Art Deco and Industrial Design


 The Art Deco period took place mainly in the 1920s. It originated in France and was a reaction to the end of World War I. It eventually spread to the United States and other countries towards the beginning of World War II. This later arrival to other countries was mainly because of the hesitant acceptance by the public. Art Deco is still considered to be a part of Modernism despite it's differences; focusing on decoration in design rather than functionality and basics. The Art Deco movement wanted to celebrate the end of the war and not solely focus on functionality. Because of this, it was a fashion oriented style influenced by Art Nouveau after the Victorian Period. 


Art Deco was a style that revolved around chevron, zig-zag, and other geometric shapes, large mirrors, polished metals, leather, and zebrawood. It wanted elegance in design, not just functionality. The Art Deco style was essentially split into two different types base on the feminine and masculine. The feminine design was focused on small scale, elegant, and classical forms while the masculine design was more focused on the machine, silhouettes, and was a more futuristic design. Art Deco also found inspiration from the skyscraper. This can be seen in some of Michel Roux-Spitz's furniture along with some of the work done by Paul Frankl. These are pictured below.

    

Industrial Design was also on the rise during the 1920s. It was based on the study of human interaction with various devices and environments. Those that were a part of the Industrial Design were interested in industrial production with less of an emphasis on aesthetics. It was essentially a blend of the Art Deco Style with the simple, slick forms of streamlining. This made Industrial Design a bridge between Art Deco and the rest of Modernism. Below are a few images of Russel Wright's house. Russel Wright was an Industrial Designer that believed in design that started at the center spreading out to the landscape. In residential design this center was around the table.





One Step Further

Another designer that was a part of the Industrial Design was Gilbert Rhode. He was a furniture designer in the 20s and 30s helping bring Modernism to the United States. He also introduced Modernism to Herman Miller, leading to their more modern and industrial style today. His use of wood and metal are very simple, looking towards function first while maintaining a pleasing look. In a lot of his work an asymmetrical design can be seen. In the table it's seen in the thin and thicker supports. In the cabinets it's seen in the placement of hardware and open shelving. 




Additional Information:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWkovUon8ZY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK2L5UiDWCs


Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 7, 2021 at 7:07 PM

    Kelly,
    This was a great post explaining Art Deco. I loved how you explained the history behind art deco and how it was a style of expression and celebration, but it still had its geometric forms, like the zig zag and with skyscraper furniture. It was interesting to read about Gilbert Rhode and I didn't know about his interaction with Herman Miller, who is a designer we all love and use often in interior design. Overall, I think you did a great job explaining Art Deco and Gilbert Rhode!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Professor VanderNoordaaMarch 8, 2021 at 7:31 AM

    Kelly,
    Excellent post summarizing Art Deco and Industrial Design. Your images were very strong. What an exciting period in Interior Design History. I watched the two Youtube presentations you provided. They were very interesting. Well done!

    ReplyDelete

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