The history of design is the study man’s attempts to create objects and environments that are aesthetically pleasing and functional in historical and stylistic contexts. It is shaped by aesthetic, social, cultural, economic, political, and technical influences. The history of design covers everything that is designed including art, fashioin, architecture, interiors, textiles, graphics, industrial and product design. There are many heroes who have had a profound influence on design.
Gustav Klimt was one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession founded in 1898. The secession artists explored the possibilities of art outside of tradition. The group provided exhibitions for unconventional young artists, and published its own magazine to showcase the work of members. Klimt was known for transforming traditional symbolism into a new language that was very sexual and disturbing to some.
Frank Lloyd Wright was an architect, interior designer, writer and educator who believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture. He played a major role in the creation and popularization of the Prairie Style of architecture, which owed its design influence to the landscape and plant life of the Midwest prairies. His designs gave the impression of blending into the environment.
The Great Depression of the 1930′s reduced the buying power in America, so companies turned to industrial designers to sell more. Raymond Loewy designed an aerodynamic pencil sharpener that was heavily stylized. The Dieter Rams design of the Braun razor in 1955 is an example of the mass production trend in the 1950s – 1960s when industrial designers started to design products that were not only stylized, but conveyed something about the company as well. Paul Rand was an innovative symbol designer of the Modernist period in the mid to late 20th century. He was known for simplicity, neutrality, and clarity. He also incorporated a blend of playfulness and illustrationthat made his work unique. As technology products became widely available, design worked to make these products attractive to everyone. Steve Jobs was a revolutionary with the design, marketing and distribution of Apple Computer.
David Carson is my design hero. His widely imitated style defined the “grunge typography” era. He is known for his innovative magazine design, and use of experimental typography. He attended San Diego State University (my alma mater) graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. From 1982 to 1987 he worked as a teacher here in San Diego. During that time, he was also a professional surfer, and in 1989 he was ranked as the 9th best surfer in the world. In 1983, Carson started to experiment with graphic design and was attracted to the artistic and bohemian culture of Southern California. The publishers of Surfer magazine hired Carson to design a publication that allowed Carson to make his first significant impact on the world of graphic design and typography with ideas that were called innovative even by those that didn’t like his work.
I am drawn to the playfulness, and humor in Carson’s work. His passion for doing what you love to do is inspirational to me. Carson said, “You have to utilize who you are in your work. Nobody else can do that: nobody else can pull from your background, from your parents, your upbringing, your whole life experience.” He was successful in incorporating the summation of all of his life experiences into his work in an innovative, courageous and fun way.
Design for technology is what’s important now. Design today is about user experiences. My goal is to incorporate all of my life’s experiences into my work on good, fun design for human-computer interaction. I want to create designs that evoke an emotional response and deepen relationships. I will work with a holistic approach to design that encompasses information architecture, visual design, interaction design, and industrial design to communicate in an intuitive way.
David Carson’s web site http://www.davidcarsondesign.com/t/