Designers And Design Movements Flashcards
How did the Arts and Crafts movement start and what is it about (+Who founded it?)
- Movement went from 1850-1920
- People had become fed up with the steam engine and mechanisation
- Factories meant that craftsmen were less appreciated
- William Morris believed industrial production has made us less creative. He wanted to celebrate craftsmanship
- He wanted to see craftsmanship in what he sold at Morris&Co
- Although we rely on technology now, we also care why and how products are made.
Who was William Morris?
- He was a craftsman, who was also a poet and a writer
- He owned the company Morris & Co
- He spearheaded the Arts and Crafts movement in 1863
What did William Morris want in the Arts and Crafts Movement
- William Morris wanted items to be more bespoke and made with more individuality.
- He wants things to be individual and unique
- He wanted craftsmen to be more appreciated for honing their skills over the years
Arts and Crafts Movement Definition
The arts and crafts movement was made up of English designers and writers who wanted a return to well-made, handcrafted goods instead of mass-produced, poor quality machine-made items.
Arts and Crafts Characteristics
- Handmade
- Simple forms with little ornamentation
- Beauty of natural materials
- Copper and pewter - often with hammered finish
- Stylised flowers, allegories from the Bible and literature, upside down hearts, Celtic motifs
What was the Bauhaus and what did they do
- It reached its peak between the two World Wars
- The Bauhaus offered training in a variety of disciplines
- They believed the world need to be fundamentally re-though, bringing in more minimalistic ideas
- They produced the first simple, mass-produced chair
- Bauhaus was about making simple, minimal design
What are Bauhaus’s 4 Main Design Principles
- “Form follows function”
- “Everyday objects for everyday people”
- “Products for a machine age”
- “Geometrically pure forms”
What did Bauhaus mean by “Form follows function”
An object’s appearance should be influenced mainly by what it is intended to do. In other words, a product’ appearance should not be the most important factor. Above all, it should function well.
What did Bauhaus mean by “Everyday objects for everyday people”
Products should be affordable to a wide range of consumers
What did Bauhaus mean by “Products for a machine age”
Products should be made with the use of mechanised processes and modern materials
What did Bauhaus mean by “Geometrically pure forms”
Designs should use vertical, horizontal geometric shapes and clean lines with no fuss or clutter. They should also use basic tones and primary colours.
Who was Dieter Rams (and what is his work similar to)
Dieter Rams wasn’t a member of the Bauhaus school of design. His work follows the same “Form follows function” principles, but the Bauhaus was closed in 1933 and Dieter Rams was born in 1932.
His work does, however, reflect his reaction to the needs of the post-Second World War Germany. In similar ways to the influence of the First World War on the Bauhaus.
What were Dieter Rams’ 10 Principles of Good Design
- Good design is innovative
- Good design makes a product useful
- Good design aesthetic
- Good design makes a product understandable
- Good design is unobtrusive
- Good design is honest
- Good design is long lasting
- Good design is thorough down to the last detail
- Good design is environmentally friendly
- Good design is as little design as possible
What is Modernism
Modernism refers to a global movement in society and culture that from the early decades of the 20th century sought a new alignment with the experience and values of modern industrial life.
Examples of Modernism
- Bauhaus
- De Stijl
- Memphis design
Characteristics of Modernism
- Under furnished
- Use of tubular steel, plastic, laminated plywood, fibreglass
- Abstract motifs
- Bold primary colour
What is Art Deco (type of modernism)
Art deco is a design style from the 1920s and 1930s in furniture, decorative arts and architecture characterised by its geometric character.
A style defined by modernist, geometric designs and luxurious materials and colours, first emerged in France grew in popularity
Characteristics of Art Deco
- Geometric and angular shapes
- Chrome, glass, shiny fabrics, mirrors and mirror tiles
- Stylised images of aeroplanes, cars, cruise liners, skyscrapers
- Nature motifs -shells, sunrises, flowers
- Theatrical contrasts - highly polished wood and glossy black lacquer mixed with satin and furs
What is Streamlining (type of modernism)
Streamline was a late type of the Art Deco architecture and design that emerged in the 1920’s. It’s architectural style emphasised curving forms, long horizontal lines, and sometimes nautical elements.
Style became equally as important as function.
Characteristics of Streamlining
- Curving forms
- Long horizontal lines
- Nautical elements
What is Postmodernism?
Postmodernism established ideas about design and art. A brilliant mix of theatrical and theoretical, Postmodernism ranges from the colourful to the ruinous, the luxurious to the ludicrous. It is a visually thrilling multifaceted style which so famously defies definition.
Characteristics of Postmodernism
- Unusual designs that stick out
- Tries to be fun, adventurous and exciting
- Colours that contrast
- Challenges the audience’s views/beliefs
- It introduced a new era of freedom and a sense that ‘anything goes’
- Often funny, tongue-in-cheek or ludicrous
- It can be confrontational and controversial, challenging the boundaries of taste; but most crucially, it reflects a self-awareness of style itself
Who was Philippe Starck and what did he do
● French Product Designer.
● Many designs Postmodernism.
● Challenges perceptions, aims to enhance user experience through playful and thought-provoking design.
● Experimentation with modern materials
What products did Philippe Starck design
Kitchenware for Alessi.
Juicy Salif
One more please stool.
Interior Design
Architecture
Who was James Dyson and what did he do
● British design engineer.
● Range of household products by applying innovative technology to existing products.
● Some ideas (wheelbarrow and vacuum cleaner) has revolutionised the way we see
some household items.
What products did James Dyson design
Bagless Vacuum cleaner.
Ballbarrow
Rotork Sea Truck
Dyson hot
Who was Margaret Calvert and what did she do
● Graphic designer.
● Worked with Jock Kinneir.
● Work introduced a mix of upper and lower case lettering to road signs, after testing
proved that this improved readability at high speeds.
What products did Margaret Calvert design
Transport font
Many standard pictograms used on UK road signs.
Who was Dieter Rams and what did he do
● German functionalist designer Dieter Rams.
● Simplistic approach to product design.
● Had ten key principles.
● Worked with German manufacturing company Braun.
● Functional, minimal designs for Braun in white and grey
What products did Dieter Rams design
SK4 radio set
T41 Radio
ET22 Calculator
Sixtant Special SM2
Who were Charles and Ray Eames and what did they do
● American husband and wife
● Creators of the world-renowned Eames lounge chair and moulded plywood chairs.
● Famous for their work on moulded furniture both in plywood and polymers.
● Lean and modern design. Playful and functional.
● The modernist house made from used parts found in catalogues - Eames house.
● Eames house - cubist architecture of the De Stijl movement.
● Worked with the USA navy - leg splints.
What products did Charles and Ray Eames design
Eames house.
Eames lounge chair
LCW
Who was Marianne Brandt and what did she do
● German student at the Bauhaus - became head of metal work.
● Simplicity of form in designs.
● Developed a range of geometrically pure kitchen products.
What products did Marianne Brandt design
Silver tea infuser MT 49
Kandem Glass Base Table
Desk Lamp
What are design methods
There are many ways to approach design and many theories about it. Previously, the best approach was though the be linear design (design, make, evaluate).
Nowadays, we embrace other theories in addition to support the development of a product.
