Aesthetic Explorations 2021

Aesthetics Exploration – Ma（間）

February 1, 2023

Ma is a Japanese word that means a space or an interval in time[1]. It’s a common word used in everyday speech, but when talking about aesthetics, it has been used to describe “the partiality in Japanese design for empty spaces, vagueness, abstraction, asymmetrical balance, and irregularity.” [2] It can also be used as an…

Raw Power and Skill: Nathan MacKinnon’s Aesthetic

January 27, 2021

Hunter Meissner

Defining an aesthetic can sometimes be challenging. Especially when trying to describe a sport. With something as broad as sports, hockey included, defining one individual player’s aesthetic makes it a bit easier to define a sport’s aesthetic since there is so much individuality in the world of sports. For hockey specifically, one player comes to…

Craftsman Aesthetic Exploration

January 26, 2021

Hannah Moller

The aesthetic I have chosen to discuss is Craftsmen houses and how they are being restored today. I chose to discuss this aesthetic because growing up a big influence in my design tastes was from hearing my mom talk about Craftsmen houses and the type of intricate workmanship that goes into them. Now, owning a…

Low Poly Aesthetic

January 27, 2021

Stephen Chamot

Low Poly is an interesting and somewhat complex aesthetic with a multi-faceted, if short history that continues to this day. So what is low poly exactly? The key tenants of the low poly aesthetic are the geometric subdivision of the scene into triangles and the use of flat shading. It is very similar if…

Explore an Aesthetic

January 20, 2021

Branden Tangney

Skiing is a winter sport used for both leisure and competition, common in Colorado as well as various states and countries around the world. Skiing utilizes a simple concept which relies on gravity and the inclination at which the slope of the terrain is situated. The mission is simple: go fast and don’t crash.…

The Rustic Design Aesthetic

January 25, 2021

Gary Marshall

I have always been captivated by the warm and cozy feeling that a cabin in the woods gives me. The embrace and calmness of a fireplace in the living room and the smell of woodfire smoke make you feel like you are away from civilization and all responsibilities. Even looking at the deer mount on…

Explore an Aesthetic: Tudor Style Architecture

January 26, 2021

James Brown

Tutor style? Tooter? Wait, it’s Tudor? Okay, I guess I never really knew the right name for those houses with white panels and large dark wooden beams through them, but I always knew that I liked the style. In reality, the specific aesthetic that I enjoy is called half-timbering, and that is what creates the…

Miami Vice

January 27, 2021

Ben Masters

Before researching into this aesthetic, I always called it “Miami Vice”. I think this stemmed from a combination of seeing reruns of Miami Vice and the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City which each took advantage of the color palate and nostalgic feeling that is often incorporated into this aesthetic. …

Patchwork Aesthetic Exploration

January 26, 2021

Michael Burns

Patchwork Aesthetic Exploration The Patchwork Aesthetic ranges from professionally made, highbrow, works of art to strictly utilitarian pieces. Often it is a mix of both, providing something with tangible uses while still being aesthetically pleasing. At its core, the Patchwork Aesthetics relies highly on sewing which can be traced back to around 25,000 years ago.…

Rock Climbing Aesthetic Exploration

January 26, 2021

Maya Rudd

Rock climbing is a sport that depends on a rather beautiful balance between extreme full-body strength and flowy, delicate technique and creativity. I believe that it is the sport itself, and the movement that it creates, combined with the incredible breathtaking natural settings that it brings its athletes to that create the overall aesthetic. Joes…

Futuristic Aesthetic Exploration

January 26, 2021

Brayden Shelley

Ahead its Time | Out of this World | A Vision from the Future [ This aesthetic explores what products, clothing, and artifacts might look like if they were sent back in time from 2097 ] This interior design by Tétris perfectly captures the hyper-modern aesthetic. The abstract elements and shapes and life to…

