BAUHAUS - Social/Cultural/Historical Context Nat 4/Nat 5/Higher

What social/cultural events influenced Bauhaus? German defeat in WW1 : Bauhaus Movement followed German defeat in WW1, and

subsequent fall of German monarchy. Country’s economy was in poor state, therefore products had to be produced cheaply, and affordable for customers.

Poor Economy : German economy needed to move on and look forwards to lift country out of depression - Bauhaus was a forward thinking, MODERNIST movement.

Previous Design Styles : Previous 19th century design was fussy, florid, seen as old-fashioned and ‘suppressive’ (limiting what designers could do). Bauhaus designers (and German people) wanted something new and fresh and MODERNIST!

Social Need for Modern Design: Modernists wanted clean, fresh, simple and GOOD design - no superfluous, unnecessary decoration/embellishments. Designs had to be durable and practical. Utilitarian (plain/simple) but effective design = FUNCTION OVER FORM. Design motto was "the needs of the people instead of the need for luxury". FUNCTIONAL DESIGN.

Technological Developments: Designers used new technologies, and experimented with new materials and forms.

Influenced by Machine Age: designers embraced the 20th Century “Machine Culture”. Machines = a sign of progress and control over the unruly world of nature!

Medieval Inspiration: In Medieval days centuries earlier, Craftsperson and Designer were seen as one and the same. Over time, elitism developed, and artists were seen as more important than designers/craftspeople. Bauhaus wanted to return to Medieval principles, combining art and industry with no elitism. Fine Art met Industrial Design with no inequality.

More Equal Society: women had more equality in German society - they could study and teach at Bauhaus schools, previously not allowed.

USEFUL LINKS FOR BAUHAUS DESIGNERS

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

HERBERT BAYER (graphic design) http://www.herbert-bayer.com/

http://www.designishistory.com/1920/herbert-bayer/

MOHOLGY NAGY (graphic design) http://www.designishistory.com/1920/laszlo-moholy-nagy/

JOOST SCHMIDT (Graphic Design) http://www.widewalls.ch/artist/joost-schmidt/

http://www.germandesigners.net/designers/joost_schmidt

JEWELLERY DESIGNERS:

MARGARET DE PATTA (jewellery design) http://www.theartstory.org/movement-bauhaus.htm

https://artjewelryforum.org/articles/transcendent-jewelry-margaret-de-patta-vision-motion

ANNI ALBERS (jewellery design) https://artjewelryforum.org/articles-series/anni-albers%E2%80%99s-and-alex-reed%E2%80%99s-drain-and-paperclip-necklace

http://maharam.com/stories/anni-albers-hardware

http://www.albersfoundation.org/artists/biographies/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anni-Albers

NAUM SLUTZKY (jewellery design) http://collections.vam.ac.uk/

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=79256

PRODUCT DESIGNERS:

MIES VAN DER ROHE (product designer) http://www.miessociety.org/legacy/projects/

MARIANNE BRANDT ( Product Design) https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marianne-Brandt

http://www.moma.org/artists/741?=undefined&page=1&direction

WILLIAM WAGENFELD (Product Design ) http://www.moma.org/artists/6208

PETER BEHRENS (Product Design)

http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/architecture/peter-behrens.htm

show jo!

Idea for Aiden to take triangle prism work forwards? Strips of card, play with forms. Take photos - design development in 3D.

Do an Annie Albers inspired jewellery project? - paper clips, found metal objects, chains, washers, etc. Look at African recycled jewellery/metalwork too. Sustainability. Experimentation with materials, learning to use tools. Primary or Secondary. Thinking about balance, shape, line.