Seminar Review

1) I felt that Norman's readings were by far the best. They provided a good fundamental basis to the rest of the course because all the different types of design can be evaluated through his work. The reading itself was very well written and provided a lot of detailed examples making it much easier to understand. I feel that the course would have been missing a lot had Norman not been read first. He provided a very conceptual understanding for the entire idea of design.

2) This seminar has really helped me to realize the importance of knowing the audience. No matter what form of communication, the audience is the main thing to keep in mind, as aphoristic as that is to say. It has helped me to know what to revise when making changes to presentations or papers. During my revision process, I found that I had to simply reword the information I had already presented in order to make it more accessible to the audience.

3) I am confident that this will help me in the future whenever I have to present information to somebody. I feel much more prepared for other classes in general because of this seminar. Especially after not having done any real work for a long time due to China, I am happy to have had this class to help me ease back into the groove of school. In terms of the actual course content, I feel much happier in that I see everything in another light now. I can look more deeply into what seem like everyday products. It amazes me how much attention designers must give to even the smallest details of the most trivial seeming objects. Overall, I am very happy with this seminar, and I would like to continue exploring economics and business.

"The Secret to Turning Consumers Green" by Stephanie Simon

1) Simon really focuses on the psychology of going green. Consumers respond best when they are peer pressured into making a decision. The article presents many interesting studies of how customers respond to different types of green advertisements. Advertisements that talk about what other people are doing to be green generally work better than advertisements such as "Go Green!" If people know that their neighbors are making green decisions, then they are more likely to follow suit. Thus, with this psychological nature of people kept in mind, green designers need to promote their products in such a way as to take advantage of this.

2) I definitely am more affected by peer pressuring advertisements even though that's probably not good. If I am at the store and plastic grocery bags are a choice, I would feel bad accepting them because of everybody else watching me. I generally do not care much if a product says that it is environmentally friendly for whatever reason. However, if I know that other people are being green, then I want to follow suit. Most of the time I try not to be a conformist, but it is hard to argue against being green. Saying that trying to help the environment is a bad thing generally does not hold well.

3) I bought a reusable shopping bag that I take to the store with me. This way, I do not need to use lots of plastic bags. People sometimes commend me on my choice of having a reusable shopping bag, which is a nice feeling. My bag also is much sturdier than the plastic bags, so I don't have to worry about heavy items ripping the bag.

4) A good example of products that have been made more environmentally friendly are the plastic water bottles. Most companies now advertise them as being made with 30% less plastic and being completely recyclable. There is less paper used to create the label too. Another product is the fluorescent light bulb. These bulbs are far more efficient than their incandescent counterparts. They not only use less energy but last much longer meaning they do not need to be replaced or produced as much.

"Specialty clothing retailers this fall want to let shoppers know that they, too, are a brand" by Jennifer Steinhauer

1) Quotation

"Translation: an advertisement that features a shirt, jacket, hat and pants shows that the store sells many interchangeable separates, and the fact that a woman is studying while wearing one Ann Taylor outfit and skipping about in a carefree manner in another shows that one can wear these clothes in all types of situations."

This quote from the top of the second page shows how the specialty cloth retailers are able to advertise themselves as a name brand in a casual, sleek way. The stores are advertising that their clothing works well and looks good in everyday situations, and this is appealing to consumers. This in turn improves the reputation of the brand because people see it in more situations. Wearing nice clothes is no longer an exclusive event but rather more common.

2) Many designer clothing companies have created icons that most people can recognize. Polo Ralph Lauren is one of these companies. Most people that see a shirt with a small polo player on a horse know that the shirt was made by Ralph Lauren.

Clothing from this company is generally seen as a bit classier. The image itself shows a polo player, and polo is a sport that people from the upper class in England used to play. It is a very posh icon, and this reflects on the clothing itself. The company is marketing to people that want to look nice but at the same time not too formal. Thus, they are selling not just clothing but also the posh feel of wearing a polo.

3) I try my best not to buy too much expensive clothing because I think it is all the same in the end. A shirt is a shirt is a shirt to me. Brand image is not something I let factor into my decision when making purchases. I think it's a bit sad that clothing has come to define people sometime. People judge others based on their clothing, so many go looking to buy Armani, Versace, Burbery, etc. These brands are all associated with expense, so they are admired and coveted. Since most people do not actually buy clothes from these types of companies, anybody that does manage to have one is defined by them.

"Cookie Cutter Housing: Wrong Mix for Subdivisions" by Rick Harrison

1) In this article, the author is critical of how subdivisions are built. He says that they all have the same feel making them boring and not innovative. There is a very set recipe on how to build subdivisions, and it irks him that nobody wishes to challenge this recipe. The ordinance, as he calls this recipe, tells builders that houses should be 10 feet apart from each other, that they should be 20 feet from the curb, etc. These very finite instructions is what the author thinks have led to boring subdivisions and thus need to be changed. Unfortunately, the costs of a failed recipe in this case are extremely high especially given the housing market these days. Despite this though, the author still advocates exploring new recipes and is happy that he has found a supporter of his ideas.

2) I agree with the article in that many subdivisions are very boring. There is never anything exciting going on that people can take part in. It is rare that there are ever neighborhood events. It also is sad to drive through subdivisions where all the houses look almost identical. Uniqueness and innovation in housing always is fun to see and admire, so it is a shame when neither of this happens. I never realized that there was such a strict ordinance that designers and builders follow, but I agree with the author in that new options need to be explored. Urban sprawl and the development of subdivisions is certainly not a negative thing, and this exploration can make it even more positive. I believe that subdivisions are necessary because they offer a much different environment than the city. It is generally much safer in subdivisions, and it offers more privacy and freedom for people to do what they want. In the city, everything can seem crowded and there is little room for people to do things with their houses.

