Does innovation come in a straight line? Or in circular path?

The world is rapidly changing every day, but when I pause and look at the history of design, I see a large pattern of cycle that goes continuously. Thinking about past and passed subject, I feel that the direction of today’s design tends to reflect back to history. Some people say, from history, one is able to foresee the future. People look back on history, improvise, and perhaps get inspiration from it. In addition to this, people are also bringing back history into the present. For example, sustainable design, fashion, and vintage designs are inspirations from the cycles of the past used in modern design. Is our idea of innovation always come from the past? There is a new innovation in every design, but, is the term for innovation means going backward in history?

I was looking at the big issue of green movement that grows in society. Before the green movement began, it was often cases with many industrial designers that they value functionalism, and emotional design as a crucial point to consider in terms of designing. The product we use, we touch, and see should not be frustrating, and perplexing, but it should serve its purpose, be attractive, and be pleasurable. In addition to these points, there is a new aspect added in order for a product to be considered “a good design.” What is a good design? Nowadays, people seem to promote sustainable design as a good product. Sustainable design is to keep from giving away, to keep in existence, and to maintain its value. Also, sustainable design is reaction to the global environmental crisis. This issue takes our thoughts back to the beginning of human history. Even before Industrial Revolution, there was the beginning. Whoever created the earth, the galaxy and beyond is the ultimate designer who surpasses time and generation. The sky decorated with clouds, trees, like mood lamp, changing color every season, the light that emanates heat, atmosphere and playfulness with its shadow are some of the basic designs that people often get inspirations from. The creator’s greatest design would be the invention of human beings. Our skin, hairs, eyes, nose and mouth, hand and feet, all these features are taken into consideration so intricately and flawlessly that they are harmonious as a whole.

From the creation of human being, I believe is the beginning of history. With God’s creation, we used to take advantage of nature without any cost. However, with growth of human desire, people started to dominate it. From the Arts and Craft movement, to the Industrial Revolution where mass production began, and the Bauhaus movement with its functionalism ideas, up to now, it is interesting to see how our thoughts of innovation and creativity come from applying designs from nature. For example, from stones and wood, people were able to make tools and from flying birds, people were able to dream of flying and create airplanes. First we were oblivious of non-manmade objects that we take granted for. Nonetheless, with development of technology, depletion of natural resources, and damage to ecosystem, we are fully aware of our damage. Before, our design was mainly focused on how we live, how we interact and improve based on solutions learned from the past, but now, sustainable design goes back to the pure form of nature in order to bring an awareness of surroundings we live in. There is a sustainable architecture called Genzyme that was highly rated by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). In this building, there is no employment of any artificial lighting. But instead, a series of roof-mounted heliostats, also known as mirror, automates and tracks the rotation of the sun. As a result, it fills the Genzyme Center with natural light from the top of the atrium.

In addition to this green building, the idea of sustainable furniture is prosperous. Over this summer, I worked with the production team of Partly Sunny Democratic National Convention, part of the Green Constitutional Congress. Our team’s mission was to make the tables and benches of the exhibition out of recycled wood. It was thrilling to see how reusing left over woods could come up with new designs. In a big picture, through this green method, we are trying to bring somewhat aspects of the pure nature to our surroundings.

The idea of cycling is also seen in fashion industry. Recycling of fashion trend is prominent in the world of fashion design. It is evident that today’s designers study past trends and past culture to bring inspirations back to their collection. Elizabethan, Victorian, Bohemian, to Vintage style and previous fashion periods are inspiration to many designers. Most importantly, the advent of the Green movement impacted on the fashion industry as well. The essence of EcoNouveau is to use sustainable material for the wear. Issey Miyake, one of the famous fashion designers, brought a recycle wear for looks to future fashion. Miyake says, “Making new fashion is not enough; designers in the future will have to look at reusing materials.” Recycling old clothes and fabric and using alternative material are unconventional idea in the fashion industry. It would be challenging to have clothes to look attractive and sustainable at once. But this new trend certainly emphasizes the idea of going back to the pure nature for resource.

I see that in the world of design, there is an ongoing conversation between all elements; trend is never ending, it always leads to the following trend. Also, the use of material in its purest form is rooted in nature and history. Looking further on everyday life, I notice that everything is just recycling of ideas. I was thinking of how one generates an idea and how the idea of generating leads to think about cycling. As I observe the surrounding designs around me, I believe that innovation comes not in a straight line but rather in circular path. Indeed, past is more part of our present than the future.

id history

Preserving our past...is it possible?
Looking at different methods of preservation.





Use of natural light in association with buildings.




History of chair since Art and Crafts movement and up to now.
Through history, we are able to learn, and foresee where our next design is headed to.