Bibliography so far.

Bibliographies take so long to do, especially if you don’t take notes properly. Also I think my referring style is wrong (APA not Harvard) meaning I will have to change it all! Also some reason word keeps adding this sign in places when using the citation tool – йил ?

Bibliography

Arhcer, B. (2007). Eric Gill got it wrong; a re-evaluation of Gill Sans. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from Typotheque: http://www.typotheque.com/articles/re-evaluation_of_gill_sans/

Atzmon, L. (2009, August 05). Visual rhetoric. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from Eye Magazine: http://www.eyemagazine.com/blog/post/visual-rhetoric

Badaracco, C. (1996). Rational Language and Print Design in Communication Management. Design Issues , 12 (1), 26-37.

BBC. (n.d.). The BBC logo story. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/historyofthebbc/resources/in-depth/bbc_logo.shtml

Behrens, R. (1999). Paul Renner: The Art of Typography. Print , 30,191.

Bitstream Inc. (1999-2012). William Morris – MyFonts. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from MyFonts: http://www.myfonts.com/person/William_Morris/

Boulton, M. (2005, December 16). Typeface of the Month: Gill Sans. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from The personal disquiet of MARK BOULTON: http://www.markboulton.co.uk/journal/comments/typeface-of-the-month-gill-sans

Breternitz, R. (2011, April 27). Decriminalizing Ornament. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from Design History Lab: http://designhistorylab.com

Brett, D. (1992). On Decoration. Lutterworth Press.

Brett, D. (2005). Rethinking Decoration. Cambridge University Press.

Carlton. (2010, 7 9). Google. Retrieved 7 9, 2012, from Google: http://www.google.co.uk

Clay, R. (2009). Beautiful Thing: An Introduction to Design. Oxford: Berg.

Coulson, A. J. (1979). A bibliography od design in Britian 1851 – 1970. London: Design Council Publications.

Crane, W. (1898). Bases of Design. G. Bell.

Crane, W. (1900). Line & Form. London: George Bell & Sons.

Dempsey, A. (2002). The essential Encyclopedia Guide to modern art: Styles, Schools and Movements. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd.

Design Council. (n.d.). A profile of Margaret Calvert, designer of the UK’s road signing system. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from Design Council: http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/about-design/Types-of-design/Graphic-design/Margaret-Calvert-profile/

Design Museum. (2006, November 26). JOCK KINNEIR + MARGARET CALVERT . Retrieved from Design Museum : http://designmuseum.org/design/jock-kinneir-margaret-calvert

Dormer, P. (1993). Design since 1945. London: Thames & Hudson.

Dresser, C. (1873). Principles of Decorative Design. New York: St. Martins Press.

Ferebee, A. (1970). A history of design from the Victorian Era to the present. Newyork: Litton Educational Publishing Inc.

Garfield, S. (2011). Just My Type: A Book About Fonts. London: Profile Books.

Gaunt, P. (2010). The Decorative in 20th Century Art. Germany: A Ktiengesellschaft & Co. Kg.

Gill, E., & Skelton, C. (1993). An Essay on Typography. Boston: Godine Publisher.

Glazier, R. (1899). A Manual of Historic Ornament. London: B.T.Batsford Limited.

Greenhalgh, P. (2000). Essential Art Nouveau. London: V&A Publications.

Greenhalgh, P. (1990). Modernism in Design. London: Reaktion.

Greenhalgh, P. (1993). Quotations & Sources: On design and the decorative arts. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Grilo, P. J. (1960). Form, Function and design. Canada: General Publishing Company Ltd.

Hall, P. (2009, March 18). A Good Argument. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from metropolismag.com: http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20090318/a-good-argument

Hatton, R. G. (1925). Principles of Decoration. London: Chapham & Hall Limited.

Heller, S. (2005). The meanings of type. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from Eye Magazine: http://www.eyemagazine.com/feature/article/the-meanings-of-type

Hollis, R. (2001). Graphic Design: A Concise History (World of Art). Thames & Hudson; 2nd Revised edition edition.

Jan Tschichold, R. M. (1995). The New Typography (2nd Revised edition). The University Press Group Ltd.

Jones, O. (1856). The Grammar of Ornament. London: Day & Son.

Klemp, K. (2011). Less More The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams Book. Berlin: Die Gestalten Verlag.

Lewis, J. (1978). Typography: Design and Practice. London: Barrie and Jenkins.

