Blog Assignment 8

In this week’s reading, David Raizman’s history of modern design ‘The first Machine Age in Europe’, Hannes Meyer argued that all design is a product of ‘function x-economy’. Meyer closely aligned design alongside scientific models driven by newly discovered technologies and manufacturing potential communicating the idea that in order to further design, an equation must be added. He strongly argued that without an equation design is not rational and therefore not accurate. With the introduction of this theory we saw ornamentation take a back seat in the roles it plays in modern design, and a minimalistic style take over. Design was made more efficient by reducing labour, time and money spent.

Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, from the Bauhaus school of design states “The reality of our century is technology, the invention, construction and maintenance of machines. To be a user of machines is to be of the spirit of this century. Machines have replaced the transcendental spiritualism of past eras.” Clearly showing the direction in which he wishes to lead the Bauhaus in. He realised that in order to push deisgn further we needed technology which will allow mass production in a modern world where there is a higher demand for the masses, and also to allow designers to expand and not limit what could produced by hand.

I both agree and disagree with Moholy-Nagy as I do believe designing for the masses is critical in our modern world, however I also think it is sad to see this happen and aura is lost. With technology comes mass production, with mass production we lose what is authentic in our world. As science and design may be linked together, I believe in order to create successful design, the need for and equation is not necessary. What I do think is necessary however is thought, creativity and the ability to design anything, after all it is what is in our minds that the world wants to see. Such work from kinetic sculptor Theo Jansen inspires me through his thoughts and ideas "The walls between art and engineering exist only in our minds." This is what I believe true design is, it is a thought process and a visual concept coming to life. Not an equation set of rules or guidelines which restrict and limit what we are able to create.

Raizman, D. (1927). The First Machine Age in Europe. Massachusetts: MIT Publishers.