good design
Photo Credit: Social Insecurity and Lovell House
Design is omnipresent in the world, yet certain creations capture attention more readily than others. For example, designs that incorporate ideas of unity, balance, variety, and scale tend to be more successful than designs that do not analyze and execute these techniques. In both 2D and 3D creations, it is possible to integrate the various aspects of good design.
The book cover for Social Insecurity designed by Gilbert Li can be considered successful in that it strives to capture the attention of others by the use of scale, rhythm, balance, and contrast. The dotted figures are almost indistinguishable, making them small in scale, but their scattered pattern creates a rhythm that allows the eye to dart around the bottom third of the cover. To balance this busy effect, a large yellow block encompasses the remainder of the page, which is considerably less visually stressful to the viewer. The use of these various design elements aids Li in creating a good design.
Richard Neutra’s Lovell House is a three-dimensional example of a notable design. The monotone, white-washed walls construct a sense of unity as it is present throughout both the interior and exterior of the building. Moreover, the rhythms of the columns and mullions further unite the structure’s design. Variety is achieved through the differing heights and grid pattern of the columns, along with the location of the block-like structure amongst organic forms. Neutra’s use of unity contrasted with variety creates a noteworthy three-dimensional design that can be considered successful.
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museum appreciation
Photo Credit: The Tech Museum
In the years preceding adulthood, many parents will take their children to museums to try to create an understanding and an appreciation of international and local art and culture. Upon entering these museums, most children will groan and become restless as they feel indifferent to the history and value of the paintings, sculptures, or other displays around them. It is not until adulthood that children learn to actually pause, analyze, and appreciate the pieces that have been specifically chosen for museum exhibits.
The root of the word museum comes from the Greek word for muses. Muses are meant to serve as an inspiration to people, adults and children alike. For a more contemporary example, Hubert de Givenchy, a successful fashion designer, identified Audrey Hepburn as his muse. In the childhood mind, however, museums are a tedious sequence of rooms that grown ups drag their children to as a form of educational torture. Rather than have typical exhibits geared toward inspiring adults, museum founders should find ways to entertain and educate the future creators of the world in a more experimental fashion. The Tech Museum, for example, lives up to its Greek etymology by having interactive games and experiments for children to explore. In this way, children can become inspired by the exhibit and be more inquisitive about the subjects. Childhood is a vulnerable stage of life in which minds are molded and interests are developed. With the creation of more exciting museums, children will actually jump at the opportunity to join their parents for museum visits.
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art over time
Photo Credit: St. Paul’s Cathedral by Christopher Wren and The Salk Institute by Louis Kahn
Artistic movements observed throughout history seem to develop a constant pattern of rebellion. In the realm of painting, abstract art attempts to bring a fresh perspective to the world by ignoring all Renaissance principles of logic and symmetry. From an architectural standing, the modern movement of minimalism is seen as a direct contrast with the earlier Baroque period, in which architects, such as Christopher Wren, designed extravagant buildings with heavy ornamentation.
The Baroque period is, in fact, known for overindulgence and expressiveness, in both music and art. Sculptors and architects, like Giovanni Bernini, toiled over the emotions and details of their work. However, since the 1800s, artists and designers began to develop a distaste for the elaborateness of the Baroque. Architects like H.H. Richardson decided that there is no need for such excess detail, and, therefore, his designs are based on the principle that form follows function. The Salk Institute, by Louis Kahn, another modern architect, emphasizes simplistic harmony in the world by utilizing a simple stream of water that seems to fade into the horizon. Modern architects developed their ideals based on the need for constant change, as well as the desire to create something completely different from their Baroque counterparts. Throughout history, artists and designers continue to work toward individualism and uniqueness, which is the core motivation that drives the vast majority of successful artistic movements.
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fat cats
Photo Credit: Garfield and Odie
Scott McCloud’s book, titled Understanding Comics, brings a new perspective to any adult who had grown up with animation and comics. Cartoons were on every Saturday morning, and, on Sundays, there would be color comics in the newspaper. Without having any type of formal education on design, children are able to appreciate the boldness and the humor of 1990s animation and comics, but not the artistic involvement under the surface.
It is through reading McCloud’s book, however, that one can truly grasp the dynamics behind these playful and audacious pictures. McCloud quite appropriately refers to comics as the “invisible art.” As a child, no one would even think to identify the iconic quality of characters, or the level of abstraction that the artist uses. Children see comics and cartoons as weekend entertainment, not art pieces that should be proudly hung in a museum. Moreover, museum pieces are often accompanied with a caption stating the title, artist, date, and medium. Comics, however, are printed in a newspaper everyday, and are meant to be read and visualized as a story. No one would dare to look at a comic and think,”Garfield, Jim Davis, 1993, Newsprint on newspaper.” Scott McCloud advocates that comics are, in fact, a complex art form which places much under consideration, such as realism, iconography, sequence, and panel composition. Comics are quite deserving of being appreciated as an art, and through analyzing the structure behind this “invisible art”, one certainly can see the artistic qualities and endeavors taken by the illustrators.
