Chronicle of Chowder

Just watched Dr. Horrible

Chowder — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:12:55 +0000

It’s pretty great.

The Genius of Seinfeld and Other Things

Chowder — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:07:41 +0000

Well, I haven’t updated in awhile. School started and I’ve been trying to keep on top of it with minimal success. Even now, though, I have two assignments to catch up on. No matter, I’ll get them done this weekend.

Part of the reason for my fallingbehindness (I just made up that word) is that I’ve been watching a lot of Seinfeld. This show came on the air when I was still pretty young so a lot of its genius was lost on me. However, as I’ve been watching the show, I’ve been more and more convinced that it might be the greatest show ever. Even better than Firefly or The Office or (gasp) Arrested Development. Well, maybe not that good. However, a point that many critics make is that Jerry can’t act. I initially see this as a weakness in the show, but after some consideration, it becomes a strength. For instance, because the nature of the show is that Jerry is a (mostly) normal guy with crazy friends, he can kind of afford not to act well. He reacts to things like any person would, while reacting like a character in a sitcom. It is definitely worth revisiting for anyone of my generation (Y).

Design Ruined My Life

Chowder — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:36:24 +0000

There, I said it. After studying design and art and aesthetics and stuff, I’ve realized that design has polarized me in a way that is unknown to most people. You see, one doesn’t notice design unless it’s off or bad in some way unless they’re looking for it. For instance, when I was at work a few weeks ago, I went to use the restroom and there were two soap dispensers available to use. I chose not the closer one but the one that looked better and had a better design. I then forgot about it for the time being. Even further back, in a parking lot I saw a new Nissan 350Z. I used to love that car, and I still do like the outside. But I’m not a fan of the interior. I don’t like the angles and the way the buttons are and just the general theme. This was a few years ago however and I’m sure they’ve changed it all a bit. I also didn’t like the Altima. It seems recently, they’ve taken a page out of Toyota’s book and started designing components that are less industrial looking and more curvy. Speaking of words that look like ‘scurvy’, yesterday the day before yesterday was International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19) and I celebrated. By speaking like a pirate. I would have posted yesterday the day before yesterday, but typing like a pirate it too difficult. Back to the topic at hand, one last example of how design has ruined things for me is design in media such as video games. My buddy got the game Prototype for Xbox 360 and I played it. I hope this doesn’t wound like a review, but I liked the game overall a lot. The one main thing I noticed was that the protagonist wears boots for some reason. I think that’s strange considering he’s some hooded badguy protagonist jumping around Manhattan, but I kept noticing the boots and how the toes come to a point. I didn’t like it, and it was driving me mad. Damn you, design!

I think that will be the name of my other blog.

The Dichotomy of Design and Consumption

Chowder — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:06:59 +0000

I’ve been thinking about something. I posted previously about my personal disagreement with extreme consumerism, when the objects we accumulate in our lives get in the way of relationships and what’s really important. However, even as I’m trying to avoid spending all of my money by purchasing a lot of things that will make my life more complicated, I’m working on designing items for people to buy that could make their lives more complicated.

Overall, that’s not my goal. I don’t want to design things that people will buy and then be burdened by (that’s a lot of alliteration). I simply want to make things that are clever. In other words, I just want to be a good designer and make a good living instead of making things that people buy out of boredom or laziness or greed or any other foolishness. Of course, I’m sure the creator of the Snuggie said something like that at some point as well. The point is, I’ve got to overcome my fear that people might purchase my products for the wrong reasons. I’ve just got to focus on making good things, and then they will sell for good reasons.

There’s always the possibility that I design products for the purpose that they consume less. For instance, the person who designed those neat grocery tote bags had the idea in mind to get people consume less plastic and paper disposable bags. Sustainability has been on the rise in design for awhile now, which makes designers think more about the products and materials that go into the design as well as the design itself. There’s definitely a balance between design and potential consumption that is associated with products and markets, and I’m planning on finding that balance.

Idea for Design Exercise

Chowder — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:41:40 +0000

Today, I came up with an interesting product design exercise. This can be done on the computer with any rendering or drawing application, or with good ole’ pencil and paper, as is my preference. Basically, you take two products or objects and you turn one into another. For instance, I turned a pocket knife into a mini scooter. The really interesting part is the middle steps, where the product features begin to blur and you add extra features that you wouldn’t normally see. This exercise can be applied to any objects, not only products, but because of my Industrial Design studies, I normally go for items. I’m eager to also try this technique on things like fonts and such. Hopefully, I can scan some transformations and post them, but for the mean time, I’m out of school and away from and scanners. I can’t wait to do more of these.

