ARC 211 - American Diversity and Design – Spring 2017 Online Discussion

1. A R C 2 1 1
A M E R I C A N D I V E R S I T Y
A N D D E S I G N
D I S C U S S I O N
Q U E S T I O N S
P A U L A D E L O W U S U
SPRING 2017
University at Buffalo
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK |

2. Thread 1: Introduction
This thread provides you with an opportunity to "meet" each other and initiate a
connection with participants in your group. In responding to this discussion
thread, please introduce yourself and provide us with one interesting fact about
yourself. After posting your introduction, take a look through and reply to some of
the others. The purpose of this exercise is to develop a sense of community. You
might find that you share similar experiences and can help each other in many
ways throughout the semester.
Hello, my name is Paul Adel Owusu and I am a Sophomore studying architecture here
in UB. One interesting fact is that i was born in Italy but do not speak Italian since that
the first question everyone wants to ask me when I say that.
D+D has influenced me in the way that I appreciate a lot of things now. Not only has it
make me appreciate life in general but it gave me perspective on certain things such as
embracing what gender, race, ethnicity, class because if you embrace, then people
cannot hurt you with it. Embracing who we are makes a person stronger, they can
endure anything that comes their way.
I use to be ignorant about a lot of things but one thing that this class has taught me is to
be vigilante and pay attention to the things around it. We take a lot of things for granted
but we shouldn’t.
: 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

3. Response to "What is design?" from Hello World
On “What is design?” from Hello World: Where Design Meets Life by Alice Rawsthron1
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 innovation or invention (can be
current or historical) that gave advantage to a group of people in the U.S. or to the population as a whole. What were the
social impacts of this innovation? Were any groups negatively impacted by this innovation? For example, the
telegraph, developed and 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
communication speedallowed business persons to make decisions with up-to-date information, often resulting in big profits.
Those without access had to rely on out-dated information, which put them at a
disadvantage.
One of the invention or innovation that gave advantage to the people of the United
States was the Internet. This invention has opened so many gateway paths such as
social media, and it has been a part of the everyday life. it can even be said that people
who do not have access to the Internet are at a disadvantage. it has affected the world
and the US socially in terms of changing things from the book and written world to the
digital world; where everything can be access through the click of a button. We have
easy access to information which can be a good thing at the same time a bad thing. A specific group that were and are still affected by
this innovation can be students. Students now rely so much on the internet to spit out their answers instead of using the brain and
trying to figure things out by themselves. this innovation has made this generation "dummer" because prior to this innovation was the
library; the gateway to all answers. if someone or a student needed answers, they either asked a professional or the searched it in the
library and had to read multiple books to find the answer. However, now the answers are at the tip of our hands due to the internet.
1 Alice Rawsthorn, Hello world: where design meets life (New York: The Overlook Press, 2015), 3.

4. Response to "Introduction" from Diversity and Design
On “Introduction” from Diversity and Design: Understanding Hidden Consequences
The editors state that “diverse participation in the design process, from both professionals and public citizens alike, yields
more equitable results.” This makes sense, but typically has not been the case. Nonetheless, many marginalized groups have
impacted design 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 with their 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 changed our 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 by a diversity group. How and why did it change form and/or
circumstances? (Note that a design can be anything requiring planning and development prior to the production of an action,
system, visual, material object, or environment. Also, keepin mind that, for our purposes, a diversity group is a group of
individuals who are underrepresented in society in some way—children, older adults, the economically disadvantaged, those
with cognitive disabilities, etc.)
As the author said, "Design is never neutral; Design is positive or negative-- overt or hidden" meaning that each inventor of this design
had their motive when designing something and no matter how much we try to go around it and find out, the answer always comes
back to the author's motive if he wanted it to be negative or positive, hidden or open. During the age of slavery, the forefathers design
the constitution and one of them stated that "all men are created equal..." it might have seemed that constitution was representing
everyone in this case of "men". But just as the author stated on "Diversity and Design: Understanding Hidden Circumstances", Design
was either hidden or overt. The design of the constitution was hidden in the sense that even though it claimed "all men are created
equal," they truly meant white male landowners or property owners; meaning that even white males who lived in poor conditions were
not equal in their eyes, and the "men" in there was literally just male and woman were underrepresented and so were African
Americans as well as children. In other words, none of these groups could vote or really have a voice in the so called "democracy". it
was just the 1919s and 1920s that woman were granted the right to vote. African Americans were granted the right to vote in the 1870.
There had to be changes and modification before these underrepresented group were acknowledged as equal.

5. http://states.jsa.org/norcal/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/10/Constitution.jpg

6. Chapter in Media/Society and TED Talk Photos that Changed the World
Where would you place the images shown in
Photos That Changed the World into Croteau
and Hoynes' diagram entitled “Model of Media
and the Social World”? Identify a mass media
photograph taken in your own lifetime that has
servedas an icon of an event. (Feel free to add an
attachment.) What roles does this photo play in
the communication of the event?
Same way that they say that you words are powerful
and it has a great impact, thats the same way that
Photos have a huge impact as well. the photos would
be grouped in Model of media and the social world
because those photos are basically mass media.
according to the author of Media and social world,
he states that, "if you want to understand media and
their impact on our society, we must consider the
relationship between media and the social world.
The photos shown in the Ted talk were photos that
had impact on the world and we have a choice, as he
said, we can either do something about it when we
see it or we can ignore it. One of the mass media
photo taken in my lifetime that served as an icon of event is the photo of Martin luther king Jr. giving his i have a dream speech. This
photo tells me that there are people out there who fought for me to be here today.
http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_klein_photos_that_changed_the_world.html

7. Response to Articles on Hats as Communication Design
Fashioning Protest for the Women’s March on Washington” and “The Worst Design of 2016 Was Also the Most Effective”
NOTE: Use the first three part of the SEE-IT method of critical thinking (State,
Elaborate, Exemplify) to address the following questions:
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 communication design, how are they similar? And how are
they different from one another?
State: the two hats (red and pink) are both ways to communicate messages,
especially political messages. however, both of them have different purposes.
Elaborate: Donald Trump claim to make America great again and the red hat gives it that messages. In addition to that, the republicans
color is Red as well. The pink hat was a symbol of those who went against trump and his belief systems.
Exemplify: Woman march and protest while wearing the pink hat and that meant that they didnt belief in Trumps presidency. the red
hat2 is Trumps promise of uniting America through his policies of preventing immigrants to come into this country, however, a lot of
people disagree with his methods especially keeping the immigrants out of the country.
2 Budds, Diana. "The Worst Design Of 2016 Was Also The Most Effective." Co.Design. January 03, 2017. Accessed May 01, 2017.
https://www.fastcodesign.com/3066599/the-worst-design-of-2016-was-also-the-most-effective.

