Tre

When considering the key attributes of Danish Design adjectives such as clean, simple, efficient, minimalistic, subtle & tranquil come to mind. Post reading about the history of Danish Design one understands that the Dane’s pride themselves on craftsmanship and functionality. The Dane’s have mastered the art of simplifying so that each piece of a design is an integral part. Two weeks of exposure to Danish Design has allowed me to experience this functionality that isn’t seen in many cities, as most cities expand without plan or intention in mind. The public transportation here alone is a work of art. I find myself in awe each time I enter the Metro. The architecture, the acoustics, the simplicity of the system so refined a driver isn’t needed. While I am used to the ill-planned Subway in Boston I don’t think there’s a sole who can argue the ingenuity behind the Metro.

Where does this come from? This society based upon design principals practiced and respected forever. Is this a result of Thyssen’s System theory? I’m not sure but it seems that the characteristics of Danish Design infiltrate the way of life here. Where does Danish Design come from? Thyssen might say the system in which all Danes are subjected to, I might say the landscape or history of the Danish people…some might argue Scandinavian influence. While all arguments are objective one can’t argue that the Danish Design roots run deep. Maybe because it is so foreign to me, I notice it everywhere, but I feel that every surface or layout within this city screams Danish! But what do I know…Let’s take a look.

It seems undeniable that Danish Design is influenced by the surrounding landscape. Whether it the cool, clean designs that are harsh and defiant like the winter climate here or the smooth clean lines like that of the rolling hills. In 1988 the “Panton Dish” was created and for sure mirrors the land in which it was born. I’ve recently learned that all of Danish Landscape has been designed and touched by human hands, sculpted to the Danish view of perfection. While touring Western Denmark I am forewarned not to be fooled by hills and trees, those two are result of human contact in the form of Viking graves. So maybe the landscape cannot take credit for influencing Danish Design, if it in itself is a result of Danish Design… as mentioned in class even the roads here were planned intentionally to move around the across the landscape in such a way that people do not fall asleep while driving.

Maybe Danish Design thrives on the innate want to improve the perfect. The Danish pay homage to the predecessors by improving upon designs that have already been perfected. While necessity is the mother of invention, is that not what has spurred all innovations and improvements globally throughout time? How can this specifically apply to Danish Design? In 1944 Piet Hein explained his working method “Art is solution to problems which cannot be formulated clearly before being solved.” So perhaps the Danish Design is shaped by the need to become a part of this rooted system in improving quality of life. Copenhagen seems a perfect example of this, seeing as it’s such a livable city. It has occurred to me that designing here will require much problem solving…how can you find fault in a city that has proven so efficient?

It wasn’t until the first part of the 20th century that the Danish cabinet makers and furniture designers formed a style uniquely considered Danish. Because Denmark has always been a city of trade and commerce, much of what is coined as Danish style has outside influence. For example the use of wood in Danish furniture and design, chosen for its flexibility, aesthetic pleasure and ability to warm the body and surroundings, has not generally been cut here in Denmark. A land so flat and stark of forest one might consider it odd that wood is a traditional element in Danish Design. It has been previously noted that much of Danish design influences come from the Viking Ages in which, as explorers, the Vikings had global influence in their design. I would like to think that this explorative lifestyle was handed down throughout the centuries since times have changed and perhaps the nature of Vikings is ever present in the Dane’s. While Denmark is now well rooted and established, its people no longer travelers of the sea, maybe the Danish folk have an innate desire to explore. Perhaps this is what drives Danish Designers, City planners, citizens and government officials to seek improvement in everyday life. Exploring possibilities that there is always room for improvement, and until the problem is uncovered it cannot be solved. As a result, a society that is constantly seeking improvement.

To

All in all I think my groups project was a success. I thoroughly enjoyed going over the reading Distinction and Form in detail. Upon reading the article several times alone I was still a bit confused by Ole Thyssen’s main argument. When I met with group members it allowed us time to discuss in detail the main elements and key points of the article. While discussing it we found that we all took very different reflections of the given topic. By discussing it at great lengths we found that our given back grounds as psychology and design majors we interpreted the reading in a different light. Jeffery and I certain were on many of the same pages as we both read the article form a designers point of view. Anikka’s psychology background allowed her to digest the material perhaps more accurately. She was familiar with referenced writers and seemed to see the thesis clearly. We decided as a group that the thesis being that our society functions within underlying systems that shape the decisions we make on a daily basis and how these decisions are a direct result of given systems. We learned that every distinction is arbitrary and that each distinction is equally possible among the next. History is an integral part of the distinctions we make and culture a shaping element.

