We are incredibly privileged creatures. In the vast expanse of the Universe, we have the correctly assembled atoms that allow us to think, to perceive, to question. These atoms, these tiniest of building blocks that composite us, give us the honour of manifesting wisps of thought into creations far greater than ourselves; creations that will last long after we have shuffled off this mortal coil.
Yet some of us think that our arrangement of molecules gives us a sense of superiority over our fellow humans. A most disturbing thought, yet true nonetheless. It is indeed sad, then, that we continue to settle for this way of things, that we allow such things to occur, things that are significantly trivial when placed into the grand scheme of our existence. Of those who are troubled by such matters, many choose to fight fire with fire, thinking that this can be a solution to issues of security. It has been this way for centuries, and perhaps it is this judgement that has clouded our view of place in this sphere of the Universe. Many have forgotten how privileged we are to exist in the correct arrangement of atoms.
We live in a privileged slice of time, too: technological growth, and the challenges it brings with it, allow us to re-invent ourselves. To hopefully reconsider our place, and to design a future that values our unique position as a species. For the sake of humanity’s future, and that of our planet, I hope that tomorrow’s thinkers propagate such ideas, and move us away from the primitive tenets of crusade and conquest.
One year is already down. Amazing how quickly time flies. One year of architecture has made me realise how challenging, exciting and angst-ridden this course is.
For those interested in architecture, and in beginning or considering their studies in this course, know this: architecture is a course like no other. You will learn to think in a totally different way, and you’ll suddenly become exceptionally consumed by it. You’ll begin to see things around you, wherever you go: architecture exists wherever humans are on this planet.
You will stay up for days upon end, agonizing over the smallest of details, drafting master plans for structures that will never see a life beyond the presentation paper. You will get frustrated, angsty, philosophical. Sometimes, you might even become totally intolerable to anyone outside of the studio (studio culture means that “we’re all in this together,” – everyone in there will understand your pain).
So why, then, do we do this? Why do us prospective architects put ourselves through six arduous years of all-nighters, AutoCAD anxiety and concept-driven frustration?
Because we need it. We need architecture to keep ourselves sane. It’s the one weapon that we know we can wield in the face of 21st-century challenges: urbanization, climate change, economic fluctuation. We know that we can’t deal with a 9-5 job pushing paper; we have the urge to create skyscrapers, cities, homes. We have the deep-set need to transform people’s lives through the most tangible manner possible: creating something out of nothing. It’s definitely a love/hate relationship, but then again, isn’t anything creative like that?
Here’s the thing: even though I’m a BlackBerry user (I just got a new Bold 9790 a few weeks ago), I’ve been a strong opponent of Research in Motion’s brand for quite some time. But the reason I’ve stuck with them is simply because here, in South Africa, the BlackBerry is so popular, and so economical, that it just makes sense to get one just to keep in touch with the plethora of friends I have on the BBM network. Plus, the BIS internet service is a major draw for a heavy internet user like myself.
But the platform still has its problems. Even though BlackBerry 7.1, the latest version of the operating system powering these smartphones, was released a few months ago, it’s incredibly outdated. It’s a system that has tried to live in the shadow of iOS, and that’s clear in the rough manner in which touch has been slapped onto the interface almost as if it was an afterthought. The BlackBerry OS has become so bloated, and so old, that the only logical way forward for Research in Motion is to simply scrap it, and start-over.
Which is exactly what they’ve done with BlackBerry 10.
It’s fresh, powerful, and a completely new take on the mobile operating system – in fact, on the whole mobile experience. It’s a completely different approach to the now tired and iterative Android and iOS updates. And that’s why I’m really rooting for RIM, and hoping that the BlackBerry manages to regain its strength, even if it is to serve as a true, deadly competitor to Apple and Google in the hopes that those companies will be kicked back into the innovation mode once again.
They’ve done away with the concept of the “application grid”, which can result in having to “nest” very deep into an app, getting lost in the multiple layers, wasting time when you need it the most.
The two main features, then, of the user experience are called BlackBerry Hub and Flow. The Flow relates to the fluid new gestures that you use when accessing the device. Peek is a pretty cool feature that allows you to literally “peek” into parts of the screen. Unlocking the device is particularly nice; as you swipe the finger upwards, parts of the screen get revealed. Swiping completely opens the phone to you.
Intrinsic to the architecture of BlackBerry 10 is The Hub: it runs on top of the platform, and you’re “always in” it. It allows you to see your upcoming events, messages and notifications. The beauty of it is that it’s accessible with a single gesture, with one finger.
Then there’s BBM: perhaps the most important feature of the BlackBerry; the most defining feature. In BB10, this app has been completely redesigned, and it’s all about contacts. The contacts view is now more visual, displaying your friends in a grid format with their avatars. Peek is intrinsic here as well, and it allows you single-finger gestures to access parts of BBM like initiating a conversation.
