Emily Cook

Technology is evolving at such a rapid pace that ideas that we thought were dreams are suddenly becoming reality. The sudden introduction of Virtual Reality and its benefits to society are beginning to be put into action. This new platform is already changing our world in areas such as gaming, education, healthcare, travel and workplace productivity. Currently game developers are experimenting with creating a completely immersive experience for the user. The rising popularity means that designers are in high demand to bring their skills to the table. Jobs such as User Experience Designers and Animation Designers are vital to making a Virtual Reality experience successful. 

“VR is transforming the way that designers work, as they no longer need to create life-size models of their designs but can use VR technology to preview and prototype them before taking them further. It also helps designers put themselves in the shoes of the user more than ever before” (Emerging Technology In UX Design).

This technology not only helps designers produce work more efficiently, but it can help students’ education. Due to the pandemic it has been hard for teachers to translate hands on activities to the zoom platform. Virtual Reality can take hands-on learning to the next level. Instead of observing a teacher perform a task over zoom, a student or can visualize themselves performing it. This technology can break down the barriers we are facing of virtual learning and create a platform that simulates what it would be like in a classroom physically interacting with materials. 

A current obstacle for schools is the lack of accessibility and education of these Virtual Reality platforms. I believe that in the next coming years this technology advancement will become commercial.

A program called ClassVR is already making strides in the classroom. This program is the world’s first affordable VR/AR solution designed to give schools everything they need to deliver an exciting, engaging and truly immersive learning experience. The platform integrated headsets and inbuilt camera, a robust charging and storage unit, classroom controls for the teacher, over 500 VR and AR activities with structured curriculum-aligned lesson plans and a team of educational specialists ready to help schools implement this exciting new technology. (Virtual Reality In The School Classroom)

Once the price becomes manageable I see Virtual Reality being implemented into every school across America. With the potential for students to never return back to in person learning, Virtual Reality platforms such as ClassVR could become the preferred way of education. The digital age has made designers even more necessary and the progression of Virtual Reality platforms will only heighten these numbers.

Growing up some of my fondest memories was playing with my friends on the playground at the school. I was privileged to be able to use all of the equipment provided but I know now that many were not as lucky. After researching this issue I came across Little Tikes and was pleasantly surprised at the changes they have implemented over the years to combat exclusivity on the playground. 

Little Tikes were founded on the idea that all children deserve to play. They have created a whole campaign called “Unlimited Play” to help bring awareness to children with disabilities and advocate for their ability to play. Unlimited Play is an award-winning, non-profit organization that transforms communities by providing universally accessible playgrounds for all children and families. Little Tike does a great job at creating equipment that is suitable for a range of abilities such as visual impairments, hearing impairments, acquired brain injuries, psychological disorders, social relations speech impairments and activity limitations. They also went above and beyond by considering parents with disabilities and created inclusive site amenities.

They have created the surface spinner, custom glider and the inclusive swing seat specifically for those with disabilities in mind. These pieces of equipment allow those in wheelchairs to still participate and for those who need extra assistance to still join in on the fun. They have also created a cognitive activity panel which produces music, promotes fine motor movement, and encourages critical thinking skills. The Out-Concerto line of musical equipment was designed at a more accessible angle and height. These instruments can be played comfortably by all kids, including those with mobility devices. With these pieces of equipment in mind, eleven different accessible playground structures have been created for families, schools and parks to purchase. Little Tikes have developed strict precautions for all of their playgrounds such as fencing, sandbox accessibility routes and ramps to help cater to those with disabilities. 

I think that Little Tikes did an excellent job at creating an environment where children with disabilities feel included. They created a playground where children can participate with their peers instead of being isolated from equipment. Little Tikes ability to create structures for each type of disability shows how much time and effort they have put into this campaign. Although some equipment can only be used by non-disabled children I believe that every child can find equipment that suits their needs. 

Here is the link to a brochure that discusses Little Tikes development of Inclusive Playgrounds. 