Lichanos. (2011, October 13). Form and Function. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from Journey to Perplexity: http://iamyouasheisme.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/form-and-function/

Loos, A. (1929). Ornament is Crime.

Loos, A., & Opel, A. (1998). Ornament and crime: selected essays (Studies in Austrian literature, culture, and thought: Translation series). Riverside, CA: Ariadne Press.

Lorand, R. (2000). Aesthetic Order: A Philosophy of Order, Beauty aand Art. London: Routledge.

Marks, T., & Porter, M. (2009). Good Design: Deconstructing Form, Function, and What Makes Design Work. Beverly, MA: Rockport.

McClatchey, C. (2011, December 09). The road sign as design classic. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15990443

Melman, B. (2006). The Culture of History: English Uses of the Past 1800-1953. USA: Oxford University Press.

Mitternacht. (2010, September 03). The Art and Craft of Printing. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from An Unordered History of Typography: http://typographyhistory.tumblr.com/post/1055086525/the-art-and-craft-of-printing

Morris, W. (1882). Hopes and Fears for Art. Roberts Brothers.

Munari, B., & Creagh, P. (2008). Design as Art. London: Penguin .

Neumann, E. (1967). Functional Graphic Design in the 20’s. New York: Reinhold Pub.

Oshinsky, S. J. (2001-2012). Christopher Dresser (1834–1904). Retrieved August 30, 2012, from The Metropolitan Museum of Art: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cdrs/hd_cdrs.htm

Parissien, S. (1992). Regency Style. London: Phaidon Press Ltd.

Pilcher, D. (1947). The Regency Style 1800 to 1830. London: B.T Batsford LTD.

Poulson, C., & Morris, W. (1996). William Morris on Art & Design. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic .

Pribbleiii, J. (2011). Chapter II — Review of the literature. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from johnpribbleiii: http://www.johnpribbleiii.com/literature-review/

Pye, D. (1978). The Nature and Aesthetics of Design. London: Herbert.

Raizman, D. (2003). History of Modern Design: Graphics and Products Since the Industrial Revolution. London: Laurence King Publishing.

Rand, P. (1970). Thoughts on Design. London: Studio Vista.

Salua, H. (2012). Dissertation-The Will to Ornament. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from Scribd: http://www.scribd.com/doc/27277536/Dissertation-The-Will-to-Ornament

Tschichold, J. (2006). The New Typography. California: University of California Press.

Tse, A. (1999-2002). Le Corbusier and Decoration. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from Cartage: http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/arts/decoart/generalities/corbusier/corbusier.htm

Twemlow, A. (2005). Denise Gonzales Crisp: The decorational. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from Eye Magazine: http://www.eyemagazine.com/feature/article/denise-gonzales-crisp-the-decorational

Twemlow, A. (2005). Marian Bantjes: Ornamentality. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from Eye Magazine: http://www.eyemagazine.com/feature/article/marian-bantjes-ornamentality

Twemlow, A. (2005 йил Winter). The decriminalisation of ornament [full text]. Retrieved 2012 йил 13-August from Eye Magazine: http://www.eyemagazine.com/feature/article/the-decriminalisation-of-ornament-full-text

University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center. (2011). The Decorative Arts: The Grammar of Ornament: General principles in the arrangement of form and colour, in architecture and the decorative arts, which are advocated throughout this work. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from Digital Library for the Decorative Arts and Material Culture: http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/DLDecArts/DLDecArts-idx?type=turn&entity=DLDecArts.GramOrnJones.p0016&id=DLDecArts.GramOrnJones&isize=M&pview=hide

Walker, J. A., & Chaplin, S. (2001). Visual Culture: An Introduction. Manchester: Manchester UP.

Ward, J. (1897). Historic Ornament. London: Chapham & Hall Limited.

Werner, K. (2012, March 04). The Industrial Revolution & Victorian Design. Retrieved August 30, 2012, from always do otherwise than the others (kurt schwitters): http://kwdesignhistory.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/hello-world/

Wornum, R. N. (2009). Analysis Of Ornament Characteristics Of Styles . Bill Press.

First Case Study (682 words to go…)

Case Study – Gill Sans

Gill Sans was a typeface produced in the 1920’s by designer Eric Gill. Between 1928 and 1930 Monotype released Gill Sans as a typeface that you could purchase. The typeface was created with new production technologies in mind as well as acknowledging the various requirements of modern day printing needs in an industrial society. The typeface became instantly popular due to its uncomplicated and rational design, which is turn, gained its self to be the font for the Church of England, BBC, Penguin books and North Eastern Railways. The typeface was dominantly used within the public services.

