Functions of
Design in Society
In our everyday lives, we may encounter artworks such as
sculptures in public places, paintings hanging on office walls or murals on building
facades. Another type of art that we
encounter in our daily lives is utilitarian design. This may range from the functional
construction of a piece of furniture to the communicative graphics of a
billboard advertisement. Hence elements
of the visual arts may be present in our daily lives without us being
appreciative of them as art forms in their own right.
The realization of how beneficial design can be, not just
for creative inspiration but for improved functionality is Art Design Singapore’s
initiative that aims to globally position Singapore as a design source and
hub. The cultivation of design culture
is spearheaded by the Design Singapore council, which aims to bring together
the government, experienced knowledge holders from the design community and
educational institutions.
General Questions
1.
What is the function of the object and how does
its design aid its purpose?
2.
Think about how the design of your object has
changed over the years. For example, how
has food packaging changed from tin cans to re-sealable plastic packets.
3.
Describe the design of the object and give
reasons as to why it is aesthetically pleasing.
MH Hon for ORCA Innovation
Jing Fly Swatter
Recyclable plastic
127 x 9.5 x 457 mm
2004
The Designer
Established in 1999, ORCA Innovation was set up to
complement its parent company ORCA Design, which focuses on the design of
industrial products. ORCA Innovation
focuses on lifestyle products that are fun and user-friendly. Workign in four categories of bath, kitchen,
living and work, they have created innovative, affordable and funky
objects. Drawing inspiration for their
environment, their design is based on nature and everyday commonplace objects. Examples are the dragonfly-like Frizz Thermometer
and the submarine periscope inspired Torp Kitchen Timer.
The Design
Fanning out gracefully like the leaves of the Gingko
Biloba plant, MH Hon reinterpreted this homeopathic help and symbol of
longevity as a common fly swatter.
Elegantly poised with its handle arched like the stem of the plant, the
Jing Fly swatter comes in a variety of colours like white, green, blue and
red. Made of recyclable plastic, the
design is ergonomically functional as well as environmentally friendly. The designer has also taken the purpose of
his fly swatter to another level, it can be ornamental and take pride of place
as funky decorative plastic plants in a vase.
New medical uses are regularly being found for Gingko Biloba, from
helping to pause the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease to its used as an
antioxidant. Flies spread germs and this
plant inspired fly swatter adds another interesting dimension on the ways that
nature’s gifts can be harnessed.
Jason Ong (Singapore
1970 – present)
Not Selfish in Bed(s)
Mattress dispenser (Stainless steel in brushed finish,
covers in purple and red)
2360 x 980 x 1130 cm
2005
The Designer
Ong obtained his Diploma with Merit in Product Design
from Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore in 1995 and pursued his studies further at
the Domus Academy, Milan, Italy in 2002.A designer who is inspired by a variety
of influences from historical events to fairy tales, his work Is shaped by his
diverse working experience in areas such as graphic and industrial design, merchandising,
interior design at an architectural firm, lecturing at the Nanyang Academy of
Fine Arts and his participation in international design competitions.
The Design
Ong believes that by focusing primarily on design rather
than form and function whilst at the drawing board, new aspects of
functionality can be discovered. By
having the freedom to concentrate on the creative and artistic process rather
than the end utilitarian result, he feels that open exploration results in
original and innovative design.
In this particular piece, Ong was inspired by sculptures
that made references to beds and the use of the bed as an aid to sleep. Being conscious of the meanings and concepts
that are attached to the humble bed, he was deliberate in his intentions to
keep the design of the bed simple and functional. In Not Selfish in Bed(s) the designer
re-interprets the idea of mattresses piled upon mattresses in the Princess and the
Pea to discuss the theme of elitism and class divide, the top mattress is of a
different colour and greater thickness that the ones below. By manipulating a simple steel bed frame and
a mattress, he demonstrates how everyday objects can be re-designed to increase
functionality as well as become conceptual artworks. The multiple mattresses communicate the economic
distribution of property and the division and allocation of shares. The clean and simple lines of the steel bed
frame act as a restricting framework for the gradual dispensing and allocating
of mattresses.
