Sunday, October 30, 2011
Snow Day
Yesterday, our class weathered the storm and headed to the botanical gardens for a tour of a LEED platinum building. I have worked on many LEED buildings and am pretty well versed in the process from the AEC prespective. It was really nice to receive a tour from the building manager/user prespective. Our tour guide seemed extremely proud of the building and excited to share it's story. He brielfy mentioned thinking as a child that his father was silly for his backyard compost and caring about what got poured down the drain. Now, he manages a building that recycles water and composts among other things. Our tour guide seemed very invested in the sustainble success of the building He mentioned that most of the users were proud of the building and accepted the positive sustainable attributes. I wonder if it has impacted how the users act in the space and in their personal lives. The tour guide also mentioned that he doesn't think 'you can force it (sustainability) down their (the users) throats.' I wonder if he has seen any skeptics changed by their experience with the building. I am contimplating doing research about how sustainable features in building impact user's actions. As designers, we frequently make decisions to best fit our user's needs and shape shape to impact their experiences. I wonder what kind of space shape and features can promote sustainable actions in users.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Violating Social Norms
So I have been having a bit of a problem violating social norms. Mostly, I haven't been getting the responses I anticipated. At first I was wondering if maybe it was because I looked too naive but after reading Stephanie's blog, I am wondering if maybe its just NY. Here are some of my experiences:
Please use revolving doors
I walked through the double doors at work, the ones with the signs posted asking us to use the revolving doors and nothing happened. I walked right through, with an air of confidence and an 'I know exactly what I am doing' expression and I got nothing. The guard didn't look at me. People went about their business and no one followed me. I wasn't too worried about the reaction I intended to receive but was very upset when I got no reaction.
Bagging Produce
Went to the grocery store and decided to ban the produce plastic bags. We regularly bring our own bags to the grocery store but always bag up our produce by category just as everyone else does. I thought about it and realized it was just a convenience and sort of a waste. I don't really think this falls under the category of social norm but this simple change got a reaction so I thought I'd share. I picked up apples and threw them right into my bag loose. I did the same with grapefruit. None of my fellow shoppers seemed bothered by my decision but when time came for check out the register lady seemed quite annoyed. She gathered all of my produce up, categorized it to weigh, and put it in a plastic bag. When I told her I didn't need the bag she said "well, they are all already in there" so I just took the bag. I guess my attempt to be less wasteful kind of failed but at least I got a reaction.
Dog park
I pass by the dog park everyday on my walk to work. I am very allergic to all animals with fur but I do love them. I have to continually disappoint my boyfriend, Erik, every time he asks if we can get a dog. Yes, he does know the answer and ask continually anyway. So on our way home from OHNY tours, I asked him if he would like to go to the dog park. He, of course, excitedly said yes. We entered the gated area with obviously no dog of our own. I looked around for reactions from dog owners as Erik talked to all the dogs. There were only a few owners that afternoon but not a one of them seemed bothered by our visit. We hung out for a while playing with other people's dogs and then left again obviously petless. Unfortunately, not much came out of our violation other then a saddened Erik still longing for a 'pup pup.'
I am hoping to push the boundaries this coming week to see if I can get better reactions than I have been receiving. I am thinking of doing a bit of experimenting to see if norm violations I made here in NY are more or less accepted in Harrisburg PA on a trip out there next weekend. I am also thinking about having Erik commit some of the same violations I commit to see if he receives different reactions, being a male.
These norm violations reminded me of a very specific memory from my semester abroad. I arrived in Italy in January, a time very few tourist, other than American students, can be found in Florence. I enjoyed a few month there before tourist season official began. I remember a bright day right around Easter when I left for class to find the street crowded with outsiders bunched in groups pointing at the Duomo. As I dodged the masses I remember being annoyed. Later that same day, my friend and I were enjoying dinner at our favorite local pizza place, Nerone, when an I noticed a obviously American group in the front of the restaurant. I remember a woman from the group, in a loud bothered tone asking the hostess how they didn't know when there would be a table available. She wanted to know why they couldn't just make reservations. "If we are going to wait then tell us where we can get a drink. Can I at least get a beer." I was mortified. I remember thinking, "this is why no one likes Americans. I can't believe I am associated with people like this. Italy is not Disney World and who in their right mind orders beer in Italy."
Violations of social norms are going to be different for every society and culture. Social norms may be most obvious in areas where 'norm' is well defined for the everyone. I doubt that American woman in Florence even knew how obnoxiously she was violating a Italian norm, even though at home her actions may have been acceptable. I wonder if at home in America, she tells people she is Italian.
Please use revolving doors
I walked through the double doors at work, the ones with the signs posted asking us to use the revolving doors and nothing happened. I walked right through, with an air of confidence and an 'I know exactly what I am doing' expression and I got nothing. The guard didn't look at me. People went about their business and no one followed me. I wasn't too worried about the reaction I intended to receive but was very upset when I got no reaction.