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inspiration for designers
Photo Credit: Tassel House by Victor Horta
Good designers are those who look outside of themselves for inspiration, which can be found within every corner, crevice, person, place, or thing of the world. For example, the modern style of simplicity and minimalism influences many other artists and designers to join the movement. Nature also serves as a widely understood inspiration to many. Victor Horta, a Belgian architect, who, in many ways can be considered a key advocate of the Art Nouveau movement, was so inspired by natural forms that every aspect of his structures resembles stems, leaves, and other plant-like motifs.
One of Horta’s most famous creations, the Tassel House, is filled with curvilinear forms and plant-inspired ornamentation throughout the structure and the added interior decoration. Horta, as an architect, used the basic form of a plant, twisted it into something more whimsical, and incorporated it into the staircases and columns of the Tassel House. Hector Guimard, a French Architect said to be inspired by Horta’s success and execution with organic forms, created the Metro Station entrances in France under the same Art Nouveau principles. Horta and Guimard are clear examples that designers can be inspired both by simple items around them and by other designers.
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art of the minorities
Photo Credit: Chaco Canyon and Taipei 101
In university education, taking general art/design/architecture classes entails learning about the Renaissance, Roman columns, and Frank Lloyd Wright. All subjects are worthy of the attention of students, but the artistic creations of the people who cannot be categorized as Europeans are often overlooked. In many of the architecture history classes at the University of Washington, very little is said about the contributions of Native Americans or Asians. On that note, other people considered minorities are also pushed under the rug in terms of education and exploration of their art and culture.
It is selfish of society, as a whole, to only be concerned with matters that they are directly affected by. Furthermore, even with the presence of Native American influences on the Spanish missions of the Southwest, most educators still choose to ignore the existence of these types of buildings. It wouldn’t be too painful to sacrifice half a lecture on European Gothic architecture to speak about design of cultures developing in isolation from the Europeans. Other societies across the world bring a unique and fresh perspective to design, which can be utilized to influence the current generation of developing designers. Embracing different cultures can only be beneficial to the educational system in America, both in design and other social issues.
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form and function
Photo Credit: The Marshall Field’s Wholesale Store and The Wainwright Building
The structures created by H. H. Richardson in the 1800s epitomize the argument that “form follows function.” For example, the Marshall Field’s Wholesale Store, located in Chicago, Illinois, is a simple block structure which de-emphasizes the need for extravagant geometric shapes or ornate decoration. Many other architects, such as Louis Sullivan, the architect of the Wainwright Building, also believed the modernist principle that form is manifested from functional needs. This ideal, however, can be taken to such an extreme in which the current world could be reduced to such standardized and unoriginal forms.
Fashion, for example, is an art form which contains multiple unnecessary additions and alterations, but is still widely accepted internationally. Under the “form follows function” principle, one would not see a need for patterns on clothing, or different styles of jeans. Skinny jeans serve the same purpose as straight-cut jeans, and pinstripes mimic the rhythmic patterns of well-arranged polka dots. Moreover, artistic endeavors such as abstract painting would be placed under high skepticism. Under the assumption that all painting serves the same purpose, what could possibly be gained from exploring different styles? Those who are firm and unwavering believers in “form follows function” need not expect such plain and indifferent attitudes to become popularized amongst those who wish to discover and execute various stylistic forms of design.
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andrew wyeth museum exhibit
Photo Credits: Refuge by Andrew Wyeth
Last month, I paid a visit to the Seattle Art Museum. A special exhibit titled, “Andrew Wyeth: Remembrance” was on display to commemorate the American artist and his contributions to realism. The exhibit consisted of only a few of Wyeth’s paintings, with detailed captions explaining the obstacles Wyeth and his model, Helga Testorf, overcame in order for the works to be produced. For instance, one caption described the extreme weather conditions that Helga endured while she posed in the chilly winter air for hours at a time. While painting, Wyeth must have also withstood those same conditions, except with a brush in his hand, persevering for the sake of art.
Wyeth and Testorf are clear examples that designers, photographers, artists, and models must be equally passionate about the work they pursue. Without the drive to create, difficult obstacles, such as weather conditions, would be a quick and easy reason to head home and relax in the comfort of a warm home. Those who endure through harsh elements, whether it is criticism or other uncontrollable factors, eventually create a product worth the attention of others. Wyeth is now a noted American artist, and, had he and Testorf been fearful and unmotivated, the Seattle Art Museum would have been quick to overlook Wyeth’s creations.
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