Designers And Design Movements Flashcards
How were objects made until the 18th century ? And what was happening to designers in the late 1700s ?
Until the 18th century objects were usually made by people in a craft workshop however in the late 1700s the production of goods became more mechanised and the designer became removed from hands-on process of creation
How did designers work in the 20th century ?
A designer working in industry had to collaborate closely with engineers, technologists and managers to come up with products that would suit the demands of a companies particular market
What was the arts and crafts movement ? And what were the main points of this movement ?
The arts and crafts movement was made up of English designers and writers who wanted to return to well-made, handcrafted goods instead of mass-produced, poor quality machine-made items
Main points:
- handmade
- simple with little ornamentation ( decorative elements )
- beauty of natural materials
- copper and pewter - often with a hammered finish
- a big point is floral patterns, allegories from the Bible and literature, upside down hearts and Celtic motifs
Name one designer from the arts and crafts movement and what they did
William Morris, he was a leader in the founding of the arts and crafts movement. He was a British textile designer, artist and many other things. His work focused on floral textile designs
What was Bauhaus ? And What was the movement all about ?
Bauhaus was a design school founded by Walter Gropius in Germany and Gropius wanted to create a school in which students work together and combine skills and style to create “Gesamtkunstwerk” ( comprehensive artwork ) in which all arts are brought together. However the school was shut down due to pressure form the nazis.
The movement was all about producing simple products that prioritise functionality and usability over everything else - the products were designed to be machine made to lower costs and make them available to a wide range of people
What are the key features of the Bauhaus movement ?
- tubular steel bent into curves or angles
- simple looking designs
- Monochrome designs - black and white
- usually just one colour
- Function prioritised over form
- Products designed to be machine made
- geometric style either very angular
What are the 4 design principles of Bauhaus ?
“Form follows function”
An objects appearance should be influenced mainly by what it is intended to do or in other words a products appearance should not be the most important factor - Above all it should function well
“Everyday objects for everyday people”
Products should be affordable to a wide range of people hence why products designed to be machine-made
“Products for a machine age”
Products should be designed to be made with the use of mechanised processes and modern materials
“Geometrically pure forms”
Designs should use vertical, horizontal geometric shapes (simple shapes) and clean lines with no fuss or clutter. They should also use basic tones and primary colours
Who is Dieter Rams ?
Dieter Rams wasn’t a member of the Bauhaus school of design however his work follows the same “form over function” principle
His work was influenced by his view of the need for functional designs in a post ww germany
He created 10 principles of good design which lay out the conditions he believes makes a design successful
What is Modernism ? And what are the key features ?
Modernism refers to a global movement in society/culture that rejected traditional values and techniques and empathised the importance of individual experience
Key features:
- Under-furnished, plain spaces
- Use of new materials such as tubular steel, plastic, plywood, fibreglass
- Abstract designs
- Usually simple colour schemes with one or two colours
Name a design made in the Modernism movement ?
Eames chair - it is an innovative design that made use of post-wartime technology and it was designed to be mass produced
What is the Art Deco design movement ? And what a re the key features of this movement ?
Art Deco is a design style from the 1920s and 30s in furniture, decorative arts and architecture and is characterised by its geometric character
It is a style defined by its modernist, geometric designs and luxurious materials / colours , first emerged in France but grew in popularity
Key features:
- Geometric and angular shapes
- Chrome, glass, shiny fabrics, irons and mirror lines
- stylised images of aeroplanes, cars, skyscrapers
- nature motifs - shells, sunrises, flowers
- theatrical contrasts - highly polished wood
