May 15, 2012

is interior design really a creative art?

This is a guest post from Mike Gracia.

What do artistic graffiti, photography, and interior design have in common? They are all divisive when referred to as art forms; while some consider them creative, others do not.

Those against graffiti have the fact that it is a criminal act on their side; photographs are already an essential part of life for many for documenting their children’s development, recording special occasions, and more.

But what about interior design?

Can a well planned and stylishly decorated living area ever be as evocative as a painting or sculpture?

Can your kitchen ever inspire strong feelings like a piece of graffiti on a public wall or a perfectly timed and exposed photo can?

Do you see clutter or cosiness? Minimalism or emptiness? Just as there is no clear interpretation of a painting or piece of modern art, there is no right answer when it comes to the way we decorate and furnish our homes. Personal preference reigns supreme.

This piece looks at whether a few creative flourishes and the right choice of furniture and colours can turn a living space from a purely functional area into a feast for the eyes and soul that is inviting, reflects tastes and personality, but is also warm and comforting.

Since forever, the home has been the ultimate showcase of its inhabitants’ personal tastes and preferences; furniture and decoration can powerfully showcase a person’s way of thinking and even the kind of life they lead, and that is a very powerful effect for an inanimate object to have. The home can be an accurate representation of the self, and in very much the same way as you may hang a classy painting on your wall, furnishing your home can represent your artistic outlook and tell your guests a lot about you.



Take these designs, for example.

photo via Fashion For Home

A number of aspects shown here in this bedroom layout can definitely be considered artistic, the most obvious being the colour scheme; the basic cream contrasts with the black to create a sophisticated feel, and the brown sets a tone of warmth and friendliness, crucial in the bedroom. This ability to use colours to create a mood is an art in itself. Minimalism is created with straight edges and symmetry in this layout, influenced by the artistic movement because of its suggestion of modernity in simplicity.

photo via Fashion For Home

This living room feels very modern, with contemporary furniture design that is classy but almost post-modern as it has taken traditional ideas such as sofas, coffee tables, and bookcases and put a futuristic spin on them.

photo via Fashion For Home

This stylish living room continues the theme of minimalism, with its use of plain white – a colour that generally suggests neutrality but may project hospitality to some guests, proposing that a living room can be as subjective as any painting.

It is products like these designer beds that reinforce interior design’s demand to be considered true art. The common artistic aspects shown here, such as colour schemes and usage of space, value interior design as a valid art form.



The actress Hedy Lamarr once said,

A good painting to me has always been like a friend. It keeps me company, comforts and inspires.

She highlights the charm art can radiate, and where else would such emotional reaction be better suited than your own home?

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Mike Gracia currently writes for Fashion For Home, a home fashion retailer, who are members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council.

Filed Under: The Setting Tagged With: , , , , , , , , 2 Comments
April 27, 2012

the antidote to consumerism isn’t minimalism, it’s art

This is a guest post by Megan Auman.

chair by Margaret Taylor for Uncommon Goods - click for info

If you’re reading this, you probably have some conflicting views when it comes to stuff. If not now, you’ve probably had them at some point.

This conflict can be summed up pretty simply as a desire for beautiful objects (whether that’s to make them or own them) versus a disgust with the rampant consumerism that’s depleting our planet.

This disgust often leads to an inevitable conclusion: “The world doesn’t need more stuff.”

And it’s this conclusion that often leads one towards the minimalist movement, which argues that the solution is to get rid of as much of our stuff as possible.

There’s no denying that our current levels of consumerism are unhealthy. We have an unhealthy relationship to stuff.

But I’d like to argue that getting rid of all our stuff is unhealthy too.

It’s the equivalent of fixing your addiction to food by becoming anorexic. True, you might be eating less. But are you really healthier?

Most of us need stuff in our lives. (Since the word “stuff” might trip you up, we’ll use “objects” instead.) Objects help communicate meaning. Objects help connect us to people – family, friends, makers – alive and dead. And objects provide aesthetic and sensory experiences that can nourish us.

Our need for objects is both culturally and biologically embedded, and it isn’t going away any time soon.

So what is the solution to the problem of consumerism, pollution, and waste?

It’s not minimalsim. It’s art.

When I say art, I’m not just talking about painting or sculpture. Any object that’s made, regardless of its purpose or function, has the potential to be art. Art isn’t a category. It’s a state of mind.

Our current production system is about producing the most stuff possible. Art is about producing special stuff. Stuff that is imbued with meaning, connection, and experience. Stuff that nourishes our minds and our bodies.

Our current problem didn’t arise because we put too much value on stuff. It arose because we don’t value stuff enough.

The sheer volume of stuff has made us lose our appreciation for it. We’ve lost our sense of wonder and attachment to stuff. We’ve lost the ability to connect with stuff on a deeper level. To form a relationship with an object. To understand the small miracle that has to happen for a truly extraordinary object to come into being.

For some, minimalism may be a completely fulfilling life. But for those of us with a biological predisposition to objects (or what Howard Gardner would call a bodily-kinesthetic intelligence), minimalism is unsatisfactory and therefore not a sustainable solution.

Last month, I visited twelve different museums in three different countries. I cannot even imagine a world without stuff. And I don’t have to.

Because the solution to our problem isn’t pretending that stuff doesn’t have value. It’s creating, seeking out, and embracing the stuff that matters most.

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Megan Auman is a designer, metalsmith, educator, and entrepreneur. Her eponymous jewelry line is sold in stores across the US and online. Megan is the founder and editor of Designing an MBA, where she provides business thinking and education for designers and makers. She is currently on a mission to repair our unhealthy relationship with stuff.

Filed Under: Buy You, For You, guest posts Tagged With: , , , , , , , 16 Comments
June 9, 2010

a lot less is a lot more

ampersand

Less is more

Easy to say.

When was the last time you stripped away everything that was extra, pretty, decoration, unnecessary, and superfluous just to create what is basic?

Image above from the 300&65 Ampersands blog. Blogging at it’s most minimalist – and so very useful & beautiful.

Filed Under: graphic design Tagged With: , , 15 Comments