3) I do live in a subdivision, but I do not think the author's viewpoints apply to my neighborhood. My neighborhood has a pretty good variety in housing styles and design. There are houses of all sizes and colors. The landscaping is all different because the yards all have different sizes and shapes. There is a big hill in part of my subdivision, so this has led to a lot of variety in the architecture. One thing that is pretty prominent in my neighborhood is that many people seem to have an in-ground pool. I would not be one to complain about this though.

Biggest Mistakes in Web Design 1995-2015 by Vincent Flanders

1) This article discusses the many mistakes that web page designers make while creating a web page. It addresses all the issues that makes web pages difficult for users. Thus, it naturally fits well with the concepts of a user-focused design that we have talked about in class. Flanders' stresses that web pages have to be designed for the user, not for the designer. Companies need to design their websites with only the customer in mind, but unforutnately most do not do this. A strong emphasis needs to be placed on the behavioral design. If the user cannot find what he or she wants easily, then the website is a failure. The user can simply go to another website and try again. Flanders says that the purpose of a website should be understood within the first four seconds of looking at it. This also ties into the visceral design of the website too. Flanders talks about how there has to be good contrast and color schemes because users do not want to have to strain their eyes to read the text. There should not be distracting images or animations. When a user first opens up a webpage, their eyes should be drawn to the focal point. A good visceral design helps to accomplish this. This article deals less with reflective design than visceral or behavioral, but one can infer what might make a webpage have good reflective design. There are many websites that are fun to search through and are good enough that people will come back to them. Flanders called this the "heroin content" of a webiste.

2) While all of Flanders points are important and must be taken into account when trying to design a good website, there are several that stand out. The first is his first point about how users do not care about the website. They simply want to get the information they need or accomplish what must be done and then be done. This is important for the designer to keep in mind because it will help them decide what information is pertinent and should be put on the webiste. It is frustrating when one has to spend a lot of time searching through a website to find what he or she needs. The entire website has to be designed with the user in mind and making it easy to use. This leads to Flanders seventh point of navigational failure. Users should be able to easily know where they are in a webiste. Links should be labeled and clearly indicate where they will take the user. If a user gets lost in a website, no matter how good the content is, he or she is likely to close the window and find another website. Another important point is Flanders' ninth about the need for heroin content. A website should make a user want to come back multiple times. There has to be an appeal to it that attracts many people to it. If a website can accomplish this, it can sometimes overcome other design problems. Flanders gives the example of Post Secret which has quite the bad visual design, but the content is good enough that users come back and back.

3) A webpage should be concise and clear. It should not take long at all to figure out how to navigate the page. This is the most important point, and all other things revolve around promoting this. The color scheme, use of flash, images, and everything else has to make it easier for the user. If the color scheme makes text difficult to read, then it should not be used. Any pictures or videos that are not pertinent to the information being presented should also be excluded from the website. Information should also be categorized in a convenient, understandable way. For example, all of the contact information for a company should be placed in one area. Pages should also not be too long because it is annoying to have to scroll down for a long time. If a page is too long, it means that a link could probably be used. It is also really convenient when webpages have "Printer-Friendly" pages. This not only makes it easier to print the page, it is far easier to search the information. "Printer friendly" pages exclude all of the advertisements and extra information.

The Future of Retail by Nicholas Negroponte

1) In this article, Negroponte does not have an explicit thesis. An appropriate thesis might be, "Over time, online shopping will become increasingly important but social factors such as the experience of going to a store will keep retailers alive."

2) Norman is a strong advocate of products being designed with the user in mind. There should be a certain natural design to everything that makes it so that the user does not need to consult an extensive manual or be confused as to what to do. Negroponte's description of online shopping surely would go along with these principles. Shopping online can be extremely simple and eliminates a lot of the frustration of shopping at stores that can come from long lines, no availability, unhelpful clerks, etc. On the internet, one can compare products from different companies and read previous customers' reviews of the product. The internet provides so much more information at so much more ease that it is no wonder it has become a very popular medium of purchasing goods.

3) Negroponte's ideas are still very relevant, possibly even more than when he wrote the article. Online shopping has continued to grow, and the types of things people can buy are increasing in variety. Some of the things one can find on eBay or Craig's List these days simply amaze me. Stores such as Amazon have continued to have great success over the years, as people use them to find information about their products before making a purchase. The success of online shopping has led to different marketing techniques too. Companies trying to sell online know that the shopper could simply google what they are looking for and find hundreds of competitors. Thus, this has forced companies to refine their methods. Negroponte was also right in that retail stores have not disappeared too. They are still very popular too. People enjoy having a shopping experience at a store they like, and many times there are sales at stores that one cannot find online. Retailers have also integrated the internet into their marketing strategy by creating websites to attract shoppers to the store.

4) I do not think retail will change significantly from what it is now. Maybe clerks will start to be more helpful and maybe more cashiers will be added to shorten lines, but overall things will remain about the same. There are some things that people usually do not buy online such as cars, groceries, furniture, etc. Many of these products are things that people like to see and feel before they make the actual purchase. Most of the products I buy on the internet are those that I already know exactly what they will be like such as books. People will always enjoy going to stores to wander and waste time. Browsing for things through a store is far more intriguing than browsing on the internet. Thus, there will always be a need for retail stores.

