Post-Modernism

Post Modernism started after Pop Design and Radical Design which changed some cultural aspects regarding design and its sake. It took off in the late 1870’s and led to another perspective of approaching art and design. The fact was that previous designers had over polished design from decoration thus giving it a sense of inhumanity. Robert Venturi argued that modern architecture was becoming meaningless due to the fact that it was too clean and lacked ‘character’.

The idea of Semiotics was also coming though; this means the significance of signs and symbolism in society. The importance of different systems of communication was rising together with language gestures and clothing. In fact, today when we go out, we don’t dress without thinking. We wear clothes depending on where we are going. Even our gestures; an example is the difference between being at the work place and being home with your family or friends.

At the time there was also the Menphis group which consisted of Ettore Sottsass, Michele De Lucchi, Marco Zanini, Mateo Thun, Nathalie du Paquer and George Sowden. Sotsass had become an important figure in the Radical design movement and later, decoration in his work led him to Post-Modernism while being in the Memphis group. There was also Studio Alchima which consisted of Alessandro Mendini and  Sotsass.

An example from post modernism can be the ‘Tea and Coffee Piazza’by Michael Graves, 1983.

We can notice once again decoration and some aesthetic beauty; the shapes and materials interpreted in new, unconventional way, and all of this has aspired to create a new, exceptional product together with others. It may not be functional even though if it is a tea or coffee service. In fact, Post modernism had rejected the Bauhausian functionality. What they mostly endorsed was historicism, emotional designs, electisicm, favoured and pluralism. Post modernism bound together an eclectic combination of historical styles.

There was also another designer which contributed to the post-modern movement. This is Charles Jencks and his work ‘Sun table and chairs clearly reflects historical movements. This product is made of elements which are hybrid. It can be seen that apart from the sharp bold edges of Art Deco as decoration, we have an interpretation of Egyptian leaf motifs which also reflects works from Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

The Alessandro Mendini Zabro Table Chair for Zanotta 1984 also is also clearly inspired by other previous historical movements such as De Stijl and Constructivism, the use of black, bold lines and geometric lines

To sum up, Post modernism is sill going on today together with Organic design and it is still evolving through time. In the future other designs will overtake what we have today but that does not mean that it would not be influenced from contemporary design.

Reference:

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

News & Stories at STYLEPARK. 2015. Tea, coffee and architecture - [ONLINE] Available at: <http://www.stylepark.com/en/news/tea-coffee-and-architecture/337394.> [Accessed 28 January 2015].