A compilation of group discussion questions from ARC 211.

1. University at Buffalo – State University of New York
ARC 211 - American Diversity and Design – Spring 2017
Online Discussion Questions
Cameron Fry
http://www.blazejobs.com/stand-out-above-the-crowd/

2. Introduction
ARC 211 American Diversity & Design has had a huge impact on how I think about
problems. This course has introduced me of new ways of thinking and about different
diversity groups that need to be kept in mind while designing something. I came into
the course knowing very little about diversity groups and design, so in this class every
week I was learning many new things. One topic I found compelling was five
architecture disciplines that perpetuate spatial injustice. I found this compelling
because I still look for these spatial injustices wherever I go even after the assignment.
During the group discussions, my classmates have brought up some good points that
caused me to change my view on certain topics. This has been very beneficial to me
because without this class I would not be thinking the way I do now and it will help me
a lot down the road in my future endeavors. The following pages document my
responses to the online discussion questions in the Spring 2017 version of ARC 211
American Diversity and Design at the University at Buffalo – State University of New
York.
Photographer: CameronFry

3. Response to "Introduction" from Diversity andDesign
On “Introduction” from Diversity andDesign: UnderstandingHidden Consequences The editors state that “diverse participation in
the design process, from both professionals and publiccitizens alike, yields more equitable results.” This makes sense, but
typically has not been the case. Nonetheless, many marginalized groups have impacteddesign in ways that have changed our
visual and physical worlds as well as our systems, policies, and institutions. For example, in the 1960s, disability rights advocates
designed media events to raise awareness about barriers in the physical environment. They persisted withtheir efforts for
decades, and, finally, in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act became law. It mandated accessibility in public
accommodations such as restaurants and stores, public transportation, communication, and other areas of public life. This
dramatically changedour physical environment (from curb cuts to ramps to automatic doors) and the results made public life
more equitable. Now it’s your turn. Describe a design that was impacted bya diversity group. How andwhy did it change form
and/or circumstances? (Note that a design can be anythingrequiring planning and development prior to the productionof an
action, system, visual, material object, or environment. Also, keep in mind that, for ourpurposes, a diversity group is a gr oup of
individuals who are underrepresentedin society in some way—children, older adults, the economicallydisadvantaged, those with
cognitive disabilities, etc.)
Government subsidized housing for senior citizens is a great way to
provide housing for the elderly who cannot afford to live on their own.
This provides a safe community for senior citizens that has the cost
based on what they can afford to pay. These are great places for the
elderly to live because they still have independence and people in
similarsituations as theirs surround them. My grandma is
someone who lives in one of these communities. She is now able to
live comfortably in a place surrounded by people that have become
her friends.
http://www.holidayretirement.com/importance-of-winter-socialization-for-
seniors/http://www.holidayretirement.com/importance-of-winter-socialization-for-
seniors/

4. On “What is design?” from Hello World: Where Design Meets Life by Alice Rawsthron
The author opened her chapter with the example of Ying Zheng, the ruler of the
Qin empire, one of the most powerful and enduring empires I the history of China.
She explained how design innovation contributed to Ying Zheng’s success. For
example, in the development of weaponry, he resolved many problems by
standardizing parts, and this single innovation gave his armies great advantage
over other armies. For this discussion, let’s move away from 246 B.C. China, and
into the U.S. Describe an innovationor invention(can be current or historical) that
gave advantage to a groupof people in the U.S. or to the populationas a whole.
What were the social impacts of this innovation? Were any groups negatively
impacted by this innovation? For example, the telegraph, developedand patented
in the United States in 1837 by Samuel Morse, permitted people and commerce to
transmit messages across both continents and oceans almost instantly, with
widespread social and economic impacts. This heightened communicationspeed
allowed business persons to make decisions with up-to-date information, often
resulting in big profits. Those without access had to rely on out-datedinformation,
which put them at a disadvantage.
The development of the atomic bomb gave the US a huge advantage in war until
other countries started to develop their own. It helped the US become a major
power in the world and it ended World War 2, which helped many families reunite
and got the men fighting out of danger. There were also some negatives for the US.
The addition of this bomb made other countries feel threatened by the US, such as
the USSR, and played a huge part in the cold war. When the US was the only country
to have the atomic bomb, it was a great invention. However, when other countries
started to obtain atomic bombs, then it caused fear in the US population and
tensions in the US rose along with the international relations.
http://www.atomcentral.com/the-cold-war.aspx

5. Thread 1: FROM: Chapter in Media/Society andTED Talk Photos that Changedthe World
Where would you place the images shown in Photos That Changedthe WorldintoCroteau and Hoynes' diagram entitled “Model
of Media and the Social World”? Identify a mass media photograph takenin your ownlifetime that has served as an icon of an
event. (Feel free to add an attachment.) What roles does this photo playin the communication of the event?
The images shown in Photos that changed
the World can be classified under the
readers or audience section because these
images are very impactful to the people that
are viewing them. An image in my lifetime
that has shown as an icon of an event was a
picture of the Chicago Cubs victory
celebration. This picture showed millions of
people gathered in a park in Chicago to
celebrate their Cubs winning their long-
awaited World Series Championship. This
image show how big of a deal this was to the
city of Chicago and that the win was more
than just baseball for the city. Chicago
had recently been in the news for a lot of
violence and this championship brought the
city together for a much-needed day off.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-cubs-rally-parade-5-million-
wrong-world-series-perspec-1108-jm-20161107-story.html

