What is Pixel Art: Pixel art is a visual style that creates images using small, square-shaped pixels, typically arranged in a grid. This aesthetic became popular during the early days of video games due to hardware limitations, with classic titles like Super Mario Bros., The Lege … | Continue reading
Pod Facilitator Responsibilities Call for volunteer Critique Facilitators. If nobody volunteers, just assign one. Let me and the Tas know who. Set the presentation schedule, 3 per day. Call for volunteers, and make assignments if you don’t get enough volunteers. Negotiate between … | Continue reading
My upcycle project follows the Unexpected Red Theory, where a bold and intentional use of red disrupts an otherwise neutral or natural setting to create a striking visual contrast. But what would be the opposite of this aesthetic? If my project embraces warmth, vibrancy, and ener … | Continue reading
For my project I’ve chosen to channel a very rustic aesthetic using earth tones and wooden framing surrounding license plates that I’m trying to display on my wall. Below is my basic design layout using a piece of plywood and wooden scrap that I plan to paint/stain brown. With th … | Continue reading
Featured image: AI-generated image through chatgpt.com In my previous post about the progress in creating Genshin Impact flower artifacts, I mentioned my aesthetic criteria. I am focusing on a minimalistic design that can be easily made or crafted using clay or silicone. My goal … | Continue reading
Exploring the Opposite Aesthetic: Sleek, Modern, and Functional Plastic Cutting Board Design While the natural, rustic aesthetic of a wood cutting board speaks to timeless craftsmanship and organic beauty, the opposite aesthetic could embrace the clean, utilitarian elegance of pl … | Continue reading
Mid-Century Modern was a design aesthetic that was related to modernism, and utilized modern construction techniques such as mass-production which gave a wider audience access to well designed furniture and other household items. It prioritized function over form, and it was typi … | Continue reading
For my upcycling project, I chose to create a mosaic out of paper of “The Great Wave of Kanagawa”. The style of a mosaic is putting pieces together to make a masterpiece in which can be defined into picture, shape, object, something identifiable. Mosaics are found to decorate wal … | Continue reading
My upcycle project is creating a lampshade simulating a strangler fig tree/pattern. In nature, the strangler fig tree steals nutrients from it’s host tree until the host eventually dies. Once it rots away, the aerial roots of the fig remain, displaying a beautiful pattern. This e … | Continue reading
People associate sports bars and the aesthetic with a noisy, casual, high-energy area for people to drink and watch sports. The sports bar aesthetic is widespread across the United States, given the many sports bars scattered across the country. The opposite of this is somewhere … | Continue reading
For my upcycle project, I’m going for a witchcore and rustic aesthetic (which was somewhat forced by my own inability to mold tiny figurines smoothly). As it turns out, everything that I sculpted has some kind of imperfections, and I’ve already accepted that. The opposite of this … | Continue reading
When I read the prompt for this post, I had genuinely belly laughed as I instantly knew what I would be discussing. In a previous post, I discussed where some of the design cues for my fender mirrors would be coming from: timeless curves, elegant round glass. Gentle lines pulling … | Continue reading
Featured image: AI-generated image through chatgpt.com As I have discussed in my previous posts, I am currently creating an Ikea-inspired bedframe to add to my shuttle bus build. For my chosen aesthetic, I wanted to go with minimalism to give the limited space a simple and clean … | Continue reading
My original Upcycle project is a work stand for a sheet metal shrinker/stretcher tool. A metal shrinker/stretcher is a popular tool to use when working sheet metal into complex shapes as it allows for a worker to form compound curvatures in the thin metal. I decided to build a wo … | Continue reading
Since the granola, earthcore, recycling aesthetic is all about recycling materials and respecting nature the opposite aesthetic would be brutalism and consumerism. The earthcore aesthetic is all about incorporating nature into your design and brutalism incorporates concrete, litt … | Continue reading
For my upcycle project I am creating a Scandinavian minimalist ski jacket from an old sleeping bag. Scandinavian minimalist clothing is designed to not be flashy and utilitarian. The articles of clothing lack unnecessary details and branding, as well as utilizing earth tones and … | Continue reading
