Week 3 // Design and Modernism
Week 3's readings were based on Design and modernism, specifically the writing of Woodham and his opinions on the modernistic movement. The reading covered many aspects of modernism, the functionalist values all the way to the womens role in design within this time period.
The idea of ‘form allows function’ was based on the ideas that modernism was ‘felt to be an unambiguous affirmation of twentieth-century life, symbolically attuned to the possibilities of modern materials and manufacturing process.’ (Woodham) Characteristics of modernism such as the use of colour and decoration were restrained to basic shades and an abstract aesthetics which can still be seen in todays world, specifically in the ever popular minimalistic movement. Minimalist designs cover a wide range of areas within design, just like modernism. Some of these areas include; ‘appliances, furniture, textiles, posters’ (Woodham) and architecture. Many minimalist designs are created for function and hold limited decoration and/or colour. An example of this is minimalistic furniture.
In Woodham’s section on modernism and morality he states that the moral dimension of modernism “reflected a growing belief in early twentieth-century avant-garde design circles that products which both disguised their modes of construction through ornamental embellishment and were out of tune with the ‘spirit of the age’ were exemplars of ‘bad’ design.” (Woodham) To me this means that there was an ideology that if your designs didn’t fit the guidelines of those at the time then you wouldn’t be recognised for having a good design. I completely disagree with this ideology and think that the diversity of our modern design world today that any design can be recognised for being successful even if it is the complete opposite of the others. I think this was helped by the introduction of social media as it allows designers and artists to reach an audience that will appreciate their work.
Modernism and the movements in which happened during this time period such as the womens movement definitely allowed progression for women within the design world. An example of this is “The planning of efficient, pleasant kitchens’ (Woodham) and specifically Christine Frederick’s arguments for the “removal of activities unrelated to the preparation of food in order that it could be made smaller.” (Woodham).
The idea of ‘form allows function’ was based on the ideas that modernism was ‘felt to be an unambiguous affirmation of twentieth-century life, symbolically attuned to the possibilities of modern materials and manufacturing process.’ (Woodham) Characteristics of modernism such as the use of colour and decoration were restrained to basic shades and an abstract aesthetics which can still be seen in todays world, specifically in the ever popular minimalistic movement. Minimalist designs cover a wide range of areas within design, just like modernism. Some of these areas include; ‘appliances, furniture, textiles, posters’ (Woodham) and architecture. Many minimalist designs are created for function and hold limited decoration and/or colour. An example of this is minimalistic furniture.
The furniture in these two examples hold many characteristics of modern design, including abstract shapes and basic colours.
In Woodham’s section on modernism and morality he states that the moral dimension of modernism “reflected a growing belief in early twentieth-century avant-garde design circles that products which both disguised their modes of construction through ornamental embellishment and were out of tune with the ‘spirit of the age’ were exemplars of ‘bad’ design.” (Woodham) To me this means that there was an ideology that if your designs didn’t fit the guidelines of those at the time then you wouldn’t be recognised for having a good design. I completely disagree with this ideology and think that the diversity of our modern design world today that any design can be recognised for being successful even if it is the complete opposite of the others. I think this was helped by the introduction of social media as it allows designers and artists to reach an audience that will appreciate their work.
Modernism and the movements in which happened during this time period such as the womens movement definitely allowed progression for women within the design world. An example of this is “The planning of efficient, pleasant kitchens’ (Woodham) and specifically Christine Frederick’s arguments for the “removal of activities unrelated to the preparation of food in order that it could be made smaller.” (Woodham).
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