1. The name of the piece and the author.

Identifying Indicators of Smartphone Addiction Through User App Interaction – By Noe Beryl

2. A summary of who the author is (what is their area of expertise, how do you know you can trust them?)

Noe graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in Computer Science and Information. She also went to Maastricht University and studied Mental Health and Neuroscience. She studied Mental Health and Neuroscience. She studied at the Department of Methodology and Statistics, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Science at Maastricht University.

3. A summary of the most important content in the piece, minimum 200 words.

This article discusses the problematic physical smartphone behaviour and how design tactics can lead to Smartphone Addiction. This type of addiction is caused by taps, scrolling and typing within the app. This is significant given the widespread usage of Snapchat by teenagers. The article hypotheses that the App designs provides a particularly strong pathway in support of Smartphone Addiction. Typical daily usage levels are high and there is evidence of dependency and attachment to smartphone technology, combined with the potential disruptiveness of incoming notifications and “checking habit” formation.

It is now known that such uncontrolled and problematic behavior can become harmful. Problematic smartphone use has been linked to teenage depression and anxiety, and more widely, various relationships have been found concerning stress, depression, sleeping problems, anxiety, subjective well-being, and loneliness. SA score is positively associated with the number of UI interactions on apps of the Social app category, with particular reference to Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Behavioral addictions share many similarities to substance abuse disorders, but differ inherently in the way they are caused not by a substance, but by a specific behavior that is experienced as rewarding despite any associated negative consequences. I will be using this source to understand how engineers create addictive programs and how individuals become addicted. 

4. An MLA style citation.

Noë, Beryl. “Identifying Indicators Of Smartphone Addiction Through User-App Interaction”. Computers In Human Behavior, vol 99, 2019, pp. 56-65. Elsevier BV, doi:10.1016/j.chb.2019.04.023. Accessed 12 Feb 2021.

Link to Source:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6686626/

1. The name of the piece and the author.

Social Media Use and Its Connection to Mental Health: A Systematic Review by Fazida Karim

2. A summary of who the author is (what is their area of expertise, how do you know you can trust them?)

Fazida is a lecturer and researcher in social marketing, mental health, consumer behavior and digital marketing. She has a degree in Psychology from California Institute of Behavior Neuroscience and Psychology and a Business and Management degree from University Sultan Zainal Abidin.  

3. A summary of the most important content in the piece, minimum 200 words.

This article summarizes the effects of social network usage on mental health. Findings were classified into two outcomes of mental health: anxiety and depression. This source discusses social media activity and how time spent on devices can affect one’s mental health. Being socially connected with other people can relieve stress, anxiety, and sadness, but lack of social connection can pose serious risks to mental health.

Karim analyzes The Displaced Behavior Theory and how it may help explain why social media shows a connection with mental health. According to the theory, people who spend more time in sedentary behaviors such as social media use have less time for face-to-face social interaction, both of which have been proven to be protective against mental disorders. On the other hand, social theories found how social media use affects mental health by influencing how people view, maintain, and interact with their social network. She also discusses a number of studies that have been conducted on the impacts of social media, and it has been indicated that the prolonged use of social media platforms such as Facebook may be related to negative signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. I will be using this source to understand the collaboration of heavy social media usage to the potential effects of mental illness. 

4. An MLA style citation.

Karim, Fazida. “Social Media Use And Its Connection To Mental Health: A Systematic Review”. Cureus, 2020. Cureus, Inc., doi:10.7759/cureus.8627. Accessed 10 Feb 2021.

Link to Source:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7364393/

1. The name of the piece and the author

Association of Facebook Use With Compromised Well-Being: A Longitudinal Study by Holly B. Shakya 

2. A summary of who the author is (what is their area of expertise, how do you know you can trust them?)

Holly Shakya is an Associate Professor of Global Public Health at the University of California San Diego. Her primary research endeavors include the social determinants of health, with a focus on the intersections of social networks. She also studied the social norms theory in the context of behavioral change interventions in Honduras, India, Nepal, Niger, and Cameroon. She has served as an expert advisor for both donor foundations and multilateral organizations, and her publications have been featured in international news outlets across more than 30 nations. Her studies have been funded by many prestigious foundations including the National Institutes of Health, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and UNICEF, with a focus on gender and marital norms, family planning, and gender-based violence. 