Cecil Dandridge commissioned Gill Sans for the North Eastern Railways identity. The typeface was used on all printed material as well as on their train station nameplates. By adopting Gill Sans as the only typeface that North Eastern Railways used, it created the early idea of corporate identity. The use of a unified look suggested that the company was reliable, consistent and one company rather than an individual companies across different counties or towns. By having an overall voice, the company gives the impression that it is a strong and powerful corporation. This undertaking of one typeface was a significant step forward. By choosing this modern typeface it implied that the company was forward thinking. The rejection the previous Victorian ornamented typeface the company made a bold statement to its user that it was part of a new era.

During the 1930’s the ideas of socialism arose. These ideas were reflected in design. The machine inspired esthetic removed the ideas of individual craftsman and projected the ideas of unity and collaboration. Mass production was seen as a pathway for social progress. The concept that products would be cheaper and quicker to produce would mean that anyone, from any background could purchase the same items. This removal of high priced objects would break down the barriers between different social classes in society.

Introduction & Literary Review.

Introduction

Many designers naturally have preferences and principles within their design practice. These personal principles come from their appreciation or dislike towards various influences, whether that be culturally or socially. The personal preferences and principles between designers differ, therefore provoking the debate “What is good design?”

The terms “good” and “design” are quite ambiguous when used together, hence causing a wide range of debate throughout the history of design which is still present today. The topic of good design seems to be indefinite due to the difficulty of deciding where the limitations are, as there are various factors that could constitute as elements of design. For that reason I wish to explore more specifically the constant conflict between ornament and form.

This inquiry is based on the hypothesis that ornamentation has no purpose in modern design. Ornament and decoration has been an issue since the early 1800’s. For example, Richard Redgrave’s essay “Utility which must be considered before ornamentation” expresses Redgrave’s anxiety that utility had not been the primary concern for the designer. A key essay that propelled these issues was Adolf Loos and his essay “Ornament is crime” written in 1908.

The aim of this dissertation is to discuss the demise of ornamentation and the continuous conflict between ornament and form in graphic design. It will also explore the reasons to why designers feel that ornament has no purpose. This conversation will not conclude in a manual of good design principles, is it neither a promotion nor protest against the use of ornamentation within design.

Literary Review

As I am looking at the reasoning behind the dislike towards ornamentation within modern design, I must look at what came before. As my hypnosis suggests, there was a time which ornament in design was accepted.

When researching into ornamentation and decoration in design, William Morris is one of the most recognizable designers, due to his significance within the Arts and Craft movement. Morris used ornamentation throughout his work and believed ornament to be a key design element and that “the ornament must form as much a part of the page as the type itself” (Poulson & Morris, 1996, p. 151)

Another member of the Arts and Craft movement was Walter Crane. Crane also used ornament within his work, however it appears that he was more relaxed regarding its uses than compared to Morris. In Bases of design, Crane(1898, p. 253) mentions this acceptance of how sometimes ornamentation needs to be removed.

“We may find the design wants simplifying, and have to strike out even some element of beauty. Such sacrifices are frequently necessary.”

The Arts and Craft movement became dominant during the Victorian period. Throughout this time surface design was highly cluttered, contained a lot of floral decoration and layouts contained very limited white space.

Ralph N. Wornum suggested that the reason for ornamentation was due to it being “one of the mind’s necessities, which it gratifies by means of the eye” (Wornum, 1856, pp. 2-3) Wornum then went on to suggest that this kind of gratification was important as it confirmed societies level of culture.

Christopher Dresser (Principles of Decorative Design, 1873) was also another member of the Arts and Craft movement. His work differed to that of Morris purely because Dresser accepted and appreciated the use of technology in the design process. Within his writing, Dresser expressed early ideas of functionalism. “Ornament depends on form, and form is determined by function” This statement mimics Louis Sullivan’s quote “Form ever follows function” which he coined in 1896.

During the 1800’s, there was a rise in the writing and printing of books that discussed ornamentation. James Ward wrote Historic Ornament, which spoke about the decline of ornament within the 17th century. Wards concerns were towards ideas of fashionable design. “Headpieces, Tailpieces, and printers devices or marks were now more in fashion, rather than the consideration of the design of the page as a whole decorative scheme.” (Ward, 1897, p. 407) The issue is not so much with the use of ornaments, but using ornaments without reason, therefore making the design fashionable rather than something that held meaning.

