Schematic Design: Art Analysis and Diagramming

Analysis of Painting      

       The oil painting titled “Lighthouse” by Alexander Lyamkin is an abstract oil painting done on a 19.7”x23.6” canvas panel. The painting is very realistic known as surrealism. Surrealism is a style of art and literature developed principally in the 20th century, stressing the subconscious or non rational significance of imagery. The emphasis of the painting is the human face because everything else around it is abstract and has nothing to do with the human body. It’s kind of like a puzzle the more you stare at it the more you try to piece it all together. The painting is called lighthouse but when you look at it, it doesn’t resemble anything of a lighthouse.  The objects do resemble things you would find at the beach.    

       The painting illustrates many elements of design such as line, shape, color, space, and composition. The different types of lines used in the painting are vertical, diagonal, curved and contour lines. These lines are used in such intricate ways that it also represents the different kinds of textures given to the objects. The lines that are used to form the shapes are also very interesting. The shapes used for the face are so detailed which helps make it look so real. The purple shape in the background is basically the structure of the picture that is keeping everything in place. The colors used are also realistic because they help explain what the artist is trying to incorporate in the painting. The blue background illustrates the sky, the orange, black, and white represent the colors of a clown fish, and the red is some other kind of fish. The space in the painting has great depth nothing is flat on the canvas. Incorporating depth in a painting helps all the objects pop off the page. The whole composition of the painting flows very nicely. Everything is in proportion with each other and it’s a very interesting painting to analyze.        

       This painting provokes happiness because the setting is on the beach. The beach is a place where you can go and just relax and let you mind run free from everything. In the background it looks like the sun is setting which makes you believe that it is later in the day.  The orange, black, and white can be different sizes of shells or rocks. The red fish looks like it is representing the hair of a women and the fish eye could be her earring. The white wavy lines above the head look like the eyebrows. The entire purple portion in the background could be the sandcastle house of this human and the three squares on top look like molding which gives it a decorative look. Overall the painting doesn’t represent a lighthouse but it does represent all the objects you would find near a lighthouse. 

Diagramming  

 

 

                

           

Interior Design: Case Study on Acoustic Armstrong Panels

Research:

       For years employees working in offices have complained about the lack of privacy between their space and other employees' space. A 2001 study by BOSTI Associates concluded that the single biggest impact on both job satisfaction and performance was workers' abilities to focus and get their work done. The design characteristic most affected by that ability was the degree of office privacy. (IIDA.org) In an ASID/Yankelovish study of 1,000 workers, 70 % said their productivity would increase if their offices were less noisy. (ASID.com)
     
       Today the most popular design for offices are open plan because they require lower start up costs and encourage communication and collaboration between employees. An estimated 70% of office workers work in cubicles or open work areas. (ASID.com) A half wall is what divides your space from your employees space. Generally working in an office building the sounds you hear are phones ringing, keyboards clicking, and file drawers opening. Workers also get distracted by other employees talking in the hallway. These noises are the primary cause of productivity loss, absence of workers, and stress. (IIDA.org)

       Since employees have been complaining about privacy issues Armstrong decided to survey workers in six major corporations by replacing ceiling systems with more absorbent materials and added electronic sound masking. Armstrong decided to survey the workers again and more than 80% of workers believed they would be more productive if their workspace provided more acoustical privacy. (ASID.com) According to Kenneth P.Roy, Senior Principal Research Scientist with Armstrong Building Products in Lancaster, Pa. "Acoustical privacy is achieved through the A,B,C approach: absorb, block, and cover the noise. (IIDA.org) Absorb sound with ceiling and carpet, block sound with paneled walls, and cover noise with electronic sound masking. (ASID.com)

       Electronic sound masking consists of a series of speakers that are installed above the suspended ceiling. The sound that comes out of the speaker is air blowing which is supposed to help drown out other noises within the office. The benefits of this product include: speech privacy, reduced distractions due to noise, and a more comfortable working environment. (Architect.com) Most employees would rather hear the sound of air instead of listening to their neighbor. Another way to keep cubicles quieter is to use acoustical wall panels and ceiling tiles.



Electronic Sound Masking device that gets installed above the suspended ceiling. The speaker can also be mounted in the employees workstation or on their desk. Each employee can control the volume of their speaker depending on how loud the noise around them is.  


Solution:

      As a designer it is important to inform the client about the various products they can use to block out sound in an office. Some employees are easily distracted by the littlest things such as a phone ringing and there are solutions to help them. Armstrong is one of the company's that sells ceiling and wall panels that are acoustic. These products will help decrease noise in the office and will benefit everyone.

       Armstrong walls are acoustical, class A flame spread performance, and have no added formaldehyde or high recycled content which helps make them LEED certified. The acoustical inner core that penetrates the sound is either mineral fiber or fiberglass covered with woven fabric, composed fabric, easy care vinyl, or wood veneer. They absorb 50%-90% of sound that strikes the surface or is transmitted through the walls. Panels are easy to install and can be placed horizontally or vertically. You can order standard or customize your own wall panels. There are plenty of colors and patterns to choose from that will add a nice texture to your wall. These panels are mostly used in offices, schools, and retail buildings. Armstrong also carries many different types of acoustical ceiling tiles that help absorb sound. Check out the Armstrong website at Armstrong.com for more information.



Images: 

Acoustic Infill Panel that penetrates the sound.

Right Side: Acoustic Wall Panel & Left Side: Acoustic Ceiling Tile

Resources & References:

ARCHI-TECH

ARMSTRONG
ASID Sound Solutions

IIDA


  





   

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