SECTION B:
, ANTI-DESIGN (1966 – 1980 = Italy)
GENERAL CONTEXT FACTS:
• Socially critical design movement: renewing the role of design in society and questioning concepts
of taste and ‘good design’
• Architecture students rebelling against the status quo and modernism
CHARACTERISTICS
• Provocative parody of consumer society
• Borrowing from a range of influences and visual references in an ironic / kitsch manner
• Plastic and new materials used quite playfully
• Strong colours (bold, intense hues)
• Undermining the functionality of objects by exaggerating parts of the design
• Large scale and distorted proportions
DESIGNER:
STUDIO 65: an anti-establishment group of designers who became involved in carrying out experimental
projects.
Design 1: Bocca Sofa
• Function: designed for a Milanese beauty salon
• Form: sculptural curved lips, originally in red (now in a
range of lipstick shades)
• Materials: cold-expanded polyurethane. The seat is
covered in a range of elasticized fabrics.
Why is this seen as ANTI-DESIGN?
- cold-expanded polyurethane replaced traditional furniture construction methods
- materials used quite playfully – strong colours
- large scale proportions
Polyurethane: a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by urethane groups, used chiefly as
constituents of paints, varnishes, adhesives, and foams.
Design 2: Cactus Coat Rack
• Function: a fun free-standing coat rack; still in production.
• Form: A stylized cactus with a sturdy base and textured surface.
• Materials: made of cold-expanded polyurethane, hand shaped and painted.
Why is this seen as ANTI-DESIGN?
- Undermines functionality of object by exaggerating parts of design
- Bold green hue
- Materials used quite playfully
, ANTI-DESIGN (1966 – 1980 = Italy)
GENERAL CONTEXT FACTS:
• Socially critical design movement: renewing the role of design in society and questioning concepts
of taste and ‘good design’
• Architecture students rebelling against the status quo and modernism
CHARACTERISTICS
• Provocative parody of consumer society
• Borrowing from a range of influences and visual references in an ironic / kitsch manner
• Plastic and new materials used quite playfully
• Strong colours (bold, intense hues)
• Undermining the functionality of objects by exaggerating parts of the design
• Large scale and distorted proportions
DESIGNER:
STUDIO 65: an anti-establishment group of designers who became involved in carrying out experimental
projects.
Design 1: Bocca Sofa
• Function: designed for a Milanese beauty salon
• Form: sculptural curved lips, originally in red (now in a
range of lipstick shades)
• Materials: cold-expanded polyurethane. The seat is
covered in a range of elasticized fabrics.
Why is this seen as ANTI-DESIGN?
- cold-expanded polyurethane replaced traditional furniture construction methods
- materials used quite playfully – strong colours
- large scale proportions
Polyurethane: a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by urethane groups, used chiefly as
constituents of paints, varnishes, adhesives, and foams.
Design 2: Cactus Coat Rack
• Function: a fun free-standing coat rack; still in production.
• Form: A stylized cactus with a sturdy base and textured surface.
• Materials: made of cold-expanded polyurethane, hand shaped and painted.
Why is this seen as ANTI-DESIGN?
- Undermines functionality of object by exaggerating parts of design
- Bold green hue
- Materials used quite playfully
