Design Observation Blog - Roto

It's not completely clear in this picture, but on Saturday I was biking, my iPod touch fell out my pocket while I was biking, hit the street and cracked the glass all over the top left corner. I have two things to say about this.
1. I looked at some tutorials on how to fix this since the estimated cost of repair is the same as how much I paid for it in the first place. The front plate is glass so an obvious delicate part that can and does break. Knowing that, replacing the glass is really quite complicated task that involves taking the whole iPod apart and at one point meting adhesive with a hair dryer and oven mitts. It's rather obvious this part might break, maybe design it to be replaced...
2. Luckily it's the corner that cracked, it barely affects the touchscreen area and the whole thing is still completely functional. But the ipods are so shiny and smooth and clean, this crack is really bothering me. Far more than the damage to my backpack for example which I think just adds more character. I guess my ipod is just going to have some more character from now on.

Design Observation Blog - Bike Racks

 This is one of the things I never noticed until I depended on my bike to get to school and go to stores, but I now hate stores or blocks without bike racks. How difficult would it be to add a metal thing in the asphalt sea so that I didn't have to lock to handicap signs on the median. And while I can do that, I always feel awkward doing it and I don't know why. Just give me the bike rack.

Design Observation Blog - Art Lot

This used to be the parking lot for Expo, an overpriced home depot essentially, which went out of business years ago. While they were here, this section of the parking lot was given thought and attention and received public art, a lot of public art in comparison to the rest of the box store parking lots that surround it. Now that they are out of business though, it's used as a space for seasonal stores such as the Spirit Halloween store and selling Christmas trees which means that there are rarely people here to admire, or notice, or know of this installation. Lonely art in an empty parking lot. So what should happen to abandoned public art? What should happen to abandoned parking lots? There certainly are more of them this side of the recession. It public art worthwhile if no one sees it?

Thought. This should be a dirt parking lot, it would only add to to ambiance of selling trees and the creepiness of Halloween, they could have pumpkin vendors or other themed products.Vines could grow up the art and become a part of the environment.

Design Observation Blog - Wanting Things

This is a photo of all the thing I carried during my 3 month trip through Peru. It all fit into the backpack shown which is about 45L, not shown is my camera and pajamas which I was wearing while taking the shot. I didn't have much, didn't accumulate much, but in a culture that doesn't glamorize the collection of material possession nearly as much, I did just fine and strangely, didn't want much more. It was winter in the Andes so a major desire was a better jacket when I was cold. I also got rid of a lot of stuff along the way. To make room for the few souvenirs I got rid of jackets I thought I was emotionally attached to, electronics I decided I didn't really need. I think my major purchase was a thermos so I could have hot tea while I watched friends practice dancing outdoors. It was a simple life,  and it was sweet. Back in the states I almost immediately got rid of a third of my stuff, but now, I slowly feel commercialism wrapping it's tendrils around me. Yesterday I tried to justify buying a forty dollar cookie press. Design will be my downfall, I can't resist a clever object.

Design Observation Blog - Michaels is Watching

 

Michael's has spent cash to let you know they are watching you. No regular with closed circuit connection, but a flat screen suspended from the ceiling right in the entrance. In a store overrun by grandmothers buying knitting supplies and mothers with small children buying foam dinosaur kits, this seemed a little overkill to me, but then I thought, I only think that since they market and design the stores for those demographics. They are a real store with real profits and loss prevention and I wouldn't think twice about seeing the same set up at Best Buy. Still seems out of place, perhaps they could decoupage it.

Coral Copper Box (2008)

This box was created as a mini coffin 
for my mother's cow fish who passed away. 

Never used since he got a "burial at sea".
 

Artist Statement

My name is Mariko Hirasawa. I'm an industrial designer, artist, traveler, and student. In my art I use many different mediums including painting, metal arts, and needlework. My work is influenced by nature and my travels as well as an inclination to create useful objects. In my designs I strive to create useful, playful and efficient designs.