Week One: Design Philosophy

"I believe that designers should eliminate the unnecessary. That means eliminating everything that is modish because this kind of thing is only short-lived." 

|| Dieter Rams ||

          Central to any design is a philosophy that encompasses both the aim of the design and the elements that make up the design. This philosophy is unchanged from project to project, but rather defines what elements and principles each design employs.

           I believe that design is often cluttered with useless and complicated features. These features only cloud user's understanding of the functions of the space. In an effort to be unique and distinct, design is overcomplicated, leading to a lack of functionality in spaces.

The clean lines and neutral colors in this bathroom communicate
 the concept of relaxation in simple, yet effect manner.

            I believe that design should revert back to simplicity and functionality. A design that is simple and functional does not mean the space has an absence of interest and creativity. But rather, I believe that it takes more creativity to work with fewer features and still design something truly beautiful and functional.

This sketch is an example of a chair design that is simple, yet functional and interesting. 

            In simplicity, beauty is both natural and understated. The basic idea of creating simple, beautiful, and usable spaces resonates with the everyday person. I believe that subtle beauty is the best kind of beauty and that in an effort to create subtle beauty, trends fall away and the design is timeless.

I took this photograph while on a trip to the French Alps. The layers of mountains with different typography demonstrates the idea of simple, natural beauty. 

          As trends fall away and the focus shifts to simple beauty and functionality, the design is cleared of needless clutter and material. All that remains is a space, devoid of mess and misuse, creatively and artfully designed to meet one's desire for beauty, simplicity, and of course, functionality. 

Resources: 

What is Your Design Philosophy?

Developing a Design Philosophy