Photo Analysis

The elements and principles of design are present in this photo. The palm trees set a repeating patters. The colors of the sea and the sand are balanced. Vertical lines of the palm trees are contrasted with the horizontal line of the shore. The fluidity and smoothness of the trees are contrasted by the roughness of the sand and the trunks of the trees.

Denim Insulation

Denim Insulation

Denim fabric dates back to the early 1800s, and became an American staple in 1853 when Levi Strauss started making denim blue jeans. Since its invention, denim has been used for a variety of different applications. Denim is a durable and long-lasting fabric, and because of this, it has such a rich history. It has been used as shelter, clothing, flags, and even upholstery. It has come in and out of “fashion” but always remained in style. Denim is a timeless fabric that can be used forever.

            Levi Strauss incorporated metal points on the areas of their blue jeans to keep from weathering. In the 1950s, denim was a trademark of America’s youth. Today, denim is being incorporated into design and is being applied differently than ever before. This go-to fabric evolves with its users. The use of recycled denim in insulation proves to be an interesting application. Over 35 years ago, a company called Bonded Logic patented this material. As more interest has sparked with this eco-friendly material, many other companies are developing new compounds and uses for the denim insulation.

            Not only are big companies taking advantage of denim insulation. This summer, I dined at a pizza parlor in Houston, Texas. The whole building was created with reused and recycled materials. There were sections cut out of the wall to display the insulation! The process of making denim insulation goes as follows: recycled denim is stripped for any zippers, buttons, or metal hardware. Next, the denim is grinded up and shredded in a large machine. Lastly, it is put into a baler and then processed and unraveled. The denim insulation is virtually mixture of shredded up jeans.

            Why use denim insulation? The benefits are endless. Recent studies on fiberglass insulation show that it can potentially be harmful. Recycled denim insulation is made from old blue jeans and does not need to be processed. Denim insulation meets fire requirements and also acts as an acoustic sound barrier. All in all, denim insulation is a dependable material and we can expect to see it used more often as there is an interest in green building materials.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1.     Lohmann, B. (2000). Denim. Retrieved from http://www.designboom.com/eng/education/denim2.html

2.     Denim Geek. (n.d.). The history of denim. Retrieved from http://blog.denimgeek.com/history-of-denim/

Harris, W. (n.d.). How denim insulation works. Retrieved from http://home.howstuffworks.com/denim-insulation3.htm

Design Expo

The Design Expo at the Merket Alumni Center was so much fun. We got to meet with a lot of representatives and learn about the new products that they had to offer. Learning about so many new products gave me inspiration and ideas of items to incorporate into future projects. All of the free samples were such a bonus! Below is a picture of a few of my goodies from the Expo!

Campus Materials Analysis

Photo courtesy of iStock Photo

Argh Matey, another quest to find the best (and the worst) materials on campus! My mission was to find an example of the six fabric applications. The applications that the captain left me with were as follows: seating, wall covering, floor covering, paneling system, fiber based art, and window treatments. While sailing around campus this week, I kept my eyes peeled in the bird's nest and recorded my findings. Some I found were great, and others, belonged on the poop-deck! Take a look at me bootey:

Seating

Yikes! This bus seat looks like it fell out of the 70s! The corner of the seat is beginning to fray where it gets the most traffic. I think public transportation should have a seating surface that can easily be wiped clean.

This chair looks like it hasn't help up very long. The leather is decent, but the fabric seat has been used and abused by clumsy, hungry college students.

Wall Covering

This sleek and clean wall covering is functional and aesthetic.

Floor Covering

The dark color of this carpet hides stains or any other imperfections. If it were to be damaged beyond repair, a single square can be removed and replaced. Great choice for high traffic areas!

Paneling Systems

These panneling systems were used on the ceilings. I think the use of hard materials rather than fabrics was a good decision because they can be removed for any maintenance issues.

Fiber Based Art

It is fiber based and it is art! This display of flags gives a laid-back feel to an informal building. I love seeing these flags when I leave the SUB. GO Tech!

Window Treatments

It was hard to find any window treatments on campus that were fabric. These metal blinds in the Architecture building filter light and keep heat out in the classroom. I think they also keep the daydreamers from being able to stare out during class!

This quest helped me open my eyes to my surroundings more than I had before. These are examples of applications that do and don't fulfill all the necessary qualifications. I can see myself in the future being very critical about the finishes I see everyday!

All About Looks!

The all about looks field trip was so much fun! The cute little fabric store in the Depot District was so much more than just that. I arrived a few minutes early and got to peek around at all the impressive fabrics and wall coverings. First, we learned about the history of the store and how the owners, who are also sisters, established it. Next,  After showing us the latest trends in the new and improved wallpapers, we got to take a tour of their compact workshop where they complete all of their orders. The most interesting part of the trip was when we got to watch the man in the back room while he was upholstering a chair. His procedure was precise and he told us that it takes a lot of work to upholster a piece of furniture well. He had some cool stories and techniques, and offered some advice and knowledge on the art of upholstering. All About Looks was an informative and entertaining trip. After visiting, I might rethink trying to DIY reupholster my Grandmother's old recliner...

I snapped some neat pictures of all they had to offer!

These three displays had some fabrics that I really liked. They had tons more too!

This is the back room where all the magic happens! The top photo are just a few upcoming projects at All About Looks. The bottom is a chair in the middle of being reupholstered. I can't wait to go back. Maybe next time, I'll bring in my Granny's old chair!