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 Henry Ford in the U.S. involved new concepts of the standardization and integration of the production line that
were adopted across the world. With Ford’s method, work could be completed by relatively unskilled workers; it was more
efficient and with this method, products were made more quickly and cheaply than previously possible. What were some of the
social consequences of Ford’s production line? In other words, how did this systemchange 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 method of production line has been abducted by countries all over the
world. It benefited a lot of people. In terms of the United States, it provided a
lot of job opportunities for workers. it affected the system in the US society by
giving a lot of people in US jobs because now, they didnt have to be
specialized in a field or even be trained worker with a degree. The production
line didnt require those things so it brought jobs which then brings money into
the country. In addition, products were made faster and quicker which means
booming economy while previously, it take one person to make the product.
Nevertheless, twenty years from now, production will not be the same meaning
we might need a production line right now for products but later on, machines
and computers might take over these jobs and responsibilities. According to

9. Maurice Conti3, we have moved from the hunter gatherer age to the agricultural age, to the industrial age and now we are in the
informational age. We have moved from passive, to generative to intuitive. it has gotten to a point that designs that us human might
not be able to think about designing, computers and these technologies are able to come up with these designs. The generative design
tools uses computers and algorithms to come up with designs that would have never been thought by humans. This is the age that we
are moving towards and it will affect our societies in a lot of ways such as taking jobs from certain people but at the same time
bringing money into the society with the new and innovative designs.
3 Conti, Maurice. Maurice Conti: The incredible inventions of intuitive AI | TED Talk | TED.com. Accessed May 01, 2017.
http://www.ted.com/talks/maurice_conti_the_incredible_inventions_of_intuitive_ai?language=en.

10. Response IDEA Awards and Cradle-to-Cradle Video
NOTE: Use the first three part of the SEE-IT method of critical thinking (State, Elaborate, Exemplify) to address the
following questions:
Which of the 2016 IDEA Gold Award products seems to defy the Cradle-to-Cradle concept developed by architect
William McDonough and chemist Dr. Michael Braungart? How does this product resist or disregard the concept? Provide an
example of any product that embraces Cradle-to-Cradle design. Please describe and cite your source.
Cradle to Cradle is all about using and utilizing materials in a continuous cycles. They have two strategies and those strategies are to
minimize and use fewer materials and at the same time reducing the amount of energy being used. The other strategy is to rethink and
use effectively and not waste material or even food. Those waste can be
someone else's food. In the 2016 IDEA Gold Award products, I think the
Rolls-Royce Dawn defies the concept of cradle to cradle because it contradicts
the concept of using renewable energy only because these cars use fuel and
these fuel is not a renewable source which disrupts the concept and our earth
that we live in. These cars should move towards using energy like solar or
water or something that doesnt affect our world trying to get or even using it.
However, products such as the Biofuel Clean cookstove4 is a perfect example
of embracing the cradle to cradle concept of design. This stove does not use
firewood and fumes like the regular stoves that actually causes health
problems, this new technology actually uses cooking oil and oil that is
extracted from plants which reduces energy. it also is a perfect example of
using renewable energy and not abusing them as well.
4 http://www.idsa.org/awards/idea/kitchens/biofuel-clean-cookstove

11. Response to All Module 4 Materials
Your readings and viewings this week present different ways of thinking about architecture. Mies Van der Rohe describes
architecture as “The will of the epoch translated into space.” Andrew Ballantyne5 describes architecture as the background
for life. Jeanne Gang describes it as the act of building relationships. All agree that architecture can change based on context
and culture. Choose two works of architecture from any of your materials this week—one with sensibilities about the past and
one with sensibilities about the present and/or future. How do each of these buildings either reflect or challenge their cultural
contexts? (Use the SEE-IT method to respond to this question.)
Henry Ford and Albert Kahn both combined their minds to come up with architect that challenged the norms and cultural
context. Before these two great minds, factories were not the way it was viewed today, it was the work of Albert Kahn that inspired
and revolutionized the structural part of factories. Kahn didn't understand why Henry Ford need that big of an empty space in the
factory, but noticed that it was a way of revolutionizing Ford's product which was the model T. The assembly line required each
worker to keep repeating the same task over and over again, and to make that easier, Kahn and ford design it in the way that the Model
T moved in a straight line in the big factory and while its moving, each worker perform their sole duty and construct the car. It
challenges the cultural context because the norm of car production was for
workers to bring the parts to the car and place it on it. However, this time,
architectural advancement allowed the car to rather come to the parts making it
easier and a faster way to produce a large quantities of cars in a minuscule amount
of time. In addition to that, the cars were tested rite in the middle of the factory,
which had never been done before until this architectural development.
Another building that challenged the cultural context was Roberts Venturi gift
house for his mother Vanna Venturi. Unlike other architects, Robert Venturi is one
of the most interesting architects in my opinion. For others, its all about rules and
rules and following guidelines such as a door, windows showing out, every path
leading to something, however, Robert Venturi is different and that is what makes
him an interesting architect. Robert had a problem with modernist; following the
trending and modern stuff and creating order in terms of buildings. Vanna
5 Ballantyne, Andrew. "Architecture, Life, and Habit." The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism69, no. 1 (2011): 43-49.
doi:10.1111/j.1540-6245.2010.01445.x.

