Design Essay

an analysis of the fundamentals of the design
movement you’ve chosen and a description of how your
design adapts the fundamentals of that movement. You
should compare your design to others from that
movement(use the ones in the slides under inspiration) and describe how you’re your design is
similar and different. In your essay you should cite the
readings that accompanied the movement as evidence
for your argument, as well as other scholarly sources if
you wish.

Guiding questions:

• What were the fundamental characteristics and goals of the design movement you’ve chosen?

• What is an example of a design from that era? How did that the appearance of the design, its method of manufacturing and
function relate to the historical moment?

• How might some of the fundamental characteristics and goals of the movement apply to needs and desires of today and
tomorrow?

Assessment Criteria:

• Has the student demonstrated an understanding of the goals and characteristics of the movement and how it relates to the
culture/nation?

• Has the student demonstrated an understanding of the texts which relate to the movement?

• Has the student clearly related the proposed design to the fundamentals of the historical movement: what is similar and
what is different?

• Is the student’s writing clear, and free from grammatical mistakes

• Does the essay follow Chicago Manual of Style for footnotes?

Please reference the slides, it covers all the essentials that need to be include in the essay. Some of my ideas are explained in the speaker note under each slides.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1T0b5g6InSY…

The movement I choose is Art Deco.

Art Deco 1910 –1939

DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS

1. Emphasis on surfaces and lightBold contrast
   1. Reflective surfaces
   1. Transparent surfaces
2. Repetitive Machine-like Geometry
   1. Circles, ovals, triangles, squares
   1. Concentric and parallel lines
   1. Spirals
   1. Radiating lines
3. Verticality
4. Virtuosic craft
5. Exoticism as modern
6. Sensuality in the female form
   1. Non-threatening
7. Fantasy and escape

Woman was the major theme of the art during this movement since advertising played a huge role in how they were perceived. The female body was used to sell products and lifestyles to consumers. The notion of a woman as the embodiment of purity also had a role. Women were often portrayed as seductive.

Footnote and Bibliography should be in Chicago Manual Style.