Design USA Design USA: Contemporary Innovation was an exhibit marking the tenth anniversary of the National design Awards, which were founded by the museum and which celebrate contemporary American design. The exhibit showcased the winners of the last 10 years. It was also organised into 5 themes, Craft, Experience, Tecnology, Materials, and Method that are ‘fundamental to the different disciplines ’. The exhibition highlighted major shifts in design, digitalization, globalization and the development of new materials and looked forward to the direction design is taking.
I particularly related to the Craft section of the exhibition as my work is mainly interested in this area. There was an explanation of how the resurgence of craft in the late 1990s stemmed from ‘a desire for unique works, a nostalgia for objects that reflect the natural world in contrast to the pervasive precision of mass produced goods.’ It highlighted the tecniques and methods usually associated with craft that have been used by designers to expand the boundaries of design. This is exactly the type of design that really excites me, on the edge of fine art and craft, exploring ways to cross disciplines in order to explore ideas. Stefan Sagmeister’s work was featured, as he often uses his own life or his own image as the content, his work contains a self reflective and personal content and causes the viewer to stop and look more closely. The work of Lucillw Tenazas, also caught my eye, her inventive typographic work is characterised by an interest in language and the relationship between meaning, form and content. Her background and her travels continue to influence her work.
I also enjoyed seeing the work of Chip Kidd who is an author, editor and designer best known for revitalising the art form of book covers. Her book cover for a novel by Philip Galanes was inspired! It was a close up of a yellow knitted jumper and the label formed the title ‘Fathers Day’. Brilliantly conceptual and playful!
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