Designers

EdExcel A2 Theory

Characteristics in terms of design styles, philosophy and influences on design culture of the

following designers and design movements:

• William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement• Charles Rennie Macintosh and the Art Nouveau

movement • Marcel Breuer and the Bauhaus modernist movement• Eileen Gray and the Art Deco movement• Raymond Loewy and streamlining• Phillipe Starck and the New Design style (post-

modernism).

William Morris

• 24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896• An English textile designer, artist & writer.

• Arts and Crafts was an international design movement that flourished between 1860 and 1910, especially in the second half of that period, continuing its influence until the 1930s. It was led by the artist and writer William Morris during the 1860s

• It stood for traditional craftsmanship using simple forms and often applied medieval, romantic or folk styles of decoration. It advocated economic and social reform and has been said to be essentially anti-industrial.

Arts and Crafts

• Arts and Crafts was an international design movement that flourished between 1860 and 1910, especially in the second half of that period, continuing its influence until the 1930s

• It stood for traditional craftsmanship using simple forms and often applied medieval, romantic or folk styles of decoration.

• It advocated economic and social reform and has been said to be essentially anti-industrial.

Arts and Crafts

• Style:– Hand made simple forms

with little ornamentation– beauty of natural

materials– stylised flowers, upside

down hearts, Celtic motifs

Charles Rennie Mackintosh• (7 June 1868 – 10 December 1928)• Scottish architect, designer, water colourist and artist. • Main representative of Art Nouveau

• Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art (especially the decorative arts ) that were most popular during 1890–1910.

• The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art”• It took designs and forms in nature and used flowing curves to

stylize them.• In architecture the classic Art Nouveau design looked as if a plant

was actually growing on the building.

Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau

Marcel Breuer

• (21 May 1902 – 1 July 1981)• Hungarian-born modernist, architect and

furniture designer• Studied and taught at the Bauhaus in the

1920s (design school)

Bauhaus

• It was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts (1919-1933)

• The Bauhaus style became one of the most influential currents in Modernist architecture and modern design.

• The Bauhaus movement teaches “truth to materials”, which means that material should be used in its most appropriate and “honest” form, and its nature should not be changed. For example, supportive materials such as steel should be exposed and not hidden within the interior framework of a piece of furniture.

• Bauhaus is German(ish!) for house construction

Bauhaus

Bauhaus

• Geometric shapes

Eileen Gray

• (August 9, 1878 – October 31, 1976) • An Irish furniture designer and architect and a

pioneer of the Modern Movement in architecture.

Art Deco

• An influential visual arts design style which first appeared in France during the 1920s, flourished internationally during the 30s and 40s, then waned in the post-World War II era.

• An eclectic style that combines traditional craft motifs with Machine Age imagery and materials.

• The style is often characterized by rich colors, bold geometric shapes, and lavish ornamentation.

• During its heyday Art Deco represented luxury, glamour, exuberance, and faith in social and technological progress.

Art Deco

Art Deco

Raymond Loewy

• (November 5, 1893 – July 14, 1986)• An industrial designer

Streamlining

• Streamline Moderne, sometimes referred to by either name alone or as Art Moderne, was a late type of the Art Deco design style which emerged during the 1930s.

• Its architectural style emphasized curving forms, long horizontal lines, and sometimes nautical elements.

Streamlining

Phillipe Starck

• (1949-present)• Philippe Patrick Starck is a French product

designer. His designs range from interior designs to mass-produced consumer goods such as toothbrushes, chairs, and even houses.

• One of the best-known contemporary designers in the world

• Much of his work produced in the 1980's and 1990's was influenced by fashion and novelty.

Post-modernism

• A cluster of philosophical, literary, cultural and art movements which developed in the mid-twentieth century.

• It is difficult to come up with a strict definition of postmodernism.

Post-modernism

Task

• Produce a revision sheet (A4) with the following information on:

• The person (brief)• The era they link to• Design styles (trends, with examples)• Philosophy• Influences on design culture

1. William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement

2. Charles Rennie Macintosh and the Art Nouveau movement

3. Marcel Breuer and the Bauhaus modernist movement

4. Eileen Gray and the Art Deco movement5. Raymond Loewy and streamlining

6. Phillipe Starck and the New Design style (post-modernism).