Organic Design

Organic design started in the 1930’s by two prominent designers Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Organic design was about using natural materials which can contribute for the functional and psychological needs of the user. This design started first being seen in architecture. It was about making something harmonious with the natural environment by making it look similar to its natural surroundings. This could only be done by using natural materials, and organic forms, choice of color and other aspects.

In fact nature was the centre point of architecture and Frank Llyod Wright shows us such design in his one of his marvelous architectural works in ‘Falling Water’. From first glance we can see that the building rhymes with nature and is connected to it by different means. It almost looks like there is no architecture; like it makes part of it and this is what organic design is all about.

Falling Water by Frank Lloyd Wright

Another important designer to be mentioned is undoubtedly Alvar Aalto. This designer was to first one to implement real organic design by using organic forms and this time moving from architecture to other interiors such as furniture. Some characteristics which promoted its design in his work were the soft flowing curves in his method of bending plywood such as the below example.

Paimio Chair by Alvar Aalto

Apart from furniture, there are also interiors such as technologies for example computer hard wares. In today’s designs, keyboards are being manufactured with organic design forms so they would not only compliment the interior of the place but also contribute to ergonomic aspects. The extended part we see coming out of it from the front view which reflects fluidity, serves mainly for these two purposes. A designer who specializes in this field is Ross Lovegrove and his work ‘Surf Collection computer accessories for Knoll International, 1992’ proves such organic design. The thing is that designers are making objects look organic and they are using mostly plastic which is the least natural material but on the other hand it is the best one to express such design and brings that out that abstractive beauty which is also found in nature. For example, as said above the plastic form incorporated with the keyboard is like fluid coming out of it. We can also see organic design in lighting. In fact, Lovegrove was currently into a concept called ‘Florensis’ which focuses on the convergence of light which and how it flows through the organic forms which reflect flora.

Organic design was pretty much appreciated between the 1930 and 1960 but then again flourished back in 1990 and until today it is still being manipulated. We can almost notice organic design in everything starting from household goods, furniture design, modern technologies and other stuff.

 References:

Fiell, C. and Fiell, P. (1999). Design of the 20th century. Ko¨ln: Taschen.

Ross Lovegrove, 2015. FLORENSIS – New Lighting . [ONLINE] Available at: <http://www.rosslovegrove.com/index.php/florensis-new-lighting/.> [Accessed 27 January 2015].