The Pop Art aesthetic, which I am referencing in the style/aesthetic of my upcycle project, can be characterized by bold colors, textures and effective communication. It appeared as a form of advertisement with each element vibrantly drawing the eye. Its intention was to comment … | Continue reading
My upcycle project is guided by the principles and aesthetic of space age design. Visually, this aesthetic prioritizes streamlined, flowing lines and smooth geometries inspired by spacecraft and jetliners. Materials are lightweight and high tech both in terms of structure and fun … | Continue reading
While the opposite of an exploded view aesthetic might sound complicated, it is simply a seamless design. Think of putting your exploded view back together, and everything fits perfectly with no cracks or seams. Not every item in the exploded view counts as being potentially seam … | Continue reading
For my upcycle project, I am making a tissue box/lamp that follows the Frutiger Aero/Frutiger Aqua aesthetic. In this post, I will explore what my project might look like if I chose the opposite aesthetic, dark academia. Frutiger Aero is an aesthetic that emerged in the late-2000 … | Continue reading
In my last few posts, I’ve been all about making boho vintage candles using thrifted glassware, old wax, and fun decorations like dried flowers and pebbles to create a cozy, artsy vibe. The aesthetic of my Upcycle Project is Boho Vintage. This is an aesthetic that combines sustai … | Continue reading
For my upcycle project I am making a chalk bag for climbing in the earthy neutrals aesthetic using upcycled fabric. My chalk bag will feature an unconventional magnetic closure. The chalk bag is made in an earthy color palette including light tan, green, and blue. I really like t … | Continue reading
My upcycling project is on an Indie aesthetic, which is characterized by individualism and self-expression. Because of this, I believe the corporate aesthetic is its opposite. This aesthetic is largely based on fitting in with a mold, with a distinct lack of variety and expressio … | Continue reading
Abstract art, with as broad as it is, can loosely be described as using form, color, and texture to convey emotion and a message from the artist. It can often be interpreted in many ways, affecting each person in a different way and that’s part of the beauty in it. Abstract art s … | Continue reading
For my upcycle project, I’ve chosen to create a toolbelt out of a recycled pair of jeans in the reworked industrial aesthetic. My materials include many different metal components, belt buckles, jeans, and an assortment of fabrics. This project will end up being very rugged, deni … | Continue reading
My project is based on the aesthetic of Studio Ghibli. Because Studio Ghibli is an animation film studio, I wanted to find its opposite aesthetic in the animation realm. As I was researching, I thought about the recent show I just watched called “Arcane”. This show offered an art … | Continue reading
Exploring the Opposite Aesthetic of My Upcycle Project My Upcycle project is based on a nautical aesthetic, drawing inspiration from lighthouses, the sea, and maritime themes. The materials I have chosen—soda cans, old wood, and other repurposed items—will help bring this vision … | Continue reading
Working through my upcycle project and reflecting on my learnings and research on brutalism, I think of something that stand out from the environment, with a bland and near dystopian-like unsettling delivery and various harsh shapes and angles. Art Nouveau is a very contrasting a … | Continue reading
For my upcycle project, I am designing a watchmaker’s screwdriver stand inspired by the Japanese stationery aesthetic, a style that emphasizes minimalism, refined proportions, and a balance between form and function. My design incorporates natural materials like bamboo, smooth De … | Continue reading
While the patchwork aesthetic of my Upcycle Project relies on organic, plant-based shapes and materials, the aesthetic of Industrial Minimalism relies on neatness, order, geometry, and hard materials like metal, concrete, and brick. Not only is this opposite aesthetic a ‘trendy’ … | Continue reading
Before I talk about the opposite of my project’s aesthetic, I have to reestablish the actual aesthetic as it has changed slightly since the first post. The aesthetic I am now going for is of light, aluminum, outdoors gear. For example, my aluminum spoon would work well with this … | Continue reading
The original Peacock Chair is very ornate, with an extremely large and ornate back, most of which isn’t strictly functional. From a functionalist perspective, the “The ReTired Recliner”, which is a chair I made for CVEN 5544 (Solid Waste Management and Resource Recovery), is an o … | Continue reading