12. Venturi's house is a complex house because Robert chose to embrace complexity and contradiction and even wrote a book about it. He
believes that the building "should always come around and surprise you." In some part of the building, the stairs literally leads to
nowhere, just a plain wall. Thus showing how Robert defied cultural context in his gift to his mother.
Response to Ballantyne and Zumthor Articles
Andrew Ballantyne and Peter Zumthor present ideas about architecture that seemto 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.)

13. Peter Zumthor6 believes that architecture has a physical relationship with life and in a way and also firmly believe that memories play
a pivotal role in the work of architecture. He claims that it is these memories that enhances the experience of an architect. In addition,
Zumthor focuses on the construction and small details when it comes to architecture. He states,"I believe that buildings only be
accepted by their surroundings if they have the ability to appeal to our emotions and minds in various ways," in other word, the
connection has to be there between the people and the environment (ie. buildings) otherwise that structure is useless. Someone should
be able to look at the building and still remember the building and not just forgetting about it as soon as they get home. The details
that appeals and the parts of the building that catches the eyes and gives us that sensation should be there for the building other than
that, the building has no meaning.
Andrew Ballantyne on the other hand, believed that our surroundings and buildings are part of what create our habits. He believe that
there is this direct correlation between the life of humans and buildings. He believes that the life in architecture should be the focus
and main goal and not the architecture itself.
However, due to these two different individuals, Ballantyne and Zumthor have some similar ideas. Both believe in the relationship
between the humans and architecture. Both believe the life that architecture brings to us and what it means to us. Zumthor pay
attention to the details on the structure while Ballantyne focuses on the life in the structure but both care about the relationship
between the two and making that their real goal.
6 Peters, Tom. "Thinking Architecture by Peter Zumthor ." Arq: Architectural Research Quarterly3, no. 01 (1999).
doi:10.1017/s1359135500001792.

14. Response to Levy Article
Here is your discussion question on the Levy article. Please post your own response, and respond to at least two other students'
responses.
John Levy’s article, “An Overview: The Needfor Planning7,” discussed ways in which planning can determine the
characteristics of a place. For example, some smaller towns restrict the heights of buildings to maintain a certain scale. How
did planning define the character of the place in which you grew up?
For me, it might be a little different because I actually grew up in Ghana; a country in
the western part of Africa. I lived there for 13 years before i actually came to America.
However, in the life time, i went to visit family members that lived in Italy and then i
came to America. The ironic thing about it is that all those three places that I lived had
one thing in common and that was houses built right next to each other. So it was
designed in a way for each person to know and connect with their neighbors. There was
no way that you wouldn't meet your neighbor at least twice in a day or even more. After
the 13 years in Ghana, i came here so i will dwell more on time in America.
I lived in New York City, the Bronx and my time there since I came to America has
been great moments for me and mold my perception about the city. I somehow took the
city for granted until I came to Buffalo for college and i realized that it is a totally
different setting. Here in buffalo, i feel like you have to drive to go everywhere; to buy
milk or groceries or other important stuff. In the city, everything is so convenient
because of the way it is designed. To buy something, you just had to go downstairs to
the nearest corner stores. It gets to a point that i actually use to hate the fact that the
corner store was rite at the corner because my mom would send me back at least 3 times
to go buy something while i was watching an important TV show or even doing work.
But it was a great experience, all my friends that i went to school with wasn't that far
from me; our middle school was literally across from my building, making it easier for kids to get to school on time so i never once
was late in middle school. One could get down, grab a basketball and call your friends over to go outside and play ball in a matter of
7 Levy, John M. "What Has Happened to Planning?" Journal of the American Planning Association58, no. 1 (1992): 81-84.
doi:10.1080/01944369208975537.

15. minutes. All these were due to the planning of the place. Transportation was a key part of it. There was a bus stop rite in front of my
house and a train station a couple of blocks from my apartment building as well. So everything was convenient. Everything was
interconnected and thats something that i don't see when i move out of the city.

16. Response to Pruitt Igoe Project, Talen, and Larson
Here is your discussion question on the Pruitt Igoe project8, the Talen article, and the Larson lecture. article. Please post your
own response, and respond to at least two other students' responses.
Imagine that you are part of a urban planning and design firm working with Emily Talen (author of “DesignThat 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 you that 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 would you 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 Pruitt Igoe Project was designed to be a solution to a problem that was already going on which was the slums that people lived in.
The project was designed with a future to uphold these people living in slums, however, to some people, it became a nightmare.
According to the documentary, some people were even shy or afraid to say that they were former resident of Pruitt Igoe and that
shows the amount of damage that it did to these people. Pruitt Igoe project was actually a good project in the beginning and if it was
kept the same way without the changes that were started to apply to it and its residence, it would have been a historical building that
people look at today. If Pruitt Igoe was to be rebuilt again, some of the things that had to be done different from the older version was
to get rid of most of the restriction. The government felt like since they were providing aid for these poor people, they could treat them
anyhow and basically boss them around. Certain regulations such as restricting the father from living in the house; that regulation had
to be one of things that foreshadowed the downfall of Pruitt Igoe and should never be implemented ever again. Leaving these families
without a father, and in the video, the lady came from a family of 12 kids and the mother had to sleep in the kitchen at one point, for a
family like that, leaving the mother alone to fend for 12 children; thats too much. Regulations like this leads people to be
aggravated and angry and people starts to act up and retaliate. In addition to that, that action foreshadowed the downfall because
fathers are a big part of family and children lives in terms of discipline and other things. Most of these bad behaviors from the children
such as messing up bulb lights and burning garbage near elevator, some of these actions could have been avoided with the presence of
the father because research actually shows that children without fathers are more likely to act up.
8 Cwavegan. "The Pruit Igoe Myth." YouTube. September 27, 2015. Accessed May 01, 2017.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKgZM8y3hso.