6. FROM: “Fashioning Protest for the Women’s March on Washington” and “The Worst Design of 2016 Was Also the Most Effective”
Typically, we do not think of hats as elements of
mass media or social media. However, the two
hats (red and pink) discussed in the articles
certainly have taken on that role. Why are the
two hats (red and pink) mentioned in the
articles vehicles of communication design? What
meanings do each of the two hats carry? In
terms of communicationdesign, how are they
similar? And how are they different from one
another?
Both the "Make America Great Again" hat and
the women’s March hat are vehicles of
communication because they convey a message
that they believe in to others who are using
them. The hat used in Trump's campaign and
spoken about in the article, "The Worst Design of
2016 was also The Most Affective" and its
message of "Make America Great Again" is
directed toward the middle class
Americans because of the hat's trucker style.
These types of hats are not seen being worn by
the upper class and the middle class that
supported trump saw this, which is why these
hats worked so well for Trump. The pink hats
used in the Women's March resembled cat ears
that was a play on some infamous comments that
trump made that were leaked during his
https://www.fastcodesign.com/3066599/the-worst-design-of-2016-was-also-the-
most-effective

7. campaign. Other hats that were worn
had messages such as "Already Great"
which is bashing Trumps slogan and a
more simple "No" which is a
disapproval for many of Trumps ideals
and this hat has a much broader
meaning. Both of these hats are similar
because of the simplicity and the idea of
a lot to be left up for interpretation
because of the simplicity. The hats are
also different from one another because
of the supporters behind them. The hats
used in the Women's are most likely not
going to be worn by the same person
that also has a MAGA hat because the
protest was against Trump.
https://www.pussyhatproject.com/blog/

8. Response to “Industrial Design” by John Heskett and "The Incredible Inventions of Intuitive AI" by Maurice Conti
In his chapter on industrial design (written in 1987), historian John Heskett claims that the methods of mass production
introduced by HenryFord in the U.S. involved new concepts of the standardization andintegration of the production line that
were adopted across the world. With Ford’s method, workcouldbe completedby relatively unskilledworkers; it was more
efficient and with this method, products were made more quickly and cheaply than previouslypossible. What were some of the
social consequences of Ford’s productionline? In other words, how did this system change our U.S. society? Do any of those
changes remain with us today? Now consider Maurice Conti’s TED Talk, and the predictions he makes about production. How do
you think manufacturing processes will change in the next twenty years? How do you think these changes will affect our U.S.
society?
Ford’s production line allowed more goods to be produces
in a shorter amount of time. In order to make the goods in
the production line it called for more workers. Due to this
need of more workers, more people were able to get jobs
at the factories on the production line. With more people
having jobs, it allowed more people to spend the money
they earned and have higher quality of life. In addition,
because more goods could be produced in a shorter
amount of time, the goods that were produced were more
affordable. These changes were revolutionary and remain
in effect today and the impact of this is seen. There are still
many people located in cities nearthe factories that they
work at. With robotics making the advancements that we
are seeing today, I think that the factories will slowly be
adding robotics and replacing human workers. This will
make a college degree to be even more valuable in the next
twenty years when all of these changes will be phased in.
http://www.motortrend.com/news/2014-mini-cooper-production-to-
be-split-between-uk-and-netherlands/

9. Response IDEA Awards and Cradle-to-Cradle Video
Which of the 2016 IDEA Gold Award products seems to defy the Cradle-to-Cradle
concept developedby architect William McDonoughand chemist Dr. Michael
Braungart? How does this product resist or disregard the concept? Provide an
example of any products that embrace Cradle-to-Cradle design, please describe
and cite.
According to the video, the idea behind Cradle-to-Cradle is to use only renewable
energy, keeping materials in continuous cycle by being able to reuse the material to
make other things, and celebrate diversity by using different materials to
achieve the goals of their other ideas. The ZERO1 helmet from the idea website does
not seemto follow these ideas. The ZERO1 helmet had one goal and that is to
protect the athlete in order to make the game of football safer. In the statement on
the website, it does not say anything about making a helmet that is both safer and
environmentally friendly. Football helmets are products that have a relatively short
life as they will most likely be used and thrown away once a newer model comes
out. This is why a helmet with materials that can be used in a continuous cycle is
necessary to Cradle-to-Cradle. This single goal oriented design is not ideal for the
ideology of Cradle-to-Cradle unlike the HUBB lifetime oil filter that would pass
the Cradle-to-Cradle test. The HUBB eliminates the need to frequently replace the
dirty paper filters and uses one that will last for up to 0 years and is washed with a
good for the environment biodegradable soap.
http://www.idsa.org/awards/idea/sports-leisure-
recreation/zero1
http://www.idsa.org/awards/idea/automo
tive-transportation/hubb-lifetime-oil-filter