Downtown Kalamazoo

1. Downtown Kalamazoo is a cute little town filled with stores of all types. There is lots of natural scenery throughout the sidewalks, and many of the sidewalks have been made with bricks forming a design. There are benches and tables for pedestrians to sit at and soak in the surroundings too. The myriad of stores includes restaurants, art galleries, insurance companies, home design, clothing, and more. All the stores have good window displays too that follow most of the principles that we have studied. Most stores on average are on the smaller side too, so it creates a warm, homely environment.

2. While Downtown Kalamazoo is nice as it is, there certainly could be some improvement. One of the major improvements that could be made is the street system. To explain it from personal experience, I break on average two to three traffic laws every time I drive downtown. There are so many confusing one-way roads, and the signs are unclear. Given the natural curve of the main road, a lot of awkward turns can be found too that only further complicate driving. This is not good given that the downtown area is repelling people that have to drive. Another improvement that can be made is reducing the amount of natural scenery. While the flowers and trees are beautiful and good for the environment, there are so many that they can sometimes distract pedestrians from the stores. They also increase the costs of maintenance of the downtown area. Lastly, the downtown area could benefit by trying to be more accessible to college students. Many of the stores, aside from the restaurants, are not places a college student would shop. On average, stores are a bit on the pricier side, and they do not sell things a young student would want.

3. The following passage is from chapter 6 of Whyte’s book, City:

a. “One of the virtues of street trees is the way they channel the walkway and moderate the scale of the right-of-way. A very wide sidewalk without trees is not a comfortable space.”

b. This is pertinent to Downtown Kalamazoo because the sidewalks are quite wide and they do have trees and other plants. Especially along Burdick Street, it would feel very strange to have such a large empty path to walk along. The single, narrow road in the middle and an empty sidewalk would combine to make a very ominous path. Thus, the city does a good job in preventing this by placing trees and plants strategically. The beds of plants also serve as a place to sit and for all the things that Whyte says a trash can be used.

Whyte vs. Gibbs

1. Both Whyte and Gibbs analyze city design, but they take different approaches. Whyte, compared to Gibbs, provides far more general information. He talks more about city centers as a whole whereas Gibbs focuses on the Main Street. Whyte spends time talking about the importance of a good sidewalk width, window-shopping, and appearance of the streets. One point that he does spend time on that Gibbs does not is the value of having second story stores. However, Whyte does not take as much of a structured approach to his analysis, so his examples are difficult to follow. He has more general observations and adds some opinion too. This resulted in a chapter that is somewhat difficult to follow and discern his main ideas. Gibbs on the other hand is meticulous in his details of what Main Street should be like. The reader can really tell that Gibbs has paid attention to all aspects of Main Street. He believes that Main Street needs to adopt design strategies used by malls in order to be more prosperous. While both Whyte and Gibbs would likely agree with each other’s points, Whyte’s chapter is more accessible to readers.

2. The first factor of urban areas that I take into consideration is safety. If I have heard rumors about a place being unsafe, there is not much that can make me go. I simply do not think shopping is worth safety risks. I like urban areas that are relatively busy and always have something going on. I remember being in Paris and walking around the streets at night and seeing all the street performers and musicians playing. The streets were clean, the food sold on the street was delicious, and everybody was happy. The city was cozy and warm and added to the positive emotion in the streets. I like urban areas that are well organized too. I want to be able to figure out where I should go without much difficulty. Street signs should be clearly labeled, sidewalks and crosswalks present at all the busy roads, etc. Urban areas that do not have these elements generally repel me. I do not like being confused and lost in most cities.

City by William Whyte

1. In this chapter, Whyte discusses the effective layout of major shopping streets and how different features attract or repel pedestrians. His main example that he uses throughout the chapter is Lexington Avenue in New York. He also discusses several places in Japan, which he says are much better designed and more effective than those in America. One point that he raises is the importance of the size of the sidewalk. He says that on side streets, the side walk should be about 15 feet wide while on the main street it should be about 25 feet wide. The sidewalk should be just wide enough that at the time when most pedestrians are walking, the path is a little bit crowded. This causes people to slow down and look at the stores, which is another point Whyte raises. Store entrances and windows have to be attractive to pedestrians. Whyte lists several things that appeal to peoples’ senses ranging from sound to light to smell. Window-shopping is also a major way of having people slow down and look at a store. Many times, sales for the day are advertised along with merchandise. Extremely expensive products also tend to catch the eye of people even though only a very small percentage of people could afford the merchandise. Whyte says that there is a correlation between the number of lookers and buyers, so this proves that this is an important feature. Whyte also says that having a variety of stores on several floors of the same building helps to add to the appeal of a street. Stores on the second floor have to adopt different advertisement tactics such as hanging banners and having people stand outside encouraging pedestrians to look upstairs. A busy street with lots going on is attractive to pedestrians going for a stroll because then they have a lot to see and do. Other factors that contribute to a well-planned street include simple amenities such as benches garbage cans. Streets need to have a certain appeal that makes one think nothing was actually planned at that there is a natural flow.

