DSDN 171 BLOG ASSIGNMENT 3

Owen Jones viewed design as structure. His argument was: “Construction should be decorated. Decoration should never be purposely constructed.”  I think what Jones meant by this argument is that when making/ designing things that the craftsmen or designer should be true to his material and be true to the function of the object.

Jones argued that objects that are decorated should be done with respect to what the product is used for, that “conventional representations” are acceptable because they are appropriate to the function.

I agree with Jones’ argument because I think that the objects that were classed as ‘decorated construction’ in the nineteenth century were defiantly over decorated and had nothing to do with the function of the objects. An example of “constructed decorated” is Richard Redgrave’s ‘well-spring’ vase (1857) (as shown in the reading, page 50). I think that this is an appropriate example because the painted reeds on the vase represent that the vase is used to hold flowers and therefore the decoration is representing the vases true function. The ‘well-spring’ vase holds true principles when it comes to construction decoration. In comparison to this the flower lamp (shown on Wednesday 27^th July lecture 3 on slide 17) is ‘decoration construction’, the ornament has no connection to the function. It could be questioned as to “why or how would a flower ever be seen with a flame coming out of it?” therefore this lamp holds false principles. 

http://s42.radikal.ru/i096/0808/4f/17c1413ed78dt.jpg

DSDN 171 BLOG ASSIGNMENT 2

Saint Peter's Catholic Church, Rome, Italy

Bernini Baldacchino St Peters 1624 -1633

In the 16th century the Catholic Church introduced its most significant changes to Catholic practices. These changes occurred because of claims that the Church was not representing its people in the right way. The church was also accused of stealing money, this caused growth in religious scepticism and growth of Protestantism. 

With this change St Peters Catholic Church (Rome, Italy) wanted to encounter the accusations and show its people that these claims were not valid.

Bernini helped design the interior of St Peters Church, his architectural style showed the power that the Catholic Church possessed and also what it could do. He created a dramatic interpretation of the Roman Catholic Church and used light as a theatrical interpretation of God amongst other sensuous design aspects.

His design within in St Peters Catholic church was filled with sensuous motives and created a more emotional feeling within the church. His use of the Rococo style had a feminine association creating more emotion in the design.

I think that the result of St Peters is because of the "Sensuous impulse". The "sensuous impulse" gave the church's interior more feeling. I think that the feeling within the church would have helped people to believe that the church was representing them in a better light.

The curves Berini designed, create a more inviting feeling within the church as a posed to have harsh sharp edges. Berini's use of gold materials evokes a warm feeling in the church as well. (as shown in the image below.) 

baldecchino Tumlbr

DSDN 171 BLOG ASSIGNMENT 1

VELCRO              

Velcro was invented in 1941 by George de Mestral an electrical engineer. The idea came to him when he noticed burrs (seeds) stuck to his clothing and to his dogs fur. He then examined the burrs under a microscope and noticed how the hundreds of "hooks" latched onto anything with a loop, such as clothing, animal fur or hair. This idea of binding two materials together reversibly created a product that became a replacement for zippers among other things.
I think that Velcro is an important design because it creates more opportunities with in design and it can be used in many different ways.