171 Assignment 8

In 1928 Walter Gropius resigned from his director position of the Bauhaus, and Swiss-born architect Hannes Meyer was his successor. Having previously moved from a spiritual and open minded manifesto while Johannes Itten was the master of the first year course, to a more machine and mass production based manifesto while Laszlo Moholy-Nagy became involved, the Bauhaus took another turn under the leadership of Meyer. David Raizman says in "The First Machine Age of Europe", "Meyer argued that design was synonymous with man-made things and was a product of 'function x economy.'" (Raizman, 2003). He had a focus that was based around more utilitarian products such as housing, and "his approach marginalized the value of fine art in relation to design..." (Raizman, 2003). His alignment of design with a scientific model driven by new technologies and manufacturing potential caused several resignations in the Bauhaus, including Laszlo Moholy-Nagy who left shortly after Gropius.

Having seemed controversial back during the time of the Bauhaus, the position that design is a result of "function x economy" is one that I agree and disagree with. I understand that modern day design has been effected by new technologies, machines and scientific developments, and in this way I agree with this position. But what I consider to be "good" design involves other positions as well. In my eyes, good design cannot solely involve machine processes and technology as the craft of a human has to be involved somewhere in order for it to have an "aura" about it that makes it significant. The designer needs know well what the popular culture and aesthetics are at the time if they are to design well for the modern consumer.

"Yamaha VMax"
Image retrieved from; http://bestmotorcycles-pics.blogspot.com/
2011/05/yamaha-v-max-vmax-pictures.html

Saying this, I can come to the conclusion that modern day design involves both art and science not one or the other. Science and technologies are so dominant and advanced in today's world and this has effected the processes in which design is portrayed and received, and it wouldn't be the same without these developments. I believe design today is also art because no matter how technologically advanced a machine is, in order to create an "aura" that comes with great design, the craft of a human is needed, even if it is in the smallest way. Design today is about being innovative, and modern society technologies and processes need to be considered but the aesthetics of fine arts cannot be forgotten as they are involved too in creating a significant aura and are crucial parts when designing for the modern day consumer. As an example of this I have chosen a picture of a Motorcycle - (a "Yamaha VMax" to be exact!) as I feel it portrays the ideas of the balance in modern day design between science and art. This modern design is extremely technologically advanced yet the aesthetics, craft and the way it has been made is an important part of the marketing of the product. In a way the aesthetically pleasing "art" side of the product has enhanced the "science" side of it. 

References:

Raizman, D. (2003). The “First Machine Age” in Europe. History of Modern Design. New Jersey, United States: Prentice Hall Art.