Tuesday, 17 December 2013

Context that Changed Design - Entry #24





“What inspired Pop Designers ……”



 
Pop designers were motivated by the growth of the universal mass-media and they were inspired by various sources, including the Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Futurism that I have already written about.



Other sources that inspired Pop Designers were:


  • Surrealism
  • Op Art                            
  • Psychedelia            
  • Eastern Mysticism 
  • Kitsch
  • Space-Age


 


Surrealism was an artistic movement inspired by studies regarding the subconscious and dreams that were carried out by Sigmund Freud.  This expressed the development of thought.  During the 1930s it started to look like a political movement because many of its members got involved with the Communist party.  Its anti-realistic attitudes opposed the existing beliefs of art and design.


Op Art stands for Optical Art which is a way of painting.  Op Art works are abstract and usually in black and white, and they give the viewers mixed impressions, including movement and hidden images, flashing and oscillations.


 
Psychedelia refers to the subculture of people who use psychedelic drugs before they produce artwork or music so that they show the viewers or listeners their experiences while they are under the effect of drugs.


Eastern Mysticism refers to the Eastern range of religious traditions and practices.



Kitsch is the very opposite of Good Design (that was practiced by the Modern Movement).  It describes products that are cheap and that show poor taste.


 



Space-Age – In 1961, US President John F. Kennedy said that America could land a man in the moon (an event that was realized in 1969).
movieclips. (2011). 2001: A Space Odyssey Official Trailer #1 - (1968) HD . [Online Video]. 16 June. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok32VyEQYYc.
 [Accessed: 17 December 2013]

So that era, when the exploration of space became possible, inspired designers, such as Vogue’s André Courreges, was called for space age clothes.  Lunar white and silver (the colour of space suits) became colours of fashion. 


 Space-Age-Fashion-hero.jpg
Voguepedia, (1964), Turning Points Space Age [ONLINE].
[Accessed 17 December 13]



 


Other examples of Pop designs inspired by Space-Age are the following:


 


  • Edward Mann – Felt Helmets (Dots & Moon Designs)
Celia Hammond and Pattie Boyd wearing two Capsule line felt helmets with dots and moons, photo John French. London, England, 1965
V&A, (2014), Celia Hammond and Pattie Boyd wearing two Capsule line felt helmets with dots and moons, photo John French (1907-66), designed by Edward Mann, and modelled by Patti Boyd & Celia Hammond. Photograph. London, England, 1965. [ONLINE].
 [Accessed 17 December 13]



  • Richard Sapper & Marc Zanuso – Algol TV
brionvega-algol-tv-lg7
Brionvega, (2009), Algol TV [ONLINE].
[Accessed 17 December 13]




  • Edward Craven Walker – Original Lava Lamp 1963

mrwalker
www.flowoflava.com, (1963), Edward Craven Walker & Crestworth Ltd Patents [ONLINE].
Available at: http://www.imovatedesign.co.uk/astro/mrwalkermain.jpg
 [Accessed 17 December 13]




  • Nivico 3240 GM TV for JVC
Pierre-Alek BEDDIAR, (2012), La vue de 3/4 permet de bien voir le socle sur lequel repose le téléviseur. [ONLINE].
 [Accessed 17 December 13]



Other References:
 
Book: Fiell, C.F and P.F, (1999). Design of the 20th Century. 2nd ed. Germany: Taschen
 
Book: Various contributors, (1999). The Art book. 2nd ed. London, England: Phaidon



Voguepedia. 1964. Turning Points Space Age. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Space_Age.
 [Accessed 17 December 13]


 

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