Taking this course on the history and theory behind design has truly left my eyes opened in a number of ways. I have always been interested in art and have especially appreciated industrial and automotive design for many years. With this introduction to internal and external architecture however, my knowledge of what surrounds me everyday has been noticeably heightened.
I will certainly forever look at chairs differently, starting at the beginning of the semester with the introduction of the Curule seat and later ending with such contemporary pieces like the Eames Chair has left me attempting to identify countless items since. I am now constantly pondering what the correct definitions for various chairs and other pieces of furniture are, where I would have previously just walked by and thought, "cool couch."
The introduction to different design and architectural firms along with the various movements we focused on has also left me skimming my memories of being around my grandparents and other relatives in Germany. I now realize that my grandparents were huge fans of the Bauhaus Schule and certainly identified with the Aesthetic movement. My grandmother was an opera singer and my grandfather an internationally working salesman which makes this all the more understandable. Both have sadly been dead since I was a young teenager, but through this course I have learned a huge deal of information about of them, and I honestly cannot describe how important that has been for me. I have taken several mental tours through their long sold home since learning how to identify these different reaction movements, and have begun to appreciate their taste with far more complexity.
Apart from these more emotional aspects I have to say that studying successful icons like the famous Charles and Ray Eames, along with Frank LLoyd Wright and Louis Sullivan has left me with a true inspiration to further study American architecture and design. These often turn-key designs always resonated deeply with me, whether it was Fallingwater or the famous Case Study # 8, which the Eames called their home.
Overall I am really thankful for this eye opening experience, what started out as an interesting elective has awoken an essentially unknown passion within me. I look forward to further studying all these subjects, and would certainly further pursue a direction at the IAR department.
I will certainly forever look at chairs differently, starting at the beginning of the semester with the introduction of the Curule seat and later ending with such contemporary pieces like the Eames Chair has left me attempting to identify countless items since. I am now constantly pondering what the correct definitions for various chairs and other pieces of furniture are, where I would have previously just walked by and thought, "cool couch."
The introduction to different design and architectural firms along with the various movements we focused on has also left me skimming my memories of being around my grandparents and other relatives in Germany. I now realize that my grandparents were huge fans of the Bauhaus Schule and certainly identified with the Aesthetic movement. My grandmother was an opera singer and my grandfather an internationally working salesman which makes this all the more understandable. Both have sadly been dead since I was a young teenager, but through this course I have learned a huge deal of information about of them, and I honestly cannot describe how important that has been for me. I have taken several mental tours through their long sold home since learning how to identify these different reaction movements, and have begun to appreciate their taste with far more complexity.
Overall I am really thankful for this eye opening experience, what started out as an interesting elective has awoken an essentially unknown passion within me. I look forward to further studying all these subjects, and would certainly further pursue a direction at the IAR department.
