Postmodernism was a new design movement that emerged during the 20th Century. It began in the 1940s and exploded around the 1960s and 70s. The term Postmodernism was officially established around 1970s. This was to be associated with universal truths or objective reality. This essay will explore whether postmodernism is still relevant in 21st-century times. It will also examine the narratives behind many of the popular revival designs. We will first look at what postmodernism looks like in art and design. Next, examine design as narratives. Learn how to interpret the object and its relationship to stories. Third, select four examples that represent Memphis design. Then, analyze the similarities and differences between the design objects. Let’s not forget to discuss whether postmodernism design is alive and well today, or if it has disappeared completely. Post Modernism, a style and concept from the late 20th century, encompasses many developments in architecture, philosophy, culture, and arts. The original purpose of the art movement was to challenge and react against modernism. However, it was ultimately based on ideas, society and a utopian vision about human life. Modernism focuses on clarity and simplicity. Postmodernism embraces complexity and the opposing layers. The art movement embraces many approaches to different types of art-making. They started with Pop Art in the 1960s. Next came Conceptual Art, Neo-expressionism, Feminist art. Pop art is one of many art movements. It originated in the 1950s. However, it flourished in later years. Conceptual art is an art movement from 1960, which usually refers the artwork made between the mid-1960s-mid-1970s. This term is used to describe art whose idea (or concepts) are more important than what it is. A historian of architecture has stated that “Postmodern style never left the architectural profession.” (Charles Jencks 2017). This makes it possible to design without limiting your thinking. This allows designers to approach design in their own way. In the 1980s, others would be influenced by this freedom. Postmodernism is a controversial movement in design and art history. Postmodernism brought new awareness to the concept of style and has broken down established ideas about design over the last two decades. Postmodernism was also propagated through magazines and music. Memphis Group is the postmodern style that has been most popular in twenty years. Memphis Group was a major influence throughout the 1980s. It can be seen in everything from MTV’s music videos to interior design at Taco Bell restaurants and Baskin-Robbins. Ettore Sottsass, an Italian architect and designer, founded Memphis Group. This group was known for its bold and bright furniture design. Memphis Group wanted products that were more then just objects. The Memphis Group was known for communicating their ideas in asymmetrical shapes with colorful decoration. Memphis’ style was heavily influenced by Pop Art and Art Deco. Objects were designed for everyday use and not as decorative objects. Memphis’ style was a departure from this norm. They took a more playful approach to design and made everyday objects fun by creating unusual designs. Abstract: “Design as Narrative” was a holistic, comprehensive way to judge design objects. The object is seen as a narrative. Since its inception, design has been taught via a series: research, specifying, making. Testing, refining. And evaluating. Narrative has been used as a method of explaining… until there are no more lacunae. The concept of design as narrative meant that stories could be told within the contexts of design objects. Additionally, it reflected the culture at all levels of society. It is possible to tell a story by using design objects. The narrative
‘In the design object… detailed & comprehensive’ This is how the design objects show a journey through research, from process to separate parts. In order to’read’ a design object, one must do both analysis and synthesis. It allows us, as readers, or as audience, to criticize the design objects. Design objects can be appreciated by understanding their meaning and reading them. They make ‘personal constructions’ that enable them interaction with and interpretation of …’. Neimeyer R.A. 1985. According to the statement, in order to understand and appreciate the narrative behind design object, we need to have our thoughts and be able interact and interpret on them. It introduces the concept of design as narrative. Objects have power in social settings because they offer an interpretation of their history. This type of interpretation allows readers to engage with designers more realistically and allow them to be creative with objects. Designers want their audience to be able to see the details and interpretations of design objects. It is not the designer’s skill with the objects that creates meaning. Instead, it is the reader’s responsibility to find the designer’s nuances and interpret them within their contexts. It should also take into account the reader’s feelings, emotions, and reactions to the objects. It places emphasis on form, but it also emphasizes meaning and the reader’s interpretation. Landau M. 1984. These words help us understand that design objects should be judged not only on their fitness for purpose, form or aesthetics, but also its meaning and how it should be interpreted by the reader. After carefully reading the abstract, four examples of popular revival postmodernism design were selected. We will then analyze and compare the designs and offer our opinion on them. A Keystone chair is from Eindhoven OS & OOS. Raf Simmons, a fashion designer has created a lighter version of it using textiles as a cushion. Look closely at the details and try to understand the story the designer tells. Kvadrat, a Danish firm, has had the chair made. The chair was constructed around an aluminum frame. The Keystone Chair contains three types elements. These elements are inspired by Roman Bridges. Oskar and Sophie Mensen describe them as ‘abstracted, reassembled’, which is a combination of three elements. Oskar Mensen and Sophie Mensen describe them as “spanners, elements which connect the surface to the bridge and ensure that the foothold does not slide or move – the elemental builders blocks, and a keystone, which completes fundamental arch shape” The back of this chair is formed by an angled chunk, which represents the spanner. Meanwhile, the seat is formed by another arched-shaped portion. I find the Keystone chair’s design postmodern because it uses a variety of shapes, colors, and materials. The initial impression was made by the luxurious textiles of Raf Simons. These bold colours are a contrast to the original. The design objects work well as chairs, because they include all the components of a seat, back and leg. The original Keystone chair was recreated using textiles from Raf Simons. These fabrics have been repurposed in postmodernism and bring out the revival purpose. Martine Bedin, a well-known Memphis designer, created the Super Lamp. We will be able to read the objects and discover the story Martine Bedin tried to tell through the super lamp. In 1981, the Super Lamp was presented at the Memphis exhibit at Milan Gallery. A group of Milan-based designers created the influential art movement Memphis.