3. A summary of the most important content in the piece, minimum 200 words

This article addresses the impact of online social interactions and how it affects individuals physical and mental health. The article does a deep dive into Facebook and investigates why they have had a negative affect on society. There is a considerable amount of research that has demonstrated the importance of social interactions for human well-being. The results have shown that human beings thrive when they have strong positive relationships with other human beings. The benefits of strong social ties are abundant and include lower risks of mental illnesses, higher likelihood of positive health behaviors, lower likelihood of negative health behaviors, such as excessive alcohol use; and overall lower risk of morbidity.

The article also states that the use of social media may detract from face-to face relationships, reduce motivation for meaningful activities and increase sedentary behavior and can lead to Internet Addiction. Social media can also erode self-esteem due to the creation of unfavorable social comparison. The study also displays counter arguments from previous research which address the point that a higher amount of social media followers could have a positive affect on your mental health. The study concluded that Facebook does not promote well-being and that individual social media users might do well with diminishing their social media usage and to instead focus on real-work relationships. 

4. An MLA style citation

Shakya, Holly B., and Nicholas A. Christakis. “Association Of Facebook Use With Compromised Well-Being: A Longitudinal Study”. American Journal Of Epidemiology, 2017. Oxford University Press (OUP), doi:10.1093/aje/kww189. Accessed 12 Feb 2021.

Link to Source:

https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/185/3/203/2915143

1. The name of the piece and the author

Ethics within Engineering: An Introduction by Robison, Wade L.

2. A summary of who the author is (what is their area of expertise, how do you know you can trust them?)

Wade L. Robison is the Ezra A. Hale Professor of Applied Ethics at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, with a minor in law. He was a founding member of the International Hume Society and its President for sixteen years. He was the founding President of the Society for Ethics Across the Curriculum. He directed a National Endowment for the Humanities Institute on David Hume at Dartmouth in 1990 and has received several National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships, such as a year-long fellowship in Political Science at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He has published extensively in philosophy of law, David Hume, and practical and professional ethics. His book Decisions in Doubt: The Environment and Public Policy (University Press of New England, 1994) won the Nelson A. Rockefeller Prize in Social Science and Public Policy. The author is a trusted source due to his numerous degrees, books and extensive overall knowledge about Engineering Ethics.

3. A summary of the most important content in the piece, minimum 200 words.

This source contains information about Engineering Ethics in great detail. It dives into the basic principles of Engineering Ethics and examines the ethical issues that could arise. Robinson goes into how engineering begins with a design problem and how ethics needs to be considered to create a successful solution. Any design problem leaves room for creativity and innovation, so the range of possible solutions in any particular design problem is endless. This source goes into why certain solutions are better than others in terms of the ethical standpoint. “Engineers have special obligations to take care not to cause unnecessary harms because they can cause a great deal of harm by virtue of being engineers and are best positioned to choose design solutions that minimize harm.” This book analyzes the balance of harm to good when innovating. Robison highlights moral values and uses real word examples to demonstrate his points. He touches on questions such as, where is the line drawn and is creating addictive apps ethical anymore? He addresses design problems and then goes on to bring up practical solutions to them. I will be using this source to uncover how responsible engineers and designers are for those addicted to social media.

4. An MLA style citation

Robison, Wade L. Ethics within Engineering: an Introduction. Bloomsbury Academic, an Imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2017.

Link to Source:

https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=8Us-DQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&ots=5zJ5kg2VK0&sig=UhORzVXT78eGcrMHCxyBN0LM19o#v=onepage&q&f=false

When I think of implementing environmental good into design the first thing that comes to mind is in relation to package design. I think of changing the package design to something more sustainable and recyclable. I also think that it is important to make an effort to work with clients that make sustainability a priority.

Working with companies that understand their environmental impact can drastically affect the products outcome in a positive way.