Ward was also a fan of Walter Cranes work suggesting that “The Sirens Three” was designed so that it “best fulfils the conditions of what a decorated page ought to be” (p. 410) however with this praise there is no clear explanation of what makes this design so great. This maybe due to the issue of the difficulty of understanding what good design actually is. Ward does explain what he considers poor design. “Picture illustrations…these are generally inserted, without any apparent order, on any part of the page, and the type matter filled into vacant spaces” (p. 411) this statement adds his clear dislike of fashion within design.

Richard Glazier, another writer of the 1800’s also was interested in the topic of ornamentation. Glazier defines ornamental design into two categories. “Elements of forms chosen for the sake of their significant” and “aesthetic ornament consists of forms or elements chosen for their beauty alone” (Glazier, 1899, p. 131) The aesthetic ornament is what James Ward is referring to when voicing his concerns about ornament and fashion.

Glazier also mentions the principles that are connected with these categories. Utility and fitness are considered part of ornamentation, as they are both “essentials in all good periods of ornamentation” (p. 131) This idea of utility and ornamentation being one contrasts to Dresser’s thoughts as he suggested that the look and the amount of ornament was something that happened naturally depending on an items function.

Into the 1900’s the conversation of ornament and decoration was a popular topic. Richard G. Hatton continued the idea that ornamentation was something that was and addition to an items surface, in his book Principles of Decoration. He felt that the “purpose of decoration is to make something interesting” (1925, p. 1)
Hatton has similar thoughts to that of Ralph Wornum, by referring to ornament to be a natural need. “The social purpose of decoration is to connect the world of our needs to the worlds of our thoughts” (p. 1)
As well as a need, and decorations emotional effect, Hatton goes on to explain that the same emotional needs can be met without ornamentation. (p. 65) This suggests that

ornamentation is something superficial if it doe not actually add or subtract anything from a design piece.
Within the principles and the manuals regarding ornamentation and its uses, there are frequent contractions throughout. These contractions also can be seen again in Hatton’s writing as he criticizes Owen Jones and the book The Grammar of Ornament, suggesting that Jones’s illustrations are “lifeless” (p. 216; Glazier, 1899) Considering both are in support of ornament is it odd to see this negativity towards Jones’s work.

Between the 1800’s to the 1900’s the published work surround ornamentation tends to be quite positive, until the publishing of Adolf Loos infamous essay Ornament is Crime. His essay did not only criticize ornament but also the society that appreciated it. Loos suggested that society needed to disregard ornament in design as, “evolution of culture is synonymous with the removal of ornamentation from the objects of everyday use” (1929, p. 167). Society was a main concern for Loos, he urged the public that “ornament is not a source of increased pleasure in life” (p. 169) something which had been previously suggested by Ralph N. Wornum.

Loos was confident that the removal of ornament would create modern design and society. Perhaps this confidence and fresh take on design was what drew him so many followers.

Since this iconic essay there has been various books published regarding society and ornamentation. David Brett produced both On Decoration and Rethinking decoration. This suggests that the topic of ornament is a vast one and perhaps there are still gaps in the literature surrounding the subject. Brett explains that ornament can be used when “defining characteristics of specific cultures” (Brett, On Decoration, 1992) Following Loos essay, the removal led eventually to the International Style which was exactly that. This style made it very difficult to define where a piece of design came from, as it had no defining characteristics.

In Brett’s latter book, the theories of decorum, theology and progress relating to decoration are investigated. (2005) Brett describes the theory of progress, based on social evolution towards modernity, which is something that Adolf Loos was concerned about.

Paul Greenhalgh suggests that significant historical events have an impact of society and in turn have an effect on design. (1990, p. 9) Society began to be drawn to simplistic designs as it defined a new era. As well as this, the removal of decoration meant that products could be produced quicker, cheaper and for the masses.

Morris and Ruskin had wanted “good design available to all” (Clay, 2009) society also, however they did not appreciate the use of technology therefore causing their products to be expensive and slowly produced.
Greenhalgh implies that design and society go hand in hand. During the post, war period design was used as a tool to enforce positivity. Objects were created to be “proud of what they were and how they had arrived in the world” and that society should mirror this as “masses were encouraged to be proud of their origins” (p. 9) The idea of items showing their production methods is something that was not a new idea. Many designers such as William Morris believed the principle of truth within design.

