new direction in design by allowing a grater capacity for interactivity. Interactivity allows for the design to capitalize on playing with layering and juxtaposition of images and text in real time to portray a deeper meaning to the viewer. Though the Graphic Design and the Next Big Thing reading may be slightly out of date it is on point when it says, "If there were ever an opportunity for graphic design to be more involved with content, the World Wide Web is it," because the web is an evolution of print that gives designers the ability to make the viewer move and interact with content. The ability to interact with content gives the designers the power to compress design into a succinct interface rather than just a layout, a prime example of this can be seen here. This website features a designers portfolio compressed into the space of a browser window with the help of the interaction provided to him by the use of flash.

3.
I don't think so, it seems that people are just trying to integrate different styles in a random fashion, which may or may not yield effective results. The reason that reintegrating different styles is not effective is that they may be being combined without deep enough understanding being present to predict the outcome, one such failed attempt is the recent Comcast commercial. This commercial combines live action with extremely unrealistic isometric projections of a 3d environment, which creates a style so distracting that it takes all of the viewer's attention away from the message. (not to forget the fact that this commercial doesn't remotely resemble any of the previous Comcast commercial styles) So perhaps we need to explore individual fields more, so that more meaningful integration can occur in the future.

4.
The next big thing in design is interface design with a modular approach. Most popular websites like Facebook, Gmail and iGoogle use a modular design, allowing the user to be able to customize what they see in the interface, such as weather forecast module, a calendar module or a module showing the latest videos on Youtube. (which is also customizable since it's designed with a modular approach) This approach to interface design can also be seen in the two most popular operating systems Mac OS and Windows Vista, with their widgets and gadgets, respectively. I think this is the next biggest trend because it allows for customization, which appeals to the consumer.

Blog 6

• In an interconnected world, what are the limitations of design when cultural, political, economic biological and environmental systems are increasingly open?

When reading the article it seemed like it was all about listening to the people ad somehow converting their needs with our design. Though it mostly talks about how difficult that really is and designers usually will ignore the people if it means cutting out a big part of their personal style or their stamp as designers. Another way is how to put our stamp of our work when everything is so increasingly limited by our customers wants and other people's designs around us, we have to advertise to people what we do and how we do it so that they will want us in the future while not seeming to familiar to another designer. He talks about how people will not read large lump sums of text anymore, so we the designers have to figure out how to deliver the information we need to deliver in a smaller bundle while still getting out what we need. As the people become more busy and less focused on design and more on just getting what they need and out, we need to think around the customers.



• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.

Certainly new media is a good representation for where design is at right now, people are always thinking of new things and new places for designers to work at or on. I think just like computers are seemingly out of date in a few years, so is a design for certain areas. Every semester of school seems to bring out a new version of design from younger people, it's all you can do to keep up with the changes in media. There is always a newer version of something to design for, like right now everything is all about Green Design and designing everything over again to be more green, all the technology is redesigning and so must we the designers.


• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.

I think as designers we are always having to reinvent ourselves and our medium so this is a definite yes. The question for everyone will be what is next and how can we change things that have already been done, sure we have tons of new applications coming out to create things we never have before. I think in a way though we are always coping things and simply re-doing everything that has already been done, all we do is add a very minor thing that maybe these past people couldn't do, but after taking art history classes throughout the years you find yourself always relating back to something else.



• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.

I think the next big thing in design is going to be more based on advertising than anything else, with the inventions of DVR's and TiVo things, more and more people are able to avoid advertisements. So designers will now be forced to figure out ways to get people's attention. Another adjustments I think designers will be forced to make is the move from all still and non-static design to very active, everything is being replaced with digital things, inventions of digital paper where ads could be possibly integrated and switches over to electronic billboards(Which we have recently had one added at Colorado and I-25 if you look for it!) instead of paper, where things will be forced to always be moving to keep the viewers attention. We are always searching for more and more ways to reduce how much paper we use and the switch over to everything digital is just something I see that is bound to happen, so designers will need to think of everything as moving and how it can be displayed properly or where for that matter.

Blog 6

As designers we are communicators and storytellers, as much as we are designers, if not more. In a global world we have to deal with language barriers, technological barriers and cultural barriers. We are still trying to jump the hurdle of slow internet connections, outdated technology that requires the designer to make accommodations to those within this realm. As designers we must ensure that we have the mastery of technical skills, as well as having an understanding of the needs of the business, organizations and individuals. We need to have an awareness of human behavior, an understanding of sociology, psychology, economics, physics, ergonomics, science and many other areas. Design requires acute perception and erudition. These are all limitations of design and good design requires many of these skills/knowledge to succeed.

Over the last few years we have really hit a ‘digital revolution’, with Youtube, Myspace, Facebook, iTunes, Blackberrys, twitter, Skype, Digg and the other forms of new media. Our current culture is based around fast information. We are no longer in a world where people sit and listen to the radio, have family dinners, and read the newspaper. Time is everything now, there is a demand for instant information that can be received and absorbed quickly, ie. Twitter, blackberrys, text messaging, iPhone, etc.

These forms of ‘new media’ have really changed the way design is approached. Much of design has become a template that gives the freedom to individuals to create their own content and share it with others, mostly via the networking sites. New media is pointing us in a direction where content rules over the appearance, that design can be simple and clean, but at the same time functional. We can see this in Myspace, Twitter, iPhones, Skype and Facebook to name a few.