17. One thing that Talen would do is to plan a way to enable Diversity and get people of different race, gender, age, etc to coexist together
and live in the Pruitt Igoe project together. As soon as the poor African American people started to move in the project, the middle
white class started to move out and that is because there wasn't enough diversity at that place. Talen strategy is to have social realms
and seams such as parks, schools, nearby stores and plaza and public space such as side walks and others as well. These public realms
is more like to bring diversity and keep and in this case, keep the Pruitt Igoe Project filled with a mixture of people meaning, the
police would still care, the fire department would care and the federal government would care because those are the tax payers.
Another strategy that larson9 would do is to provide a modernized house that would be able to fit more people than a regular house
would. Also, create ways that families such as 12 people could all be in one apartment with his innovative apartments and that would
get rid of regulation such as the family not being able to have television and father being dismissed from the property. In addition,
having bike routes and bikes itself, something to keep children and adults entertain outside to not just be at home and create chaos.
All these differ from the original urban planners/designers project because the excluded the fact that these project in a way was a big
black segregation project and would not promote diversity which is the key to any successful city. Jane Jacobs once said that
"diversity was “by far” the most important condition of a healthy urban place," and that is 100 percent true.
9 Talen, E. "Design That Enables Diversity: The Complications of a Planning Ideal." Journal of Planning Literature20, no. 3 (2006): 233-
49. doi:10.1177/0885412205283104.

19. 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? Why or why not?
Frederick Law Olmsted10 was a visionary. He envision his work of art and design to
last as long as possible and wanted to create that social agenda between people. Buffalo
can honestly pride themselves as the best planned city because Olmsted and Calvert
Vaux vision transpired and made that possible. Frederick Law Olmsted action to start
the Free Niagara Movement and actually convince the New York State government to
throw millions of dollars to buy back the land surrounding the Niagara falls to give free
access to the public was one of the biggest moves ever made in a landscape architect.
According to the video, it states that, that action is something that cannot be achieved
today; convincing government to spend countless amount of money in order for to
balance and save the natural state provided for us. I lived in the city so Central Park
was The Park in my opinion and i thought nothing could beat that until i came to
buffalo and visited the Niagara falls. The streets and public spaces all haves fragments
and segments as you walk through Buffalo. A lot might have changed when it comes to
Olmsted parks because times change and technology advances meaning some of these
things have to be changed and altered to fit the 21st century lifestyle.
For example, the Niagara falls had to create a parking lot to accommodate the tourist
and visitors of the park and that wouldn't be something that Olmsted would have agreed
on back then in my opinion. He wanted the nature to be exquisite and be separated from such life. Another example, is the freeway
build through one of his parks to cut the park in halves. However, if we he was to be here today and he would still claim that Buffalo
10 Rich, Nathaniel. "When Parks Were Radical." The Atlantic. August 12, 2016. Accessed May 01, 2017.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/09/better-than-nature/492716/.

20. is the best planned city because adjustments have to be made to fit the time frame and even though some little adjustments are made to
Olmsted designs but the parks remain a physical element to the neighborhood and they still try to keep his vision flowing and alive.

21. Response to Walter Hood's Work
Identify something that should be memorialized either on UB'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 intervention commemorate/memorialize? How will you use Hood's 'triad of
investigations' to design a new landscape intervention? What do you imagine that the design will be? (Either written or visual
descriptions are acceptable).
Back home in Ghana, there would have been a lot of places that i would have loved to memorized and commemorate. But out of all of
the places there was this one special place which was the park for the town. The town was called Kentinkrono in Kumasi. The park
was more a soccer field and it had no sort of government involvement in the field. Do not fund or do anything at all to it. To the
government it was just basically a large piece of land that kids and adults play soccer on it. The field had no grass at all, just plain land
and it wasn't even a flat surfaced landscape; it was all bumpy and rocky and some parts had flat surface. The poles for the soccer
games were made out of bamboo sticks that the community people itself cut down to make the pole because of their passion for
soccer.
if i had a project to design this field again, the first thing i would do is to get rid of the
rocks and level out the playing field. The Everyday and Mundane kids and adults come to
play on that field and have tournaments on the field so people can't wait for the land to get
rich again to grow grass so we installed turf as a form of fake grass. In addition to that, get
real soccer poles with net. One thing that used to happen is that when someone kicked the
ball and it passed the goalkeeper, he had to ran far to get the ball back since there was no
goal net and it slowed the games down tremendously. After the installation of real goal
post, i install benches and bleachers for people to sit on during the game; everyone had to
stand and watch the whole game because there wasn't any chairs at all.
In terms of commemoration, there could be something similar to Walter Hood curtain or
something wall-like that has each and everyone; whether a higher class, middle class,
lower class, who put some work into creating the field and have engraved their names on
the wall of concrete. To remember them of how far they have came to make this park and soccer field an achievement to the town.
And finally for life ways, the soccer field could have other things with it such as a little playground on the side for kids when games
are going on and not just big soccer field. Have some trees surrounding the whole field to provide that shade because it is Ghana; a
West African country, without trees to provide shade, its extremely hot and play in the sun like that for a long period of time could
cause some problems.

22. Response to the Brookes
The abolitionist poster, the Brookes, is an iconic image that often is included in exhibits that explore issues of race and
power. It was commissioned by Thomas Clarkson in 1788, and the Committee of the Abolition of Slavery used it to inform 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 providing a very limited view of the history of
the transatlantic slave trade, resistance and abolition (Hudson 2007).” The lessonhere is that how a viewer sees an image is
dependent upon his/her social, economic, and cultural position. Keeping this in mind, find another iconic graphic that addresses
racial issues and post it for others in your group to view. (Add it to your response by clicking on the picture in the tools
section. Do not add it 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 background different than your own is looking at the same
graphic. Briefly describe this person. How might 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 technology of vision, an instrument of empathy, and a symbol of control.) (NOTE: Limit your response to less than 250
words.)
This image is one of the iconic racial photos that has a lot of meaning behind it.
Rosa Parks11 was a civil Rights activist who was against the segregation and
discrimination going on during this time period. Whites were completed
segregated from the whites, in terms of bathrooms, restaurants and in this case, the
bus. African Americans were segregated to sit in the back of the bus, there
werent allowed to sit in the front. Thus, this picture is depicting Rosa Parks going
against those segregation laws as a civil rights activist refusing to move to the
back of the bus and express herself. In regards to symbol of control, it shows that
the white racist people may had have the laws to control buses and restaurants and
bathrooms, but do not have to control over the African American people and their
voice. They will control the laws but the Blacks will still do what they do to make
their voice heard. The sense of empathy here is that African Americans such as
Rosa Parks gets arrested for actions like this to get their voice heard. The
technology of vision is that it might seem like just the bus but almost everything was segregated, even schools and to a point that there
11 http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/010241799dc1ffd0cbdffd32ef02002ea5e3416d/c=0-70-1600-1465&r=1600x1395
&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/08/13/1376414867000-rosa-parks.jpeg