2. Whyte’s chapter is far less organized and structured than Norman. While Whyte provides many good examples, he does not categorize them like Norman does making it difficult to discern the main points Whyte is trying to convey. Norman, at the great convenience of the reader, clearly emphasizes the importance of visceral, behavioral, and reflective design, and then he provides examples for each of these types of design. Despite this though, there are still common themes between the chapters by the two authors. Whyte talked about the importance of a store’s appearance to pedestrians and how it must capture their attention. This could be done by a variety of means such as sounds and lights. Norman would classify this as the visceral design of a store. The initial response a pedestrian feels about a store can make the difference between whether he or she enters the store or not. Whyte’s point about the width of the sidewalk is similar to Norman’s behavioral design. The purpose of a sidewalk is to provide a place for pedestrians to walk freely and explore stores. Sidewalks that are too narrow or too wide can be very dysfunctional then. As Whyte says, a sidewalk should be about 15 feet wide or 25 feet on a main street. This is to ensure that there is a little bit of crowding during the busiest hours. Crowding is good for the stores because it forces people to slow down and look at the windows. Whyte’s discussion on trash cans also provide a good example of behavioral design. Lastly, Whyte talks about the feelings customers get from walking around. Pedestrians can have a very good experience simply by admiring all that is going on in a big street like 5^th Avenue. This is very similar to Norman’s reflective design concepts. One of the main differences in the two authors’ chapters is that Norman provides a much more general analysis of design. His concepts provide a framework in which to analyze a variety of designs. He discusses the fundamental concepts of design. Whyte on the other hand is applying these fundamentals to a very specific topic.

3. From Whyte’s chapter, one can derive several criteria for analyzing an urban area:

a. Functionality of sidewalk – is it wide enough? Does it provide good vision of stores? Are there too many obstructions in the sidewalk such as trashcans, benches, or trees?

b. Busyness of street – is there enough to capture the interest of a pedestrian? Can people wander for a while and always have something to keep them interested?

c. Store displays – do stores have good window displays that catch the eye of pedestrians? People need to slow down in order to look at something, so does the store make it worth the slowing down?

d. Trash cans – are they well designed and placed appropriately? Streets should be tidy, so trash cans need to be designed so that people actually use them.

What Main Street Can Learn From the Mall

1. Gibbs has lots of criteria for evaluating a Main Street. One of the first points he lists is whether or not a “generator” store exists. This is a type of store that will attract a lot of other businesses to the area. The example he provides in the article is a gym, which will lead to the development of other athletic stores in the area and possibly even health food stores. Thus, a good “generator” is able to attract not only customers but also businesses. This leads into another one of his points that stores must be clearly visible and nothing should exist to distract customers. The location of trees, benches, garbage cans, and other things need to be strategically placed or factored into the design of the store. Gibbs also talks about the price-point-to-aperture ratio. This has to do with the window display of the store and its size and features. Big window displays generally indicate a store that sells cheaper products whereas smaller windows are used in stores that sell more expensive products. These smaller windows draw the attention of customers that are curious and want to see more about the store. Stores must also follow what Gibbs says is the cardinal rule: keep shoppers’ eyes on the merchandise at all times. In malls, the winding paths ensure that customers are always looking at a store in front of them. Stores should therefore advertise well to capture the interest of the customers. The shoppers should feel safe in the shopping area and overall have a positive experience. There are stores that people simply enjoy visiting because of the atmosphere, and all stores should strive to provide this environment.

2. I believe that Main Street should not be a mall. There is a different appeal to Main Street and malls that cannot be reconciled into one entity. Malls can sometimes be very crowded, especially around holiday seasons, and many people simply do not like this environment. People may prefer to amble through the street in and out of a wide variety of stores. There also tends to be more independence in stores on Main Street because they are not part of a collective mall. This allows customers to have a more true experience with the vendor.

3. Criteria for evaluating Main Street:

a. Accessibility – is the store easy for customers to get to. Are there enough parking spaces to support the maximum capacity of the store? Is the store located in a place that most people would go to? Are stores visible and products being sold well displayed in the windows? (Should be able to go “window shopping”)

b. First glance – how does the place look if somebody were driving by? Everything should be rather aesthetically appealing and inviting to customers. Aesthetics can be defined by naturalness such as trees or artistic objects.

Variety of stores – can people walk around and find a nice mix of stores to explore

Wikipedia Paper

Below is my final article about the Sacred Cenote of Chichen Itza. The Wikipedia link is provided at the very bottom.

Sacred Cenote of Chichén Itzá

The sacred cenote of Chichén Itzá is located in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico and was a major part of Mayan culture. A cenote is a naturally formed sinkhole in the ground that provides access to ground water. The sacred cenote is located about 300 meters away from Chichén Itzá, the capital of the Mayan civilization around 800-1250 A.D. The Mayans believed the rain god, Chaac, lived at the bottom of the cenote, and that this provided a gateway to the Mayan underworld, Xibalbá. Sacrifices ranging from gold to wooden carvings to human beings were made at the site of the cenote.

Edward Herbert Thompson dredged the cenote during the years of 1904-1910, and he found jade, pottery, gold, and other artifacts. He also found the remains of human bones that showed evidence of being damaged and sacrificed.

I. Importance to the Maya

II. Objects found in the Cenote

Human Sacrifice

III. Dredging the Cenote

Dredging Under Edward Herbert Thompson

Diving in the Cenote

Dredging Under the Mexicans

IV. Naming the Cenote

V. References

I. Importance to the Maya

The Yucatan peninsula is a limestone plain and does not have any streams or rivers, so cenotes provide the only access to underground rivers. Cenotes are scattered across the peninsula, but the sacred cenote of Chichén Itzá was by far the most important to the Maya. In fact, Chichén Itzá translates to “At the mouth of the well of the Itza.” (Sharer, and Traxler)

The Mayans believed there were three entryways to Xibalbá. The bottom of the sacred cenote was one way along with caves and the Mayan ball game. They believed they could communicate with the Gods and ancestors by offering sacrifices into the cenote. The rain god Chaac was thought to live at the bottom of the sacred cenote, and many humans were sacrificed to appease him. A “cenote cult” eventually formed as people sacrificed objects to worship the gods. The Mayans would pray for bountiful harvests, good rains, and fortune. Many priests would also collect water, which they thought to be sacred, to perform rituals at temples. (Sharer, and Traxler)

