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Posts Tagged ‘illinois’
Naperville: The Naper Settlement
6/30/2009 4:41 PM By Catherine TNaperville, Illinois is home to a very unique piece of property called the Naper Settlement. If you are trying to come up with some traditional ideas for a Web design concept, spend the afternoon here with the costumed interpreters and you are sure to get some material that you can work with. The property has 30 historic buildings that are located on 13 acres, and visiting each of them makes you feel as though you have been transported back in time.
The buildings that are on the grounds include a blacksmith shop, a print shop and a Victorian mansion. There is also a fort, a schoolhouse and a chapel that you can visit to round out the imagery. After spending some time at the settlement, you can begin to get a feel for what life was like long ago. Look for things that are symbolic to represent the traditional American lifestyle–they are all around you here.
Chicago: Downtown Deco Tour
6/26/2009 4:40 PM By Catherine TArt Deco is a truly unique style, and if you are looking to find a way to incorporate it into a design, the Chicago Architecture Foundation's "Downtown Deco" tour is a must. Not only will it get you in touch with the history of this popular design style, but it will teach you details about the motifs and characteristics of Art Deco as well. Chicago is home to many buildings that exemplify the Deco look, including the Field Building, the Carbide and Carbon Building and the One LaSalle Street Building.
If you want to go out on your own and see the Deco buildings in the city, there are plenty of places to see. Some buildings you might want to view include the Palmolive Building, Mather Tower, the Chicago Board of Trade Building and the McGraw-Hill Building, all of which have the ornamentation and design that have come to represent Art Deco style. Classy, yet modern in its own way, this can be a great starting point for a totally new design concept.
Berwyn: Horrorbles
5/27/2009 10:33 AM By Catherine TTucked away in a storefront on Roosevelt Road in Berwyn, Illinois, you will find everything you could ever want or need if you're trying to develop a horror or science fiction-style theme for a Website. As a matter of fact, "Horrorbles" is worth a stop even if you're just into the look of old-time movies and want to brush up on ideas for a "poster look" for a particular Web design. The owner can find you almost anything you need, and there is an enormous collection of merchandise that ranges from life-sized statues and costumes to masks, magazines, and collectible figurines.
Take your time and browse through the famous artwork of Basil Gogos or get ideas from the large poster collection at the store, which features posters dating from the 1950's to the present day. There are also plenty of movies and other media if you prefer to take your research home with you. You'll find everything from classic designs to more modern fare here, and if you're looking to do a unique theme in this type of genre, this is the place to find your muse.
Oak Park: Frank Lloyd Wright
4/29/2009 9:40 AM By Catherine TOak Park, Illinois is the first city directly west of downtown Chicago, and the village is loaded with important architectural buildings, many of which were designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. He was well-known for his work in the "Prairie" style, with its low horizontal lines and harmony with the natural surroundings. If you are looking for a sleek, yet classic design style, these homes can definitely serve as inspiration. Many have an almost Asian feel to them.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio is on Chicago Avenue and is open to the public. Here, you can see the beginnings of the Prairie School of architecture and begin to learn more about this type of look. Opt for a guided tour of the building, or set out to take in all the sights and sign up for a walking tour of the Historic District. You'll see the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright designs in the world here, and the repeated themes and craftsmanship of these homes are sure to amaze as well as inspire. The clean lines and basic ideas on which this style of architecture is based on translate very well to Web design.