10. Response to Ballantyne and Zumthor Articles
Andrew Ballantyne and PeterZumthor present ideas about
architecture that seem to value the sensorial and material
elements of life. How are Ballantyne’s and Zumthor’s
viewpoints on architecture alike? More importantly, how do
they differ? (Use the SEE-IT method to respond to this
question.)
Andrew Ballantyne and Peter Zumthor both characterize
architecture as a piece of art and they think that it is
something that many people experience, but people see it as
normal and don't take the time to appreciate what went in to
it. This is because people are too preoccupied with their
everyday lives so it just blends in to their surroundings. What
people do not realize is how important the architecture is for
the ease of use of a space and how it fits in with what is going
on around it. Ballantyne's approach to architecture is more
focused on the aesthetics and how people interact with the
design. Zumthor's approach is more related to how the
architecture comes together and how it relates to the area
surrounding it.
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/peter-zumthor/

11. Response to Levy Article
John Levy’s article, “An Overview: The Need for Planning,” discussed ways in which planningcan determine the characteristics of
a place. For example, some smaller towns restrict the heights of buildings to maintain a certain scale. How did planningdefine the
character of the place in which you grew up?
I am from a small college town in central New York that is home to Colgate University. My town is a safe and friendly little village
that has many businesses in which a college student might need within a reasonable distance. Before it was easy to get a car in
college everything was located in the village within walking distance of the university. Since cars have become more popular and the
population increased places such as our pharmacy and grocery store have moved a little bit out of town to accommodate the growth
of population. They did not move too far, however, because they can be walked to. In the middle of the village is the village green.
this is a big park that holds events such as a
farmers market, small concerts and a fourth of
July block party. My town was designed to be a
very close community where new relationships
can be built and old ones can continue to grow.
For being such a small town, there are many
things to do. There is a movie theater, many
places to go play sports with friends and a lot of
very good local restaurants. Both the high
school and the college in my town are great
places to get an education. My small town
keeps on growing with the addition of a
microbrewery and other shops. The sense of
community in my town can be seen very easily
once you visit and it is no wonder why it was
ranked one of the friendliest towns in
America by Forbes. Growing up in my town has
taught me to be open minded and accepting of
all people and will always have an effect on
how I view things in the world.
http://artsatthepalace.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Broad-
Street-Hamilton-NY-L.jpg

12. Response to the Pruitt Igoe Project
Imagine that you are part of a urban planning anddesign firm workingwith Emily Talen (authorof “Design That Enables
Diversity”) and Kent Larson (who gave the TED Talk "Brilliant Designs to Fit More People In Every City" The thee of you have been
tasked with developing a plan to rebuild Pruitt Igoe in St. Louis. City officials told the three of youthat that they want to do it
right this time. Identify three strategies for rebuilding Pruitt Igoe in ways that promise to be more successful. What would Talen
do? What would Larson do? What wouldyou do? How would your strategies differ from those of the original urban
planners/designers of the project? Why would your strategies be more effective?
The first line of "Design that Enables Diversity" by Emily Talen states, "Human
Settlements, planners say, should be socially and economically diverse,"
which was exactly what Pruitt Igoe was not and was one of the many reasons
why it failed. The strategy that Talen would use would to make it a place for
all wealth statuses to reside, which would bring people from different social
backgrounds as well. In Pruitt Igoe the only people that lived, there were
poor African Americans. This led to somewhat of a war between the races.
The whites were mainly the government who ran Pruitt Igoe, welfare and the
police. With an inclusion of all races, this issue would be relieved and there
would be much less crime in the housing project. In addition, with the
diversity of income, there would be more money to put into the
maintenance of the buildings and local businesses surrounding it. Larsen is a
believes that things such as cafes, work and medical needs should be close enough to walk to or have a safe and easy way of getting
there. At the end of the Pruitt Igoe it said that developers were purchasing real estate surrounding the old project in hopes of
revitalizing the area. This would be great for Larsen and to add to this he would most likely make a safe walkway and bike lane to the
surrounding area so that the residents can have access to this. The thing that I saw about Pruitt Igoe that was the biggest problem
was the lack of maintenance and security. With a better maintenance, staff that could consist of some of the residence would be a
great addition so that the buildings will maintain the want of people to live in them. Security was also a huge issue in Pruitt
Igoe because people could just wander in off the streets and cause trouble. With security keeping track of who is coming in and out
it will create a better and safer living environment for the residents.
http://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2012/02/new-documentary-the-pruitt-
igoe-myth-tells-of-the-rise-and-fall-of-americas-most-infamous-housing -project-067223

13. Response to F.L. Olmsted
Displaying his plan at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Frederick
Law Olmsted stated that "Buffalo is the best planned city, as to its streets, public
places, and grounds, in the United States, if not in the world." What was the basis
for this claim? Would Olmsted still make that claim today? Whyor why not?
Frederick Law Olmsted stated that Buffalo was the best-planned city in the US and
maybe even the world. He says this because of the broad streets and many open
spaces that had the potential to become a park. This allowed him to be able to fulfill
his idea of having parks the focus of the city and this plan worked. His adjoined
parks allowed for the city become more prosperous and a more desirable city to live
in. I do not believe that he would say the same today. The parks that he had built
have now been destroyed and roads have been built right through them. There has
been some concern about the destruction of Olmsted's parks and some aspects of
his parks have been restored, such as the traffic circle. With the resurgence that is
happening in the city of Buffalo and the restoration of the city, I think that in the
next decade or so he will be saying the same thing about Buffalo. Buffalo had a
rough patch for a while, but this increasing awareness will be enough to restore
Olmsted's ideas.
http://www.pbs.org/wned/frederick-law-
olmsted/learn-more/olmsteds-buffalo-park-system-
and-its-stewards/