23. couldn't be interracial relationships as well. Some one of different race might ask what is so significant about the front seats but its not
about the front seats or back seats, but rather, its about the white racist not having control over Black people.
Response to Charles Davis and equityXdesign's Work
Critique either the MLK Memorial or the National Museum of African American History and Culture
using equityXdesign’s core beliefs and/or design principles. (Use the beliefs or principles that are most relevant to your
critique rather than all of them.) (NOTE: Limit your response to less than 250 words.)
The author stated that problem solving is no longer about
inventing things; its about about recreating systems. Sometimes
we just need to stop for a while and think about the solution. it
is all about design thinking. It might seem that racism is not a
problem anymore in the United States but it is still a major
problem. People often used the excuse of President
Obama being our first black president is a step to showing that
racism is seized to exist anymore. When it comes to Martin
Luther King Jr. Memorial, it could have been done so much
better. The idea is capturing something that if Martin Luther
king Jr. was alive himself, he would be appreciative and proud
of. MLK Jr. was all about using his word and voice and not
violence and at the memorial the is only a sentence on the
memorial and this sentence from one of his speech and it
wasnt the whole speech, just a piece of it. The statue should
have had most of his famous quotes and motivational quotes so
that more people from different race could read it and inspire
them as they visit the memorial. More emphasis should have
been on the message that MLK jr wanted to leave behind and
not eh beauty of the object or statue.

24. Response to "Landscape Stories" Chapter
First, let’s start with your own home. Describe a place in your home (indoors and/or outdoors) that you think of as
representative of your own ethnic background and discuss why you consider this place to be ‘ethnic’. –OR-- Describe an object
in your home 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 you will keepor 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 develop a historical
narrative that sifts through and interpets the culture and material of underrepresented groups. Think about the community
where you grew up. Describe and discuss any evidence of cultural influences on the physical environment in your community.
If possible, describe evidence of the cultural influence of an underrepresented group. (If possible, add photo/s.) Is this cultural
influence being acknowledged or preserved from future generations? Why or why not?
In my home, we have this wooden carving that hangs in our living room and the first thing people walk in and they notice the carving,
they already know what ethnic group I am from as a result of it. This is a picture of the wooden carving.
This carving means "Gye Nyame" and in translation means Except for God or Only God; and it symbolize the
faith that the Akan tribe (which is the tribe I'm a part of) have in a Supreme being who is God. This carving
isn't just showed in carvings only in my house, my parents have clothes with designs of it on it and that shows
how much we believe in this symbol and its meaning. People know that my family is from the Akan tribe the
moment they enter my house because of this symbol. This is something that i would definitely carry on in my
own home because not only am I from the Akan tribe, I am also a Christian and that is something that i take
with me everywhere i go.
In my hometown, I lived near a lot of Muslims and had a lot of muslim friend's despite me being a Christian. Most of the stores near
my neighborhood were owned by the Muslim community and one of the impact on the society is that when they had special moment
that they had to pray or attend something regarding their ethnic and religious ties, they closed down the stores so people couldn't really
shop. As time passed, we learned to live with it and just accept it because that was who they were and nothing is going to change
about it.

25. Response to Article on Sports Branding
This thread will focus on the ethnic characteristics of sports branding12. Recent controversies about sports branding focus 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 derogatory or 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? (Limit your response to 150
words.)
Sometimes it just depends on the name of the brand or the
specific name. When the sport brand starts to come with
adjectives such as brave, or Redskins, or anything to
describe that ethnic group, that is when the line has to be
drawn. The Adjective seem to generalize and stereotypically
describe the whole ethnic group which might not be true.
For example, if the brand is called Fighting Irish; then it
somehow says how each Irish has been struggling and
basically fighting their way through life. Some executive
pro sports club might say how it means respect and honor
but it's actually not. No one should feel honorable after
being categorize as fighting their way through life. These
teams might not seem to notice it that way but the people of
that ethnic could misunderstand their intentions for bad ones
even if they meant good.
12 Sports, Erik Brady. "The real history of Native American team names." USA Today. August 25, 2016. Accessed May 02, 2017.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2016/08/24/real-history-native-american-team-names/89259596/.

26. Response to "Visualizing Gender" Chapter
In their chapter “Communicating Gender,” Maya Ganesh and
Gabi Sobliye discuss two primary visual advocacy approaches: 1)
get the idea, and 2) stories in data. Find a new example of either
of the two visual advocacy approaches to gender issues, and post
it in this thread. Cite the source.
First, identify the approach. Then explain how the designer uses
the approach to communicate a gender issue. Is the approach
effective in this example? Why or why not? How could this
graphic be improved?
This picture illustrates the Stories in data in the chapter for a way of
communicating the issue that is at large here. It shows the impact that
bullying having on people in the LGBTQ group specifically the

27. youth.13 it illustrates the forms of bullying that each gender youth goes through as well whether verbal or physical and it is an effective
way. According to the chapter, data visualization can be a powerful tool in conveying large and complex amount of information and
that is exactly what this picture does. it takes a large and complex situation and it broke it down to data to simplify it for someone who
is as young as a middle schooler. One way to have made this graphic better was to include how many students actually commit suicide
or have died from the abuse from other people to ensure that it isn't just the suicide attempts but people actually die from these abuses.
13 Russell, Stephen T., Caitlin Ryan, Russell B. Toomey, Rafael M. Diaz, and Jorge Sanchez. "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Adolescent School Victimization: Implications for Young Adult Health and Adjustment." Journal of School Health81, no. 5 (2011):
223-30. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00583.x.

