Airport Design

During several hours in airports, I saw more even clearly that designers have a hand in everything!

On the way to Virginia I had two layovers, one in Las Vegas, and one in Chicago. I was always under the impression that all airports were basically the same. Some have more dated equipment and seating areas, but you always have long corridors and boring terminals. But there are actually people thinking about user experience in the two airports I stopped in.

In Las Vegas, when I stepped off the plane and into the terminal, I was surprised to see several rows of slot machines in a wide space adjacent to the seating area. Ingenious! I didn't gamble myself, but if that's why people go to Las Vegas, why not make it easier for them to do so? It was late at night when I arrived, but I can imagine during busier times of the day, there would be lots of people playing the slots to kill time. There were groups of gambling machines scattered all over the airport.

In Chicago, I had a long walk from the part of the airport where I arrived to the terminal where I would catch my connecting flight. But the walk was actually enjoyable because there was lots to see. My favorite part was was the colorful corridor with lights and music. The moving walkway eased you down a peaceful path of soothing colors and sounds. What a clever was to relax the weary traveler!

Beautiful Clutter

Since I've been trying to eliminate clutter from my life, I have been less inclined to buy knickknacks, trinkets, souvenirs, or really anything beyond the essentials. I will splurge on food because I can enjoy the experience without adding more stuff.

However, when I was wandering around after work, I ended up making my way into Chinatown. I had never been to that neighborhood before, so I spent a little time walking around to see what it was like.

There was stuff everywhere! I could not believe how densely those shops are packed. The jewelry stores sparkle from floor to ceiling.

My impression was that these shops were geared towards tourists. I didn't have the urge to buy anything, so I just observed from the street. But although I found the clutter of objects a little overwhelming, I couldn't help but notice the beauty of color, texture and light massed around me.

Extra Stuff

It has been easy to forget that I traveled to San Francisco with two pieces of luggage because I left one of them at my friends house near San Jose a few days after I arrived.

at the San Jose train station

I was so anxious when I was preparing to leave for California because I felt like I had to pack up my life. I wanted to be prepared for anything life would throw at me, but I only had room to bring the essentials.

I traveled with one large suitcase, one carry-on suitcase, and my backpack. I didn't seem like a lot, and actually, it didn't seem like enough. But dragging around nearly 100 pounds of luggage plus my backpack with two laptops got old quick. When I got lost in South San Francisco trying to find the Caltrain station, I was so tired that I wanted to leave my luggage in the street.

After staying a few nights with my friend in San Jose, I asked if I could leave some of my luggage at her house so I could travel a little more easily. I didn't have an apartment at that point and I knew that I might be hopping from place to place.

I figured I would find a place quickly, so I just took my little carry-on bag and backpack with enough clothes and stuff to get me through the first week of orientation and classes. That was 6 weeks ago.

essentials for the first week...or maybe the first six weeks

Now that I've been settled in one place for the rest of the semester, I'm planning to go back to my friend's house this weekend for the rest of my stuff. But honestly, other than a few extra changes of clothes and my PC laptop, I don't know what else I have in that big suitcase. I have gotten used to having less, and am not sure that I really want all this extra stuff.

What I Need

Today, each of the groups in our section tried out the exercises they created for our upcoming interview project. I volunteered to be an "interviewee" and was presented with the following task: using 10 Post-It's, label 10 things in your house that are necessities. Since we were in the classroom, not my home, I was instructed just to write the name of the item and place it on the wall. Sounds simple enough...

I am subletting a bedroom, so I really only had to think about one room, not a whole house. But once I started to think, it was difficult to come up with things that I absolutely needed. The first thing I thought of was a bed (although it's not actually mine, but I'm renting the room, so I figured it's kind of mine for now). Then I jotted down some other things: computer, glasses, cell phone, sweater, toothbrush, guitar, makeup, chocolate. Time was running out and I couldn't think of a 10th thing right away, so we decided to move on (although, now that I think of it, my credit card should have definitely made the list).

my three essential items

The next step was to narrow down to three essential items. After some deliberation, I chose, my computer, toothbrush and guitar. They each serve a different purpose in my life: the toothbrush is for health needs, and the guitar is for emotional needs, and the computer is for academic/social needs.

"Now choose one item," they told me. I thought carefully because I knew this would be the biggest indicator in the exercise of how I prioritize my life. I chose my computer, because in our technological age, I could not survive without my shiny new MacBook Pro.

my MOST essential item