This design was an attempt to counter the growing trend towards monochrome functional objects in bright colours. This lamp is made with painted steel and simple lighting bulbs. Bedin was a founding member in Memphis in the 1980s. He is the group’s youngest designer. Postmodernism is also closely linked to the art movement. Bedin said that he was interested in decorating things through the construction of structures. My lamps …”. have pattern and decoration. The bright and bold design of the lamps immediately drew my attention. Although it functions as a regular light source, it can be used more as an art piece or decorative accessory. The associated words were “quirky”, playful, and “vivid”, all with a sense of style. There were four main colours used: orange, white, yellow, and blue. Martin Bedin, a designer and artist, wanted to start a new design group in December 1980. The group of designers came up with the idea of Memphis. The use of unusual colours, geometric shapes, bold patterns, and bizarre colour has helped to create a vibrant art movement. Camille Walala is a textile designer who created home accessories using bold patterns. Her collection includes cushions in a range with different colours, including black, green and red. There are dots, dashes, and square grids filled with coloured blocks and diagonal stripes. Cube-shaped pouffes with striped patterns are available as accessories for your home. The back surfaces have wall-mounted shelves which frame the patterns. The Memphis Group influenced the design of the home accessories with bold patterns. The collection is characterized by playful and cheerful graphics. The objects also reflect Memphis’ influence. These words were associated with “fun”, colourful, shapes, and lines that are stylish. The most common colours used in this collection were white, black and blue. Camille Walala’s work and inspiration for this design were textile-based art direction and interior design. It reflects the strong message that Camille Walala took from the Memphis Group and has helped to revive postmodernism in our time. Her ambition is to inject energy and colour into urban environments on a greater scale than ever. Peter Shire also works in Memphis as a designer and created the Bel Air chair. Peter Shire has made many furniture items for the Memphis Group. The Bel-Air’ chair is his most significant contribution in the collection. The design was inspired by The Art Deco as well as 1950s Space Age Architecture in Southern California, Los Angeles culture and America’s mass cultural. The piece immediately struck a chord with its quirky, sophisticated design. His chair designs are creative interpretations of traditional forms. While the design objects can function as a seat (with all of the components of a chair, such as the back and legs), they could also be considered as artworks. This is because the chair changes depending on how we view it. The elements are well-integrated, creating a harmonious mix of shapes and colours. These words were associated with “classic”, ‘expensive”, ‘elegant’ and “deluxe” with a sense of style. Red, white and green were the most popular colours. The story behind the design is that Peter Shire, a designer and artist, created a new collective in December 1980. This group has been called Memphis.
The art movement has been flourishing since the introduction of bold patterns, vivid colours, and asymmetrical shapes. This requires that the designer alters the way they design everyday objects. They also have to create unusual collections. There are four similarities between these examples of postmodernist design. These two iconic Memphis designs are an example of art that can be used as a visual metaphor, a political statement, or as an existential metaphor. The design pieces inspire other designers. Chambers states that ‘… many narratives link voyages, metaphoric or literal, into a ‘heartsof darkness’: narratives information isn’t here so much as it is a form of understanding …’. Chambers, R. 1989. These two examples demonstrate that design products were more than furniture. Also, they served as an existential metaphor and visual poetry. I have now finished reading and analysing the Postmodernism definition, the abstract “Design as Narrative”, and the four examples illustrating well-known revival designs to support the argument. Postmodernism was a movement that reacted against modernism. It is based in complexity and conflict and has been associated wit different art-making methods. Memphis Group will be the most prominent postmodernist design style. It was first created during the 1980s. From the four existing examples, we have compared them to find the story and purpose. The Memphis examples are a master at communicating ideas through the use asymmetrical shapes as well as colourful decoration. It is evident that the new revival examples have a playful, iconic postmodern design element that reacts against its purity. This design offers a different vision of design that is more colourful, warmer, more experimental, and fun. Bel Air Chair and Super Lamp by Martine Shire both tell stories about a group that created a new design collective in 1980s. Designer has used chaotic arrangements, clashing colous, as well as brightly colored plastic laminate. It has made the art movement more successful than ever before. The design as narratives are not about the reader. We should interpret the abstract and allow for creative participation. With supporting examples, such as the Keystone Chair from Eindhoven OS & OOS or Camille Walala’s range of home accessories, postmodernism has been revived. Camille Walala took inspiration from Camille Walala and patterned the work using bold graphics. The other argument was made by an architectural historian who commented that Postmodernism never left architecture. Summary: It’s hard to say if postmodernism is still around. However, there are examples that show it has. This shows that designers have been inspired by the movement and has inspired new artists or designers.