28. Response to Bathroom Bill
Last year, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed into law a bill that repealed local LGBT anti-discrimination laws,
and required people to use the bathroom that corresponded with the biological gender written on their birth 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 through political correctness we’re throwing away basic
etiquette.” Just this past Thursday, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill to repeal the law while placing a
moratorium on nondiscrimination measures.
Should people be required to 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 question, you need to present an argument for both
sides of the issue. As a designer, how would you solve this gender dilemma?
When it comes to situation like this, it is very difficult to pass a rule because we try to
respect both parties, such as the people with their biological genders and others that
changed or consider themselves something else. It all comes to the idea of people feeling
uncomfortable being in the same room or confine space with the opposite sex in a place
as personal as a bathroom. A lot of issues can spring from passing a bill like that.
People should use the bathroom that corresponds with the biological gender written on
their birth certificate because it is all about peoples comfort, people should not be afraid
or feel a certain way of discomfort for using something as small as a bathroom. For
example, imagine a little girl trying to use the public bathroom but as soon as they enter,
they find a genderqueer who doesn't define themselves to be either man or woman in the
ladies room, this little girl would feel uncomfortable no matter the case. Also, it might
spring problems such as rape because that puts a fault in the system. However, they are ways to get around it and get people to use a
different bathroom from their biological gender.
As a designer, we can design a gender neutral bathroom, bathrooms that can be used by anyone else, separate from the public
bathrooms to use at any time. In addition to that, instead of the typical men and ladies room, a designer can now come up with
Men/Women/Others room, so three sets of bathrooms instead of two to create this type of problem

29. Response to Hidden Ways14
Author StevenFlusty categorized five types of disciplinary architecture that perpetuate what he calls urban spatial injustice:
1) stealthy, 2) slippery, 3) crusty, 4) prickly, and 5) jittery. Go out into the city of Buffalo, and find/photograph two examples
from the list of five. Identify what type of space you’ve photographed and why it might discriminate against a specific
population. Identify the location where you took the photograph, and make certain that you are in at least one of the two
photographs.
The photo of the train represent the urban spacial injustice crusty because the way these trains are design, it isnt comfortable and it
doesnt benefit everyone as well. I have taken trains from New York City and they have more space and accompanies everyone such as
even the disabled. The buffalo railways is not spacious and it looks crusty in there as well. Anyone on that train would want to get off
their stop as soon as possible. The second photo is a picture of martin luther king Jr. park, one of Olmsteds creation, for an Olmsted
creation, i thought it would be more comfortable being there. However, it was so prickly, it didnt even have that much seats to sit on
and the place was kind of filty, the benches were metal benches that felt uncomfortable to sit on and for a park, there was barely
people there when i was there.
14 http://www.fastcodesign.com/3034206/slicker-city/the-hidden-ways-urban-design-segregates-the-poor

30. 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 barely paid the bills. Crabtree wanted to 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 (Integrated Planning and Design). You work
on a team with planners, urban designers, policy designers, 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 your team to do to help Tammy and her family achieve their goals? What approach will your team
take to address this difficult problem?
Tammy Crabtree and her family goes through the type of poverty that building them a new house and giving her a car is not going to
help. The new house would turn to crap and look like the old house again. As a urban planner and designer, the Crabtree's need a new
living environment with all these resources near them. The need a new environment including a new house that has transportation,
shops and other resources that would make their living condition better. Tammy has to walk 10 miles just to get to her job to work. All
because there isn't any form of transportation. They had a car, but because they are so poor, there is no way of fixing and taking car of
the car while they could barely even take care of themselves. That is why it is important for her and her family live close by public
transportation.
In addition, it seem like the only way for Tammy's family to get
out of the dirt poor situation is to seek help from the
government. Either welfare or any other form of aid. Tammy's
children look like they have a bright future ahead of them, the
money just isnt there for it to happen, so accepting aid from the
government might be a little solution to have a livable life where
the kids could go to school and the house looks decent.
However, in all, I applaud Tammy and her family for making it
this long because not everyone has the guts to do what Tammy
do for her family everyday so I applaud her for her dedication
and her hardwork to keep her family going.

31. 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 older people living in the ‘new and improved’ Regent Park?15
With a development such as Regent Park, altercations and changes is need because people such as the elderly and older people are at a
big disadvantage. A building as tall like that should first not even be for older people but one thing that is needed to improve the
development is to make it "old people" accessible; meaning have ramps for wheel chairs and elevators as well. Another thing that can
be done is having the elderly as close as possible to the first floor or even the first floor just so they don't have to go through the
problem and predicament of broken elevator which will be very inconvenient for the older people. Also, in case of an emergency and
fire drill or real fire; the elevators are not working in these situation and the stairs is required. This puts the older people at a
disadvantage as well and dangerous situation as well. Older people like to socialize as well and with the Regent Park structure, it
makes it impossible. One solution could be having programs and events for older people to do in the building such as bingo or even
15 http://www.ted.com/talks/jared_diamond_how_societies_can_grow_old_better/transcript?language=en

32. have a place outside the building such as a green space with benches and chairs for these elder to come out sometimes and relax and
enjoy the fresh air outside.
Response to Enriquez TED Talk: “What Will Humans Look Like in 100 Years?”16
For this question, we will focus on Juan Enriquez’ Life Two civilization, which alters fundamental aspects of the body. We are
living longer than everbefore 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?
The possibility that many of us can life to 120 and have an extended life span will drastically change society and how things are now.
One of these changes is the fact that we have to accommodate for all the people and population because it isnt like the population is
now control by the death rates of people dying at ages between 60-70 years
old. Now there is a huge population of both old and young people filled in
the world. The extended life span will actually make our society socially
rich, because we have these old people who have gone through a century of
experiences to share these experiences and knowledge. Society could have
better advisors, counselors, supervisors, strategist and teachers. They can be
the best politicians and people who know what is best for the country
because in that life time, they have experience certain things and mistakes
that they can correct in their olden days as they getting close to their end.
Designers might have to adjust in terms of technology to accommodate
these old people, such as the telephone for an example. Most of these old
people find it to be complex while the youth use it in their everyday life.
Also, these elderly people would somehow have to be independent and self
sufficient so designers have to adjust certain things like transportation such
as the car; ways that the elderly could still manage to drive. In addition, with the extended life span, they will need jobs since they
16 : https://www.ted.com/talks/juan_enriquez_what_will_humans_look_like_in_100_years?language=en

