Designers and designing
Exam expectations Issues associated with how we design and famous designers are regularly tested in the written paper.
Empirical designing Trial and error designing Modelling most likely route Dyson use modelling and testing as their preferred method of designing
Intuitive designing Sum of past knowledge Often very specialised areas
Systematic designing Separate discreet stages Sub-systems often dealt with by others Teamwork most common
Where do we get new ideas? Nature Geometry/mathematics The man-made world Other designers Other products Rarely from looking at a piece of blank paper!
Nature Patterns and texture Structure and form Colour
Observational work of plants Designers such as William Morris have used detailed drawings of plants to create new designs
Looking at anatomy George Carwardine designed the first Anglepoise lamp in the 1930s based upon how the human arm works
Geometry & mathematics Geometry and mathematics is all around us
Islamic design Mathematics is a strong influence Based on grid patterns
Celtic design Still a popular influence today Based on geometric grids
Fibonacci series A series of numbers to create well proportioned rectangles 1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89 Any adjacent numbers
Geometric form Particularly used in architecture and some domestic products
Grids Often the starting point for textile designs
Geodesic domes Very strong structures based on geometric shapes
Existing products Which came first? Ideas are often developed from existing products
Retro design Modern products based on styling from the past
Design Icons Classic design Innovative Often copied
Philippe Starck Often unusual Always fun Not always practical
James Dyson Best known for the innovative cleaners Strong use of colour and form
Jonathan Ive Senior VP at Apple Innovative styling and micro electronics
Robin Day World’s best selling chair Developed polypropylene moulding techniques
Mary Quant Led the sixties look Short skirts Geometric designs
Philip Treacy Unusual forms
Richard Sapper High Tech Post Modernism
Giorgio Armani Softer suits Lightweight fabrics Well tailored
Charles Rennie Mackintosh Mix of geometry and stylised natural form
Vernon Panton Exciting plastic furniture
Henry Beck London Underground map Format copied around the world
Arne Jacobsen Futuristic at the time Laminated plywood
Design movements Arts & Crafts movement Art Nouveau Art Deco Bauhaus De Stijl Modernism Memphis Post Modernism
Art Nouveau Nature a strong influence
Art Deco Geometry a strong influence High glamour
Bauhaus First real attempt to train product designers Form follows function
De Stijl Absolute abstraction Simple slabs Primary colours, black & white
Memphis Surface pattern Strong colours Rebellion
Market Pull The market place creates consumer demand Sometimes the demand is created by the manufacturers
Technology Push R&D labs are constantly developing new technologies Scientists often provide the driving force behind new products