What is great design?
The modern world allows anyone to come up with their own interpretation of what they think the answer is to that question. However, in the previous century, there wasn’t so much freedom.
Bear in mind, my perspectives and views have all been formulated from a period of time where there’s been a real emphasis on making your own mind up, not just following the crowd. My generation (Gen Z) is fortunate enough to have the freedom to formulate our own opinions on any topics we see fit.
If you were born in the 19th / early 20th centuries, religion had a much larger say in design. Buildings would have large points and spires that “pointed up to the sky”, churches and synagogues were the central points of any civilisation. There was a class divide created through architecture, splitting people on their beliefs.
Back in these earlier times, these are the things that determined “great design”. You were almost told what to believe, shown exactly how things should be and anything that went against that was incorrect – there was no room for artistic interpretation. Your products and ornaments dictated your level in the world. The infamous “Squirrel Sewing Machine” by S.B. Ellithorp is a prime example of that. A sewing machine is seen to be a product, something functional, that is used for a set of tasks. A sculpture of a squirrel is seen more as an ornament, a reflection of nature, purely used for aesthetic purposes. Back in the day, servants would be the ones using the sewing machines. However, they would never be allowed to use such a beautiful contraption as one that was decorated with a squirrel – that was simply out of their class league. In these times, you would stay in line, do as you were instructed by the ones above you and never question anything. That was the same for design. Accept what you were told was great, stick to your level and never question it.
It is important for us to understand the era in which designers were born, grew up and were influenced by. Even in today’s world, our environment has a massive influence on us. The freedom that comes along with living in the 21st century in the western world knows no bounds. We find our own “parameters”, philosophies and influences and have our own hierarchy of how things should be. A politician, artist or engineer growing up 50 years ago had carried over strict teachings and ways of life from mentors who grew up 100 yeas ago. Compared to modern times, there is less of a choke hold on how things should be and a greater acceptance of seeing things for how they are. As a civilisation we have ever changing tastes and this is something that shouldn’t be pushed against as without attempting anything new, there is no progression.
It is so easy to travel the world, experience different cultures and meet amazing people. My Uncle’s mother, who recently passed, was part of the “Ten Pound Poms” – a scheme that allowed British citizens to move to Australia and New Zealand after the 2nd World War. £10 for a citizenship across the other side of the world sounds like an amazing deal, however there’s always a catch. Besides the fact that £10 has massively lost its spending power since the 1950’s it took 6 weeks by boat to travel there. The ease of accessibility that exists in the modern world makes our way of living drastically more exciting than generations previously.
To me that’s where great design originates. The ability to open your mind to a world of influence, seeing places and people first hand, learning from every experience with an end goal of really finding out who you are. Finding out what matters to you, what gets you out of bed in the morning, what change you want to see in the world. Is it the pursuit of solving the world’s greatest issues, or just simply appreciating the fresh air?
Persian rugs are a great example of cultural expression. With an initial intended practical function of warmth and insulation – these rugs grew to be a status symbol. Ones that reflected the artists interpretations of Persian culture, heritage and tribal identity.
Great design is something that should have an underlying utility but expressed uniquely through a lifetime’s interpretation of experiences and surroundings. Without even a basic utility of reflecting culture or inspiring community, there is no use - and without a human aspect to its design, there is no heart.
No matter how similar your environment, we have all had incredibly unique experiences. Great design showcases individuality through whatever median the artist sees fit. Whether that’s through sculpture, oil painting, photography, product design or even making films, a design is great if it really means something to you.