Anti-Design - Influences and Characteristics

OVERVIEW

In this blog post, I am going to describe the influences and characteristics of the Anti-design movement.

Anti-Design originated from Italy and reigned from 1966 until 1980 before losing its popularity. The works of Anti-design are synonymous with unusually unexpected forms and shockingly vibrant colours. It was a reaction against the aesthetics of modernism. that was pursued by many avant-garde designers of that time who embraced consumerism, mass production, style and sales. Anti-designers only sought to harness the potential of design to create living interiors that were unique and functional.

Those who rejected the Anti-Design movement believed that products should be disposable and replaceable, which was a clever way to boost consumerism. On the other hand, the anti-designers’ message was the complete opposite, wanting the people to think about the products that they bought, even if they were disposable (Oxfordreference.com, 2017). 

Anti-design, unlike Modernism, was expressed by distorted scale, ironic ideas and excessive garishness in appearance. Modernism on the other hand, was purposefully minimal in its design so that the ‘form follows function’. Post-Modern design would later carry the influences of Anti-Design. (Mesi, 2017) In fact, today we are seeing the elements of Anti-Design influencing contemporary designers, such as Philippe Stark, Zaha Hadid, and the Memphis group. 

But before discussing these designers’ works, I will first introduce Josef Frank, an architect and designer who pioneered and paved the way for affordable and humanistic design. The architecture he designed had attractive views, good airflow and abundant light (Artburo.com, 2017). Frank’s interiors and household objects were not designed to be a masterpiece, but to possess a utilitarian function (Mak.at, 2017).

Josef Frank, Villa Beer Wenzgasse,
Vienna, Austria, 1929–1931

Frank also designed fabrics over the years 

Josef Frank, Hawaii, 1943-45

Josef Frank, Dixieland, 1941-46

Philippe Starck (born 1948)

It is not in Philippe Starck’s interest to design beautiful objects. His products are designed for the functional result, for the profit of the human being, not to be a profit for consumerism. He designs in a state of urgency; one has to forget about the aesthetic of the object and focus on the design’s function (Starck, 2017). In his own words:

"We have to replace beauty, which is a cultural concept, with goodness, which is a humanist concept."

The Eros chair is perfect example of this quote; Starck aims to produce quality products with longevity & durability, placing fidelity at the core of his projects. This armchair is composed of an organic eggshape, balanced by a magnificent combination of light and comfort, color and transparency (hive modern furniture, 2017). 

Axor Starck Organic Mixer

Eros Chair, Polycarbonate, polished aluminum, 

Made in Italy by Kartell, 2001

Zaha Hadid (1950-2016)

Zaha Hadid was a prolific and visionary architect and designer, and her structures are famous for their use of fragmented geometry and multiple entry points such that the building looks different from different perspectives (Artsy.net, 2017). She once explained:

“It’s all about promenading, being able to pause, to look out, look above, look sideways.”

Zaha Hadid’s design in her architecture projects is very organic, taking unexpected twists and turns in its form. However, her last project before her untimely death was a table for the Italian brand Sawaya & Moroni (Morby, 2017).

Zaha Hadid, The Mew table,

manufactured by Sawaya & Moroni, 2016

Zaha Hadid, Fireplace 'Calla', 2014

David Gill Gallery

Memphis Group (1981-1987)

Founded in Milan by Ettore Sottsass, the Memphis Group was an Italian design and architecture group and despite being active for a very small number years, the Memphis Group still left a lot of polarizing influences on contemporary designs. 

However, this group itself was inspired by other similar movements, namely Art Deco, Pop Art, and the emergent Post-modernism (Gizmodo.com, 2017). Over the years, the group's projects and works has been described as "bizarre", "misunderstood", "loathed", and "a shotgun wedding between Bauhaus and Fisher-Price"(Historyofgraphicdesign, 2017).

The works of the Memphis Group are a combination of geometric forms, contrasting colour schemes and a collection of materials. It was not uncommon for these works to bare dizzying graphical patterns of black and white stripes and abstract shapes. The Group’s productions were a significant desertion from the dominating modern design of those decades (Gizmodo.com, 2017).

Marco Zanini, Dublin (sofa), 1981.

Plastic laminate, metal, and synthetic fabric.

Ettore Sottsass, Carlton Room Divider, 1981.

Plastic laminate

Peter Shire, Bel Air (armchair), 1982,

Wood and cotton fabric. 

Michele de Lucchi, Flamingo (bedside table), 1984.

Plastic laminate and lacquered wood. 

Conclusion

In my opinion, the best aspect of anti-deign is the fact that designers design the object to serve its function and not just to be an object of beauty for the sake of beauty.

References

Abitare. (2017). Josef Frank: beyond the dogma of the Modernist Movement | Abitare. [online] Available at: http://www.abitare.it/en/events/2015/12/04/josef-frank-beyond-the-dogma-of-the-modernist-movement/?refresh_ce-cp [Accessed 29 Apr. 2017].

Artburo.com. (2017). Josef Frank: Celebrating the Anti-Design Designer. [online] Available at: http://artburo.com/news/view/Josef-Frank-Celebrating-the-Anti-Design-Designer [Accessed 29 Apr. 2017].

Artsy.net. (2017). Zaha Hadid | Mew Table (2016) | Artsy. [online] Available at: https://www.artsy.net/artwork/zaha-hadid-mew-table [Accessed 30 Apr. 2017].

Gizmodo.com. (2017). Cite a Website - Cite This For Me. [online] Available at: http://gizmodo.com/why-a-once-hated-1980s-design-movement-is-making-a-come-1602111413 [Accessed 29 Apr. 2017].

hive modern furniture. (2017). ero|s| swivel chair. [online] Available at: https://hivemodern.com/pages/product8/kartell-philippe-starck-eros-swivel-chair [Accessed 29 Apr. 2017].

Mak.at. (2017). JOSEF FRANK - MAK Museum Vienna. [online] Available at: http://www.mak.at/e/josef_frank [Accessed 29 Apr. 2017].

Mesi, R. (2017). Ettore Sottsass: Austria's Anti-Design Hero. [online] Culture Trip. Available at: https://theculturetrip.com/europe/austria/articles/ettore-sottsass-austria-s-anti-design-hero/ [Accessed 7 May 2017].

Morby, A. (2017). Zaha Hadid's Mew table is her last piece of furniture design for Sawaya & Moroni. [online] Dezeen. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2016/04/14/zaha-hadid-mew-table-last-furniture-design-sawaya-moroni-milan-design-week/ [Accessed 29 Apr. 2017].

Oxfordreference.com. (2017). Anti-Design - Oxford Reference. [online] Available at: http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095416737 [Accessed 29 Apr. 2017].

Starck, P. (2017). Design and destiny. [online] Ted.com. Available at: https://www.ted.com/talks/philippe_starck_thinks_deep_on_design [Accessed 29 Apr. 2017].