Post modernism Flashcards
(5 cards)
When was postmodernism?
1975- present
Why did postmodernism come about?
The functionalism of the modernist movement was highly criticised. To many, the modernist movement has not ended as a lot of its ideas are still in use today. The post-modernist movement began with architecture, as a reaction against the blandness and hostility present in modernist architecture.
Postmodernism features
Its philosophy of an ideal perfection, harmony of form and function and dismissal of decoration was at odds with contemporary designers who wanted individualism and personality back in design.
Humour & Personality – bright and colourful like children’s toys. By providing products with personality they appealed more to the consumer who wanted to express their individuality.
‘Retro’ Design – Taking inspiration from past movements and reinterpreting them in a modern way. Alternatively, copying old designs but manufacturing them from modern materials. This satisfied the trend in nostalgia.
Deconstruction – A development in architecture where the surface structure of a building is distorted so that it becomes non-rectangular. The finished visual abstract and non-symmetric appearance gives the impression of controlled chaos.
What was memphis?
It was composed of Italian designers and architects who created a series of highly influential products in the 1980s. Founder member Ettore Sottsass disagreed with the approach of the time and challenged the idea that products had to follow conventional shapes, colours, textures and patterns. They drew inspiration from Art Deco and Pop Art styles.
Vibrant, eccentric and ornamental. It produced bright, colourful and abstract designs for metal wear, glassware and furniture. Geometric forms were combined to produce asymmetrical products. Metals and plastic laminates were heavily featured. Dismantled in 1988.
Who was Philippe Starck (Memphis)?
Philippe Starck is a well known French designer and probably the best known designer in the New Design style. His designs have been well publicised in the media and include a diverse range, from spectacular interiors to mass-produced consumer goods such as toothbrushes, chairs and even houses.
Starck has worked as an independent product and interior designer since 1975. He rose to fame in 1982 with his interior designs for the French President’s private apartments. Since then he has collaborated with many multinational companies on the design of packaging and relatively inexpensive products such as a mouse for Microsoft.
Starck’s products are often stylised, streamlined and organic in their appearance. He possesses humour and he often christens his products with names to bring them to life. He values new technology and innovation with a conviction that ‘it’s better to make a creative mistake than a stagnant work in good taste’. He is also very conscious of sustainability.
