Basic Hiragana

Hiragana (平仮名, ひらがな or ヒラガナ^?) is a Japanese syllabary, one basic component of the Japanese writing system, along with katakana, kanji, and the Latin alphabet (rōmaji). Hiragana and katakana are both kana systems, in which each character represents one mora. Each kana is either a vowel such as "a" (あ); a consonant followed by a vowel such as "ka" (か); or "n" (ん), a nasal sonorant which, depending on the context, sounds either like English m, n, or ng ([ŋ]), or like the nasal vowels of French.

Hiragana is used to write native words for which there are no kanji, including particles such as から kara "from", and suffixes such as さん ~san "Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms." Likewise, hiragana is used in words for which the kanji form is obscure, not known to the writer or readers, or too formal for the writing purpose. Verb and adjective inflections, as, for example, be-ma-shi-ta (べました) in tabemashita (食べました^?, "ate"), are written in hiragana, often following a verb or adjective root (here, "食") that is written in kanji. Hiragana is also used to give the pronunciation of kanji in a reading aid called furigana. The article Japanese writing system discusses in detail how the various systems of writing are used.

There are two main systems of ordering hiragana, the old-fashioned iroha ordering, and the more prevalent gojūon ordering.

Last blog

I've enjoyed my time learning about Environmental Design, enjoyed my time being late to class or being 1 hour early when class clearly starts at 10am or taking our time on break time in FCM Cafe. (Whooops!)

Nevertheless, the subject was definitely enjoyable and very hands on, I would say as now I know how to build a scale model and even cutting them out off the board, though it was very hard and left my hands and fingers in pain at first, the experience I got are far more important than that as pain can heal but the knowledge stays forever. :)

Anyway, I would like to thank Mr.Zul and Mr.Deepak for the knowledge you share with me this semester. Because of this subject also it didn't just leave me with back pain and sleepless nights (LOL) but had also given me scar at the tip of my left (point) finger from cutting the board from the 1st project. It was a sweet-pain experience.

Again, I thank YOU both! :D

Container as content (2nd cont'd)

Some more (interesting) examples that I found:

actual mannequins on the billboard

actual running exercise machine on the spot and it also tell you how many kilometres you are running.

using 2 buildings to make an ad works

surf board as seat

lollipop afro

popped bubble gum on a tree?

handle of the pan sticking out

to show how the actual thing will happen if you don't follow the rules

jeans material on the billboard

Project 2: Phase 2

top view

facade view

side view

artist impression

3/4 view

I do apologize for the bad rendering and lighting.

Project 2: Phase 1

Project 2: Research (2)

O.P.I

Here are some of O.P.I collection:

Project 2: Research

O.P.I

History

A family-owned company committed to the highest quality products and to our customers’ well-being, OPI has long been a leader in the community and within the Professional Beauty Industry. Quite simply, we are dedicated to excellence.

OPI was founded in 1981 by President & CEO George Schaeffer, who immigrated to the U.S. as a child from post-World War II Eastern Europe. OPI continues to be family-owned, with Schaeffer and Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Executive VP & Artistic Director, at the helm, and has grown to become the world leader in professional nail care.

With this position comes responsibility, and OPI has always been committed to providing our customers with the finest quality in products and services.

From its inception, OPI broke through nail industry barriers. OPI was one of the first in the nail industry to focus on and limit sales of product to and through beauty professionals only, and to realize the importance of education in both the sale and use of the product. From the very beginning, OPI has shown its commitment to quality by putting batch numbers, instructions and ingredients on all of the products it sells. OPI has a dedicated team of scientists who ensure product quality and safety, and bring the latest technology and advances to its product offerings.

OPI also takes a lead within the Professional Beauty Industry in raising the standards by which the industry operates. OPI is active in numerous industry associations whose aim is to ensure that consumer safety is always preserved, through products and services which are developed to meet and exceed safety standards. The company works closely with federal, state, local, and international agencies and scientists for the same purpose.

In addition to its commitment to customer service and safety, OPI is committed to the safety of its own employees. Work-safety seminars are held at the company’s headquarters several times each year, and employees are urged to make safety a priority.

Probably more than any other professional nail care product it produces, OPI is renowned globally for its Nail Lacquers, with each shade created by Weiss-Fischmann based on her impeccable color forecasting, sense of style, and instinct for what women want. The brilliant, chip-resistant, professional OPI Nail Lacquer formula is available in over 200 fashion-forward colors. With clever names that customers look forward to with each new Collection, OPI Nail Lacquers are beloved around the world, and trusted by professionals. Neither OPI Nail Lacquers nor any other OPI product or service are subject to animal testing.