I understood the design and function element of the article best. Within the art system art is the only thing that can be created. When discussing this matter with the class many students made relevant arguments that while art is the only thing to be created within the art system, art can be a tool of social change or promote movements for the betterment of humanity. I find that art can be an outlet for expression and also the artist has the ability to impress upon the public their point of view on given subjects. I agree that design is a separate umbrella within the art system. I strong feel that while art can be subjectively good or bad however design the quality of design can be objective. If a design does not function properly to the task it was created to fulfill it is merely a piece of work. Design is a tool for betterment of life quality and equally can be a tool of social change as art can. I think that the designer has a choice to be a tool within the art system and also the art system can be a tool to the designer. While we may all be “Cogs in the machine” designers do serve a critical role in improving the quality of life for all. I feel that I will continue to design because it is a way in which one becomes a significant part of society. Though I may never develop my own school of design as large as the Bauhaus I hope to make my mark on society. Perhaps design is a tool for leaving ones mark on the world once the designer has deceased. If I can become a party of history, or even a fingerprint in the large umbrella of history I chose to do so.

Our presentation quality could have been better. I feel that while our presentation was thoroughly thought through not all members of the group worked well together as a team. I give Jeffery props for humbly accepting rude interruptions. We were concerned we wouldn’t be able to interact with our classmates; however we have several participate in discussions and stir the conversation. I think we had room for improvement in our cohesion of thoughts presented to the class. To put it bluntly, while we agreed on many things before the presentation it did not come across that way while we were presenting. I think out discussion in general at least gave myself, my group members and the class a thing or two to consider in the future as our roles of artists and designers mature. I think the topic was very thought provoking and I’m very interested to see how my classmates reacted in their notebook assignments.

I am I suppose not ready to conclude that I agree with all of Thyssen’s points. I feel the general mood of his article was a bit pessimistic about the roles of Designers. I hope that while all things may have been done once before, or all that is to be created has been created, with my unique points of view and creativity I can add a spin on what has been done before. While my identity as a designer has room to mature I hope my cultural background and person beliefs will be read clearly through my design. I suppose I chose to be optimistic in that I feel design has a very important place in society and that as stated before, design shapes our every decision…how can what I do as a designer benefit others? I’m not sure yet. It seems a tangible goal to put my park on society and share pieces of my history with others through the designs I create. I am looking forward to discovering how this article and discussion piece will lead into a semester of design studies. I think Thyssen gives all readers a lot to consider. Consider I will do.

En

As mentioned in class design is art work that serves a specific purpose, and or acts as a tool to aid people in their daily life. Whereas art can be measured subjectively do to aesthetic pleasure, design paired with obligation to function can be measured objectively. Design is only good design or design at all, if it functions properly as created to do. Design attempts short of this fail and are bad. One could argue that while something functions strongly on an acute level, the aesthetics may be so poor that the design is considered a failure, although aesthetic pleasure is subject to personal opinion. While the ugly can be portrayed as beautiful and the heartbreaking funny can an art piece be considered design if form does not agree with given function? In which case is the form now art or just a failed design attempt?

While design surrounds us daily how much is considered useful and how much isn’t considered at all. In reflection of a daily routine I come in contact with many items of design. The bed on which I wake, the lamp I switch on, the bland blind I lift to let (Sunlight!) in, the tacky IKEA fleece blanket I toss of while I throw on my L.L. Bean slippers. The coffee pot I turn on and the shower located in my kitchen, which while functions properly as a tool of hygiene, certainly seems oddly placed where the kitchen pantry was intended. The $6.00 hair brush that never fails to comb my hair, the 15 Kroner shoe rack and the wooden hangers my clothes hand on. My Rocketdog sneakers and my J. Crew socks keep my feat warm while my L.L. Bean jacket my body as I walk through the beautifully landscaped Orstedparken on my way to DIS. By which point I’ve worn my D&G designer glasses, my Burton snowboarding hat and my street bought pashmina scarf. I’ve used my HP Laptop and my Samsung cellular phone. I’ve walked down hundred year old stair cases into a carefully laid out courtyard where I deposited my water bottle and cardboard box into an organized communal recycling system. It seems I’ve touch and used many design elements, while not all are equally valuable all prepared suitably prepared me for my first Danish Design class.

And what do these products say about my identity. The brand I’ve created for myself. How do I appear to my classmates and is the impression I give suitable for the way I feel when I wear and use these products? Do they say I am an independent travel seeking American? Do they say laugh a lot and am 21 years old? Do they say I am a bartender, a design student and an aunt? If this is not communicated properly perhaps I poorly coordinated my design choices. Surely all these things served the function I purchased them for; otherwise I would have discarded them and moved on by now. I wonder if there is an art in the way we express ourselves, in the products we chose to help create our own identity. Or have we all designed ourselves and our identities?