Pamela Gaunt believes that the “perception of the decorative in modernism was a form devoid of meaning. Given this, its aesthetic value was not based on ornaments semantic capacity” (2010, p. 137)
I also agree with Gaunt’s ideas, as I believe at the height of decoration many additional ornaments were there for aesthetics rather than adding to the semiotic value of the piece. I do believe that this issue of mindless decoration still takes place occasionally today. However, I do also feel that in today’s design the principles behind decoration are a lot more obvious and that as a designer I am aware of the design work I produce, must carry meaning to reinforce the concept rather than be something superficial or fashionable.

Sources

Brett, D. (1992). On Decoration. Lutterworth Press.
Brett, D. (2005). Rethinking Decoration. Cambridge University Press.
Clay, R. (2009). Beautiful Thing: An Introduction to Design. Oxford: Berg.
Crane, W. (1898). Bases of Design. G. Bell.
Dresser, C. (1873). Principles of Decorative Design. New York: St. Martins Press. Gaunt, P. (2010). The Decorative in 20th Century Art. Germany: A Ktiengesellschaft & Co. Kg.
Glazier, R. (1899). A Manual of Historic Ornament. London: B.T.Batsford Limited. Greenhalgh, P. (1990). Modernism in Design. London: Reaktion.
Hatton, R. G. (1925). Principles of Decoration. London: Chapham & Hall Limited. Loos, A. (1929). Ornament is Crime.
Poulson, C., & Morris, W. (1996). William Morris on Art & Design. In W. Morris, The ideal book (p. 151). Sheffield: Sheffield Academic.
Ward, J. (1897). Historic Ornament. London: Chapham & Hall Limited.
Wornum, R. N. (1856). Analysis of Ornament , characteristics of styles; an introduction to the study of the history of ornamental art. London: Chapman & Hall Limited.

37 Days until the hand in of the first draft.

And I still need to do;

1. Title
2. Case Study 1
3. Case Study 2
4. Case Study 3
5. Analysis
6. Introduction
7. Conclusion
8. Finalised Bibliography

OH MY GOD PANIC PANIC PANIC

The best kind of dissertation…

is a finished one.

 

Following this advice. I best get reading.

Proposal Update

Many designers naturally have preferences and principles within their design practice. These personal principles come from their appreciation or dislike towards various influences, whether that be culturally or socially. The personal preferences and principles between designers differ, therefore provoking the debate “What is good design?”

The terms “good” and “design” are quite ambiguous when used together, hence causing a wide range of debate throughout the history of design which is still present today. The topic of good design seems to be indefinite due to the difficulty of deciding where the limitations are, as there are various factors that could constitute as elements of design. For that reason I wish to explore more specifically the constant conflict between ornament and form.

This inquiry is based on the hypothesis that ornamentation has no purpose in modern design. Ornament and decoration has been an issue since the early 1800’s. For example, Richard Redgrave’s essay “Utility which must be considered before ornamentation” expresses Redgrave’s anxiety that utility had not been the primary concern for the designer. A key essay that propelled these issues was Adolf Loos and his essay “Ornament is crime” written in 1908.

The aim of this dissertation is to discuss the demise of ornamentation and the continuous conflict between ornament and form in graphic design. It will also explore the reasons to why designers feel that ornament has no purpose. This conversation will not conclude in a manual of good design principles, neither is it a promotion or protest against the use of ornamentation within design.

I thought this was meant to be fun…

Okay. So since my last post it seems my project has developed further and more away from every thing I have looked at!

I’m feel pretty stressed right now. I don’t feel like I now what I am doing at all! Perhaps I need to start from the beginning. Intro/Books Review/Case studies.

But I have my themes ; Ornament, Utility, Standardisation, Economy.
The cases will step away from Victorian, Art Nouveau and Modernism to – 1905 Art Nouveau, 1930s Gill Sans, Cassandre Peignot 1940s.

All design changes due to the economy for example this started in the victorian times. Mass production, cheaper products, less ornament to save time which in turn saved money.

Plan -Rewrite Intro
Draw up a timeline
Mind map each case in relation to themes
Work out a  new Book review
Make a list of books I need to read

Why does it feel like I go one step forward two steps back?!