NSC Design History of Design: The Postmodern Design movement a

Question

The Postmodern Design movement aimed to move away from the Modernist's world of technology. They found Modernism to be sterile, boring and repetitive. They wanted to create designs that recognised the world of people and human purpose. Their designs were humane and clearly aimed to address the needs of people. While Modernism focused on creating a universal style celebrating geometric abstraction, uniformity and modernity, the Postmodernists followed individual needs and solutions. The Modernists' designs rejected all past styles and traditions in favour of a rigid, technology-inspired style. The Postmodernists, on the other hand, preferred to restyle past styles and traditions in order to connect people with their past.

Postmodern designers were influenced by Classical building elements such as the column, the pediment, the portico and the arch. These elements are visible in designs such as the 'A & T building' by Johnson and Burgee where a high-rise building makes use of a pediment which has been cut open. They also reintroduced traditional building materials such as stone, wood and brick to bring back nature and warmth to the cold, technological, machine-like designs of the Modernists.

Postmodern designers are concerned with human needs in other ways too, for example characteristically bringing the body back into architecture in their designs that are visually appealing. In contrast to the Modernist's belief in 'Less is More' the Postmodernists believe in 'Less is a Bore'. They move away from the more formal designs which were considered to be superficial and unfeeling and introduce playful, organic shapes that allow for interaction.

Pop design is inspired by the everyday, urban life of the 1960s and one of their aims was to connect with the human need for escapism entertainment, the transient and the world of glamour. Their designs are a reaction against abstract, serious intellectual designs. They aim to use the world of people as their subject matter. This can be seen in their use of understandable everyday culture as their subject matter.

Pop designs are often kitsch, appealing to people's love for bright, happy colours, and easy to understand, sentimental imagery as opposed to the more serious art movements such as Minimalism and Kinetic Art. Another influence on Pop designers is the new technology of injection molded plastic which results in sculptural products with new forms. The Verner Panton 'Cantilever Chair' is a good example of this technique.

Another new technology explored by Pop designers was molded plywood, which also allowed for new sculptural, lightweight forms that could be mass-produced cost-effectively serving the world of human needs.

A good example of Postmodern design is Portland building by Michael Graves. The facades of the Portland building have a human purpose as they are designed to entertain and amuse. They are decorative and colourful, displaying the Postmodernists belief that people are tired of the Modernists' adherence to 'Truth to Materials', their standardised geometric structures and belief in uniformity. These decorations refer to history, for example keystones and pilasters are used with the purpose of reconnecting humans to the past. The building depends on the Modernist use of the steel frame and reinforced concrete technology to achieve its large, multi-storied size.

A good example of Pop Design is the Studio 65 Leonardo, sofa, 1969. This design clearly illustrated Pop designers' use of the world of people as their subject matter. Popular, recognisable, everyday imagery (in this case the American flag) is used as the inspiration for the forms and the patterns on products. The simple, striking bold stripe pattern and stars are typical of Pop design. Using a flag design to inspire a bench is an example of Pop design's rejection of traditional ideas regarding design that is seen as surprising, unconventional subject matter.

The Postmodern Design movement aimed to move away from the Modernist's world of technology - NSC Design - Question 4 - 2019 - Paper 1

Worked Solution & Example Answer:The Postmodern Design movement aimed to move away from the Modernist's world of technology - NSC Design - Question 4 - 2019 - Paper 1

Postmodernism

Pop Design

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