Meaning and Value on Contemporary Design

I have chosen Well Proven chair as my subject for this essay, it is a chair designed by Marjan van Aubel and James Shawn, two students from Royal Collage of Art in London class of 2014.

 This chair came about though experimentation, The students combined Bio-resin and sawdust creating a chemical bond resulting in a foam like material, they manipulated this material to create a seat shell which is durable and biodegradable.

When looking at this piece and describe it through formal elements, I am mightily attracted to the simple soft lines and the structure as a whole, the harmoniums colours and application of dull pastel colouring, The design has a smooth ergonomic surface where the human figure would sit and rest ones back while at the back this seamless shell chair it has a rough moon like surface, very futuristic, I would describe the surface like a natural material being eaten by acid. The shell is bonded with a base made from natural wood giving it an industrial /rustic feel.

Consumers of this generation appreciate recycled/repurposed material , we as the consumers are always on the look out for items or surfaces witch intrigue us, we look for purchases (ex chair) which are stable and durable and more over,  the comfort of the chair .

I believe the Well Proven chair fits all the criteria which  makes it a very contemporary  design and will thrive and inspire future consumers and designers.

These students have definitely  given us a step forward to the future  by finding/ introducing an innovative  material half of which its components, being sawdust would have been disposed of and more over creating a product that is made completely from Biodegradable material.

This reminds me of the Eames chair; ergonomic, industrial, visionary and produced of innovative material.

The Eames chair 1948 by Charles and Ray Eames.

Eames moulded plastic chairs were the first shell seat to be designed and produced. It was conjured up in aim to win a competition which asked for a well designed, low priced product that would attract a wide range of consumers, is easy to move, comfortable and well finished. Eames gave this and more making a chair that was easy to mass produce, using innovative material, a structure that has

never been used before and attracting many clients with the option of changing the base according to the function of the chair. While being cutting edge Modern design and style of living.

I see a connection between the Well Proven chair and the Eames chair both in the over all shape/form of the seat, the clean Modern design of the base , the ergonomic studies behind the production and most inspirational,  the connection of both using new technical application of innovative material .

Comparing between these two pieces, while the plastic Eames shell chair was a step forward for its time the Well Proven has one over the Eames, providing us with a biodegradable chair that uses material that was before disposed of, in my eyes making it even more economical.

Then again as far as the functionality the Eames chair wins for me, having the ability to change the 'legs' base of the chair giving them a larger customer base,

Were as the Well Proven chair has a fixed base giving a need for a more fixed placement.

Both pieces are very ergonomic giving the human finger a secure, moulded place to rest, I would imagine the Well Proven chair to be more comfortable due to the foam like material compared to the plastic shell of the Eames chair .

        

Well Proven chair by Marjan van Aubel + James Shaw. 2014. Well Proven chair by Marjan van Aubel + James Shaw. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.designboom.com/design/waste-wood-and-bio-resin-chair-by-marjan-van-aubel-jamie-shaw/. [Accessed 30 November 2014].

Office Essential: Charles Eames Chair - MIKESHOUTS. 2014. Office Essential: Charles Eames Chair - MIKESHOUTS. [ONLINE] Available at:http://mikeshouts.com/office-essential-charles-eames-chair/. [Accessed 30 November 2014].

Aesthetic Movement 1870-1930

A Movement that started in the late 19th century, an artistic and literary movement based on the motto "art for arts sake' and brought up the argument that art and design would regard to utility or usefulness rather than beauty,ornamentation.
The Aesthetic movement came after the Arts and Crafts movement, and this term was used to refer to the new emphasized principles how design was developing, the development of furniture,metalwork, ceramics and stained glass, wallpaper, textiles and  books. 
Most writers of this movement would link the reaction of the Industrialization in the mid 19th century in England.