I also think that it is my job to research how my work is affecting the environment and how I can continue to improve my methods. By understanding carbon emissions and other negative impacts that can result from my field of work can lead me to becoming more environmentally sustainable. 

Outside of the design community, a social good that I believe is vital at this time is inclusion and representation. We are in a pivotal part of history where minorities are finally being noticed. From television to politics, these groups of people are beginning to be heard and represented. I will make it a priority to work in a diverse team and to make content for a diverse audience. I believe that to make the best content you need individuals from all walks of life. Businesses can implement these ideas by hiring a diverse group of people and being open to change. Change can be scary but it is necessary for improvement and the good of society. 

In terms of social good in the design community, I think it is extremely important to understand design labor laws and how to stand up for yourself. In the design field we see many designers being overworked and underpaid. It is our job to be aware of our rights and stand up for ourselves because that is the only way change can happen. We need the rest of the world to understand and appreciate the value that we bring to society.

We don’t simply make art, we are problem solvers that are necessary to help society function.

I feel that our generation holds a huge responsibility toward this effort because we can change graphic design habit and make the field ethical for ourselves and future generations. 

Overall, I believe that the biggest take away is to stay informed and educated about society around me. Although I can only make a small impact, the voice that I have as a designer can allow me to reach others and potentially educate them. I need to do my part by implementing positive change for the planet and for those who need a voice.

Politics is never an easy topic to discuss due to the simple nature of the left vs right. We are immediately divided even if we do not want to be. With this structure in mind, it makes each individual pick a side and to defend it at all costs. How does one choose a side and what innate structures are in place to do so? Propaganda through social media is one of the main sources of information our society has to pick their side. This being said, designers hold an immense amount of power and can be the reason one individual chooses a specific side over another. 

With politics being so polarized at the moment I feel like it is our job as designers to make content that spreads the right message. Designs that revolve around politicians, and campaign issues may be overlooked by many but in my opinion, these designs can have a huge impact on the result. Designers use an endless amount of tactics to try and persuade society into voting for their candidate. From the typography, color and layout each element is vital to the campaign. Although persuasion and propaganda can come across in a negative light in many cases, this type of work has to be done.

Political designers know that their job is to highlight a specific idea with the goal of societal acceptance and possible change. It is hard in many cases because designers can be swaying peoples opinions on topics that they know nothing about. If the audience is more captivated by a specific campaign’s color scheme than the next, they may be more inclined to lean toward that idea even if they may not have otherwise. It is a difficult and confusing line because designers want to make their best work but at what cost? I believe that this decision falls into the battle of ethics and if certain jobs are worth taking for the money. I know that many designers do not have the luxury of turning down jobs which makes these decisions much more challenging. Is it worth taking a job which you believe is communicating the wrong message to society? How far is too far when designing for politics? 

At the end of the day, politicians need designers to spread their message to the greater audience. Society needs to understand that propaganda is designed to sway thinking and that research and being aware should be the ultimate deciding factor. No matter how eye-catching the advertisement campaign, it is up to each individual to put in the work to understand what they truly value and believe.

Launched in 2013, Slack is used as a collaboration hub for work. The channel based messaging platform allows people to work together more efficiently by keeping conversations, files, and to-do lists all on a single platform. The app has created a more efficient communication environment by condensing software and tools into one simple space. Slack’s mission is to make people’s working lives simpler, more pleasant and more productive. Their vision is a world where organizations can achieve agility easily, no matter their size. Slack having a pre-launch and post launch logos, I have found the post launch logo to be more successful in addressing the company’s values despite its few flaws.

Slack’s original logo was created before the company’s launch and didn’t align to their values as much as the new ones does. The original logo contained 11 different colors which was not only challenging in terms of background colors but also scale and simplicity. On top of that, it was also set to an 18º rotation which is hard to format in lockups. The original logo was in the shape of an octothorpe (hashtag) which was very popular during its inception but is out of style now. When Instagram was on the rise, the use of Hashtags and its popularity was abundant. Nowadays, hashtags are seen as outdated and overused.