14. Response to Walter Hood's Work
Identify something that shouldbe memorialized either onUB's campus or in your hometown. Imagine that you are the person
who will oversee this project, and that you are using Walter Hood's 'triad of investigations' as your approach to the project. What
would your landscape interventioncommemorate/memorialize? How will you use Hood's 'triad of investigations' to design a new
landscape intervention? What doyou imagine that the design will be? (Either writtenor visual descriptions are acceptable).
In my hometown, I think that the old railroad tracks should be memorialized. Although you
can no longer see the tracks because they have been covered in grass, they serve as a
reminder of what my town was founded on. Today, the railroad tracks are used as a jogging
trail. They have so many cool stories to be told and you can still see many of the buildings that
ran along the tracks. They are even the cause for one of my towns big festivals, The Great
Chocolate Wreck. This was when a train that was carrying chocolate crashed. The site of this
has been covered in trees but it still has remnants. I think that these should be uncovered and
some signs should be put up along the tracks describing the unique history of the railroad
tracks in my town. The buildings along the tracks have been re purposed but you can still see
what they once were. I imagine the tracks being used as a hiking path, like before, but with a
lot more notice to it because it seems like it is a hidden gem in my town right now that only
comes out once a year for the festival. This new design would bring more people down to see
more of the history of my town.
http://blogs.colgate.edu/bookstore/2015/09/a-
brief-history-of-the-annual-great-chocolate-train-
wreck-festival.html

15. Response to the Brookes
The abolitionist poster, the Brookes, is an iconic image that often is includedin exhibits that explore issues of race and p ower. It
was commissioned by Thomas Clarkson in 1788, and the Committee of the Abolition of Slavery used it toinform and shock the
public. While some consider the poster as an important component of the abolitionist campaign, it recently“has been strongly
criticized by some individuals and groups of African heritage as providinga very limited view of the history of the transatlantic
slave trade, resistance and abolition (Hudson 2007).” The lesson here is that how a viewer sees an image is dependent upon
his/her social, economic, and culturalposition. Keeping this in mind, find anothericonicgraphic that addresses racial issues and
post it for others in your group toview. (Add it to yourresponse by clicking onthe picture in the tools section. Do not ad dit as an
attachment that needs to be opened.) How do you interpret the graphic? What is its meaning? Now imagine that someone from a
racial and cultural backgrounddifferent than your own is lookingat the same graphic. Briefly describe this person. How migh t
s/he interpret its meaning? How might this differ from your interpretation? What are the possible reasons for these differences?
(Consider the three assessment principles mentioned in the article to help you: a technologyof vision, an instrument of empathy,
and a symbol of control.)
This depiction of Pee Wee Reese putting his arm around his
teammate Jackie Robinson is an iconic image in the sports
world and in the civil rights movement. In this moment
baseball fans in Cincinnati were booing Jackie Robinson. Pee
Wee Reese saw that this was wrong and decided to do
something about it. Pee Wee went over to Jackie and put his
arm around him, which showed his acceptance of Jackie who
was the first African American to play in the MLB. This was
seen as a surprising move by Pee Wee because Cincinnati is
close to his hometown meaning many of his family would be in
attendance. He came from a family that was not accepting of
the change that was happening and was against Jackie being in
the MLB. By doing what Pee Wee did, it showed the people
that there is nothing wrong with what was happening and they
should just accept the change like he has. Someone from a
http://www.splicetoday.com/moving-pictures/i-42-i-is-a-well-
crafted-homage-to-jackie-robinson

16. different background from me would be someone that does not have an extensive knowledge in sports. Without knowing the full
background of the image, this image would not have as big of an impact. However, this person would see an African American and a
white man being accepting of each other in front of many people in the period of the civil rights movement, so they would see that it
is a very powerful image.

17. Response to Charles Davis and equityXdesign's Work
Critique either the MLK Memorial or the National Museum of African AmericanHistory andCulture usingequityXdesign’s core
beliefs and/or design principles. (Use the beliefs or principles that are most relevant to yourcritique rather than all of them.)
The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American is a
place where people can go learn and reflect on the history of
African Americans. The design of this museum was very
thought out and has a very modern look to it. The unique
design of this building allows it to be seen and peek the
interest of the people that pass by. The design has many
inspirations from various folk art forms. An example of this is
the copper that wraps around the glass that emulates a
crown worn by African kings. The crown on the building
celebrates the achievements of African Americans that can
be found inside. The open concept with many windows
allows for an inviting feel for all races. In the building is a
piece of the past that people of all races in the present can
look at thus creating a relationship between the present and
the past. The inviting atmosphere that draws all races
creates the feeling of living in the future that is desired.
http://inhabitat.com/national-museum-of-african-american-history-
and-culture-opens-today-in-washington-dc/