Cenotes were so important and central to Mayan culture that they were often represented in art. Many depictions of gods such as Chaac, the Water Lily Serpent, and Chaac Chel show the gods pouring water into a cenote or creating storms. Water lilies growing on the edges of the cenote also symbolized the cleanliness of the water. (Sharer, and Traxler)

II. Objects found in the Sacred Cenote

One of the most amazing aspects about the objects found in the cenote is that many of them were perishable, but the cenote preserved them. Wooden objects, which normally would have rotted, were preserved in the water. A great variety of wooden objects were found including weapons, scepters, idols, tools, and jewelry. Jade was the largest category of objects found followed by textiles. The presence of jade, gold, and copper in the cenote offers proof of the importance of Chichén Itzá as a cultural city center. None of these raw materials are native to the Yucatán, so people travelled to Chichén Itzá from other places in Central America in order to worship the gods. Pottery, stone, bone, and shells were also found in the cenote. Archaeologists have found that many objects show evidence of being intentionally damaged before being thrown into the cenote. Some speculate that this intentional damage is meant to be like “killing” the objects as sacrifice to the gods. (Shane III 13-29)

Human Sacrifice

During the exploration of the cenote, many bones of human bodies were found. The remnants indicate that many different types of people were sacrificed. Young girls, presumably virgins, burly men, captives of war, and average people of the city were all sacrificed. While a variety of people were thrown into the cenote, young males were most commonly sacrificed because they represented strength and power. (Willard 97-118)

III. Dredging the Cenote

Dredging Under Edward Herbert Thompson

Most of the major findings of the cenote were made under the supervision of Edward Herbert Thompson who began dredging in 1904. Dredging is the process by which mud and water from bodies such as rivers or cenotes are scooped out using something like a bucket. Much of what is known about the dredging process is derived from Thompson’s personal notes. Thompson received money from Stephen Salisbury to help him buy the Chichén Itzá excavation site and explore the cenote. Many of Thompson’s findings and research can be found at the Peabody museum at Harvard University. (Sabloff 34-47)

A bucket attached to a pulley system was used to dredge the cenote. Much of the beginning work consisted of clearing debris and fallen trees on the top of the water. Leon Cole, a colleague of Thompson, once recorded in his journal, “they made ten hauls in the morning and six or eight in the afternoon.” People would search through the buckets of water looking for artifacts and categorizing them accordingly. Unfortunately, there were several reports of stolen artifacts that could never be found. (Sabloff 34-47)

Thompson decided to take a break from dredging after Salisbury died. A host of problems including the Mexican revolution and financial problems began to hinder the work effort and damage the morale of the workers. Thompson’s house in Mexico was also burned down, and one of the chests in which he kept his notes and data was engulfed in the fire. By 1923, Thompson was officially done working on the cenote. (Sabloff 34-47)

Diving in the cenote

In 1909, Thompson decided to dive in the cenote to explore the floors. He reported limited visibility due to the murky water, and many shifting rocks and trees made the dive hazardous. Thompson found a layer about 5 meters thick of blue pigment that had settled on the ground of the cenote. He described the bottom as, “full of long narrow cracks, radiating from centers as if the glass bottom of a dish had been broken by a pointed instrument. We found down in the cracks and holes a grayish mud in which were imbedded the heavier gold objects, jades, and copper bells in numbers.” He later proudly proclaimed, “I have at last personally trod the bottom of the Cenote.” (Sabloff 34-47)

Dredging Under the Mexicans

In 1961, William Folan, a field director for the Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia (INAH), helped launch another expedition into the cenote. Some of their notable discoveries included an inscribed, gold-sheathed bone, a large chert knife with a gold-sheathed wooden handle, and wooden ear flares with jade and turquoise mosaic.

In 1967, Román Piña Chán led another expedition. He tried two new methods that many people had suggested for a long time: emptying the water out of the cenote and clarifying the water. Both of these methods were only partially successful. Only about 4 meters of water could be removed, and the water was only clarified for a short amount of time. (Sabloff 34-47)

IV. Naming the Cenote

While commonly known as the “Sacred Cenote,” there are several other names used. It has been referred to as “The Well of Sacrifices” and “Chen Ku.” Chen Ku is the original name that the Mayans used for the cenote. Chen is the ancient Mayan word meaning “well” or “pool,” and “ku” is a word that means relating to or in the possession of God. Thus, Chen Ku literally means “The well of God.” (Coggins 9-29)

V. References

Coggins, Clemency. Artifacts from the Cenote of Sacrifice . 1st ed. 10. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1992. 9-29. Print.

Sabloff, Jeremy. Maya Treasures of an Ancient Civilization . 1st ed. New York City, NY: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1994. 34-47. Print.

Shane III, Orrin. Cenote of Sacrifice: Maya Treasures from the Sacred Well at Chichén Itzá . Austin, TX: The Whitley Company, 1984. 13-29. Print.

Sharer, Robert, and Loa Traxler. The Ancient Maya. 6th ed. Palo Alto: Stanford University Press, 2006. Print.

Willard, T.A. The City of the Sacred Well . New York City, NY: The Century Co. , 1926. 97-118. Print.

Wikipedia Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Cenote

Retail Analysis

Retail Analysis

1. I chose to observe the World Market. This store offers a large variety of international products ranging from food to furniture to clothing. They market to people of all ages and backgrounds because basically anybody with an interest in other cultures can find something to buy at the store.

