Weekly assignment 8

In this week’s reading, “The First Machine Age in Europe” by David Raizman, Hannes Meyer argued that ‘design is a product of “function x economic”’.

I disagree with Meyer’s idea as his idea narrows down the meaning of ‘Design’. To me design is something that embodies designers’ personality,style, and creativity while achieving its purpose and function. I believe that both aesthetics and function are important and should remain equal; Design cannot be determined as either art nor science, but a collaboration of both. However, Meyer's idea was based solely on the fact that design should only serve function, not aesthetics, and that they should only be built by the means of technology and science. I believe his idea marginalizes the value of fine art and separates art from design.

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=dysans+fans&hl=ko&sa=X&noj=1&biw=1366&bih=700&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=-53nmOuTgK92OM:&imgrefurl=http://inhabitat.com/dyson-aims-to-replace-air-conditioning-with-new-bladeless-fans/&docid=fwVS_1KUklbsOM&w=537&h=421&ei=DIp7TpeTA-HomAXB5bXOAQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=2893&page=1&tbnh=156&tbnw=183&start=0&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0&tx=20&ty=67

The above images are of Dyson fans and fan heaters. These are designed to have no blades or heating elements and are created using modern science and technology. Their modern and simple minimalistic designs attract many consumers, especially minimalist supporters. Dyson fans serve what other normal fans currently do, but go a step further by taking into consideration of thier users’ safety while still being aesthetically pleasing. 

Meyer is right where he pointed out that technologies should be applied to design. Technologies now-days have developed to the stage where they allow us achieve far more advanced and complex designs which handmade crafts cannot reach. However, I disagree with his point of function and economy over aesthetics, as it limits the potential of how far design can reach. Aesthetics take a major role in design and is important as function itself. To me, a good design should show how well function and aesthetics reflect one another and are collaborated together. 

 Reference

David Raizman (2003). Chapter 9: The "first Machine Age" in Europe. In History of Modern design (pp. 166-191). Laurence King Publishing.