This movement combined exotic design as well as historical inspirational sources. 
During this time Japanese art made its day-view with the rest of the world. 
Not much of this movement remains to this day, as design objects were never inexpensive and not mass-produced, the consumer would have been one that would buy to show how well-off they were and to own items of beauty. 
 English designer begun by following the 'mold' so to say they stuck to the pattern of imitation. Fashion was had a big impact with influenced of Japanese cloisonne wear,ivories and bronze. 

 The Cult of Beauty.

Potters of this movement quickly picked up on this ornamental design , being accustomed to aesthetics, and visual pleasing pieces via pattern or texture, the potters now started to use the Japanese techniques and style. 

From the Aesthetic Movement a lot of fresh ideas new shapes and forms came to be and from then they were moulding the people and design of the 20th century 

The japanese principles that inspired the western designers brought varying of designs and produces, the study of japanses design influence large commercial companies like Wedgwood,Copeland,Worcester and Minton, purely for the fashionable decorative values.
But Christopher Dresser and Edward Goodwin saw the functionality in the movement , tearing it to its bare bones and realesing a new sense of functionality in design.  

Christopher Dresser and Edward Goodwin, Kitchen set 

The Aesthetic Movement never really completed what it set out to do. 
the movement came into action to reform and refine earlier styles yet what they did was creat new design and a veriaty of style for the consumers.
Then again the designers did lay down a foundation for for the upcoming century.




The Aesthetic Movement . 2014. The Aesthetic Movement . [ONLINE] Available at: http://cai.ucdavis.edu/waters-sites/aesthetic_movement/aesthetic_movement.html. [Accessed 13 November 2014].

Aesthetic Movement | Brideshead Revisited. 2014. Aesthetic Movement | Brideshead Revisited. [ONLINE] Available at:https://aestheticmovent.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/aesthetic-movement/. [Accessed 13 November 2014].

 Beautiful rebels: the daring art of the aesthetic movement | Art and design | The Guardian . 2014. Beautiful rebels: the daring art of the aesthetic movement | Art and design | The Guardian . [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/mar/28/aesthetic-movement-v-and-a-museum. [Accessed 13 November 2014].

 2014. . [ONLINE] Available at:http://media.vam.ac.uk/vamembed/media/versions/uploads/new_images/2006ap3174_dish_morgan_custom_base_custom_base_custom_290x290_66169619.jpg. [Accessed 13 November 2014].
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The Arts and Crafts Movement 1850-1914

Arts and Crafts 

 The Arts and Crafts movement.
         




One of the most influential movements in history started in 1863 and well we could say it's still relevant till this day, we still have a few of the same morals, ethics and opinions of certain topics. 
A reaction to the poor quality of design.

This movement began in England thne american designeres quickly got into the style with modifications to the style, this challenged the over all taste of the Victorian era , this movement was developed by non other then William Morris and other creative thinkiers such as Walter Crane and John Ruskin 


There ideology of good design translated into their notion of a good society. this society was a vision of freedom and good work spaces from the crafts people, and not be suck in an un inspireing factory , they gave the crafts people the glory they desierved , with these good working condictions and top noch crafts people beautiful well crafted exhibition worthy pieces where being produced.
These crafts peolple belived that the design is for the client, chosen by the client, for their perosnalry design requirments, tailer made.

This movement is in a time when machines were being invented and used in the manufacturing business therefore furnishings were being massed produced, eliminating Crafts people and Design.
Since products were being produced in this manner, the manufactures didn't really care for the final outcome of the products, making things witch were overlay ornamental and disregarding quality and functionality 

 Before and during this period manufactorors give varieraty of choice to the consumers, many products were being mass produced therefore giving people varity of opitions with shoddy work,

The rebellion of this movement was led by none other then poet and artist William Morris 1843-1896, he believed that the machines were taking away from design and creativity. 
"We do not reject the machine, we welcome it 
But we do desire to see it mastered"
William Morris had a company Morris and Co., producing everything from furnishings to carpets , wallpaper and stained glass, Morris liked to show the work put in/ the connection of the craftsman and the product, he would order the crafts people to leave hammer marks on metal work and  have joints left showing. 