2. Observations –

a. The store looks very simple on the outside. “World Market” is written in massive, red letters on the front of the store and the wall is white. There are automatic sliding doors at the entranced placed in the middle of the front.

b. The store had the radio on a very low volume setting. From what I could grasp, it was a local station. There were also the voices of the customers and workers.

c. The presentation of the merchandise depended on the type of merchandise. Clothes were all hung on hangers placed on racks. Little trinkets such as small baskets, hand instruments such as tambourines, and other such miniature objects were placed in baskets. Food is organized by type of food and placed on shelves. There are many wines from around the world for sale too. These wines are organized by type and country and placed in large wooden crates.

d. The floor was made of tile except for the few places where furniture was placed on a rug. These rugs were being advertised too though.

e. There are no big signs hanging from the ceiling like the ones at Meijers. Unfortunately, customers might have to look around for a bit until they can find what they want. The countries from which the products originate are clearly labeled too.

f. The cashier area is found at the front of the store where one would expect it to be. There are two registers, but the line never grew very long. As in most stores, candies and other little snacks are placed at the counter.

3. The World Market seems to try to project an image of independence. It is a very interesting store in that most of the products being sold are more expensive than their counterparts at other stores like Meijers. People are drawn to the store because of its cultural appeal. Thus, the store is designed in a way that leads people to want to walk around and look at everything. It makes sense that no large signs are hanging from the ceiling because the designers want customers to amble through aisles looking at everything. There are so many products that can interest anybody simply because they are from another country. There are some parts of the store, particularly the food area, that may seem a bit cramped but this gives a feeling of being surrounded by the countries. In the clothing area, a customer can pick up a scarf made in France and then turn around and look at traditional African clothing. Most people find this to be a very nice feeling, and the World Market really is designed to address this.

4. Customers seem to be a bit quieter because most of them are just intrigued by all the different products for sale. They never show any frustration of not being able to find something because of lack of signs. People enjoy getting lost in the store and happening across interesting products.

5. I found it interesting that the store really does bring out an international feel. A good variety of products from different countries are well displayed to attract customers. Large African animal woodcarvings can be seen next to the Persian rugs that just happen to be near the wines of the world. The store is crowded, but for once this doesn’t seem to matter in a store.

Egg Container Response

For this project, we were supposed to build a container that would protect an egg from a fall from the second floor of a building. My partner, Anne Fletcher, and I started off brainstorming ideas. We knew that we needed to create a buffer zone so that the box into which the egg was to be placed would not be the first thing to hit the ground. Thus, we started off with a fairly decent sized cardboard box and wrapped it in bubble wrap. On the very bottom of the box, half of an egg carton was attached to act as a buffer. The intent of this buffer was to absorb most of the initial force upon impact. More egg carton was taped onto the sides of the box to provide buffer for when the box hit the ground and possibly fell over. The egg itself was wrapped inside a standard grocery bag and placed inside of a cut open pop can. This can was then suspended in the middle of the box by placing supports on the inside of the box. More grocery bags and Styrofoam were placed around the can to provide more buffer for the egg. The testing stage exposed many flaws in the design of the container. In short, the design failed. As the box fell through the air, it flipped upside down and landed on the top where no buffer had been placed. Neither Anne nor I suspected that this would happen. We should have placed a little more weight at the bottom to ensure that the box fell in the direction we wanted. Unfortunately, we cannot determine whether or not the buffer would have worked because it wasn’t really tested.

My partner Anne’s thoughts and analysis of our egg container can be found at her blog - http://aafletch.blogspot.com/

"The Science of Shopping" by Malcolm Gladwell

1. In this article, Gladwell stresses the importance of paying attention to the layout of things in a store in respect to the consumer. He opens up by saying that people walk on the right side of a walkway generally because of habits formed from driving. Ergo, when a person enters a store, it is important to have things such as carts and big information on the right side. With men, things need to be much more direct. They don’t like wandering through shops like women do, so everything a man needs to buy should be in one place. For example, ties should be placed right next to the suits. Men also don’t care to look at women’s clothes, while women do enjoy perusing men’s clothes. Therefore, men’s clothing should be placed at the entrance of a store as opposed to the back. Gladwell is trying to show how stores need to be laid out in ways that almost manipulate the consumer.

2. When I go shopping, I like to be able to find what I need within the first ten minutes of entering the store. I don’t like having to walk around aimlessly looking at all the signs, and then having to guess whether or not what I need qualifies as a certain category of food. Oftentimes, if I can’t find what I need, I just forget it and leave the store. In clothing stores, I am just like what Gladwell describes. I am not the girl in that I like to create my own sense of style. I want everything that I might need to be in one area, so the suits, ties, black socks, et cetera should all be in one area. If this isn’t the case, I get slightly frustrated.

3. Retail Store Analysis Checklist – by no means is this list meant to be exhaustive

a. Are sale items and shopping carts in the front of the store and slightly to the right of when walks in?

b. Are men’s clothes in the front and women’s in the back?

c. Are all men’s clothing types grouped accordingly? For example, all types of clothing needed for a business setting should be in one area.

d. Are women’s clothing near the changing room?

e. Are the signs easy to follow?

f. Are prices of items clearly marked either on the product or on the shelves?

g. Are toys and other products little kids would want easy for them to see/touch?