18. Response to “Landscape Stories” Chapter
First, let’s start with your own home. Describe a place in your home (indoors and/oroutdoors) that youthink of as representative
of your own ethnic background anddiscuss why you considerthis place to be ‘ethnic’. –OR-- Describe an object in yourhome that
you think of as representative of your ethnic background and discuss why this object is considered to be ‘ethnic’. (If possible, add
photo/s.) Is this object or place something that youwill keep or continue when you establish your own home? Why or why not?
Now let’s move into your community. In “Landscape Stories,” the authors show how
landscape architects developa historical narrative that sifts throughand interpets the
culture and material of underrepresentedgroups. Think about the community where
you grew up. Describe and discuss any evidence of cultural influences on the physical
environment in yourcommunity. If possible, describe evidence of the cultural
influence of an underrepresentedgroup. (If possible, add photo/s.) Is this cultural
influence being acknowledged or preserved from future generations? Why or why
not?
I come from a very mixed background. I guess the three main backgrounds I come from
are German, Irish and Welsh. It would be very hard to tell that going through my Mom
and Dad's houses. Neither of them have anything that would suggest I come from
Welsh, Irish, or German descent. My town, however, has an obvious Irish background.
The first thing that you see when you enter my town is the huge stone Catholic Church
and a pizza place with a sign out front that reads, "Ye Old Pizza Pub." Our school's
mascot is the Emerald Knights, which, again traces back to the Irish feel because of the
color. The University in my town, Colgate University, is a non-denominational school but
contains many stone buildings that I think of when I think of Ireland and even has an
Irish Pub, Donovan's Pub. This influence is being preserved because the Irish charm of
my town and the college is what sets it apart from other towns and schools. I cannot
see this changing anytime in the near future because my town is one where many
generations of families stay and they would not want it any other way.
https://erniehunter46.wordpress.com/

19. Response to Article on Sports Branding
Recent controversies about sports brandingfocus on ethnicity. The
Washington Redskins team is just one example of the larger
controversy, but it receives the most public attention due to the
name itself being defined as derogatoryor insulting in modern
dictionaries, and the prominence of the team representing the
nation’s capital. Should sports team branding designers use ethnic
references (Fighting Irish, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Braves, etc.)? Why?
Why not? What are some of the complexities of this issue?
I believe that there are many different situations in which using
ethnicity in sports branding are alright. The main things that I see
wrong with the Redskins name is that it has very little to do with the
where the team is located or what the teams beliefs are and it is also a
derogatory term for Native Americans. For example, The Notre Dame
Fighting Irish is used because of the Irish background of the University.
The University of Notre Dame is a private Roman Catholic school and
Roman Catholicismis extremely popular in Ireland and the first thing
many people think of. An example of where the location plays a factor
is the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. The Sioux is a tribe that has a big
influence in North Dakota, so I find the name appropriate. If ethnicity
is used, there should be fitting reasons behind it.http://redskins4ever.com/redskin-greats/retired-
numbers/

20. Response to "Visualizing Gender" Chapter
In their chapter “Communicating Gender,” Maya Ganesh and Gabi Sobliye discuss two primaryvisual advocacyapproaches: 1) get
the idea, and 2) stories in data. Find a new example of either of the two visual advocacy approaches to genderissues, and post it
in this thread. Cite the source. First, identify the approach. Then explain how the designer uses the approach tocommunicate a
gender issue. Is the approach effective in this example? Why or why not? How could this graphic be improved?
The designer of this cartoon chose to focus on the problem of equal opportunity employment.
The designer is stating in the picture that equal opportunity employers do not actually hire
equally, they will only hire you if you fit the mold. In this case, the mold is shaped like a male
figuring showing that the woman who needs the money to support her child, cannot get a good
job because she is being discriminated against even though they say she will not be. The
designer does a good job of clearly showing this in the cartoon. The labels emphasize the irony
of the equal opportunity employers not being equal. If I were to change something about this
cartoon I would change the shape of the cutout to be the men’s' bathroom figure instead of
what they have to make the point even clearer. In addition, I might change the woman to the
women’s' bathroom sign to show the cleardivide so that nothing can be left up to question.
http://cartoonsmix.com/cartoons/john-
marshall-political-cartoons.html