 Knowing the mission and vision behind the company has helped me understand the process more deeply behind the revised logo. The updated logo design has major improvements while still holding true too aspects of the original. The designers focus on organization, simplicity and consistency which is reflected in the new design. The new logo, released in 2019, contains major improvements such as a simple color palette, a cleaner design and it aligns better to the company’s values. The updated palette features four colors (blue, red, green and yellow) and takes a much simpler approach. The minimal palette allows for a more manageable and recognizable mark. It also allows for more versatility in terms of background colors. The hint of pastel tones creates diversity and uniqueness. The colors pair well together and work well in relation to the color next to it on the logo. 

Without knowing about the company, it is clear that it has to do with connecting in a fast paced environment due to the simulation of lines overlapping. The four long lines and bright colors remind me of a pinwheel and its constant movement and productivity. In China, the pinwheel is seen as an instrument to turn obstacles into opportunities and Slack’s vision aligns with this idea. Although I don’t know if the pinwheel has any direct correlation, I found it to be an interesting connection. 

The octothorpe shape is still apparent but in a more abstract form.  I can also easily tell that this company has something to do with messaging due to the chat bubbles displayed. The chat bubble shape that appears four times throughout the design allows for more depth and enhances the company’s goals of communication. They thickened the main lines which I think makes it look cleaner and more scalable. I also find it to be a stronger mark due to its straightforward lines and repeating pattern. The rounded edges are also on trend at the moment and can easily be translated into other graphic elements. 

The only downside I see in terms of the color palette is that the same primary colors are used in Google’s identity. Choosing similar colors has hindered their ability to stand out and they could easily get confused with Google Photos logo when placed side by side. If they choose to have one color that was more predominant it would have helped them to distinguish themselves better. Luckily, they have a secondary color (magenta) that is used often as the background color. This has helped them become better identifiable. After staring at the design for a while I have come to the realization that the blue chat bubble and rounded rectangle’s arrangement has a similar appearance to a duck. I wouldn’t say this is necessarily a negative but instead a unique hidden gem. 

Overall, I think the rebrand was successful in many ways and has helped the company become more successful and recognizable. The simple colors and redefined design reflects the current trends and has allowed for more versatility. With these improvements I believe that Slack is no longer slacking in the logo department.

Does analyzing the effects of media help our understanding of design?

Media outlets and their place in society is constantly changing, which means as designers, understanding the different effects of media is vital to spreading our stories. From radio to television, to snapchat and facebook, each of these platforms provide a unique service and attract different audiences. Analyzing these differences and why individuals are drawn to certain outlets can help inform how designers decide to express their messages. For instance, those who use Facebook are viewed as an older audience with different interests and agendas compared to Snapchat users who depend on fast and instantaneous results. Facebook users come across much more text and long videos while Snapchat users interact with mostly photos. Analyzing these differences and why they are designed in these ways helps us realize the underlying audience and their ultimate agendas. 

Marshall McLuhan’s states that each media platform is set on a scale from hot to cold depending on the audience’s participation and interaction. Although controversial, McLuhan makes valid points about how these platforms are consumed which can help designers understand how users interact with their work. Making information subtle or obvious can drastically influence the audience’s participation, potentially making the audience work harder to understand the message. 

McLuhans makes it clear that his scale is set but I believe that each individual has a unique way of interacting with media. Radio could be very interactive for one individual but not for another. Knowing this can also help our understanding of design because we know that everyone interprets design differently. We can’t assume that the way we see things is the same as our peers. 

He also states that what has been communicated is less important than the particular medium through which people communicate. Although I do not believe this statement to be true, he makes an intriguing argument. He brings up how the radio’s purpose is to bring people together, not to bring them information. This idea can help designers understand other aspects of media besides the initial information. McLuhan’s point demonstrates that the media influences more aspects of our lives than we initially thought. 

McLuhan makes it clear that media is constantly influencing the way we live and see the world around us. As designers we need to understand the immense power we hold when we decide to take part in delivering messages. Analyzing the effect that media has on our society can make designers more aware of their roles as storytellers and how to most efficiently tell those stories.