"Isn't it Iconic?" by Stacey King Gordon

1. When consumers go to the store, the first thing they see about a product is how it is packaged. While the mantra taught from kindergarten is “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” the human psyche usually overcomes this. People get their first impression of a product based on the packaging. If the packaging is poorly done and looks cheap, it is likely that the person will not make the purchase. Ergo, packaging is extremely important in marketing a product. Packages need to clearly indicate the product that is found inside. Gordon discusses the main features of an iconic package in her article. Packages need to be simple, have a good color scheme, daring to be different, and changed only when necessary. As soon as a good package is made, consumers will always remember and associate a product with the package. Everybody knows what the classic Heinz ketchup and Coca Cola glass bottles look like. In my experience of shopping, there have been certain packages that have led me to make a purchase and many more that have led me to not make a purchase. For example, when I was in Inner Mongolia, I wanted to buy a bottle of traditional Mongolian horse milk. There was one bottle that was just a standard glass bottle with a label on it. However, I found another bottle that was in a leather pouch with a picture of Genghis Khan on it and the name of the drink written in Chinese and Mongolian. Naturally, I bought the latter because it was a much more interesting, unique bottle.

2. Aside from the products listed in the article as having iconic packaging, many other products have gained this status as well. Apple has surely become an iconic part of the technological culture today. The white apple, often on a black background, is pretty much recognized by all. IPods are sold in hard cases to protect the device with a clear covering so that the consumer can see what is inside, and the contents of the package are clearly labeled. Apple computers are sold in boxes that are simple to interpret and have a nice color scheme. Usually, the box is white and there is a picture of the computer on the front along with some of the featured applications. Other products include Campbell’s soup cans, Kraft macaroni and cheese, and pretty much all name-brand cereals.

3. While the packaging of a product is meant to help catch the eyes of the consumer, it is necessary that the packaging satisfy certain conditions in regards to usability. Firstly and most importantly, the package needs to protect whatever is being kept inside of it. Water should not be able to get to the product, the package should be able to withstand a fall, etc. Nobody wants to buy something that is broken when they open the package. Packages should also be easy to open. Consumers should not have to struggle to open the package because not only is it extremely frustrating but also it could potentially damage the product. Packages also need to clearly indicate what the product is. There shouldn’t be any confusion as to what is being sold. From past experience, I know how frustrating it can be when packages are too difficult to open. Oftentimes, electronics are sold in the heavy-strength plastic that requires scissors to open. It only gets worse when one cuts the package because the plastic is quite sharp and can hurt. In terms of usability, this is an extremely annoying package to have to open.

"Know it All" by Stacy Schiff

1. In this article, Stacy Schiff, talks about how Wikipedia came about as an online Encyclopedia, how it works, and where it might go in the future. Many people, especially those in the academic field, are critical of Wikipedia, and they oftentimes cite examples of ridiculous information provided by the website. However, this article makes a case for how Wikipedia functions almost as an anarchic community of information lovers. The website was designed by Wales in an attempt to provide free, easily accessible information to anybody that wants it. As the project grew, thousands of people began to help by adding, editing, and monitoring articles and information on the website. While this is from where much of the criticism is drawn, it is what allows the encyclopedia to provide such a breadth and depth of information. There is quite an organized system of monitoring the information on Wikipedia too. A cadre of people has been formed to ensure the quality of the articles. Overall, the article is written in support of Wikipedia and the groundbreaking type of encyclopedia that it is.

2. Passage

Wikipedians have evolved a distinctive vocabulary, of which “revert,” meaning “reinstate”—as in “I reverted the edit, but the user has simply rereverted it”—may be the most commonly used word. Other terms include WikiGnome (a user who keeps a low profile, fixing typos, poor grammar, and broken links) and its antithesis, WikiTroll (a user who persistently violates the site’s guidelines or otherwise engages in disruptive behavior). There are Aspergian Wikipedians (seventy-two), bipolar Wikipedians, vegetarian Wikipedians, antivegetarian Wikipedians, existential Wikipedians, pro-Luxembourg Wikipedians, and Wikipedians who don’t like to be categorized. According to a page on the site, an avid interest in Wikipedia has been known to afflict “computer programmers, academics, graduate students, game-show contestants, news junkies, the unemployed, the soon-to-be unemployed and, in general, people with multiple interests and good memories.” You may travel in more exalted circles, but this covers pretty much everyone I know.

This excerpt from Schiff’s article really shows how much of a culture Wikipedia has become. A lexicon could even be created. All the different words above such as WikiGnome and WikiTroll prove how information is monitored on the encyclopedia to ensure quality, which was one of the points emphasized in the article. As opposed to simply saying that information on Wikipedia is monitored, Schiff chooses a far more example by warranting her claims. She provides proof of the culture of Wikipedians.

3. The Encyclopedia Britannica and Wikipedia both provide an extensive amount of information, but naturally their designs are extremely different given that one is electronic and the other is not. In terms of visceral design, a nice book set of the Encyclopedia Britannica is simply a beautiful sight. The books are all nicely bound and the pages are painted gold along the edges. Wikipedia on the other hand does not really have that initial appeal. The main page is simply a lot of grey/black on a white background. The price tag on the Encyclopedia Britannica will really give the potential buyer a visceral reaction too. It is far (nearing a thousand dollars) from the freeness that is Wikipedia. In terms of behavioral design, Wikipedia is far more functional. It provides much more information about many more topics than Encyclopedia Britannica. Navigation of Wikipedia is also a lot easier than Britannica. It takes far less time to get on the computer and type in a topic than look it up in a book. Wikipedia also provides links to other information regarding a certain topic whereas Britannica does not. In terms of reflective design, Britannica is a lot more respectable. While Wikipedia is a very useful resource, it is generally not accepted as a legitimate source in academia. Britannica on the other hand is a respected, more credible source. Simply having a set of beautiful books like Britannica can really make somebody proud too. People would be more proud saying that they learned about something when reading the Encyclopedia Britannica as opposed to Wikipedia.

