int331mnd

 Mid century modernism was a style that arrived in the 50s & 60s, design characteristics from the earlier modern years were still seen but, had a different twist. Clean lines were still a very strong staple of this era of design, indoor to outdoor living was seen in many homes especially on the West Coast. Glass walls and open floor plans also started to become increasingly popular during this time. The color trends at this time leaned more towards warm color and earthy tones. There were some bolder colors as well that were seen but, did not last as long.  One Step Further:  I chose to look at Eero Saarinen because he had some valued working with the taste and needs of client as opposed to sticking to one wheelhouse of style. This is something I admire seeing within the architecture and design world. He did however, have some characteristics to his design as he often used curved lines in his designs often times with glass as the main material. He felt that "to shelter...

 When World War II began many architects, specifically from the Bauhaus movement, fled to Britain, the United States, and many other countries. This led to the dispersal of architectural knowledge and trends to spread on a global stage. Many prominent architects, such as Le Corbusier, began to work under other designers once relocated. This was an interesting set up as both architects were able to learn from one another. Modernism was spreading across the world at different paces but, was not well received at the time as it was not fully understood. Modernism began to focus on more simplistic forms, clean lines, and little to no ornamentation. Color schemes began to be more about neutral colors with very little patterns ever seen.  One Step Further:  Richard Neutra was originally from Vienne but in 1921 came to the United States to work alongside Luis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. Something about Neutra that stood out to me was how he valued each client and what they w...

 The rise of the decorator began to take shape after tensions between functionalists and decorators at the Paris world fair. The world went through the lavish art deco design as well as traditional but, the decorators wanted their time to shine and show the importance of interiors. This rise started by attempting to display people's wealth through the design of their homes. In this role we began to see more women, such as Elsie de Wolfe, Elizabeth Marbury, and Francis Elkins. These women started to pave the way not only for decorators but, women in general. These women all had their own take on style and how to approach it, these bold choices helped to make interior design a separate entity from interior decorating. With this, the role of the interior designer became more formed and further from the role of a decorator.  Designed by Elsie de Wolfe One step further: When looking into the different designers of this time period one of them stood out to me and that was Dorothy Dr...

When modernism first started to emerge the idea seemed outrageous and by far the most radical of the art movements. It came at a time where artists wanted reinvent the world post war, and create something different than what had been seen and made for years. This movement has know become very well known and appreciated and still has a strong hold in art and design. Architects like Frank Llyod Wright continue to be studied by architects today, being one of the industry pavers for modernism especially in the United States. He has been known for being an early founder of modernism and creating a new regional style for American architecture. Others that helped carry this Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe were a massive part of the success of this movement, and some argue they were more prominent than Frank Llyod Wright.   One Step Further: Mies van der Rohe  Mies van der Rohe is an architect who I have studied previously and his work is something that draws my eye every time...

During this time period new and innovative ideas were all the rage, artists and designers kept pushing the boundaries. Protomodernists were among this group of artists and designers looking for new ways of expression. They were often described as "avant-garde" for their experimentation with forms and ideas that were considered unorthodox. This started to shape what is known as the Vienna Secession, where there was a withdrawal from conventional academic learning in this field. Riegl was one of the most important people to helping establish modern "rules" and ways to view artwork. Riegl believed " that an artist's individual works are apart of a historical development" (Hinchman page 454). Art and design is supposed to grow and change and just because the style may change it is not from outside pressure but rather evolving in and with art. This mode of thinking is something I feel is still very much true today, we can recognize that styles come in waves...

 Art Nouveau swept Europe during the late nineteenth century, and eventually captured the attention of those in America. The presence of this movement did not have the same impact as places such as Belgium and France but, designers such as Louis Sullivan and Louis Comfort Tiffany shaped this movement within the states. Sullivan was a talented architect, designer, and drawer who built some incredible early skyscrapers in the 1890s. The goal behind Sullivan's architecture style was to create something new, and American with ornate detailing that would appeal to new wave of design. While some may think he drew inspiration from European design with the detailing in his projects, he actually made these details more American and different. While Sullivan focused primarily on architecture, Louis Comfort Tiffany focused on furniture and lamp designs. Tiffany came from a family of merchants, jewelers, and designers and picked up the talent along the way. He was inspired by his family and Ro...