I think the best example of this can be seen with Adobe products over the years, especially with the recent release of CS4. Designers have the ability to fully integrate their designs if it may be photograph, Flash animations, motion graphics, print, web, JavaScript, and the list goes on. Designers can storyboard an idea in Photoshop, pitch the idea to a client, take it from Photoshop, bring it to illustrator, Flash, After Effects, Fireworks, and Dreamweaver. The amalgamation of images and hand illustrations has recently and will continue to play a large role in design, as it offers for a simple, visually strong message.

The next big thing in design is re-branding. With today’s current economic climate and the current brands not being fully realized by the consumers. There is a need to create a discourse between the consumer and the brand. If you take a look at the Big 3 car companies there is this disconnect, this lack of understanding and communication with the consumer. Companies are becoming more efficient and greener in their attempt to drop the glitz and attract the consumer. The Big 3 are restructuring their entire company and are beginning to communicate to the consumer. Many companies are shifting their advertising methods, in order to get fresh and new ideas, by opting for freelancers rather than big agencies. As well as receive new ideas and a fresh perspective, companies are saving money by paying for freelance, instead of the higher cost design firms.

GM
Ford
GM
FORD

Blog #6

• In an interconnected world, what are the limitations of design when cultural, political, economic biological and environmental systems are increasingly open?

Well, it seems more so than not the limitations have to do with that of getting across to the end user. As the reading stated is it the fault of the designer or the reader or does it even matter when coming to terms if that user gets "it". I think the biggest limitation is the same one no matter what medium you would work with whether it be web, print, video, that the limitation comes to finding the audience of which your work is catered around, in order to communicate to them. Otherwise if the designer tries to cater to the larger scale in which on the web (where you can virtually find anything, ranging from a wide array of cultural, political, etc systems) I believe they won't communicate effectively and will limit themselves from anything but a bland design.

• Does new media present the “new” direction for design? Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.

I don't know if new media really puts a "new" direction on deign but it just changes the playing field a bit. I think that in actual design we still do crave a lot of the older ideals we have with design on how things should look and feel, although with the web we put more of a spin on it through connectivity and interaction. I think for designers a lot of the base principles of design are still being used although, we have things that aren't static and can interact with the user. I think we still try to adhere to the grid because it is a nice way to organize our information and an easier way to navigate. Although on top of that I believe we are at a point in which we are trying to capture the user's attention especially since we have come to a point of such media bombardment, where if we don't come up with something that really captures the user it is tossed aside from the rest of the media. I think a good example of this is http://www.minusthebear.com/index2.html. This site utilizes a very simple design that has a grid, structure, although puts a nice twist to the navigation bar that I haven't seen used before. I think it captures the user with something that is different but doesn't take away from the actual navigation or the bands site.

• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design? Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered. These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.

I think for the most part that this has happened. I think for the most part a lot of new media tries to imitate print and many other mediums. Just like all other design websites use hierarchy, grid, structure such with print but at the same way I think a lot of the design used is trying to imitate art in many ways and forms.

• What is the next “big thing in design”? Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.

To be honest, I have no freakin clue. As we are going right now technology is developing much faster than most of us can keep up with, and we are coming to such a point of instant gradification with our society that I think it will come across to something of that sort. I think we'll start seeing a lot more designers self-taught, which might bring some more ideas from other fields, although I think the new big thing in design will come from some sort of new medium, rather than web, or video. As Avery and Jeff said it may come from a truer 3D, as it seems like we are working more towards that but I think as we go we are trying to make things come faster.

• In an interconnected world, what are the limitations of design when cultural, political, economic biological and environmental systems are increasingly open? 

Based on the reading, the limitations of design have to do with the ability of the designer to communicate an increasing amount of information with meanings on an increasing number of levels while avoiding unnecessary aspects of personal style which may obscure the message(s). Designers will have to determine the amount of information that is necessary to establish meaning, while minding the reader's willingness (or lack of) to make any special attempts to decipher meaning.

• Does new media present the “new” direction for design?  Describe how new media does or does not present “new “ directions in design and provide an examples (links or screen grabs) to support your assertion.

I think new media definitely presents a new direction for design. In a discussion between Bruce Nussbaum and Industrial Designers Society of America executive director Frank Tyneski, they talk about how "everything" is converging on "variations of a rectangle", meaning screen based media. Tyneski talks about how designers now attempt to affect the users' experiences on deeper and more meaningful levels than ever before. They discuss the recent evolution of design education, which is producing designers who devote far more time to researching and problem solving their client's unique position.

http://feedroom.businessweek.com/index.jsp?fr_story=cf5ca714c35c3d963987713f02116b283610d593

• Is it time for designers to reintegrate disparate fields in order to consider new directions in design?  Give examples (with links or screen grabs) of some new ways that design might be considered.  These do not have to be existing ways, just ways that might yield some new and interesting results.

I think design should and to an extent already has begun to appropriate from different forms, media, styles, etc. Post-modern art and design borrow heavily from countless other disciplines, adding and changing the meaning of the referenced works. The ability of the reader/decipherer of the message to recognize these references serves as a sort of intellectual reward for the viewer.

• What is the next “big thing in design”?  Why do you think so and based on what criteria? Provide examples to support your assertion.

I don't know what the next big thing in design is, i'm not psychic. I think technology is developing at an unprecedented rate and the future of design and technology are somewhat interconnected. An example is nanotechnology. The link below discusses how "nanotechnology “is likely to change the way almost everything - from vaccines to computers to automobile tires to objects not yet imagined - is designed and made." For now I believe the future is screen based media and the designer's ability to communicate visual messages "in the briefest, simplest, most urgent form."

http://www.nsti.org/Nanotech2006/showabstract.html?absno=1094