Stupid Designer Syndrome

[matt]

What Matt is saying is that it wasn't intended to be used in the up position. Which makes it all the more bizarre and pointless.

By that definition any decorative or whimsical feature of an item is pointless. Or perhaps "pointless" just because such a feature does not appeal to you personally nor can you appreciate why people might like it? For example, why go to great lengths to make a set of shelves that seemingly float in mid air on a single upright? Why not simply use some brackets?

I don't get what is so wrong about a chair where the back moves. The more I read this thread the more I take my hat off to the guy.

 

[wizer]

So, you're saying he did it purely for aesthetics?

 

[matt]

So, you're saying he did it purely for aesthetics?

I've no idea. I just don't think he's stupid.

 

[big soft moose]

So, you're saying he did it purely for aesthetics?

personally i think he did it purely for the spondoolicks

at the end of the day no one who buys these chairs is actually going to sit on them anyway - hence the "conceptualism" its about having something that is cutting edge that you can brag about to your (equally sad) freinds, or use as a talking point at dinner parties if you are too rich and boring to actually have a personality or interests worth talking about

in that mind set they arent "poor design" because no one expects conceptual furniture to also be functional anyway.

so the designer isnt stupid - as i said above i think its genius to get rich idiots to part with their folding stuff for such as basic and non functional pieice of furniture - however IMO the whole concept is stupid - the designer is just cashing in on it.

 

[jpt]

Good or bad design is purely subjective and is individual to the people viewing it.

As he sells what he makes the only thing that divides good or bad design is if it sells if it does it is good design if it doesnt it is a bad design regardless of whether it fits the golden mean or not.

Just my thoughts.

john

 

[wizer]

Ok bad choice of words. The concept is stupid/pointless/bizarre/annoying/ugly Not the designer, who's just Pushing stupid/pointless/bizarre/annoying/ugly furniture on stupid rich idiots.

Any better?

 

[TrimTheKing]

Good or bad design is purely subjective and is individual to the people viewing it.

Just my opinion, but I totally disagree with that.

Good design is precisely that, a design feature which adds to either the form, functionality or aesthetics of the piece, there is nothing subjective about that (okay, maybe the aesthetics bit, but the other two I think are definable), IMO.

Bad design on the other hand is equally definitive. Stick a giant sail on the top of a car attempting to create a land speed record is clearly bad aerodynamic design.

I fully appreciate that the above example is a pedantic and very extreme example, but was just to prove my point.

I do agree that design by way of aesthetics is subjective, and if that is what you meant then I retract all the other blurb, but I have to agree with wizer that this is is pointless gimmick and would get nowhere near my house (which btw is full of very well designed and beautiful objects :twisted: ).

At the same time I agree with the sentiments that if some **** with too much cash wants to buy something this ridiculous then all power to the man who can sell it to him.

 

[Mr T]

Hi

I tend to find rants about modern art/design rather tedious, but I have to comment about this:

I do agree that design by way of aesthetics is subjective, and if that is what you meant then I retract all the other blurb, but I have to agree with wizer that this is is pointless gimmick and would get nowhere near my house (which btw is full of very well designed and beautiful objects Twisted Evil ).

At the same time I agree with the sentiments that if some **** with too much cash wants to buy something this ridiculous then all power to the man who can sell it to him.

You can't agree that design aesthetics is subjective then call people dicks because there aesthetics are not the same as yours.

Regarding the design I think the designer was trying to emphasise a square look but wanted the back to angle back for comfort, so I can see what he was trying to do. However the picture gives no sense of scale so it is difficult to judge the design.

Chris

 

[wizer]

Well this certainly wasn't a general rant about modern design/furniture as that is something I find of great interest. In fact I found this on a modern design\style blog that I subscribe to. So please don't label me as a dinosaur. I just find this piece to be ridiculous beyond belief. It's hideous and as a concept it fails. Good design is about making things that are generally accepted as 'good'. A ghastly chunky, brown, cork chair with a few saw kerfs in the back is quite lazy, uninspired design which will be forgotten this time next week. The feeble attempt at 'jazzing it up' by adding dayglo colours is, frankly, embarrassing. Mark is right when he says that the designer has sought out something gimmicky to push on his clients and it stands out like a sore thumb.


Just my opinion of course :lol: (whoever invented the disclaimer was a good designer)

 

[ike]

I haven't read a similar degree of vitriole about few fellow forum members 'designs' that have been posted before now. Lots of polite comments and the odd 'positive' criticism. Most of it in comparison to any professional designer trained in the discipline, however practical it may be, is totally uninteresting, only plagiarised from what already exists.(though particular exceptions spring to mind). Even worse if its MDF.

Design evolves through creativity, fresh ideas, emotions, and novel use of materials. Ultimately we all need to make a living and respect to any designer who succeeds. I certainly hope my son can make a name for himself in a few years time as he's just started a BA Hons in 3D Design at Brighton. If he succeeds in selling his creations to rich idiots and making a massive wedge, whether I like his work or not, I'm all for it!

 

[TrimTheKing]

You can't agree that design aesthetics is subjective then call people dicks because there aesthetics are not the same as yours.

I can do exactly that. Because it's subjective it is subject to peoples' opinion, and mine is that it's not the kind of thing I like . If someone else's opinion is that it's good, it doesn't mean I can't think they're a numpty.

I'm also not saying I'm right, just what I think.

 

[matt]

I think this thread has arrived.

 

[studders]

Having read this thread, several times now, I feel an awful lot of irritation, on both sides, could be avoided with a carefully placed, simple 'IMO'. This , of course, is only IMO.

 

[wizer]

Having read this thread, several times now, I feel an awful lot of irritation, on both sides, could be avoided with a carefully placed, simple 'IMO'. This , of course, is only IMO.

Just my opinion of course :lol: (whoever invented the disclaimer was a good designer)

:lol:

 

[matt]

Having read this thread, several times now, I feel an awful lot of irritation, on both sides, could be avoided with a carefully placed, simple 'IMO'. This , of course, is only IMO.

It's universally, generally, widely, and wholeheartedly accepted by everyone around the world that this would not work.

That's just my opinion, btw...

 

[Tom K]

It's universally, generally, widely, and wholeheartedly accepted by everyone around the world that this would not work.

That's just my opinion, btw...

The chair? :lol:

 

[Woodcrafts]

In a similar vein this might be interesting: http://www.garethneal.co.uk/

 

[TrimTheKing]

In a similar vein this might be interesting: http://www.garethneal.co.uk/

Now this might seem like a total contradiction, but I love this guys work.

I have seen him in F&C or GW before and think it's really clever what he's doing. The difference between him and the cork chair bloke is that his work is fairly unique, and useful.

There's that subjectivity coming in...

 

[wizer]

I don't want to be seen agreeing with a lowly 1000 poster, but the work shown on Gareth Neal's website is fantastic and displays exceptional design and construction.

 

[Gower]

"Certainly, chairs that are expensive, yet useless, one-offs are testimonies to our crisis of nihilistic self-loathing, but, as a narrative means, four legs and a seat have a limited expressive range." So wrote Stephen Bayley of The Observer.
Bugger it and I thought they were resting your bum on!

Cheers,
Jim :lol: