Monday, 11 April 2011

Design Museum

1.  Design Nominations

Furniture
For the furniture award I would nominate Dune by Rainer Mutsch.  Not only is the asymmetrical wave-like design of each chair aesthetically pleasing, but the chairs themselves are also functionally useful.  Also, their design allows the individual to connect them in a multitude of different patterns to create a seating area.  Thus, the design enables the user to be creative and to mix and match as he/she pleases, making the design a fun way for owners to design their own seating spaces.

Transport
For the transport award I would nominate the Barclays Cycle Hire.  It is obvious that the bicycles themselves are not nearly as innovative (or even as remotely interesting) as some of the other nominees.  However, the Cycle Hire system itself does loads more for both the city and the environment than any of the other designs.  Not only has the Cycle Hire already been implemented, but it also encourages cheap transport, an active lifestyle, and a heightened environmental consciousness.

Architecture
For the architecture award I would nominate A Forest For A Moon Dazzler by Benjamin Garcia Saxe.  In my opinion, this design stands above all others in both elegance and simplicity.  It does everything a house should do: it shelters valuables, allows a dry place for sleeping, and has utilities for baking and cooking meals.  However, unlike most modern homes, this home embraces the surrounding world rather than excluding it.  The materials used make it a part of the surrounding forest, while the skylights ensure that one could see the sun or moon at all times.  This is truly a beautiful place.



Graphics
For the graphics award I would nominate A Love Letter For You by Stephen Powers.  I chose this design both for its message and for the nature of the art itself.  As street art, this piece may at first be considered both grimy and low class (notice the cheesy gold chain pictured below).  However, the simple message of "I Love You" written across the chain, possibly addressed to the entire city, elevates the piece above mere graffiti and into the realm of true street art.



2.  Wim Crowell: A Graphic Odyssey


I did not necessarily believe that Wim Crowell's work was too minimal, as the designs (especially the text designs) often varied greatly in both layout and color.  Rather, the work would better be described as modern.  Every text piece and graphic seemed painstakingly designed, using only straight edges and blocks of color.  All though this does not suite my aesthetic taste, I appreciate the ambience of simplicity and functionality that his work seems to radiate.  My taste lies more heavily among the explosions of color and controlled chaos that Jackson Pollock seems to evoke so easily, which is so completely different than the straight edged exactitude of Wim Crowell.  Overall, I would say that Wim Crowell's work reminded me very much of Mark Rothko.  They both prefer straight edge blocks of simple color and simplicity of design rather than freedom of chaos and movement.

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