Bagging Produce
Went to the grocery store and decided to ban the produce plastic bags. We regularly bring our own bags to the grocery store but always bag up our produce by category just as everyone else does. I thought about it and realized it was just a convenience and sort of a waste. I don't really think this falls under the category of social norm but this simple change got a reaction so I thought I'd share. I picked up apples and threw them right into my bag loose. I did the same with grapefruit. None of my fellow shoppers seemed bothered by my decision but when time came for check out the register lady seemed quite annoyed. She gathered all of my produce up, categorized it to weigh, and put it in a plastic bag. When I told her I didn't need the bag she said "well, they are all already in there" so I just took the bag. I guess my attempt to be less wasteful kind of failed but at least I got a reaction.
Dog park
I pass by the dog park everyday on my walk to work. I am very allergic to all animals with fur but I do love them. I have to continually disappoint my boyfriend, Erik, every time he asks if we can get a dog. Yes, he does know the answer and ask continually anyway. So on our way home from OHNY tours, I asked him if he would like to go to the dog park. He, of course, excitedly said yes. We entered the gated area with obviously no dog of our own. I looked around for reactions from dog owners as Erik talked to all the dogs. There were only a few owners that afternoon but not a one of them seemed bothered by our visit. We hung out for a while playing with other people's dogs and then left again obviously petless. Unfortunately, not much came out of our violation other then a saddened Erik still longing for a 'pup pup.'
I am hoping to push the boundaries this coming week to see if I can get better reactions than I have been receiving. I am thinking of doing a bit of experimenting to see if norm violations I made here in NY are more or less accepted in Harrisburg PA on a trip out there next weekend. I am also thinking about having Erik commit some of the same violations I commit to see if he receives different reactions, being a male.
These norm violations reminded me of a very specific memory from my semester abroad. I arrived in Italy in January, a time very few tourist, other than American students, can be found in Florence. I enjoyed a few month there before tourist season official began. I remember a bright day right around Easter when I left for class to find the street crowded with outsiders bunched in groups pointing at the Duomo. As I dodged the masses I remember being annoyed. Later that same day, my friend and I were enjoying dinner at our favorite local pizza place, Nerone, when an I noticed a obviously American group in the front of the restaurant. I remember a woman from the group, in a loud bothered tone asking the hostess how they didn't know when there would be a table available. She wanted to know why they couldn't just make reservations. "If we are going to wait then tell us where we can get a drink. Can I at least get a beer." I was mortified. I remember thinking, "this is why no one likes Americans. I can't believe I am associated with people like this. Italy is not Disney World and who in their right mind orders beer in Italy."
Violations of social norms are going to be different for every society and culture. Social norms may be most obvious in areas where 'norm' is well defined for the everyone. I doubt that American woman in Florence even knew how obnoxiously she was violating a Italian norm, even though at home her actions may have been acceptable. I wonder if at home in America, she tells people she is Italian.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
FIT MAPS
Map 1:
Map 2:
You can start to see in map two how my experiences at FIT have increased. You can also begin to see how I have placed FIT in a context of the other experiences I have had around the school.
Map 3:
In map 3, I explored my sensory experiences. Unlike the maps above, this map gives more insight into how I feel in some FIT spaces.
At the time I created this map, I did not have very much experience with FIT. I knew the basics but was just starting to get an understanding of where I was. The map is simply a basic outline of my understanding of FIT through my few experiences.
Map 2:
You can start to see in map two how my experiences at FIT have increased. You can also begin to see how I have placed FIT in a context of the other experiences I have had around the school.
Map 3:
In map 3, I explored my sensory experiences. Unlike the maps above, this map gives more insight into how I feel in some FIT spaces.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
elevator entertainment
headphones
It is very common to see people working at their desks in headphones around my office. I, myself, have been known to use them. Its funny to me that I put on my headphones to keep myself focused and eliminate distractions. you would think the sound would be a distraction. It is tough to see in the image but two of the three guys working in this image are wearing headphones.
small screens
I noticed in the office, we frequently view things together on a screen. The workstations just don't seem to accomodate two people trying to work. We have touch down spaces and collaborative work spaces but they don't sovle the problem of two people trying to view the same screen. the regular desk user always seems to have to get up and move away from the desk inorder to have their visitor really see what is going on. In this image, you can see a person in a chair far behind the other person. Both are trying to sovle an issue with a cad file.
The new baby
My boyfriend's only brother just had their first baby. I didn't get many good shots of how she has effected us but wow. It sure is amazing the accomodations that have been made for this small person. I have attached two images, one of grandpa tony, a veteran baby holder, and one of my Erik, holding his first baby. You'll notice how tense Erik seems. He is starting to get comfortable with her now but the tough rocking chair in the hospital was probably not the best place for him to relax with her.
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