亚色影库

During his recent lecture at 亚色影库, architect Juhani Pallasmaa advocated for art, music, cinema and music in architectural education. But as a librarian and self-confessed 榖ookaphile,� what struck me was his case for the book. During the lecture I was desperately scribbling, trying to capture his thoughts, but lucky for me so I could revisit those words. Here are a few of my favorites.

淭he most severe threat to humanistic and creative education today is the loss of the book.�

Let me assure you that at 亚色影库 our library is alive and well thanks to a Faculty and student body that appreciate the written word. However, Pallasmaa檚 words ring true. He alluded several times to the difference between knowledge and information, and there is a growing gap that threatens creativity.

淏ooks develop fundamental narratives of causality and open epic views into the continuum of culture and human life.�

I admit, despite my profession I rarely read a non-fiction book from cover to cover. Perhaps it is this shift in reading habits that Pallasmaa objects to. I often hear from students how information overload and the barrage of stimuli makes concentration, let alone critique, very challenging.

淒igital media break narratives into fragmented bits of information and strip away the inherent human meaning, intimacy, tactility and sensuality of things.�

I can happily read on my Kindle, but there is nothing like randomly flipping pages and landing on something unexpected. I see students experiencing this revelation daily, and I wonder to myself why people keep telling me the book is dead. Just like television and radio, ebooks and paper books can coexist. In our world there is space for both.

淚t is not the information in a book that is of primary value. It is the book itself � the logic of the story.�

An elegant, thought provoking statement. I can think of examples where it is undoubtedly true, but books can also be disposable.

Pallasmaa檚 lecture at 亚色影库 was peppered with quotable lines and revelatory thoughts, but throughout the talk he returned to the idea of the book. I will end with my favorite of the night � a quote that requires no commentary.

淲hen I have read a book and return it to the shelf, the book remains in me. It has become part of my soul and my body forever.�

Do you have a favorite quote from Pallasmaa about books or the design process? Share yours in the comments section.

San Diego擬ay 6, 2014� A 亚色影库 student received a first place Eco Innovators Award of Excellence during the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California檚 annual ECO Innovators Showcase May 1. The organization gave high marks to the design by 亚色影库 student Nick Wilson, and also noted the school檚 渋nnovative teaching philosophy that inspires�students to develop sustainable environmental solutions.�

The competition, part of the Metropolitan檚 annual Spring Green Expo, attracted projects from 20 universities and community colleges throughout Southern California in individual and team categories. Wilson檚 project, which was one of three 亚色影库 entries, featured examples of single-family sustainable 淓co Houses� for desert climates such as Phoenix, Ariz. The project incorporates wind flow patterns and a pond and fountain element to encourage the flow of cool air through the homes, resulting in greater energy efficiency. The concept was developed by Wilson, who is in the Bachelor of Architecture program, under the guidance of 亚色影库 instructor Don Mirkovich.

The other 亚色影库 entries included a project by student James Darby that was also guided by Don Mirkovich, and a submission by student Joshua Nunnally that was guided by 亚色影库 instructor Victor Navarro.

A panel of judges from Metropolitan檚 Engineering, Water Resource Management and External Affairs groups scored the entries for the ECO Innovators Showcase competition, resulting in a tie for top individual honors in the Eco Innovators Award of Excellence category that Wilson received. The event and competition serve to bring awareness to topics related to water conservation and sustainability, and includes exhibitions highlighting related technology, products, services and programs.

A team of 亚色影库 (亚色影库) students traveled to Colombia over Spring Break 2014 to participate in a unique design-build project with two non-profit organizations, 4Walls International and Long Way Home. Instead of using standard methods to build homes in a local village, the students and organization members worked with materials less known to the construction world � used car tires, recycled plastic and glass bottles, and trash.

The collaborative project in Colombia provided the 亚色影库 student volunteers – Steven Hansen, Hannah Hobbs, Jasmine Lopez, Austin Oakley and Maria Reyes – with the chance to apply their design-build background to the unique needs of a local community. In addition, stipends earned by the international volunteers for this project, which included the five 亚色影库 students, were donated to help pay teachers at a school in Guatemala.

This kind of perspective � of meeting the design needs of global communities facing humanitarian challenges � is an approach that 亚色影库 students are exposed to during their studies here (Instructor Joseph F. Kennedy recently presented a paper at a national conference about this topic). While San Diego serves as an urban laboratory for many design studio projects, students are also challenged to develop concepts for international communities, which include the Tijuana-San Diego border region as well regions in Africa and Asia.

