Synthesis

Yes, the course Design in Context has helped me as a designer to synthesise various themes and issues relevant to the history of design, such as the different periods of design and how as well as why they fluctuate. Also the different theories and practices of design which originated from design facilities such as the Bauhaus. The course has provoked my thoughts into examining modern design to find traces of these aspects immersed in the past.

My approach as a designer has changed because of the course. I am now much more aware of the different styles of design as well as the practices and how to incorporate them into my own design. As a media designer I need to look to the future as well as utilize the techniques of those from the past in order to achieve great design.

Design in Context helped me to discover the past and present ideas of design. In order to understand design ideas and concepts for the future it is crucial to have knowledge of these eras.

Postmodern Design

The axe table, brought to us by Dodolivin is a great example of postmodern contemporary design in our world today. The table displays wit and irony as the fragile glass surface is supported by the axe, a universally recognisable tool used for destruction. The table is visible construction, it is made from contemporary materials and it does not hide the truth, we can see what it is and all of its elements. This serves to add meaning to the work because we can enjoy the table just being in its very presence. Design such as this reminds us that there is a freedom to design, we don’t always need to be serious and that there can be a fun side to everyday household items.

Healthy Eating

In our world today we can find a large range of advertisements for designer products which express a political or ideological message. These advertisements seem to collate with ideas of individuals making a positive difference to the world and to themselves, ideas such as purchasing eco friendly products and eating healthy foods.

Diseases and infections affect all of us in the world. However experts believe that you can lower your chances of being inflicted by having a healthier diet. An example of this is the healthy eating option that is now provided at some fast food restaurants such as McDonalds. Most people today are conscious of what they buy and what they eat due to the increasing number of deaths which are related to eating unhealthy. It is a belief that people should treat their bodies with respect and eating healthy is one step towards that goal. Although the issue may not be as important as stopping global warming or solving world hunger it is one of the first steps in awareness towards these. In order to clean up the world we must first clean up ourselves.

Memory

While I was growing up my brother, sister and I would often relive moments of our favourite games or movies, shaping our own imaginary worlds that only we could see. This was a place where we could explore ideas of our own, solve puzzles, fight monsters whatever it was we no longer needed to be interacting with the game or movie to be experiencing and feeling what was, and what could happen next. It was as if creativity and ideas flowed from the spring that the game designer or director had created.

This is my influence as a designer and what informs my approach for future design. I do not believe that different culture or views have affected the way I view my work in any way.

As a media designer I only wish to create for enjoyment, so that others may explore their imagination, to pass on my childhood experiences and to give others the same emotions and structure to sprout ideas and worlds of their own.

Modern Design

The Bauhaus began operating in 1919 and since then it has become the inspiration and cornerstone for design institutions around the world. Today we can see similarities between the philosophy and methods that were used at the Bauhaus being applied to our current design education system.

Walter Gropius the school’s first director entered the school with an idea for artistic freedom and individuality where students could choose their preferred areas of specialization. Lessons stimulated student’s interests in materials, drawing techniques and forms. Gropius believed that there was to be an equality and collaboration between the artist and the craftsman. He taught that, “A foundation of handicraft is essential for every artist. It is there that the primary source of creativity lies.”

Today we can find the same principles and methods that were applied to the Bauhaus to our student life. Victoria offers an extensive design course which enables the students to engage in a huge spectrum of different exercises and assignments which integrate aspects of the Bauhaus principles and methods, such as creating compositions of different kinds of drawing styles, exploring geometric shapes and qualities of good design through the creating of 3d models either through handcraft or digital design. Students are encouraged to experiment and to use a range of different materials to achieve similar outcomes to those expressed by the Bauhaus, “educating new designers to reinvigorate the production of useful goods.”

Authenticity

Designers are forced to create for reproductively because there is no longer any authenticity in the world of modern art. Nonetheless this is not to say that digital design is bad; no there have been many amazing creations that could not have been produced without the aid of digital manufacturing. If the authenticity of this art is diminished what then is left in its place?

The desire for authenticity that we see amongst older works of fine art by artists such as Van Gogh has been driven out of the equation because of the reality that in our age almost anyone can produce a replica of a famous digital creation. With art such as the “Starry Night” however some say that it has an awe inspiring presence or “aura” when gazing at the original work. A picture such as the one above does not have the same effect as we cannot tell if it is a replica or not. Yet we can still appreciate the artwork just by looking at the picture as the photographer has managed to capture a fragment of what makes the painting great.

Van Gogh’s paintings confined as an image is just an example of what digital design really is. Because of our ability to duplicate and reproduce, great art can now be viewed from different angles, with multiple views and even redesigned in a different style. Although this removes the authenticity of the art it increases the appreciation for the creation as more people can understand and find value in the work more easily than a single painting at an art gallery could ever express.

Artists today, in order to be recognised must create the radical, new and original. We can no longer feel the presence of a great work of art that is digitally created as it will almost always be in the form of a picture or a film. Instead we might enjoy, appreciate, be entertained and even question why and in most cases, due to new technology how it was created.

Craft

The expertise of creating and refining a certain trade has been present from the beginning of man. Some might argue that the skills of craft are now obsolete due to the invention of the machine. However I agree with Cardoso, "The old paradigm of mass production is on its way out; a new paradigm, the individuation of experience, arises in its place." In a society where almost everything is now mass produced, consumers are overcome with the human desire for individuality.

I was reminded by the movie, "Into the Wild" by Sean Penn when I saw this handmade leather belt, that craft also can add personality and character to an everyday object. In the movie the main character crafts the belt himself and on it he etches the experiences of his life. I believe this is why handmade craft has once again been recognised, because people can relate to everything they buy through the mistakes and flaws that no machine could hope to produce.

Decorated Construction

“Construction should be decorated. Decoration should never be purposely constructed.”

Jones meant that objects should be created for their functions and then enhanced. Objects should not be created with decoration in mind first.

I agree with Jones that designers should first produce with the intended purpose of the object or building before beautifying is brought into the equation. With this in mind an objects true role should be recognisable as soon as it is glanced at, so not to overcomplicate the object.

Today examples of ‘decorated construction’ are numerous, what with novelty items and new technologies advancing daily. Following principles such as Jones’ have lead us to being able to fashion ‘decoration constructed’ whilst still retaining its functionality as well as a sense of beauty. However there are still some instances of ‘decoration construction’ which are worthy of critique. This sumo-wrestler table is a prime example as its beauty in form as well in function was lost in the very idea.

The sensuous impulse in design is and always will be the attraction and manipulation designers manage to inflict their consumers and admirers with. While many say they are drawn to a particular painting or building because of how it looks, the real reason they show interest is the ugly truth that society, at any time period controls our consumer radar. One might even go so far as to divulge that design is the creation of the consumer. This is clearly the case with many paintings and buildings in the classical periods of design. These were eras of strictness and rationality where society and therefore consumers were looking for designs which were academic and straight. Jacques Louis David’s painting, "The Oath of the Horatii" is a clear example of the period as the style, issues and even the way it was painted are clearly reflected in a serious and logical way.

The Suspension Bridge

The first designs for a bridge resembling the modern suspension bridge were released by Fausto Veranzio in 1595 in his book “Machinae Novae”. However the first suspension bridge which was actually developed and built was over 200 years later by a man named James Finley. Finley's bridge was widely publicised and the design for the suspension bridge went under rapid development. The suspension bridge represented an advancement in technology after being recognised as the bridge that could span further than any before it, making it a cheaper and more efficient way of travel and moving goods. Today suspension bridge's are used all over the world the longest being the Akashi Kaikyō which runs for just under two kilometers.