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Design Theory
The following page of notes will cover:
Arts & Crafts
Art Nouveau
Bauhaus Modernist
Art Deco
Post Modernism
Streamlining
Memphis
Arts & Crafts (William Morris):
Fitness for purpose
Form follows function
Honesty in design
Aimed to be affordable
Return to designer - craftman as a reaction against industrialism
UK origins
High quality products that could be handed down through generations
Reaction to loss of traditional skills
Design style:
Simplicity
Natural forms and natural materials
Flower patterns
Showing joints/grain
Bespoke
Art & Crafts figure -
William Morris
:
Socialist
Poet/writer/designer/innovator
Famous for wallpapers
Against the machine ages
Examples of his work include the Red House
Example:
The Red House
Art Nouveau (Charles Rennie Mackintosh):
Languid lines
Formulation of new aesthetic values for a new urban lifestyle
French origins
Embraced new technology of the time
Form expressed through products function
Design style:
Curvy 'whiplash' lines
Stylised flowers
Natural forms
Languid feminine form
Based on leaves/flowers/exotic insects/peacock feathers
Art Nouveau figure -
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
:
Scottish architect and designer
Studied at the Glasgow School of Art
Example:
Glasgow School of Art
Bauhaus Modernist (Marianna Brandt):
Functionalism
Reducing to the most essential elements omiting decorative thrills
Abolition of censorship
Arts & Crafts views on form and function
German origins
Design style:
The machine aesthetic using modern materials
Simple design
Geometric forms and clean lines
Economic use of materials
Products for the machine age
Everday objects for everyday people
Bauhaus Modernist figure -
Marianna Brandt
:
German sculpturer/painter/photographer/designer
Studied at Bauhaus school
Peaked during the 1920s
Example:
Wassily chair
Art Deco (Eileen Gray):
1925-1939
Originated in France
Opulent/expensive looking
Reaction to post-war austerity
Growth of mass production
Mass production/machine made
New materials/modern materials used for the first time
Use of affordable materials
Design style:
Colourful
Sunbursts
Inlays in wood
Zig zags
Geometric shapes
Symmetry and repeating patterns
Ancient Egypt/Aztec influences
Art Deco figure -
Eileen Gray
:
1878-1976
Famous for Bibendum chair/Dragon chair
Example:
Empire State building
Post Modernism (Philippe Starck):
1975 to present day
All over the world it has a specific name
"Less is a bore"
Designs are quirky/individual/have character
Designs have personality
Reaction against functionality of modernism
Controlled chaos
Design style:
Distorted shapes
Curvy/linear forms
Assymetrical construction
Expensive
Range of materials used and used in creative ways
Bright/colourful
Taking ideas from the past
Post Modernism figure -
Philippe Starck
:
Career started in the 1980s
Worked for Alessi design company
Playful designs
Experimental design
Created Juicy Salif
Example:
Juicy Salif
Streamlining (Raymond Lowey):
1935 - 1955
Started in the USA
Consumerism and style
New prosperity and wider consumer choice
Celebrating speed and efficiency
Design style:
Aerodynamic shapes
Teardrop shape
Futuristic inspiration
Mass production
New machinery used
Streamlining figure -
Raymond Lowey
:
Worked on designs from 1910 - 1980
Streamlined trains for the Pennsylvania railroad
Example:
Volkswagen Beatle
Memphis (Ettore Scotsass):
1981 - 1988
Originated in Italy
Reaction to functional modernism
Form over function
Sometimes called 'New International Style'
Made consumers think about design
Didn't appeal to consumers with tradational/conservative taste
Design style:
Silly & Eccentric
Bold/vibrant
Influenced by Indian/Aztec art
'Retro design' (Carlton bookcase has Aztec shapes)
Distorted shapes
Promotes use of plastic
Avoids 'natural' materials
Memphis figure -
Ettore Scotsass
:
Worked 1980 - 1990 on Memphis
Designed before and after but in different styles
Worked on furniture mainly
Designed Carlton bookcase
Example:
Carlton bookcase
Topic test:
Design Influence Methods Figures Questions