The game development process, as with other digital arts industry specialties, starts with an intriguing idea � something that has the potential to become a game hit. The inspiration can come from your imagination (think zombies, extra-terrestrials or your own dreams). It can come from your own passions or interests (think soccer, the Roman Empire or music). It can even come from a moment in your life that leaves an impact.

A series of free workshops about digital arts specialties in May and June sponsored by the Media Design School of Digital Arts at 亚色影库 (a part of 亚色影库) include sessions on Game Design, Maya Animation, Beginning Unity 3D Level Design and for Open Drawing Sessions. They provide an integrated introduction to study and career opportunities in digital arts fields.

During one recent session on Game Design, George Cochrane, Chief Creative Officer at , provided an introductory presentation on the game design process, which includes prototyping, determining rules and regulations, and logical reasoning to determine how sequential steps propel the game and players forward. The participants then developed their own ideas and then huddled around tables and used game boards as the impromptu stages for their story development process. A construction management student came up with a story sketch of having workers compete against each other to build structures by acquiring bricks obtained through accomplishments such as meeting deadlines and winning contracts. Another team grabbed a traditional game board from a pile of games that incorporated a square grid and 渞ooms� representing fire, water and earth. Within minutes they were developing a game narrative that involved competing against each other to pass through these different layers, each of which was guarded by a 渂oss.� Players would also have the chance to obtain tools and other powers, giving them even greater power to confront the boss and stay in the lead.

What you do with your idea, and how you develop a story and characters around that idea, serves as the foundation of the digital game development process. Upcoming sessions in Game Design are available on the following dates at the Wonderbread building in San Diego檚 East Village: 121 14th St. San Diego.

May 13: 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
May 27: 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
June 10: 4 p.m.-7 p.m.

To see the full agenda for the other three free sessions, as well as a Game Jam session on Saturday, June 8, please visit our Eventbrite page and pre-register at:

About Us

The Media Design School of Digital Arts at 亚色影库 is a collaboration with the award-winning Media Design School in New Zealand that has resulted in new programs being offered by San Diego檚 亚色影库 in animation, game art and game development.

Got a great idea for a game or animation feature? A series of in May and June sponsored by the Media Design School of Digital Arts at 亚色影库 (a part of 亚色影库), will introduce you to the concepts that can take your great idea to the next level. Workshops are available for Game Design, Maya Animation, Beginning Unity 3D Level Design and for Open Drawing Sessions. Taken together, they provide a comprehensive introductory overview of study and career opportunities in digital arts fields, which are dynamic and growing. A Game Jam session on Saturday, June 8, includes the chance to create games within a one-day period and ends with a movie screening of Indie Game: The Movie.

Where: All events take place at the historic Wonderbread Building in downtown San Diego檚 East Village section: 121 14th St. San Diego, Calif.

How: To see a full list of workshops, please visit our Eventbrite page and pre-register at:

Brief Workshop Descriptions

Game Design: Learn all about game design while you learn to create your own tabletop games. Go from prototype to playtest as you begin to understand the importance of game mechanics, game balance and game theory. 4 p.m.-7 p.m. May 13, May 27 and June 10.

Maya Animation: Get introduced to one of the most comprehensive 3D software packages used for creating high-end animation and visual effects for films, television commercials and games. 4 p.m.-7 p.m. May 8 and May 22.

Beginning Unity 3D Level Design: Become familiar with the powerful Unity3D game engine, used to create games on all major systems and devices. Students are introduced to the Unity user interface and create a simple game level from scratch. 4 p.m.-7 p.m. May 14, May 28 and June 11.

Open Drawing Sessions: Open drawing sessions, with a costumed model. Bring your favorite medium. Free to students with ID, $5.00 model fee for general community. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. May 21 and June 18.

Game Jam Saturday: Get together and create games in one day! Learn about the game industry, meet industry guests and have fun planning, designing, and creating games in eight hours. June 28, all day.

Read about what it檚 like to take the Game Design session.

About Us

The Media Design School of Digital Arts at 亚色影库 is a collaboration with the award-winning Media Design School in New Zealand that has resulted in new programs being offered by San Diego檚 亚色影库 in animation, game art and game development. Learn more about what this collaboration means from this formal announcement of current and new digital arts programs.

