[DSDN 171] Blog Assignment #8

Do you agree or disagree with the position that design is a result of “function x economy”? Do you think design today an ‘art’ or a ‘science’? Should it be one or the other, or can it be both?


Swiss born architect and Director of the Bauhaus in 1928, Hannes Meyer, argued that design is dependent on the idea of 'function x economy'. Meyer, viewing design greater as a science than an art, also believed the concept of design should be a universal notion: servicing the working-class needs solely based upon the objectives of economy. [1] 

The literal word 'design' presents a broad range of definitions; I believe that design is combination of several views and can change depending on which context and era it is used although I do believe that designers should take into great consideration the functionality and the social economic position it would surround. Meyer's goal on creating a more stable economic world portrays his consideration for society and his good intentions. 

fig. 1 - Wellington Te Papa Museum's Base Isolators

In promoting a sure future, it is expected that we must look into the past to see where we have been to look into the future to see where we may go. New Zealand, known for various natural disasters (earthquakes), has taken a toll on New Zealand design. Understanding the country's people, location and its varying economic state, aligns with Meyers 'function x economy' approach to design; The common engineers phrase ‘earthquakes don’t kill people, buildings do’ bring New Zealand designers to an understanding that these lessons learnt the hard way through past events, reveal the essential need in creating 'earthquake-proof' designed buildings. In early Wellington, buildings made of brick and stone collapsed in the 1848 earthquake. Consequently, the town was focused on rebuilding in wood, which suffered less damage during the magnitude 8.2 earthquake of 1855 [2]. In 2010 and in present, Christchurch experiences a number of deadly earthquakes with the loss of lives and crumbled historic buildings. Designers throughout the country are in a state of further proposing designs that prevent itself from quake damage: Wellington's Te Papa Museum, sits on top of 135 base isolators [fig. 1] invented by New Zealand scientist Dr. William Robinson; these isolators are essentially springs for the building [3]. With this understanding, we are able to see science playing an enormous role in this particular design. Realizing that we must be conscious of the world we live in, it is understood that we align our way of living with the awareness economy.

As social conditions change, so too does the purpose and value in a specific design. As with particular designs, science may weigh more than art; in saying so, it can also be vice versa. The developing technologies that have influenced the evolution of design-culture and production give way to designing something with aesthetic value as well as great function and that which is economically pleasing. I believe that the 'art' or 'science' in design is not more important than the other but I take the stance wherein it depends on the context it is placed in. I also take the stance that design's must ideally put all aspects into one to be completed per se, but even so, seeing as world is continuously developing in knowledge and new need, design may never be 'completed' to the fullest extent.  

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Image Sourced From: 
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livelylibrarian/1/1298192475/tpod.html#_


[1] Informed From:
Raizman, D. (2004). The First Machine Age in Europe, in History of Modern Design (pp. 166-191) New Jersey: Prentice Hall Inc.

[2] Informed From: 
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/earthquakes/4


[3] Informed From: 
http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/whatson/exhibitions/pages/quakebraker.aspx