Beautility

"Construction should be decorated. Decoration should never be purposely constructed."

In the midst of a design reform in the 19th century, these words, spoken by Owen Jones, summed up the general feeling towards design at the time. These words were used in regards to the increasing trends in design, wherein industrial manufacturing was taking over handcrafted works, and embellishing them to the point of ridiculousness. Tables, chairs, and even plates were being designed, it seemed, with decoration foremost, and the actual use of the item seeming an afterthought.

I agree with these words, although, I think good design (construction) nowadays shouldn't have to be decorated, as much of the inherent ugliness of the craft has long since been removed.
It is fairly easy to see in this world, examples of both "construction decorated" and "decoration constructed", although I believe that with the inception of Post-Modernism, the lines defining them have become a little blurred.
However, there are still obvious example of each extreme, such as IKEA furniture (which probably doesn't count actually, as it's usually not decorated at all) versus novelty furniture such as giant flower chairs, or dinosaur chairs (which are awesome, by the way).
For the purpose of this entry however, I will display a rather mundane example; the candlestick.
On the left is what I consider to be "construction decorated" and on the right is "decoration constructed". Although the candlestick on the left looks fairly decorative, it is still most noticeably a candlestick, with the additions making it look more interesting. The candlestick on the right, however, didn't look like a candlestick when I first saw it. To me, it's some sort of representation of a bush, or some form of plant, with a few black orbs set into it, and a flat surface that looks like it may possibly hold a candle.

Sensuous Impulse and the Continuing Curve

Sensuous impulse is the desire to break away from the design norm, and embrace more organic, fluid forms, as opposed to the strict rigidity of desgin.
This "sensuous impulse" had taken its place as the dominant style in the period from c. 1730 to 1765, and this lead to the creation of the term "rococo". Rococo is thought of as a combination of the French rocaille, meaning stone, and coquilles, meaning shell, in reference to its emphasis on natural forms, and using those objects as main motifs.
Rococo also made a major comeback in the Art Nouveau period (1880 - 1910) and has maintained a moderate level of interest since.
it has manifested itself in a variety of ways, from mere inspiration to actual applications in large scale designs. It inspired the development and increase in number of female nudes, as the female body was the embodiement of the sensual, natural, curves and form.
Rococo is also present in European architecture, as it originated in France, and expanded outwards due to its immense popularity. Even today, many artist and designers are embracing the deviation from the norm, and experimenting with more fluid forms, using such ideas as the continuous curve. One such example of a fairly recent piece of design is Jennifer McCurdy's "Wave Vessel 2" (shown above)
This piece of art is made of porcelain, and its main focus is on form, it has no practical use whatsoever, but is just so beautiful that it doesn't need a purpose. One might say its purpose is to look good.
Personally I see nothing wrong with these sensuous impulses in design, the only problem I have with them is when they start to detract from the usability of the product (this doesn't apply to the design I posted above, as I see that as purely a work of art inspired by the rococo period, rather than a useful design). However, in these modern times, many designers are figuring out how to blend both form and function, without compromising either for the sake of the other.

If you like the wave vessel, make sure to check out Jennifer's website http://www.jennifermccurdy.com/

Assignment 1 - Oasis Tower

The Oasis Tower is a marvel of recent design and architecture. Designed to function as a sort of eco-friendly power plant, an urban farm and a hotel, it is an important step towards sustainable design.

I think this is an important piece of design as it is a major advancement in sustainability. It melds 4 important structures into one, minimizing space and carbon footprint, benefitting everyone. It also shows that good design and good looks don't have to be mutually exclusive, although that's debatable...