Three 亚色影库 student teams participated at the annual Cal Poly Design Village 2014 competition. The event challenges students throughout the state to design a portable structure that can be lived in for several days. Teams from the San Diego-based school participate each year � and consistently win top awards � as part of a design studio led by 亚色影库 instructor Hussein Munaim. This year, the event theme was 渂iologics.� You can read more about the winning 亚色影库 team, and learn more about the design process through this Q&A with one of the other participating 亚色影库 teams that consisted of Ryan Stangl, Devin Lee and Andrew Schiffer:

Q. Tell us about how your design incorporated the theme of 渂iologics.�

Reproduction is the basis for all biological life on earth. Organisms are distinguished from matter by their ability to propagate to sustain the species. In architecture, the constraints of construction often limit structures to static, rigid spaces that fail to connect humans with nature. However, varying uses and changing user groups demand space that is no longer limited to the basic configurations and uninspired form. Applying the principles of reproduction to structure, we focused on the creation of adaptable spaces through an examination of the concepts of growth and cellular division.

Q. Can you describe the structure?

A. The structure consisted of several units that were preassembled and transported in a flat-pack, connected and unfolded on site to create a large and flexible central space, then divided to create independent and private living units. Our project consisted of three units and a single central floor, however the units can be combined in a variety of configurations.

Q. In what other ways did you apply the theme of 渂iologics� to your project?

Crystals, mollusk shells, and most other products of natural processes use readily available materials to produce incredible structural strength with minimal amounts of material. Architects often examine the efficiency of material from the standpoint of economics, but rarely in relation to weight supported or area enclosed. We applied these principles to seek the most efficient material use possible from commonly used and readily available materials.

Q. What materials did you use for your project?

Each flat-packing unit is comprised of 7 2� x 4� x 8� framing studs, 12� x 6� of canvas, and the equivalent of a single sheet of plywood. Each unit sits on three reclaimed gas springs (one at each corner), and uses 24� of 3/16 wire cable for an inverted truss system. Although each unit weighs less than 125 pounds they can support well over 1000 pounds and have 27 square feet of floor space.

About 亚色影库

Located in downtown San Diego, 亚色影库 (亚色影库) prepares students for career success in design fields through an emphasis on interdisciplinary and global design skills, industry collaborations and real-world projects. To learn more about 亚色影库檚 design and architecture programs, including our program development collaborations with award-winning schools around the world such as Domus Academy in Milan, Italy and Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand, please visit our website: www.newschoolarch.edu/

Sometimes, the science behind the art of interior design is overlooked. For years, television and other media have portrayed designers as bored, done-up ladies who think they have a knack for matching drapes with furniture. We wanted to clear up some of the misconceptions that have resulted from this negative stigma by explaining how interior design is an important aspect of creating a purposeful and comfortable space for retailers and businesses.

It檚 not unusual for people to confuse decorating with interior design, however there are many differences between the two professions. When learning how to become an interior designer, people realize it entails much more than coordinating decorations, and as such, the terms should not be used interchangeably. Interior design is both a science and an art; it檚 a method through which both functionality and feel come into play. It is a profession that moves far beyond visual decor to encompass systematic and coordinated methodology in order to create spaces that satisfy the practical and cultural needs of the occupants.

Some of the things interior designers must consider when working with businesses are:
How to make the space comfortable, functional and appropriate for the brand
The overall purpose of the space. Is the goal to get people to purchase something, talk to employees, hang out, or something else?
The mood that you want to set and convey to your audience, appropriate colors, style of furniture, and d茅cor to match the brand

How Businesses Can Benefit from Interior Designers

Interior designers are an excellent resource for businesses that are interested in optimizing their space to best suit their needs, both in terms of functionality and appeal. Some of the ways interior designers can help businesses are by designing offices, creating retail spaces and designing other marketing elements through which consumers come into contact with the brand.

Designing Functional Office Spaces

A well thought out office design is important for a productive business. Interior designers are an excellent resource for business seeking to create an environment that not only represents the culture of the company, but also addresses their needs in terms of layout and the way the employees operate on a daily basis.

Creating Strategic Retail Spaces

The layout and atmosphere of a retail store strongly influences the customer experience and ultimately their purchase decisions. Interior designers take into consideration the purpose of the store (i.e. what the brand is selling and how customers will interact with the products) and the brand personality to create a unique experience in which customers feel encouraged to make a purchase.

