Aesthetic Exploration- SolarPunk

As an identified aesthetic Solarpunk is a relatively new concept and idea space. This is point further proved by the fact that Cyberpunk is recognized by the computer as I type and Solarpunk gets treated to the red squiggly line, suggesting that I may have meant to say “Solarium”. “The term, coined in 2008, refers…

Aesthetics Exploration: Minimalism – The Art of Simplicity

Minimalism is a trendy design movement that emphasizes simplicity, clean lines, and a concentration on fundamental features. It’s a minimalist aesthetic that’s grown in popularity in recent years, notably in the worlds of graphic and digital design. This aesthetic promotes function over form and prioritizes content over design features. The Origins of Minimalist AestheticsMinimalist design…

Upcycle Progress: Upcycled Jacket

At first I had no idea what I wanted to do for my up-cycle project, however I love clothes and I really want to get into making wearable technology because that is the future. I realized that I could not make wearables because I didn’t know how to build circuits (now I do!). So I…

Aesthetic Exploration: Kitsch

                      Kitsch is the German word for trash and is often used to describe cheap, meaningless forms of pop culture/commercial culture. Kitsch, also known as cheesiness or tackiness, and appeals to popular or uncultivated taste because the forms are often garish or overly sentimental, simply…

Skill Sets and Personal Aspirations

During the last year of my curriculum as a mechanical engineer, I have realized that it is not what I’m truly passionate about. A little too late, right? I found myself more drawn to artistic majors such as graphic design, architecture and photography. I’ve always had interest in such topics, however, I’ve never thought about…

Upcycle Inspiration: Fabric

After thinking more about my up-cycling project, I decided to let the fabric inspire me into a sketch that makes it serve a purpose. While looking at the clothings I had, I felt the Sherpa jacket lining was begging me to reincarnate it as a polar bear. I then quickly started sketching the bear. I…

Upcycle Progress: Fabric

Brainstorming an idea for this assignment was one of the hardest processes I’ve done in the past few years. I have abandoned my creative parts of my mind for a long time. One of the reasons that made me enroll in this course is to nourish my creativity. I was lost, I didn’t know where…

Design Review: Japanese Jewelry Box

Originally, I planned to create my own mechanical puzzle for my final project. I drew inspiration from simple puzzles that I played with in my childhood. Due to time constraints, I decided that it may be difficult to come up with enough solution ideas to form an also aesthetically pleasing project. Therefore, I have changed…

Upcycle Final Report: Steampunk Jellyfish

Inspired by the giant, steampunk octopus of Burning Man, “El Pulpo Mechanico”, and a favorite video game character of mine, Fallout 4‘s “Codsworth”, I decided to use steampunk as the aesthetic of my Upcycle project and build a much smaller-scale jellyfish. My initial plans for materials included (but were not limited to) light bulbs, guitar strings, scrap…

02 History of Aesthetics

Today: admin stuff; ITLL and Idea Forge tour and workshop info. Then the History of Aesthetics, including the all-encompassing Hertzberg Theory of Art. Then we started a Tour of Aesthetics, to be continued on Friday. Many students wanted to see the rest of the Dance Vines 2015 video. 02 Definition of Aesthetics Lecture notes pdf.