"Organization and Preparation Tips" by Garr Reynolds

1. Garr Reynolds explains ten aspects of making a good speech in his article. While they are all important to keep in mind, three points in particular stand out. His first point, “Start with the end in mind,” his third point, “Content, content, content,” and his sixth point, “Have a sound, clear structure.” His first point is a very holistic, overall approach to a presentation, and one’s goal for the end truly dictates how the rest of Reynolds’s points are handled. One can more easily determine what information is pertinent and how much time must be spent on certain topics if he or she knows what exactly is to be conveyed and emphasized. His second point about content is also very important. If a person does not have detailed, accurate information to present, then the presentation is simply a waste of time for everyone involved. The content should be provided in a clear manner so that it is easily understandable to everyone. This ties into Reynolds’s sixth point about having a sound, clear structure. The audience needs to be able to follow the presentation easily. There should not be too much extra fluff in a presentation because anything that digresses from the main topic could confuse the audience.

2. All of Reynolds’s advice is useful when thinking about how to prepare a presentation. Naturally one should prepare for a presentation, but Reynolds’s ideas of drawing everything out on a big board so that one can actually see the flow seems like a good idea. Also, it helps to be hard on oneself while preparing a speech. Thinking and answering questions that the audience might ask beforehand allows the presenter to be more prepared when the questions do actually arise. Reynolds’s tenth point about building confidence by practicing is greatly helpful because what he says is simply true. The best way to have a presentation flow smoothly is to practice and know the ‘ins and outs’ of everything. That way, even if something were to come up such as time being more limited than expected, the presenter knows the key points and what to cut out.

3. It is interesting to compare Norman’s thoughts on product design and Reynolds’s thoughts on presentations because there are in fact similarities. The biggest similarity is reflective design. In both product design and speech presentation, either the designer or the presenter wants to leave the audience reflecting about how good the product/speech was. Both Norman and Reynolds agree that it is important to know the audience because whether one is selling a product or selling an idea, so much depends on the type of people that are listening. The clarity of a presentation is also akin to the clarity of a product. Both a presentation and a product need to be easily understood by the user/listener. Thus, behavioral design as a whole contains many tenets that help with delivering an effective speech.

4. One aspect of design that I find quite interesting is what companies look for when designing their logos or mascots. How, for example, did Ronald McDonald come about? So many of these logos and mascots are iconic in culture, and it would be interesting to know a designers approach to creating these things.

"Emotional Design" Part 2

1. Passage

“Prestige, perceived rarity, and exclusiveness work at the reflective level. Raise the price of Scotch, and increase the sales. Make it difficult to get reservations to a restaurant or entrance to a club, and increase their desirability. These are reflective-level ploys.”

This brief passage focuses on techniques of improving reflective design. This passage really connects design to the psychology of the mind and how humans think about what they purchase. It is somewhat saddening even how humanity is so focused on buying expensive products to show off to their peers. The discussion held on Monday definitely touched on this point, and it was interesting that the entire discussion was dominated by the idea of reflective design. Everyone was simply more interested in the psychological aspect of product design, and visceral and behavioral design simply does not offer such an intriguing topic. This passage gives many relatable examples as to how people act when buying things.

2. The terms Norman uses to describe the types of design in this chapter – visceral, behavioral, and reflective – are all pretty accurate and understandable. Visceral by definition relates to an instinctual reaction of the body. As Norman said in the opening pages, there is a certain “wow” factor to products that attracts people to them. This is a gut instinct feeling, and Norman coining this ‘visceral design’ is very appropriate. Behavioral design is also a pertinent term because this relates to primarily the function or behavior of a product. The design has to function correctly for it to even be considered for purchasing. The other factors of behavioral design that Norman discusses are understandability, usability, and physical feel. All of these aspects relate to the behavior of an object. Lastly, reflective design, perhaps the most ambiguous term, is still appropriate. The only reason for ambiguity is that readers might not first think of ‘reflective’ in the psychological sense of people thinking about how products relate to them as a person. A better term for ‘reflective design’ may be ‘personal design.’ Much of what Norman discusses as reflective design truly depends on the character of the buyer, and certain things that may have sentimental value to one person could have no meaning at all to another. Thus, ‘personal design’ may be a clearer term to use.

3. Depending on the product, a designer may need to make one of the three types of design that Norman mentions stand out more than the others. For example, there are some products that simply have such a good visceral design – the object just looks so cool and fun to play with – that a person will buy the device no matter what. Somebody may see a watch that is incredibly creative, and despite problems in its behavioral design, the visceral reaction will overcome this and lead to a purchase. Products such as household appliances generally have to have a good behavioral design. Many people do not care what a microwave looks like so long as it heats up food. A washing machine that cleans clothes is as good as it will get, so other details of visceral and reflective design do not matter as much. A consumer will not buy a household appliance that does not work, so thus the designer must focus on the behavioral design. Reflective design is a little more difficult for designers to cater to because it is on a much more personal level. However, designers could tailor products to different regions of the world. For example, the youth in China all adore American pop culture. If a designer wants to sell products in China, it would greatly help if they put pictures of Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, or any written English on all types of things such as clothing, watches, backpacks, etc. Chinese people love to show off their American pop culture paraphernalia, so reflective design is extremely important here. Most Chinese people are used to cheap quality too, so they do not expect a great behavioral design. All of the examples provided above are examples of products that emphasize one of the types of design. Designers that pay attention to how products will be use can better assess which type of design they should highlight.