Mid-Century Modern embraces clean lines, organic materials, bold colors in emphasis and function over form. Everyday objects become objects of beautify themselves. Clutter is minimized and ornamentation is minimal. The opposite of these characteristics is highly ornamented, form … | Continue reading
My Upcycle Project is coming along nicely. To recap, my plan is to build a little sculpture based on the Looney Tunes aesthetic. This will feature a cardboard box as a base. I have decided to use a shoebox for this because I have many of them that I keep for storage. I will paint … | Continue reading
The aesthetic of my upcycle project is Rustic Modern. This aesthetic blends warm tones, various textures, and a mix of natural materials. This style often incorporates overall geometric patterns that are visually appealing. The imperfection of the natural material is frequently h … | Continue reading
Traditional paper books were once the primary and most efficient means of publishing large amounts of information; they’ve since given way to various other mediums. Specifically in delivering written language, digital publications have begun filling that once exclusive role. Wher … | Continue reading
As discussed in previous posts, the aesthetic I have selected for my upcycle is neuroaesthetics. Neuroaestetics describes the study of the underlying neural processes which compose our response to an aesthetic experience and the use of these responses to tailor an aesthetic to el … | Continue reading
For my upcycling project, my objective is creating an object that combines the nature and modern aesthetic. When encompassing what is opposite than this aesthetic, what comes to my find is an 1800’s steel mill. In my mind, this is opposite of nature and opposite of nature This ph … | Continue reading
Modernism Definition: “Sharp, clean-cut geometries. An open space, minimalist look.” (Jagelski, 2021). Sleek and dull, modern design contrasts the characteristics of the vintage americana aesthetic. Modernism is a common design choice for houses in the 2000’s. Characteristics in … | Continue reading
My upcycling project is focused on an opulent Pokémon TCG deck box. Specifically, I used black acrylic to show the high-level feel that would come from opulence (think a nice grand piano). The accent colors for the design on the front were metallic/pearl colors to elevate the gra … | Continue reading
The aesthetic I am going for is what I think is a blend of maximalist and minimalism. The design of the coasters themselves is minimal and simple, yet the “look” of the coasters will have more color and vibrancy to them. I would like to essentially recreate Jackson Pollock’s artw … | Continue reading
Currently, parts of the world is growing like an onion, adding more manmade layers to spots deeply rooted in man’s creations. What was once a few acres of trees, or desert, or grassy plains could now be the site of an Amazon fulfillment center, or a Walmart supercenter. As the ar … | Continue reading
(featured image generated by DALL-E AI) Inspiration While my upcycle project focuses on sustainability by repurposing a 2-liter bottle into a self-watering planter, this project will take a completely opposite approach. Instead of DIY rustic, this upcycle will embrace high-tech p … | Continue reading
(featured image generated by DALL-E AI) My upcycle project is strongly rooted in the past lives of the objects I’m using. The film slides I acquired date back as far as the 1950s. To me, the older they are, the better. The aesthetic focuses heavily on the nostalgic feeling these … | Continue reading
My project’s aesthetic is slightly modified and unique. It kind of contrasts itself in a way… (which is what I was aiming for anyways). I wanted to capture the K-pop concert fashion trends that I have seen in person and on social media. My project has both light and dark sides to … | Continue reading
The opposite upcycling project to my magnetic wooden knife holder would most likely resemble a mass-produced, injection-molded knife holder that technically achieves the same functionality. However, while my project emphasizes craftsmanship, sustainability, and visual appeal, thi … | Continue reading
What excites me most about this design is how it blends futuristic and organic elements. The bowl doesn’t just hold fruit—it becomes an art piece, a sculptural form that feels alive, as if it’s constantly shifting and flowing. The spirals, curves, and bubbly protrusions make it l … | Continue reading
My Collage Card Aesthetic In my initial post about my upcycling project, I determined the aesthetic would be maximalist, vintage, and whimsical. The maximalism comes from the quantity of items pasted on the card, meaning there are plenty of things for your eyes to follow. The vin … | Continue reading