The “one thumb” approach to the interface, especially with the keyboard, makes BB10 a system that has been built for touch, and built for it in a highly efficient manner. The video below illustrates these points quite well:
BlackBerry 10 is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2013. I’m really looking forward to it; it’s a new take on the mobile phone, and I truly hope it can bring BlackBerry back into the mobile game against Android and iOS.
Us writers, artists, creators of all sorts… we’re a curious branch of the human species. We are content with basking in solitude so that we may create something collectively greater than our being. I’m reminded, when ruminating on the reasons for artistic creation, by this quote:
“Writing is a struggle against silence.” – Carlos Fuentes
It is, indeed. The other day I watched an interview on BBC World News’ Talking Books. In it, the author being interviewed discussed how he believed that all writers are “tortured souls” – that we are very distinct from the rest of the population: we’re happy to remain, for prolonged periods of time, alone in a room. Writers are never content with the world they live in; they’re always seeking out new places, dreaming up new universes in which the possibilities of their imagination may exist. They feel compelled to write, to escape in the torrent of words.
Writing and designing, two facets of my life that occupy most of my attention, have brought me to realise the struggle that artistic creation can bring: it’s a constant frustration, a feeling that the mechanics you’ve implied upon the subject you’re defining are crumbling in upon themselves; that sometimes, perhaps it’s just easier to start-over. I’ve had many re-starts in creative endeavours. My writing folder on my MacBook is littered with false-starts of manuscripts that will perhaps never see the light of day. But then I think upon the quote above – the “struggle against silence.” Often, instead of just giving up on the thing you’re creating, it’s better to persevere with it, to just go with the flow of the creative experience, and see where that stream takes you.
So then, why do we write? Why do we paint, draw, design? Perhaps it’s because, even though it can be a struggle, against frustration, against silence, it’s a struggle we enjoy: the challenge of creating something out of nothing, that romantic notion of contributing, or commenting, on the human experience, draws us like moths to the flame.
But the big news today is about Jony Ive. I don’t think it can be overstated just how big a deal it is that he now oversees all product design, hardware and software. For the last year, outside observers have been left to wonder just where the buck stopped for UI design at post-Jobs Apple. That question has now been answered: Jony Ive.
Apple’s senior management has had a major reshuffle, with iOS chief Scott Forstall out, and other execs like Bob Mansfield, Eddy Cue and the legendary designer, Sir Jonathan Ive, taking on roles with added responsibility.
The blogs have been alive with much speculation as to why Forstall was fired from Apple, but for me the biggest news is that Jony Ive will be leading the user interface division of Apple, along with his current activities as the company’s leading industrial designer.
From the press release:
Jony Ive will provide leadership and direction for Human Interface (HI) across the company in addition to his role as the leader of Industrial Design. His incredible design aesthetic has been the driving force behind the look and feel of Apple’s products for more than a decade. (source: http://www.apple.com)
In Apple’s recent software products – recent versions of iOS and OS X – the design trend of skeuomorphism has been a growing tendency. Many speculate this to be the influence of Forstall, but it dates back to the Jobs era when Steve himself was a major proponent of the style. For those that don’t know what skeuomorphic design is, here’s the definition of it (from the OS X dictionary on-board my MacBook)
skeuomorph |ˈskjuːə(ʊ)mɔːf|noun: an object or feature which imitates the design of a similar artefact in another material.
The design has made its way into many of OS X’s native apps, such as Calendar and Address Book. The major defining characteristics are leather stitching and textured backgrounds. The idea is to try and convey a feeling of a well-designed product. However, in my design-student’s perspective, I’m not much of a fan of this trend. Computers are technological products, and their design should reflect this. Apple’s integrated hardware/software philosophy seems to fall short in the use of skeuomorphism; the design of apps like Calendar and Address Book run perpendicular to the sleek aesthetic of the company’s Mac lineup. Similarly, apps like Game Centre on iOS devices conflict with these products’ hardware.
Jony Ive, who brought life to ubiquitous gadgets such as the iPod, iPhone and MacBook lines will now also be involved in the user interface of Apple’s software. I am extremely excited about this news; it means that the integration of Apple’s products will indeed be unparalleled. Software is a major part of 1 Infinite Loop’s newer devices such as the iPad, and Ive’s influence in this aspect of the product will indeed be greatly felt.
This news is also important in that it marks a new era for Apple. This is perhaps the single most important corporate development since Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO last year. Sure, Tim Cook is an influential CEO, but it is Jony Ive who is the real soul of the company. He was one of the only designers at a tech company to be reporting directly to the CEO during Jobs’ reign (a symbol of the importance Jobs gave to industrial design over raw engineering), and thus, his leadership of the two highest-level departments at Apple, the world’s most valuable company, makes him quite an influential figure socially, culturally and technologically.
I wish him all the very best, from one designer to another 😉
Rahul Dowlath 