INDN 311: Fashions Of The Time

After working hard on the form of my designs, I decided to take a step back again and take a look at some good ol' fashioned inspiration, as I really don't do that enough. The way I've always perceived inspiration is perhaps a little false. Recently I've begun to perceive it in the "right" way (if there is such a thing). I look at as something to get me psyched out for design, as something to inspire me, as a way of figuring out what designs have been timeless, and what designs have been a bit less so. By working "with" different famous designers, I let their sentiments on forms sculpt my work. And to be honest, it's almost always worked out for the better.

Image acquired from: www.mocoloco.com

This skylight light designed by Denise Hachinger has such a cool style. By controlling the direction of the light very specifically, she's been able to make a light that shows the pinpoints of light as almost floating in space. With heavy references to the natural world outside our own, she's create a very successful, unique image for her work.

Image acquired from: www.stgw.net

Braun has always had a style that's been very close to my heart. I love Dieter Rams' style that he's created. We studied some of his work in first year, and giving myself to opportunity to go back to my roots a bit and get some understanding of what he was all about was really good for me. I enjoyed the opportunity to re-read over his 10 Principles of Design and see how I could apply them to this product that will hopefully get my name out there!

Good Design Is Innovative : The possibilities for innovation are not, by any means, exhausted. Technological development is always offering new opportunities for innovative design. But innovative design always develops in tandem with innovative technology, and can never be an end in itself.

Good Design Makes a Product Useful : A product is bought to be used. It has to satisfy certain criteria, not only functional but also psychological and aesthetic. Good design emphasizes the usefulness of a product while disregarding anything that could possibly detract from it.

Good Design Is Aesthetic : The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products are used every day and have an effect on people and their well-being. Only well-executed objects can be beautiful.

Good Design Makes A Product Understandable : It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product clearly express its function by making use of the user’s intuition. At best, it is self-explanatory.

Good Design Is Unobtrusive : Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user’s self-expression.

Good Design Is Honest : It does not make a product more innovative, powerful or valuable than it really is. It does not attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept

Good Design Is Long-lasting : It avoids being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years – even in today’s throwaway society.

Good Design Is Thorough Down to the Last Detail : Nothing must be arbitrary or left to chance. Care and accuracy in the design process show respect towards the consumer.

Good Design Is Environmentally Friendly : Design makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment. It conserves resources and minimises physical and visual pollution throughout the lifecycle of the product.

Good Design Is as Little Design as Possible : Less, but better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity.

These should be my "tenets" of sorts. I should have these up on my wall at all times! Really, I should.