33. cannot be just helpless at home doing nothing so they need jobs that is sufficient for old people. All of these are things that designers
have to look at in terms of the situation.
Response to PPT, Smithsonian, and Roy
The two most frequently mentioned models of disability are the ‘social’
and the ‘medical’ models. The medical model of disability views
disability as a medical ‘problem’ that belongs to the disabled
individual. The social model of disability, in contrast, draws on the idea
that it is society that disables people, through designing everything to
meet the needs of the majority of people who are not disabled. There is
a recognition within the social model that there is a great deal that
society can do to reduce, and ultimately remove, some of these
disabling barriers, and that this task is the responsibility of society,
rather than the disabled person.
In the Smithsonian online exhibition, the story about the superhero
hand, and Elise Roy’s TED Talk, you saw examples of ways to engage
disability that use the social model rather than the medical model. In
the Disability and DesignPowerPoint, you were introduced to the concept of Universal Design(UD) (sometimes called

34. inclusive design, design-for-all, or human-centered design). Certainly, UD embraces the social model of disability. In this same
PowerPoint, you saw positive and negative examples of each of the sevenprinciples of universal design.
For the Module 12 Thread 1, please select one of the sevenuniversal design principles, and post photographs that show both a
positive and a negative example of the principle. Then address the following question: How do your examples 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 evenfurther improved.
Both images are good examples of the architecture profession however, each of them have a message to it and they both arent the
same. The first example disempower a group of certain people while the second one actually empowers these same group. The first
example of architecture disempower the people in wheelchairs because there is no way that this person could get to the next floor
unless there is an elevator included in the scenario. The second example is positive example of how this design is universal like
meaning it is meant for each person. We might think that the first example disempower just people in wheelchair but it does the same
to the elder that use canes to walk, it makes it hard for them as well.

35. This second image is a perfect example of a universal design, it is
both a stairs that can convert to also be a ramp. In this way, it benefit
everyone in a sense. It can be improved by having a convertible rail to
hold on to next to the convertible stairs.17
17 Roy, Elise. Elise Roy: When we design for disability, we all benefit | TED Talk | TED.com. Accessed May 01, 2017.
https://www.ted.com/talks/elise_roy_when_we_design_for_disability_we_all_benefit.

36. Response to Survey, FIXED, and Stelarc
Our 2017 Design-A-Baby survey yielded the following characteristics as indicated by a majority of you:
 Sex: Male (47%)
 Hair Color: Dark Brown (22%)
 Hair Texture: Wavy (33%)
 Eye Color: Blue (26%)
 Race: Caucasian (36%)
 Height: 5’-10” to 6’-1” (45%)
 IQ: 131-140 (20%)
 Memory: Excellent (43%)
 Athletic Ability: Excellent (43%)
 Weight: Average (79%)
 Disease Carrier: None (85%)
 Beauty: Somewhat attractive (46%)
 Empathy: Very empathetic (38%)
 Creativity: Very creative (37%)
Sounds like an all-around lovely person!
Currently, we have the technology for you to choose many of the survey characteristics in your future child, and this ability to
choose poses some ethical questions. Of course, we all want the best for our own child. However, as we move into a more
collective situation, we need to consider how the consequences of majority choices for children might change who we are as a
species.
In the film trailer FIXED, you were introduced to the dilemma of living in a culture in which the “science-fiction of human
enhancement” has become almost a way of life, from prenatal genetic screening to bionic body parts. In the video, “A Man
with Three Ears” you are introduced to an artist who is using current technology to move humans beyond their current

37. abilities. Last week, Juan Enriquez askedus if it is ethical to evolve the human body. All of these videos suggest that the
concept of disability ‘as we know it’ could cease to exist in the future.
This leads us to this week’s discussion question:
What lessons do you think we should learn from history when thinking about emerging enhancement technologies18
and reproductive technologies? What are some of the possible consequences (both positive and negative) of being able to
design our bodies and the bodies of our children? What ethical quandaries do these technologies pose?
Honestly, when it came to the survery to design your own baby, I knew it was just
a survey but i could not bring myself to do it. I could not because of many reasons.
There are positive consequences about it and some negatives about it too. The
question i had to ask myself is that is it ethical and it might be just a survey but if
we were given that chance without a doubt and free of charge, who wouldn't want
to do that. Some of my reasons were because of religious reasons because of my
religion. I believe that we are made in God's image so we should appreciate our
body and how we look just the way we are. However, if someone is born with a
deformity, that doesn't mean it doesnt make it right to use technology and our
advancement in it to improve that and make the person whole. However,
interfering with the situation before there is even a situation could later on in the
future. It might create long term problems. Enhancing technology to make the
human body is a good thing if the enhancement is a replacement for a piece of our
body that we were unfortunate not to have such as the child that was born without
fingers or if we lost a piece as a result of an accident or war. However, it is
morally unethical in my opinion to enhance the body while we know everything is
in good condition. Most people might disagree but that is what i think and believe.
And with the child, i would rather not have a preference because in some way, the
question it poses is that, if the child doesnt come in that preference that the parent
wanted, would that love still be shown to that child or if the child came deform, would the parent still prefer the child?
18 Mroz, Jacqueline. "Hand of a Superhero." The New York Times. February 16, 2015. Accessed May 02, 2017.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/17/science/hand-of-a-superhero.html?_r=1.

