Chart Concept 4

In my previous posts I wanted to show the element of good, functional design by artists like Marcel Breuer, Ray and Charles Eames and Verner Panton. Now I want to compare them with artists like Ettore Sottsass and Richard Meier.

To start off, my next part of the chart will be about Ettore Sottsass. He was an initiator in the revolution against the “rigid functionality” of design that was present before and after the Second World War. He instigated vitality through his vivid colours and in the use of sharp lines. Together with the Memphis Group, Sottsass wanted to break down the boundaries between high and low classes, which to some, meant freedom.

At this point designers had kind of lost the advancements achieved by previous designers; as long as it was popular and mass produced they were happy about it. They started going after overly decorative designs again but this time they were more decorative and less functional than the ones created during Art Deco. The designs were starting to be very colourful and were starting to have designs which were elevated to the level of an artwork.

The reason why I chose this designer is because I wanted to bring out the contrast with the previous artists. No more of the ideal that “less is more”, now it was of the idea that “less is a bore”, thus the bombastic new creations. In his creations Sottsass makes use of random things and shapes that clash between them.

A scientific discovery such as the Hole in the Ozone Layer, led to a domino effect to everyday things we do today. It created mass awareness of the damage of industry inflicting on climate. This pushed designers and architects to rethink materials being used in their works; and a shift towards recyclable and eco friendly materials exploded. We start seeing cardboard furniture, recycled plastic bottles and scrap metal being incorporated in designs. This led to further awareness regarding sustainability which is still being felt today.

Later I was doing some further research to find out who might have been influenced by Ettore Sottsass and found this article by Diana Marian Murek, in which she writes that Balenciaga might have been inspired by said designer. In fact she states that “The porcelain lamp ASHOKA by Ettore Sottsass from 1981 [left] might have been the inspiration for the multicolour, block stripes dress by Balenciaga [right].”

Dior's Autumn/Winter 2011-12 Haute Couture was actually inspired by the whole Memphis group designers, but for the sake of the concept I am following I will post the one with regards to Ettore Sottsass.

1979 drawing of bookshelf

1980 Rubik’s cube popular / Pac-Man released / john Lennon assassinated (re-pop the beatles and people back to love and peace)

1981 personal computers/ royal wedding on tv set trend to fashion

1981 beverly

1981 ashoka lamp

1981 Carlton cabinet for Memphis

1981 Casablanca

1982 malabar

1983 westside lounge

1985 Hole in the Ozone Layer Discovered

1985 ‘tartar’ consolle

1986 Chernobyl

1986 Clesitera e maia

1986 Hollywood series ceramic vases

1987 New York Stock Exchange Suffers Huge Drop on "Black Monday" (a repeat of great dipression but not as big – people go back to lack of spending)

1987 Max Shelve

1989 Berlin Wall falls

Alessi. NA. Ettore Sotsass.[online] Available at: http://www.alessi.com/en/1/122/ettore-sottsass[Accessed on 16^th January 2014]

A.Davies. Design Technology Department: Ettore Sottsass. [online] Available at: http://www.design-technology.org/ettoresottsass.htm  [Accessed on 16^th January 2014]

Diana Marian Murek. May 2010. Into the Fashion … then is now: INSPIRATION Ettore Sottsass 1981... BALENCIAGA FW 2010/11 [online] Available at: http://www.intothefashion.com/2010/05/inspiration-ettore-sottsass-1981.html [Accessed on 16^th January 2014]

Vitra Design Museum. [online] Available at: http://www.design-museum.de/en/collection/100-masterpieces/detailseiten/carlton-ettore-sottsass-jr.html [Accessed on 16^th January 2014]

Design Museum. MEMPHIS - Product + Furniture Designers (1981-1985). Design Museum Collection [online] Available at: http://designmuseum.org/design/memphis [Accessed on 16^th January 2014]