OPI is well-known for its philanthropy and dedication to giving something back to the community. The Schaeffer Family Foundation, established by Schaeffer, Weiss-Fischmann, and Miriam Schaeffer, OPI Treasurer, has donated millions of dollars to multiple charities, with an emphasis on those which support health-related causes and children’s education.

In addition to helping those in need across the U.S. and around the world (including a matching-funds donation of over $350,000 to the American Red Cross to help with recovery after Hurricane Katrina), the Foundation donates to the most local of causes, including a community health clinic in North Hollywood for those without health insurance. The Schaeffer Family Foundation also awards OPI employees’ children with computers.

OPI continues to be unrelenting in the fight against diversion of Professional Beauty products, spending millions of dollars in an effort to protect consumers from unwittingly purchasing tainted, unsafe product, and to help the Professional Beauty Industry maintain its high standards of quality.

OPI’s reputation is built on its commitment to quality, safety, innovation and excellence – a commitment it honors with every product, every day.

(www.opi.com)

Project 2: Exhibition Design

We are to choose a brand from categories given. I narrowed down the categories to hobbies & leisure, cosmetics, entertainment and fashion & accessories. Finally, I chose cosmetics as I think its much easier for me to do it though many may have chosen to do that category as well.

At first, I was thinking of doing Laneige, a brand that deals with facial skin care, also a brand from South Korea. Researching about Laneige made me realise that this brand is too much for me as I am not really a fan of facial skin care so I opted for something that interest me.

Thats when I chose O.P.I, a company/brand that specialised in nail polish and nail care (hands and feet). Due to its vibrant colours and always coming up with new products and ideas, it attracted me to chose it. They also work with celebrities to make a new collection. Their collections are really eye catching and they have their own way of attracting customers with their advertisement campaigns.

Skyscrapers

A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building. There is no official definition or height above which a building may clearly be classified as a skyscraper. Most cities may considered a skyscraper if the building changes the overall skyline and is taller than any other building in the area.

Burj Khalifa, Dubai: currently the tallest building in the world.

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia

Taipei 101, Taiwan

Burj Al-Arab, Dubai: a luxury hotel.

Shanghai World Financial Centre, China

Malay Architecture

Malay architecture at first was very simple and minimal as their economy is very low and they only use simple tools to do work at that time. So the only purpose of a house is to protect them from rain and sun. Over time, there was a great development in their construction methods to suit changing lifestyles and needs. This brings new styles and shapes in Malay architecture as well.

Malay house in the past are typically made of wood (some are carved) and roofed with Nipah leaves. A modern version of it roofed with zinc and overtime it'll erode. Houses are also typically built with stilts. This is to avoid the house from being flooded in the case of flooding, to be able to stack and arrange stuff below the house and to also protect themselves from wild animals. Having balcony or verandah at home is also typical. This is where they usually rest or hangs out after work or so and also hot sunny days make the inside of the house very hot.

typical interior design in a Malay house

Religion also influence the Malay architecture. They would usually built their houses facing towards Mecca, Saudi Arabia. They were also division between the sleeping quarters in the house separating unmarried men and ladies.

Nowadays, many are not interested in relieving the Malay architecture as modernisation take its course. We should at least try to preserve what is left of the heritage before its gone. :)

Nail Salon

Since I am doing an exhibition design about a nail product, why not we take a look (not much though) at nail products and salons. I personally like nail products and interior designs of salons. I never been to a nail salon before though but I like to see how they decorate the place and make it very welcoming and comfortable for customers and even passers-by.

Here are some pictures of interior design of nail salons that caught my eye:

I like the hot pink chairs, so in contrast with the white surroundings.

I like that they have a chandilier in the middle and red lines surrounding it, the stack of nail polishes, the chairs look very comfy, overall look are very elegant and welcoming..

I like the cushioned purple walls, prints on the chairs and how they combine pink and purple, very girlish...

Not so digging the purple overalls, but the concept looks modern futuristic to me, very nice..a different way to decorate a salon.

Love the pattern wallpaper and white everything.

Very..contemporary? I guess. Earth colors are very soothing and calming. Thumbs up for that. A cosy place for weekend gateaways.

The purple here is gorgeous! Very modern and comfy looking. I can almost hear the soft jazz music playing from the sound system.

Nail products on the other hand, I've used them before. Of course. Some of the brands that I recognized are O.P.I, the Face Shop, Elianto, Avon, etc.