Cooper-Hewitt

Overall, the exhibit was pretty entertaining. Graphically, it was eyecatching and thought-provoking. The setup of the actual exhibit was also well done. I especially liked the political posters and the hidden messages within them. If I had to pick one designer that inspired me, it would be Hunter Hoffman, who is a cognitive psychologist and studies pain and fear in humans. His latest projects include a virtual reality game used for severe burn victims. The theory is that a cannot feel as much pain if their attention is focused away from it. The game puts the person in a 3d environment where they are racing down a snow mountain and throwing snowballs at penguins. The perception of cold, as well as the distraction offered by the new environment, has been proven to significantly reduce pain.I think Hunter Hoffman shows that designers are extremely influential, now more than ever. It's also interesting to see psychology and art combine for a common cause.