38. Response to Titicut Follies
The state of Massachusetts tried to ban the 1967 documentary Titicut Follies, arguing that director Frederick Wiseman had
violated the patients’ rights by not getting written permission to film them. The case went to court, and Wiseman argued that
he had consent from their legal guardian, the institution. After a judge ruled in favor of the state, the legal appeals carried on
for several years: in 1969, Massachusetts allowed the film to be shown to doctors, lawyers, and health care professionals; in
1991, a superior court judge ruled it could be releasedfor the “general public,” as privacy concerns were no longer at issue, so
many 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?
Everyone is entitled to their privacy as humans. We live in a country that we have rights to protect us from all of these things. When it
comes to the case of Wisemen filming the residents of the Bridgewater Massachusetts Correctional facility, i have two sides to it. The
first side is that Wisemen shouldnt have been allowed to film the facility because he had no right to do that. He was invading the
privacy of the patients because he had no consent to carry on with the film. Each patients rights was violated when the film went
public. Their privacy19 was violated from the jump when they were being recorded. Claiming
that permission was granted form the institution is not enough to still invade the patients
privacy. However, if the permission was granted from the patients or the guardian or family
members of the patients, then it would have been a different case. The family members are
the ones responsible for them and speak for them. There wouldn't be a problem in it if the
consent was granted from the family members. In addition, based on how the patients were
being treated and the cruelty of it all, it makes sense why the institution would grant
Wisemen the right to invade the patients space. The is no remorse for these patients and it
seem like the institution do not treat these patients as their fellow human being. In no way
should have Wisemen film these patients.
When it comes to the value of the film to designers and architects, that is where I see another side to it. The video invaded the patients
privacy and should not have been publicized for everyone to see it. However, there could be some value of designers and architects to
19 https://blog.vasco.com/application-security/3-business-benefits-data-privacy/

39. learn from how bad the Bridgewater Massachusetts Correctional facility and gain some knowledge on how to improve some of these
facilities; what to do and what not to do. To design and build a place that makes the patients feel comfortable and not as they are being
confined or feel like they in a prison. The video could serve as evidence for other facilities to start treating their patients the right way
and for other designers to reform their facilities to help improve the conditions of these patients and their well being.

40. Response to PPT, The Architecture of Autism, Public Space
Prelude: Wolf Wolfensberger's seminal work "The Origin and Nature of Our Institutional Models" posited that society
characterizes people with intellectual disabilities as sub-human and burdens of charity, He argued that this dehumanization,
and the segregatedinstitutions that result from it, ignored the 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
provided the same basic human rights as for the rest of the population.
The Scenario: Imagine that you and your four children live 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 build a
group home for ten intellectually challenged adults.
As a resident of the neighborhood, would you support or oppose this proposal and why?
You've learned additional information about the residents of the proposed group home in your neighborhood. In 2013, three
of the ten intended residents exhibited challenging behaviors including screaming, public masturbation, repetitive rocking,
and echolalia (elective incontinence). However, these behaviors have not occurred since then.
How would this change your opinion about the construction of the group home in your neighborhood?
The residents in your neighborhood voted (14-3) to reject the town of 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 and your neighbors could
develop a workable alternative.
What are some possible solutions that would allow the residents of the home to be provided with “the same basic human rights
as the rest of the population”?
As a grown adult living by myself, it would not have been a problem at all, however, with me having a family, a wife with children, in
that case i would have to oppose the proposal. We are all humans with the same basic rights as the rest of the
population, however, they have special needs meaning that they have the rights but if it will intervene with other people's rights and
personal life, Then it is a problem. My family and kids should not have to endure things like screaming and public masturbation and

41. etc. Somethings like that might traumatized my children forever and cause some problems not just to my children but to other families
living near the neighborhood too. It should not be the norm for my kids or other neighborhood kids, they should have the right to live
a normal life away from things like that.
Some of the possible solutions that would allow the residents of the home to be provided with the same basic human rights as the rest
of the population is to find a location that is away from neighborhood with children and families because it might cause problems for
these people. In addition to that, since these residents have a case of outburst like that, they should have people around the home to
prevent things like public masturbation and others from happening. People should be there to protect and take care of these resident
and not just live there by themselves, theres are ways that we can still be protecting their rights as human beings as well. 20
20 http://www.sfltimes.com/health-and-fitness/state-agency-accused-of-violating-rights-of-disabled

42. Response to The Connection Between Religion and Urban Planning by David Engwicht
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 design and 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 any places of worship, do a bit
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 servedin the development of your city/town? How has it influenced the design of the area
around it? How has its role changed over time? What roles could this place of worship play in the future development of your
city/town?
This is the church that I attend since I migrated to the United States. I am a
seventh day Adventist21 and for people who arent that familiar with my
religion, the major difference is that we believe that the Sabbath and day to
worship is on Saturday and not Sunday. My church might not seem like one of
the fancy looking churches. It is a simple building that fits the community
because the community itself is a simple community. This church used to be a
strip club at first but leaders of the church knew that that wasn’t the best option
for the people in the community so they bought the building and renovated it to
make it into a beautiful church where everyone is welcomed to come worship,
even those who worship on Sundays. This church has served a big role in the
community because we contribute to the community but going out to the community to clean the area and around people’s houses,
doing a little community serves. In addition, visiting the residence around the area just to see how they are doing and giving them free
inspirational and religious books. The church basically defines the area near because one cannot describe the street without
21 Google maps

43. mentioning the church. One role this church could play in the future is inviting more people and try to host activities that will attract
young people to get involve in the community and the church.
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 and creation--is a universal human capability that can play a fundamental role in social evolution, in the
process that transforms resources, energy, and information to make our world.”
At the beginning of 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 your own 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 to do to address this challenge, problem, or
question either as part of your studies or professional life?
As an Architect22, one of the biggest challenge or
problem that we will face is to design buildings that
suites the customers and the public rather than based
on the emotions of the architect. To design something
that makes us more connected and not
separate, something long lasting just like Olmsted
envision his parks would do. The idea to not design
something that would not end up like the Pruitt
Igoe project where a building can cause such chaos.
As we humans evolve and technology evolve,
Architects have to evolve in their way of thinking and
22 https://www.parkassist.com/who-we-serve/architects-cosultants-engineers/

44. design. The world population is currently 8 billion and we will be heading towards 9 to 10 billion by 2020 and with this
happening, that means more demands of houses and building which means more space to even sprung these buildings. The
question how can we make space and not interfere with the ecology and not cutting down more trees to build these houses.
Meaning architects have to design buildings to coexist with the ecosystem without interfering it and also something that more
people can live in without havent to expand for more space. These are all things that Architects and designers have to look at.