Designing Creative Marketing Spaces

Interior designers can also help businesses design other spaces to best suit their needs. One example of this is designing for businesses to optimize functionality when they attend events. Creativity and logically designed space are paramount for businesses at trade shows, which are areas that interior designers can assist in.

Interior Design Today

Today檚 designers are a versatile and hardworking resource for businesses in several aspects. Interior design today is the art and science of understanding people檚 behaviors and then applying that knowledge to create functional spaces. If you檙e interested in learning more about pursuing an education in interior design, we invite you to visit Domus Academy School of Design at 亚色影库 to find out about our globally-focused Interior Design program.

San Diego擜pril 15, 2014擜 team of 亚色影库 (亚色影库) students earned two out of five awards at the prestigious Cal Poly Design Village 2014 competition April 11-13 in the categories of 淧eople檚 Choice/Most Contagious� and 淢ost Habitable.� 亚色影库 has a long tradition of winning top honors at the annual event, which draws architecture and design students from all over California.

The teams developed entries based on this year檚 design competition theme of 淏iologics.� The winning 亚色影库 structure, called 淭he Rotation of Living,� was inspired by the shape of a cell. The resulting wheel-like design was made of wood sheets, steel tubes and solar panels for the project檚 LED lighting. Members of that team, which won the two awards, were: Guillermo Menjivar, Salvador Vicente, Aipeng Fang and Juan Cruz. Two other 亚色影库 teams participated in the event. One of the teams – consisting of Alex Angeline, Daniel Facanha, Mallory Boyd and Paula Sigala – created a design inspired by the structure of a sunflower using cables, steel tubing, and seat belt material to create mesh 減etals.� Another team built a pyramid-like structure designed to adapt to changing needs, notable for engineering elements such as a leveling mechanism created from chair springs. That team consisted of Ryan Stangl, Devin Lee, Andrew Schiffer, and Guy Hartwig.

For the competition, held by California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif., students must carry their materials three-quarters of a mile, build the structure on site, and then live in it for three days and two nights. The class and competition provides 亚色影库 students with the chance to demonstrate their mastery of creative and functional design, which is emphasized throughout the 亚色影库 curriculum.

All the 亚色影库 student teams developed their entries as part of a design studio course taught by 亚色影库 instructor Hussein Munaim, who has been instrumental in 亚色影库檚 participation in the annual event since 1995. This is at least the seventh time in the past eight years 亚色影库 school teams have taken home top awards, according to records, though the winning tradition goes back further than that.

Get your game on at the first-ever Game Jam Saturday!

Media Design School of Digital Arts at 亚色影库 will be hosting the gaming event of the year, where you檒l learn from top gaming developers about how to take your game design skills to the next level. This all-day gaming workshop will give you an opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the industry as you create your own games and learn about programming, game design, game art and other game-related fields.

After the workshop, you檙e invited to relax and enjoy a private screening of 淚ndie Game: the Movie.� If you檙e passionate about gaming, this is an event you won檛 want to miss. For event details, see below.

Event Details

What: Game Jam Saturday

Date: Saturday June 28, 2014

Location: Media Design School of Digital Arts at 亚色影库
Wonderbread Building, 121 14th St., San Diego, CA 92101

Event Times:
Gaming Workshop: 10:00am-6:00pm
淚ndie Game the Movie� Screening: 6:00pm-9:00pm

This project � a modular seating unit that can anchored to poles and other similar vertical structures – was developed by David Harrison, Julio Medina, and Anastasia Podolskaya as part of an urban issues class at 亚色影库 in San Diego, Calif.

The design was inspired by the nearby shipyards and it aims to foster greater social interaction and connectivity between the residential and industrial zones along San Diego檚 Barrio Logan area. As explained by the students:

淏arrio Logan is an urban laboratory for community redevelopment as a result of a lack of proper zoning regulations. There is a harsh edge condition between the residential zones and the industrial zones. The specific site was chosen to provide a platform for prototyping a symbol of a larger plan to merge the two dramatically varying grains. An area for the industrial employee檚 and the neighborhood inhabitants to relax and enjoy a public space dedicated to infecting public access into the industrial zones, creating a symbiotic relationship between the urban resources, the people, and the waterfront.