Blog Assignment 4

 

“The evolution of culture is synonymous with the removal of ornament from objects of daily use.”

I believe that in design today, instead of ornamenting things less, we ornament things in a different way, and as we evolve as a culture, so does this difference in ornament. What is ornament? Is it lavish floral designs carved into table legs, or is it sleek and shiny stainless steel teapots? As we advance as a culture, so do our techniques of decorating things. My example of this image of an expresso machine reflects my views, is this not ornate in its slightly flamboyant shape and sleek finish?  Today we have different materials available to us, such as plastic and metals, these materials enable us to ornament objects in a different way.

Loos has a point however when talking about the time taken on craft and the amount the crafstmen gets paid, 'those who produce ornament are no longer given their due reward'. Someone that spends hours carving something, should get a better wage than someone who makes a simpler thing that takes half the time.

But would it not be better to have fewer well made and crafted pieces, than things that took half the time, energy and love? The world would then, have a lot less junk.

Blog Assignment 3

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

It seems to me that Jones is expressing that the functionality of a design should never be outweighed by the ornamentation. I agree with Jones’ argument to the extent that it is valid when applied to mass production as this ensures that products can be made to fulfil their function. However there are instances where the consumer desires decorative construction, as per the example of the excessively ornate high heels shown in this image. It is obvious that the functionality in this product has been overridden by the aesthetic, which doesn’t conform to the ideals introduced by Jones in the mid 19^th Century. The emphasis on functional and efficient design is ridiculed in Charles Dickens’ novel Hard Times, wherein the government official attempts to explain to the little girl that she “mustn’t fancy” in regards to her desires for floral patterns on her carpet(Raizman, 54-55). Excessively ornate, or functional? The debate continues.

Blog Assignment 2

Haute Couture is one of the strongest remnants of the rococo period today, making it a strong example of the continuous curve in contemporary design. The designs themselves are over the top extravagant curves and forms, always stretching the way we think and view design.

Haute Couture is reflective of the social climate of the 18^th Century, particularly in terms of the celebration of excess and heavy inequalities between social classes. To the everyday person Haute Couture is seen as extravagant, inaccessible and ultimately unnecessary – an ideal which parallels the social attitude of the increasingly discontented lower class of the rococo period. However, to the socially elite minority, Haute Couture fashion was representative of high culture to differentiate themselves from the lower class; extravagant and expensive art which enabled the sensuous impulses of wealthy to be expressed. Fuelled by economic prosperity and the transforming social mindset, particularly in terms of a newfound appreciation for the feminine form, Haute Couture was ultimately a result of the sensuous impulse.

Christian Dior Haute Couture Paris, Spring-Summer 2007

DSDN 171 - blog assignment 1

The ballpoint pen was designed in 1938 by Argentinean László Bíró  in order to satisfy the demands of a modern consumerist society. Inexpensive to produce and distribute and seemingly simple in design, the ballpoint pen offered a durable and portable alternative  to the increasingly obsolete fountain pen.

The Letter

For my letter I wrote as an eight year old. Children have a very black and white view on things so therefore my point could be conveyed clearly, also, Lego is a children's toy so it made sense for it to be formatted this way. For the close up I chose the drawing of the unicorn Daisy, as I feel that she is a symbol throughout the letter from Agnes.

The Poster

For my poster I wanted to show that Lego had lost its way, and was more focused on making money than making good lego. I chose to show my poster as a billboard because it shows power, and money. The fact that the billboard is on a bank solidifies my beliefs about Lego being a company more focused on money, than it's product.

The Word

These are my two images of 'the word' my word obviously being 'return'. I chose this word as it is like an order to the lego company, telling it to return to how it used to be.
I chose to thread onto the top of lego, keeping it simple, just like lego used to be. By using the grey and red instead of the usual colourful blocks of lego, it is more serious and the red thread is subtle against the grey.