Arm Chair By Morris and Co 

Morris &Co. Celebrated the crafts people , the movement promoted economical and social reformation, the movement went global especially big in America. We can thank the Arts and Crafts movement for the design & precise machinery we have today. 


Architecture has the biggest impact/radical change during the Arts and Crafts movement, many famous architecture emerged through this movement like Webb, Voysey, M.H Baillie Scott, Charles Rennie, Mackintosh and Richard Norman Shaw.

Richard Norman Shaw (7th May 1831-17th November 1912)
Renown British architect best known for his country house and for commercial buildings. 
Born in Edinburg Scotland then moved and trained in the Royal Academy in London.

                                                          Norman Shaw Buildings, London England 

A set of buildings in Westminster London, built by architect  Richard Norman Shaw (1887-1906). building banded in red brick And white Portland stone on a granite base in Victorian Romanesque style.Originally the New Scotland Yard lay in its location.
The North Building Grad 1,was built in 1887 replacing the central office of the metropolitan police and was opened in 1890.
South Building Grad 2, 1902-1906 , originally called Scotland House.


However, while during this moevent England fround apon mass production of object, The American Arts And Crafts movement explojted it, tragating a middle class consumer who require a hight standered quity product at an effordable price , Gustav Stickley based in New York did just that he created prodcust on a mass scale using factory methods to produce products that would last and that sold in large quantities .  



Arts and Crafts: Design in a Nutshell (2/6) - YouTube. 2014. Arts and Crafts: Design in a Nutshell (2/6) - YouTube. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBq73yxha0o. [Accessed 13 November 2014].

Arts and Crafts Movement: Origins, History, Aesthetics. 2014. Arts and Crafts Movement: Origins, History, Aesthetics. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/arts-and-crafts.htm. [Accessed 13 November 2014].

 Detailed Record . 2014. Detailed Record . [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=207390. [Accessed 13 November 2014].
Richard Norman Shaw - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2014. Richard Norman Shaw - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at:http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Norman_Shaw. [Accessed 13 November 2014].

What Is Design?

'Design is what occurs when art meets industry, when people begin to make decisions about what mass-production should look like' Definition, by Stephen Bayley.

Design is a marriage between art and industry. A designer would produce a piece with a user in mind furthermore creating it in their own art form, making it functional and attractive for the masses.
A designer also has the role of strategically planning the products manufacturing and marketing.

It all started at about the 1930s when design and the designer really began to evolve, back then it was given a general title of industrial art, a boom in design as a  a form of profession started in the 1940s this happened when the government and large corporations became convinced that this was 'A good thing' more so the future.

Design is nowhere near a new activity, it has been in use since ancient civilisation, conjuring up the shape, form and structure of  many artefacts eg. Containers, tools, clothes and decorations.

Designers are not involved in the manufacturing of products rather the complete specifications of the product. The designers job is to communicate the design on all levels and to ensure that factories/manufacturers have full capability of production.
Design is the process of creation,invention and definition , separate from the means of production.

Nowadays designers are able to use computer programmes to communicate their designs both technically by use of  measurement and visually, some designers also produces 3D prototypes to further communicate with the manufacturer. When a designer is faced with a single client their first job is to identify the clients actual requirements so that the final result would be to the clients satisfaction.

If we didn't have designers or design in general our lives would be nowhere near as luxurious and functional. The  tools utensils, paraphernalia and machinery we use today have all been developed and designed to make our lives easier , design has no end , design is constantly changing and evolving .




slack, l.s, 2007. what is product design . 1st ed. switzerland: roto vision.

sparke, p.s, 2014. an introduction to design and culture . 2nd ed. usa: routledge.

walker , J.A.W, 1989. Design History And the history of design . 1st ed. london : Pluto Press.