The Aesthetics of Aviation

January 26, 2021

Jake Leicht

Picture this, you are hiking up to Sky Pond in Rocky Mountain National Park. As you crest the ridge line and the lake comes into view, you catch a red tail hawk, soaring effortlessly through the peaks and troughs of the exposed ridgeline above you before it delicately sets down across the glassy water on…

The Subway System Aesthetic

January 27, 2021

Joshua Greenburg

The subway system aesthetic is one built around service to the masses but also defined by the people who use it. You may not notice the little details while you’re hopping from train to train, or even consider how you contribute to the aesthetic while you wait behind the yellow line, but there is a…

Exploration of Cottagecore as an Aesthetic

January 27, 2021

Amanda Tetrault

What is cottagecore? Cottagecore is a recently popularized aesthetic which romanticizes western agricultural life, skills, and crafts. At the root, the aesthetic is centralized around living harmoniously with nature and indulging only in simple pleasures. Typically, cottagecore aesthetics include areas such as open fields, woods, gardens, and farms; however, even in locations not grounded in…

Bauhaus Aesthetic Exploration

January 27, 2021

Bryce Gallo

The aesthetic that I would like to explore is Bauhaus because it reflects my own tastes and emphasis of functionality and minimalism, along with a strong embracement of technology. Bauhaus started at an early 20th century German art college from which the style is named after. The students and faculty embraced an ethos of constant…

Aesthetics of Solar Panels

January 27, 2021

Ankit Shukla

Solar cells have been a topic of interest since the photovoltaic effect was first discovered in 1839 by Edmond Becquerel a French physicist. Nowadays the world witnesses solar power plants and solar farms addressing large energy requirements in many places. One of the recent application of solar panels has found its way to the rooftop…

Spaceflight Aesthetic Exploration

January 27, 2021

Callum Schulz

There has always been a fascination with outer space amongst humans. However, it wasn’t until 1926 that the first steps were taken to usher in the Space Age. Robert Goddard’s historic launch of the first liquid fueled rocket in Auburn, Massachusetts on March 16, 1926 marked the beginning of a new era of technology. With…

Aesthetics of PC Cases

January 27, 2021

Peter Geis

In a reaction to zoom schooling and the ever progressing price of the newest generation of consoles many gamers, engineers, and people in pursuit of power have turned to the world of modern personal computers. In todays consumer market long passed are the days of the dull dell desktops you may see in ECCR 141…

The Aesthetics of Vehicles

January 27, 2021

Josh Negrey

Car design has been a constantly evolving beast, and it plays off many of the requirements and wants set by the designer and audience, after all some cars these days are thought of “art pieces on wheels” such as the McLaren Sienna and many other designs are influenced more by the tasks they will perform…

The Steampunk Aesthetic

January 27, 2021

Ryan Cochran

The Aesthetic that I have chosen to explore is Steampunk. The idea of Steampunk is similar to cyberpunk and the goal is to show modern technology in the form of 19th century industrial machinery and exposed gears. Steampunk was first used in the 1980’s and the term was first coined by K. W. Jeter…

Millionaire Bullies: The Las Vegas Raiders

January 27, 2021

Chris Gibbs

Since learning the definition of “aesthetic” in our class, I could not think of a better aesthetic to share and explore than that of the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders. The colors and style of the team is something that surely evokes emotion, and I’ll try to explain a little bit of what that entails. Any fan…

Rave / Raver – Aesthetic Exploration

January 27, 2021

Alex

Source: Decadence Colorado Delivers Diverse Lineup for NYE 2019 | EDM Identity The aesthetic I am exploring is a raver aesthetic, I will be going into what a rave is, what a raver’s aesthetic consists of, and the history behind it. The reason I chose this aesthetic is that my favorite genre of music is…

Brutalism

January 30, 2021

Sidd Nair

Full disclosure, I do not like Brutalism. I’d even go as far as to say I detest Brutalism. Even as a child before I knew what aesthetics even meant, I knew I didn’t like what was to me a depressing, obnoxiously plain, and an oddly intimidating way to design structures that ended up seeming like…

