Beauty + Utility

Image taken from www.dezeen.com.

In "The Grammar of Ornament" (1856), Owen Jones argued that construction should be decorated and that decoration should never be purposely constructed, however I believe that in todays contemporary society both sides of this statement can work together. In the above image we see the combination of these in the product (clock) part of a series of works by Giha Woo and Shingouen. The clock is made of two revolving discs where the hands are the batteries which enable the clock to move whilst also providing an innovative way in which to read time. In contemporary design we often see objects such as this clock as a combination of beauty and utility particularly as we have more conceptual thought behind objects and products. I also think that conceptual ideas are a form of contemporary decoration while the actual aesthetics are kept simple and plain so a veiwer of the object may make their own opinion about it.

The clock above is a clear example of how we may use conceptual ideas as decoration and keep the aesthetics plain. It appears simple but when looked at closely the use of the batteries for the hands give the clock an interesting and intruiging appeal whether intended or not. In consideration to "Design, society and standards" by David Raizman (from The History of Modern Design) it becomes obvious of this evolution of design ideas, especially the transformation from decorative or ornamental design to functional as the reformation occurred. Just like that reformation of design ideas, it is natural that we as a contemporary society have moved away from purely functional design (with a focus on utility) to design which incorporates conceptual ideas (with a focus on beauty aswell), particularly as education is more valued in a contemporary world.