21. Response to Bathroom Bill
Last year, North Carolina GovernorPat McCrorysigned intolaw a bill that repealed local LGBT anti-discrimination laws, and
required people to use the bathroom that corresponded with the biological gender written on theirbirth certificates. This
prompted massive backlash. McCrory stated, “You know, we all have to make adjustments in life. And we’ve had the proper
etiquette situation for decades in our country, and all of a sudden throughpolitical correctness we’re throwingaway basic
etiquette.” Just this past Thursday, the NorthCarolina General Assembly passed a bill to repeal the law while placing a
moratorium on nondiscriminationmeasures. Should people be requiredto use the bathroom that corresponds with the biological
gender written on their birth certificate? State why AND state why not. In other words, to receive full credit for this quest ion, you
need to present an argument for bothsides of the issue. As a designer, how would you solve this gender dilemma? Use the SEE-IT
method to respond to this question.
I don't think it should matter which bathroom someone has to use. I don't think
people should be required to go by the bathroom that matches their birth certificate
because, in most cases, this will make the trans gender person and the people around
them more uncomfortable. This is because a trans gender person will most likely look
like the gender that they identify as. With this law in place, it would cause a trans
gender person who looks like a male to use the women's restroom which would cause
both the trans gender and non trans gender people to be uncomfortable. An
argument against this would be that if there were no regulations on this issue there
would be nothing stopping a non trans gender person from going into the opposite
gender's bathroom and causing problems. For example, a male could walk into a
women's bathroom and start harassing the women using it. Also, a male using a
women's bathroom could make the women in there feel uncomfortable. To fix this
issue a suggestion that I would suggest is to have more than just one family or multi
gender bathroom in public places. This would allow more people to use the
bathrooms that are more private so that no one would feel uncomfortable.
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/why-
gender-neutral-bathrooms-are-unnecessary

22. Response to Hidden Ways
Author Steven Flusty categorized five types of disciplinaryarchitecture that perpetuate what he calls urbanspatial injustice: 1)
stealthy, 2) slippery, 3) crusty, 4) prickly, and 5) jittery. Go out into the cityof Buffalo, and find/photograph two examples from
the list of five. Identify what type of space you have photographed and whyit might discriminate against a specific population.
Identify the location where youtookthe photograph, and make certainthat you are in at least one of the two photographs.
This picture of my mom and I was taken at the Buffalo Zoo. I would describe the
zoo as Crusty. The Zoo takes up a ton of space and is easily seen and would
normally be easily accessed by people but it has huge fences (can be seen in the
background) around it that prevents people from entering. The Zoo
discriminates against people that cannot afford to pay to go inside.
The next image is at the Japanese Garden at Delaware Park. This is a beautiful
place that I feel does not get the attention it deserves therefor I would call this
place stealthy. The Japanese gardens are hidden behind a museum and does not
have very many signs saying where it is. It is a public space, but the lack of signs
makes it difficult to find and it does not show up when I search it on
Google maps.
Photographer:JenniferFry
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/flatbushgardener/se
ts/72157624335812167/

23. Response to People Like Us
After almost two decades of public assistance, Tammy Crabtree took herself and her family off the welfare rolls. But her job
cleaning bathrooms at a local Burger King barelypaid the bills. Crabtree wantedto do better and hopes to go to college and
become a teacher. Imagine this scenario. You are a designer who works at the well-known firm, iPD (IntegratedPlanning and
Design). You work on a team with planners, urban designers, policydesigners, architects, and social designers. You have been
tasked to develop/design a way for Tammy Crabtree and her family (and others with situations similar to Tammy’s) to move
themselves out of poverty. What will yourteam to do to help Tammy andher family achieve theirgoals? What approach will your
team take to address this difficult problem?
The first thing that my team and I will look at is her
employment. A new job could help her family out immensely. I
would help her look for a job that has benefits that could help
her and her kids out. One that comes to mind would be working
for a College or University. I am not sure if it is true for most
Colleges, but the College in my town provides all full time
employees and their children with free tuition to that University
or half of their tuition towards another College of the
employee's choice. In addition, I would recommend anyone in
her family that is able to find employment. This would be good
for Tammy because this would allow her and her family free or
reduced tuition to get an education. Next, I would look for a
home for her. I would look for something near public
transportation or near where she could just walk to get most of
the things she needs so that she can reduce spending on a car. It
appears that a lot of the load of the family is put on Tammy, so
my team would like to spread that out so that they are not
reliant on her and can be motivated like her. This will allow
them as a family not just a single person to lift themselves out of
poverty.https://ashrobbins.wordpress.com/tag/meme/

24. Response to Carroll Article: “(Re)forming Regent Park: When Policy Does Not Equal Practice”
The development of Regent Park is phased, and there are several more phases to the project. What actions could be taken to
ensure more social integration for the olderpeople living in the ‘new and improved’ Regent Park?
I think the new design is a good base for the new regent park. I
think that in order for the residents to interact they will need to
do it in common areas throughout the complex. I think that the
addition of patios with grills would be a good way of doing
this. This would allow for the residents to interact by having
barbecues together. Another thing that I like about the new
design is that the seniors are in the tallest building. This will
force them to take the elevators and this could be a place
where they can interact. Going up and down constantly in the
elevator there will be plenty of time for the residents to
introduce themselves and talk in the elevator ride. Another
thing that would be good for social integration would be
creating an expanded large community garden that all of the
residents can work on and maintain. This would be a great place
to meet and talk to some new people while sharing common
interests.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regent_Park