Question
What is the role of sleep and rest in fiction? Discuss
the fantasy features of the design as opposed to the utilitarian features.
DP Architects (1993 – 2004 ) and Michael Wilford &
Partners (1993 – 1995)
Esplanade –
Theatres on the Bay
1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore
Completed in 2002
The Architects
DP Architects first began operations in 1967. Since then, it has grown to offer a range of
other services aside from architecture.
These include urban planning, interior design and project
management. The firm has undertaken
projects abroad in many countries. Other
well-known Singaporean project s include Suntec City, Wisma Atria, Marina
Square and Bugis Junction.
The Design
Of ground breaking contemporary design, the glass and
steel building comprises two globular structures that flank a central
courtyard. The Esplanade affords an
expansive view of the surrounding bay and city scape that has been inspired by
traditional local building practices, which interlay timber and banana
leaves. The Esplanade has also been
praised for its consideration of local climate as the multiple sharp protrusions
on its façade are in fact fish-scale like sunscreens that deflect the tropical
sun and heat.
The Esplanade has been likened to a pair of bug’s eyes or
durian shells. For a cultural centre, it is also criticized for not
sufficiently evincing a sense of local identity. Nevertheless, it is highly regarded by others
for demonstrating the dynamism of Asian cultures and evidencing the high level
of world-class cultural sophistication in Singapore. The Esplanade had made its positive impact on
the arts not just be generating debate on its design but also through its
functional impact – since the building opened in 2002, it has played host to
more than seven million visitors and held over 1,800 performances in the 2004
financial year. Aside from the numerous
commercial spaces, food and beverage outlets, it houses two man venues which
are a concert hall, that seats 1600 and a horseshoe-shaped theatre that seats
2000 people, a black box theatre, recital studio, visual arts gallery and full
support facilities.
Ban Yinh Jheow
STIKFAS
Singapore
Founded in 2001
The Inventors
STIKFAS short for ‘stick and fasten’ is arguably
Singapore’s most successful toy company.
The founder of STIKFAS began his career in 1991 as an in-house art
designer with the UOB group. A fan of
comics and action figures, he organised Singapore’s first comics convention in
1992 and his love and enjoyment of toys soon lead to entrepreneurial
ventures. In 1995, Ban set up a chain of
stores selling collectible toys called WorlWorx and a couple of years later,
was appointed the CEO of Singapore’s first animation studio Dreamation Pte
Ltd. Ban continued to pursue his passion
in life when he invented STIKFAS, a concept he co-branded with computer games
giant Electronic Arts.
The Design
What began as a sketch drawn on a plane journey from
Tokyo back to Singapore was eventually realized as a series of highly popular
and extremely marketable self-construct toy kits. These plastic molded action figures with
articulated limbs and standard ball joints may be customized according to
individual tastes. The potential for mix
and match amongst the various personality types allows owners a great degree of
flexibility and expression. In a toy market dominated by fancy electronic
gadgets and licensed character products, STIKFAS has gained itself a steady
following and its popularity is arguably due to its appealing innovative and
yet simple design concept.
Question
The ball-joint is a feature of the STIKFAS figure as well
as its flexible interchange ability. How
do STIKFAS articulate joints relate to the structure of the human body.
What are the most appealing toys today? What are attractive about them? How have they
become successful commercially? Do the
attractive qualities go beyond physical features?
Jacky Teo, Darren Gan and Adrian Chew of Play Imaginative
Trexi
Canvas toy action figure
6.5 cm height
2004
The Designer
Specializing in character invention and toy design, Play
Imaginative develops their ideas from the related fields of art, graphic and
product design. By keeping abreast of
the latest in popular culture and global toy concepts, the company creates toys
that reflect current aesthetic tastes and social interests. Aside from their main product line of Trexi
dolls, the designers publish a monthly magazine called PlayTimes that keeps
subscribers up-to-date with the latest products and innovations in the toy
industry. This fosters creativity and
appreciation amongst fellow toy inventors and enthusiasts.
