Art and Design

Can designers be an artist? Bruce Munari, who himself was artist and designer, threw this question to the audience in his book, “Design as Art.” Munari insisted that design be beautiful, functional and accessible. It seems that in terms of designing a product, many people put an emphasis that the product should follow the rule of function and form. Therefore, the sense of artistic quality is likely to get absent in the process of design when one is focusing on user needs, technology, and mass production. I believe being an industrial designer is more than just bringing functionality to the design and consumers; it is about bringing emotional design in which a product delivers joy and pleasure to people.

There are many prominent designers who see design as art. For instance, Fermando and Humberto Camapana approach design with unique style that becomes a piece of art. They say the relationship and having constant interaction with their pieces is indispensable part of design. In each of their design, the Camapana brothers tell a story, making connection with people, city’s life, culture and nature. Analogous to flamboyant and baroque style and culture in San Paolo, Campana brothers illustrate this theme in their design. Their Sushi chair is small edition of furniture which is made of felt, textile, synthetics rolled into concentric rings on welded iron structure. This dazzling piece of furniture is indeed unique and brings pleasure to people who sit on them. Also, Vermelha is a chair made of steel frame and rope with an acrylic base, covered with cotton. This piece is very gestural, bringing life to furniture. Campana brothers have special way of approaching and constructing materials with another material that transform sculptures into functional pieces.

In addition to Campana brothers, Tokujin Yoshioka also brings his culture, use of nature and technology into his design. The transformation of most banal object to something exquisite piece of art and design is truly breathtaking.

Furthermore, the Original Stool by Breaded Escalope employs peculiar and spontaneous manufacturing technique in which it creates one-of-a-kind stool that has its own unique form and pattern. Breaded Escalope uses hollow orb mould filled with dyed resin, and allows the whole contraption to be loose upon the landscape. For example, they loosen the contraption down a river. With the flow of the water and because of the constraints of the mould, each mould shows different topographies and varied forces they have been subjected to. (http://www.breadedescalope.com/breadedescalope-website.html)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFt44YVDKcA

Observing the surroundings with different perspective, going beyond formal conventions and stereotypes has been shown by these designers: Campana brothers, Tokujin Yoshioka, and Breaded Escalope. Being an industrial designer is more than just bringing functionality to the design. The innovation of design is to make art. To bring meaning, life and emotion to a product along with functionality definitely shows design as art. By design, it can start up a conversation between people and the world. As a young artist, and designer, I hope to bring these factors into my design in the future.