25. Response to Enriquez TED Talk: “What Will Humans Look Like in 100 Years?”
For this question, we will focus on Juan Enriquez’ Life Two civilization, which alters fundamental aspects of the body. We ar e
living longer than ever before in human history. Enriquez argues that, because of advances in bio-medical technology, the
possibility of living to 120 years of age and beyond is quite possible for many of us in this D+D class. Assuming that his assertion is
accurate, how do you think extended life spans will change our societies and built environments? What new issues might
designers face because of extended life spans?
One of the major and obvious issues with longer
life spans is overpopulation. The overpopulation
would lead to a need of more homes and stores
in a given space. With a finite amount of land,
the only way to go is up. Future cities will most
likely see taller buildings and be filled with tall
apartment complexes and malls. The new
technology needed to make lives longer will also
cost a massive amount of money to flow into the
health care industry. Longer life spans will also
lead to later retirement. This could be bad for the
economy because there will not be jobs for
young people to have because there will not be
any for them. I also think that a longer life will
lead to extremes among classes. I think this
because getting jobs will be hard and lead to
more unemployed and poor people. However,
there will be a demand for people to work in the
health care industry and these people will be well
off because of the huge reliance on health care in
order for people to live longer.http://www.eartheclipse.com/environment/problems-of-overpopulation.html

26. Response to PPT, Smithsonian, and Roy
For the Module 12 Thread 1, please select one of the seven universal design principles, and post photographs that show both a
positive and a negative example of the principle. Then address the following question: How do yourexamples empower or
disempower various people? Describe the specific features of the positive example and the specific features of the negative
example. Discuss ways that the positive example could be even further improved.
I chose low physical effort. The positive example is a hand soap dispenser with a sensor in it so that you do not need to manually
push anything to get the soap out. This involves little to no physical effort. The negative is the opposite. It is a dispenser in which a
button needs to be pressed in order to get the soap out. A way to improve the one with the sensor is to improve the sensor so that it
is more responsive. This design empowers children and shorter people who have trouble reaching the dispenser. Since they can just
put their hand under the dispenser, it makes it a lot easier for them to wash their hands. This would get rid of the frustrating
moments where the soap does not come out.
https://icon2.com/collections/soap-dispenser/products/1000ml-
large-hand-wash-dispenser-plastic-touch-soap-dispenser-wall-
mounting-sanitizer-dispensers-wall-public-area-dispensers https://www.pinterest.com/pin/3475512
96217380086/

27. Response to Survey, FIXED, and Stelarc
What lessons do you think we should learn from historywhen thinkingabout emergingenhancement technologies and
reproductive technologies? What are some of the possible consequences (bothpositive andnegative) of being able todesign ou r
bodies and the bodies of our children? What ethical quandaries do these technologies pose?
Technology has helped the world out in incredible ways,
especially in health care. These technologies span all the
way from prosthetics to cancer treatments. Since the
technologies are advancing so fast, there is not much from
the past that we can learn from in regards to reproductive
technologies. The enhancement of cancer treatment
involved a lot of new technology and has helped many
people. This is one of the many things that this new
technology has positively effected. These treatments give
the cancer patients a longer life, a more comfortable life
and has increased the chance of survival of patients. Being
able to design our bodies that could prevent illness can be a
very positive thing because no one wants to be sick, have
some sort of disease, or have cancer. A possible negative
impact would be a lack of diversity. This would not be good
because diversity is a big part of the world and without it
there would not be many people that think differently and
challenge ideas. The main ethical debate is that using
technology is not natural and because of that, many people
are against this.
http://www.healthline.com/health-news/vice-may-have-
overstated-case-in-killing-cancer-030615

28. Response to Titicut Follies
The state of Massachusetts tried to ban the 1967 documentaryTiticut Follies, arguingthat director Frederick Wiseman had
violated the patients’ rights by not gettingwrittenpermission to film them. The case went to court, andWiseman argued that he
had consent from their legal guardian, the institution. After a judge ruledin favor of the state, the legal appeals carried on fo r
several years: in 1969, Massachusetts allowed the film to be shown to doctors, lawyers, and health care professionals; in 1991, a
superior court judge ruledit couldbe released for the “general public,” as privacy concerns were no longer at issue, so man y
years later.
Should Wiseman have been allowed to film the residents of Bridgewater Massachusetts Correctional Facility? Why or why not?
How might this film be of value to designers (communication designers, product, designers, architects, interior designers,
planners, landscape designers, systems designers, and/or social designers)? In other words, what might they gain from this film
that they could use in their work?
I think that Wiseman should be allowed to film in the Bridgewater
Correctional Facility. I also believe that there should be limits to what he
is allowed to film. The common areas are a place where I think it is alright
to film, but once the patients are in places where they expect privacy, I
think that the cameras should be turned off. I do think, however, that it
was kind of a good thing the film came out and they were allowed to film
because it showed people what went on and people can learn from what
took place. There are many things to gain from this film from a design
standpoint. One huge gain for the designers is that they can see the areas
that the patients benefited from and used quite often and they can
improve these areas. Another good thing is they can see what parts of the
facility is not being utilized and either get rid of it or improve it so that it
can be used to the fullest extent. The film is a good source to see what
worked and what did not work in the facility and then when building new
facilities they can be better planned.
https://www.pinterest.com/gloremuseum/sad-times-our-history/

