Assignment 3 - Beauty+Utility [the politics of design]

“Construction should be decorated. Decoration should never be purposely constructed.” Owen Jones
+ What did Jones mean? Do you agree or

disagree? Discuss in relation to an example of

either ‘construction decorated’ or ‘decoration

constructed’.
I do agree with  Jones argued that “Construction should be decorated. Decoration should never be purposely constructed.”. He meant that nature should only be ideal not  to copied. He also believed that, “in the best periods of art, all ornament was based upon an observation of the principles which regulate the arrangement of form in nature”. Simply, he meant that nothing should be designed just for the shape of decoration.
The principles in which Owen Jones designs by were enforced during the 19^thcentury. After the industrial revolution which created problems economically, politically and socially. Design reformists at this time too stuck by these principals implementing the importance of a simplistic, useable design with minimal decoration and if so purposely constructed. The idea behind this notion was to re stabilise the design world defining the difference between the wealthy and the middle or lower class. The Design reformists were creating a morally correct, pure and harmonious style one which created diversity between social structures, enhancing the idea that the wealthy had stylistic taste.

Richard Redgrave, “Well-spring” vase 1857

The image of the ‘Well-spring’ by Richard Redgrave is an example of decoration constructed. It has been designed purely of True Principles show the nature as model for ornament and
appropriate ornament for object and use
abstraction in representation.

Assignment 2

+Identify an example of the “continuing curve” in

design either today or historically. Do you believe it

is a result of the “sensuous impulse”? How so? Why or why not?

Throughout design history, there is always a swing back and forth between the two opposite trends of designing for function– based on rational, logical reasoning, and designing for aesthetic.

The "sensuous impulse" always has relationship that associated with curse such as feminine, seductive, unobtrusive, emotive, mysterious, sensual and playful.It embraced and celebrated during 18th century in the Rococo and Art Neuveau movements, the sensuous impulse was seen by some as the unnecessary, frivolous embellishment of design that would function perfectly well. This can be seen in the restrained, rational and rigid approach taken during the Neo-Classical and Bauhaus movements. However, despite today’s culture of mass design and mass production, the sensuous impulse is still alive – often simplified and streamlined, curves are abundant in our everyday lives. A prime example would be the coca-cola bottle – reminiscent of a woman’s silhouette, the design employs organic shapes and a sensuous impulse to create a simple, functional object. 
Nevertheless, such sensuous impulse in design always exists, and we  can find sinuous and organic design prevail around us today. However, today we emphasis simplicity rather than complicated decoration while using the tantalizing curves.

Assignment 1

BAUHAUS

Bauhaus was  one of the greatest examples and prove the world that designs involved some important purposes for human during industrial revolution. It was a famous school that taught crafts and the fine arts in Germany between 1919 to 1933. It also influence upon subsequent developments in art, architecture, graphic design, inter design, industrial design and typography.