Max's WebBlog

When searching for a social design issue, I thought about what affected me and what actions strongly conjured my emotions. I came up with the issue of showing up late to class. Not myself, of course, but compared to high school I found it very flattering that so many students choose to show up late to class. I feel like class does not truly get started until about 15 minutes into it. But these are just my personal opinions. Some may disagree and believe that it is ok to show up late to class. There are generically two seperate attitudes:

1. "We pay our tuition, we should be able to make our own choices and if showing up late to class is one of them, then we have right to do so." -random student 1

2. "We pay our tuition so I think that we should be able to reap the benefits of a full class without interruptions or disturbances that effect the learning experience." -random student 2

I would have to agree with the second students' ideology. For example, the other day in my SEAM class, we had a guest speaker giving a powerpoint presentation. And as stated in the syllabus, we began the class promtly at 2:30pm. She began her introduction and a brief background of herself and low and behold a student walks in ten minutes late to class. For one, this is disrespectful and rude. It also shows a lack of caring for the individual presenting that day. We are in college, and should act like responsible adults. We've had planty of practice getting to class in the past, I don't see why it is such a problem here at the U.

My solution? I think that if a student is late to class, he/she should not show up at all in respect of the other students who actually care about learning. In order to integrate this new policy into the University procedure, an email will need to be sent to the entire student and faculty body. The professors and TA's will need to inform and then implement the new policy. The first few weeks will be difficult, but if they stick too it, us students who care about learning and wish to reap the benefits of a college education would be finally able to sit through an uninterrupted class everyday.

Posted by Maxwell Schmitz at 11:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

The Midtown Market, located in the old Sears store on Lake Street in South Minneapolis is home to a variety of different sounds, smells, and ambiences. Here there can be found many vendors selling fresh produce, jewelry, art, and a variety of other cultural products. Immediatey upon arriving, the place captivated my senses and excited me. It was a clash of cultures, so to speak. I absorbed the sights, the sounds, the music, and the smells from food that I had never seen before. It was an experience that I will not soon forget.

What captivated me the most was the energy of the place. I could sense how alive the market was. Not just the vendors and consumers exchanging and conversing. There was a certain underlying aspect of the place that made me feel like I was standing in a flow, and unperturbed flow of which I could not quite grasp onto in a physical sense.

The most compelling energetic aspects of the Market was definitely the vast array of smells. Everywhere I went there was a different smells in the air. I tried to figure out what it was that I was smelling, but I could never put a finger on it. In the shops, chefs were cooking foods that I have never laid my eye upon. It reminded me that there is so much more to explore out in the world and that I should not be reluctant to explore foreign worlds and cultures. At the Market, I felt like I was not in Minneapolis, but rather a world where there were no countries or boudary lines. I felt as if I was in some sort of Atlantis.

The most obvious energy exchange that I immediately noticed was the cooking, selling, purchasing, and consumption of food. However, there were many other sources of energy that contributed to the flow of the place. Everything was in motion; It was very fast-paced. I thought about how everyone had there own story and own intentions for being at the market that day. But every single person also contributed to the atmoshpere that I found at the Marketplace. It was just like any typical event gathering. Some people were nice, some were rude, some smelled bad, and some I couldn't understand. But those are all different aspects that made the Market so unique. In a world growing more and more diverse with every turn of the page, we need to remember that we are all just people. Sometimes, it's neccessary to look beyond ethnicity, race, and cultural differences. The enegy exchange at the Midtown Market is a perfect example of how we need to come together and unify in order to make progress.

Posted by Maxwell Schmitz at 12:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This is a particular project that one day I hope to be a part of-designing the first arcology, a city in a pyramid. This is a drawing of a Japanese proposal known as the Shimizu MegaCity Pyramid.

Posted by Maxwell Schmitz at 6:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

These are some drawings of a design that my team worked on last year. It is a seafood restaurant located in Safe Harbor, Florida. As you can see, the design is very simple, yet provides the customer more than just dining experience. Structural attributes such as the aquarium tunnel and dance floor provide a unique layout and mixes contemporary style restaurants with a more laid back approch. Please feel free to browse through the many drawings and floorplans.

Posted by Maxwell Schmitz at 6:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog. Please be patient, this is my first blog and is still in construction. However, expect many improvements that give insight into my background and my work. Thank you.

Posted by Maxwell Schmitz at 6:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This was a picture taken on the second day of my college career. I am still adjusting to my new home. I really think this image captures the beauty of the city and the brilliant landscape of the Metro Area.

Posted by Maxwell Schmitz at 6:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)