29. Response to PPT, The Architecture of Autism, Public Space
Prelude: Wolf Wolfensberger's seminal work "The Origin andNature of Our Institutional Models" positedthat society
characterizes people with intellectual disabilities as sub-human and burdens of charity, He argued that this dehumanization, and
the segregated institutions that result from it, ignoredthe potential productive contributions that all people can make to society.
He pushed for a shift in policy and practice that recognized the human needs of those with intellectual challenges and provid ed
the same basic human rights as for the rest of the population.
The Scenario: Imagine that you and your four childrenlive in Amherst, New York in a $650,000 home at the end of a cul-de-sac on
the edge of a ten acre woods. The town has purchased a one acre lot three houses away from yours, and plans to builda group
home for ten intellectually challengedadults. As a resident of the neighborhood, wouldyou support or oppose this proposal and
why?
You've learned additionalinformation about the residents of the proposed group home in your neighborhood. In 2013, three of
the ten intended residents exhibited challenging behaviors including screaming, publicmasturbation, repetitive rocking, and
echolalia (elective incontinence). However, these behaviors have not occurred since then. How would this change youropinion
about the constructionof the group home in your neighborhood?
The residents in your neighborhood voted (14-3) to reject the townof Amherst’s proposal to build a group home in the
neighborhood. Town officials agreed that the home would not be built in your neighborhood if you andyour neighbors could
develop a workable alternative. What are some possible solutions that wouldallow the residents of the home tobe provided
with “the same basic human rights as the rest of the population”?
I would most likely oppose this plan to build a group home in my neighborhood. The
reason why I would oppose this is because I would have gone into buying my very
expensive house with 10 acres of woods thinking I would get some peace and quite in
my neighborhood. Knowing that some of the residents have screamed and have done
other things that would cause a disturbance I would not be getting the peace I thought
I was getting when I purchased the house where it was. Before knowing of what the
residents behaviors I probably would have supported the idea of a group home, but
after knowing I would oppose. I think setting up a program with families around Buffalo
to allow the residents to live with them would be a good thing to allow the residents
equal rights. The families that will take in the residents would be compensated with a
fairamount of money that would have gone into the group home. They would also be
screened to make sure the residents will be going into a good home and would be
getting the care that they need.http://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2015/0
2/23/11464/

30. Response to The Connection Between Religion andUrban Planning byDavid Engwich
In his article, David Engwicht discusses the fact that religions (of all types) have played major roles in the development of our
cities. Today, places of worship are primary components of almost all urban centers. Author Lorne Daniel writes “From their
often active role in supporting people who live in city centers to their iconic influence on designand use of space, religious
structures tell us a lot about our history, our current needs, and where we might be headed in the future. This is an aspect of
our urban future that planners and urbanists should attend to.”
Identify a place of worship with which you are somewhat familiar. (If you are not familiar with anyplaces of worship, do a b it
of research on one in your own city or town.) Show a photograph of
this religious structure. (You may use photographs from the web.) What
roles has this place served in the development of your city/town? How
has it influenced the design of the area aroundit? How has its role
changed over time? What roles could this place of worship play in the
future development of your city/town?
In my town the church I am most familiar with is the First Baptist
Church. I am not religious and have not been there for a religious
ceremony, but I know many people that do and they have met many of
their friends through attending. The church is located adjacent to the
village green in the center of town and has drawn a lot of traffic to my
town's main park. I am familiar with this church because they host
many events that many of the members of my town attend. Some of
these events include pancake breakfasts, used clothing sales and play
rehearsals. Even though it's main function is and always will be a
place of worship, the non-religious has changed the function of the
church. These events have grown increasingly popular, I can only see
them getting bigger, and generating more traffic through town and to
the green. It also is good for the people that have stands set up for the
farmer's market because after the church events, the people go out and
shop at the farmer's market. In the future, I can see the church having
similar functions going on, but to a bigger scale that will generate
more traffic to my small town.
http://newyorktraveler.net/lovely-buildings-of-
downtown-hamilton-ny/

31. Response to Prospects for the Future of Diversity and Design
Consider the quote in your syllabus from educator Michael J. Shannon: “Design, as vision in action--the intersection of
understanding andcreation--is a universal human capabilitythat canplay a fundamental role in social evolution, in the
process that transforms resources, energy, and informationto make our world.” At the beginningof this course, we discussed
the idea that we are all designers regardless of our profession or field of study. We’ve asked some big questions along the
way, and the conclusion section of our textbook raises additional issues that require input from people who might not
consider themselves to be part of the formalized design professions. Think about yourown major and/or future profession.
What is the biggest challenge, problem, or question that your field needs to tackle right now? What do you plan todo to
address this challenge, problem, or question eitheras part of your studies or professional life?
One of the biggest challenges in the field of civil engineering right
now is making buildings and structures that are as energy efficient as
possible. In the world today, we are seeing more and more LEED
certified buildings and there is always the challenge to keep
improving and make them more and more efficient. Many different
factors go in to planning these buildings that make them as energy
efficient as they can be. In my studies, I will try to help improve
energy efficiency in buildings by taking courses and studying the
necessary topics that will help me learn more about how this can be
done. I also plan to talk with my peers and professors to get more
opinions and views on this idea so it can develop into something that
can help the world. I hope that I will end up in my professional
career working towards creating more energy efficient buildings with
an engineering firm.
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2013/04/005.html