The Design
Sold at more than a hundred different shops worldwide,
Trexi is a canvas art toy with wide appeal because it may be personalised or
produced as a series for promotional purposes.
Since its invention, it has been fashioned by celebrated designers and
artists such as Burgerman, Pete Fowler, Gary Baseman, James Jarvis,
Devilrobots, Mori Chack, Brothersfree and Furi Furi. Trexi has also ben used for corporate
promotions by brands such as Kinokuniya, Coca-cola, Motorola and Nike. Each figure starts off as a blank state that
is customized by the owner and individualized in each series to display
different features and character traits.
From the cute monkey RoboKong to the rowdy construction workers
BrothersFree, Trexi figures have become more than action figure toys they are
collector’s items and funky revolutionary platforms for advertising and
marketing.
Question
What’s in a name?
Part of the success of a designed product is the successful branding of
it. What are some of the most catchy and
memorable names and slogans you can recall?
Juan Alcazaren (Philipines 1960 – present)
Musca Volantes
Found household objects installation Dimensions variable 2004
The Artist
A multimedia artist, Alcazaren received his formal
training at the University of the Philippines where he was trained in landscape
architecture and sculpture. He is a
multi-disciplinary artist that has created artworks from diverse materials such
as welded metal, discarded consumer goods and gits of wood. For his two-dimensional work, Alcazaren’s
typically employs enamel paint on canvas.
By using unconventional materials taken out of their original context,
the artist endows his art with layers of appropriated and acquired
meaning.
The Artwork
Alcazaren is
primarily concerned with eroding the division between the supposed elitism of
visual art and the commonality of everyday life. This artwork comprises of 200 small wall-bound sculptures that have
been constructed or sculpted out of household discards and abandoned toys –
soiled latex gloves, egg whisks, spatulas, sieves, tongs, battery operated
robots and so on. Intricately
transformed so that they are barely recognizable, these objects have been
elevated about their original utilitarian purpose. Whilst before they once had a practical
function, they now serve an aesthetic one.
The installation is named after a sight condition whereby those
afflicted experience indistinct and indeterminate shapes swimming in their
field of vision. Like these symptomatic fragments, the wall-bound pieces that
make this installation are indistinguishable, they may be palpable but their
function is unclear. Alcazaren views his
work as a reaction to his home environment Manila, where tensions exist in the
desire for order amidst a naturally chaotic environment. By contextualising junk objects in his
systematically displayed installation, the artist is creating order but at the
same time introducing disruption.
Google UK artist Damien Hurst. He is the world’s richest artist. Compare his installations like his butterfly
art with Alcazaren’s work.
Gabriel Tan and Wendy Chua
Airwash
Singapore
The Inventors
Gabriel Tan and Wendy Chua, Industrial Design students
from the School of Design and Environment at the National University of
Singapore competed against over 3000 students from over 88 countries to win the
prestigious Electrolux Design Lab 2005 competition. The competitors were asked to design
easy-to-use, stylish and efficient household appliances that would meet future
consumer needs in 2020.
The Design
Aesthetically, the pair of students were inspired by the
smooth flowing form of a waterfall, nature’s own negative ion generator. Scientifically, Tan and Chua were inspired by
the natural cleaning properties of ions and they applied their technological
knowledge of the air purifying process wherein the negative ions are harnessed
to clump together dirt and bacteria.
Using their research, observation and application skills, Tan and Chua
created Airwash- a waterless clothes laundry unit that employs a mixture of
compressed air, deodorants and negative ions to get rid of dirt and bacteria
naturally. Environmentally friendly and
stylishly sleek, this is a work of technological art. Tan and Chua ensured that their competition
entry was efficient in the different facets of its design – in ecological impact,
scientific development and its refined appearance. Their winning entry also took into
consideration the Electrolux brand mission of providing their customers with
lifestyle enhancing electrical appliances.
Using the simple model of a waterfall as a stepping stone, the pair
created a revolutionary household appliance that met the company’s specific
research-identified consumer targets.
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