Back to Basics

Chowder — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:14:59 +0000

It’s been awhile since I posted anything lately. I have been busy with visiting friends on the weekend, working, and keeping up with other blogs while oddly enough ignoring my own. I don’t know, I was feeling kind of bad about work and stressing out about it. I’ve finally gotten over that and now I’m back on track. In terms of what keeps me going at work, I think it can be different things for different people. For instance, they can get a raise and manage to swallow a little more from then on. Conversely, they may cut back on their hours and spend more time at home which makes for an easier time at work. For me, it was a combination of things. First, I made a breakthrough in what I was doing. Solving a problem can motivate you to get more out of your job and help your outlook. Also, I got over my fear that the worst should happen. I realized that this is not my career, this is a summer job. Either way, I can find another. In other words, worst case scenario, I get to turn over a new leaf, and that’s exciting to me.

The Invalid Pursuit of Happiness

Chowder — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:18:02 +0000

I’m tired of buying stuff. Our society tells us to buy things. And to keep buying things. We buy a new car every few years, move into bigger and bigger houses and get new clothes every season. I’m also guilty of it. I recently used most of my check to purchase a Flip Cam and later I’m probably going to buy some fantastic cargo shorts. I’m entering my senior year of university and I’m already tired of buying things. I just want to be able to live comfortably in a small place with a small amount of things and work by doing something I love, or at least like. It seems that we’ve become so oversaturated with stuff that when we lose it all through disaster or it gets stolen, we lose a part of ourselves. This is, I believe, to be expected because when our lives change that much we’re a little debased. However, when we suffer extensive psychological damage when our things are taken from us, there’s a problem. Furthermore, if the items we own get in the way of our interpersonal relationships, there’s something definitely wrong.

The things you own end up owning you.

- Fight Club

If all the crap we have in our lives keeps piling up, how do we know what’s really important? I’m not saying that you should throw everything away and move into the woods and eat berries for the rest of your life. I’m just saying that in a consumerist culture, it’s a good idea to take a step back and figure out what’s really important. I suggest going to a third-world country and volunteering or even just to travel to see how others live. When we look at something other than ourselves and our culture and out items, we can learn a lot. Hopefully I can take this to heart as well and learn to see simple items as less important than what really matters.

True, Great Friends

Chowder — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:43:18 +0000

I came to the realization today while I was cleaning the bathroom that with your truly great friends, you can freely sing around them. In other words, even if you’re a terrible singer, you can sing around your close friends. Not only that, but you want to sing around them. This is of course barring the fact that you’re a professional singer or whatever. If you’re just some jagoff who can’t sing, and you feel great enough to do so around friends, they’re true friends. Not to get overly sappy here, it’s just something I thought of.

When Commercials Don’t Make Sense

Chowder — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:58:28 +0000

I saw a commercial for the Nissan Cube just seconds ago. There was a warning at the bottom of the screen, as in most car commercials. It stated, “Professional driver on closed course. Do not attempt.” Or something like that. Either way, it pictured the Cube driving but not really driving. It was moving because the pavement it was on was moving and the buildings were stationary, doing so through computer magic. Basically the warning was pointless because the vehicle wasn’t really moving.

I’m Slowly Turning Into You – A Song With Depth

Chowder — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:19:10 +0000

This song from The White Stripes, I can’t get enough of. I’ve been getting into The White Stripes for awhile now, along with The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather – Basically anything involving Jack White. I’ve gotta dig the distortion on his guitar. The previous phrase is something I’d never say in a real life, face-to-face situation.

Anyway, the song starts off stating that he’s indeed turning into his significant other. He’s been in the relationship for an extended amount of time and he doesn’t like the fact that he’s turning into his other because the traits of the other bother him because he realizes he does them as well. Then, after the first chorus he realizes that he enjoys those things. The things and habits the other does are no longer annoying, but endearing.

I love this because it is such a great illustration of the delineation between the selfishness of being in a short-term relationship and the selflessness of being in a relationship for an extended amount of time. I think this is what needs to happen and so often it doesn’t so these little things fester and eventually become, or contribute to, a larger problem. This doesn’t simply apply to the situation of a significant other, but also long term friends and relatives. This is turning into an Ask Alice session, so I’m going to wrap up.

The White Stripes: awesome.
The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather: also awesome.
I’m Slowly Turning Into You: great song with depth.

Track at Last.fm