The Minimalist Aesthetic

January 27, 2021

Zack Lindsey

In my opinion, the most beautiful designs have the least number of parts. This goes for anything we see around us, our cars, our pencils, even our houses. The machine with less parts will be more reliable most of the time simply because there is less to go wrong. That is my ideology with aesthetics.…

Winter Aesthetic Exploration

January 27, 2021

Sohan

I wanted to explore the aesthetic of the winter season. With white, blue, and brown color tones, winter gives off a range of emotions, everything from loneliness and solitude to hope and unity. Originating since the beginning of time, the beauty of the winter aesthetic is largely owed to the extreme color contrasts caused by…

Aesthetics of Drift

January 27, 2021

Thomas Boyd

The aesthetic I would like to explore for this post is that of drift cars. Drifting is a driving technique in which the driver intentionally oversteers and slides the car, losing traction but remaining in control, steering the car around a corner. This technique originated in Japan around 1960-70, and was foremost pioneered by Kunimitsu…

Minimalism

January 28, 2021

Erik Skooglund

It can be hard to nail down a precise definition of Minimalism in today’s cultural landscape. The term has come to have meaning in many different aspects of human activity and creation. Minimalist principles have influenced the way we approach art, literature, architecture, design, even our very lifestyles themselves. However, most usages of minimalist theory…

Modern Design: An Aesthetic

January 27, 2021

Natalie Jagelski

Sharp, clean cut geometries. Bold, but coordinated colors. An open space, minimalist look. When thinking about a modern aesthetic, these concepts are what come to mind. Homes with this aesthetic are becoming more and more common. Consider the home featured below. All of the geometries are very simple with square, sharp edges, but there are…

The Unstoppable Dirk Nowitzki

January 28, 2021

Thuc Le

The word “aesthetic” doesn’t come up often when people describe a sport or an athlete. But I think Dirk Nowitzki has one of the most beautiful and artistic fadeaway the NBA has ever seen. Not only that, Dirk’s playstyle is so unique and effective that he has received countless recognition and praises from his…

Video Games as the Aesthetics of Choice

January 28, 2021

Daedalus Muse

Video games as an aesthetic. It sounds almost strange to say it—art certainly goes into the development of games, but can a video game itself be a form of art? Movies have certainly been considered seriously as a kind of art in the past, but what about this very new form of entertainment? What would…

Tropical Aesthetic Exploration

January 23, 2021

Andrew Thorson

The aesthetic I have chosen to discuss is tropical. I chose this aesthetic because I think that it captures a feeling of relaxation and fun that I enjoy. It is used very commonly in modern clothing and architecture, as well as art. It is difficult to say exactly when the tropical aesthetic was created. I…

Rainy Day Aesthetic Exploration

January 25, 2021

Jillian Weber

I wanted to explore the rainy day aesthetic, because I think the contrast of tones and emotions is beautiful, and I find that it represents a widely universal feeling of comfort, safety, and melancholy. I think that this aesthetic has developed for a very long time in human history, and represents a safe haven of…

Academia Aesthetic Exploration

January 26, 2021

Valerie Welch

I chose to explore the academia aesthetic. This aesthetic embodies a very intelligent look and feel and has mostly historic English architecture. It includes lots of earth tones like brown, black, tan, navy and green. The University of Oxford in England campus was a large contributor to the aesthetic, this was founded in the 2nd…

Aesthetics of Sailing

January 27, 2021

Peter Booras

In 1965 the Hobie cat entered the sailing scene. The Hobie cat is a small sailing catamaran that is manufactured by the Hobie Cat company. The Hobie Cat was designed and built by Hobie Alter for the wavy rough waters of California. Though I have never had the chance to sail one in the ocean…

Punk as an Aesthetic

January 27, 2021

Ben Husa

Punk is a aesthetic that is centered around the punk rock movement. This movement started around the 1970’s and has influenced clothing, music, dance and even politics. At its creation in the UK, punk was seen as the lifestyle of a rebel. Those that didn’t fit in with the rest of the community and wanted…