Assignment 2

                                            Dale Chihuly (shorter post)

Fiori di Como

            As my aesthetics of appearance professor was talking about the different expressive qualities of line, a video was shown that focused on an artist that specializes in creating pieces with blown glass. I realized that I had definitely seen some of his work before, but never gave a second thought about it or who the artist was. As she showed more and more of his projects I became interested in finding out more about the artist and his work. Luckily, we were assigned this project and I was able to do so.

Neodymium Chandelier

            Dale Chihuly was born September 20 in Tacoma, Washington to George and Viola Chihuly. Unfortunately, Dale had somewhat of a tough childhood. At sixteen Dale lost his older brother, George, and soon after at seventeen he lost his father, Dale. He attended a wide array of colleges and universities. From starting out at the College of Puget Sound to transferring to the University of Washington, to receive his B.A. in interior design and architecture. He then attended the University of Wisconsin to receive his M.S. in Sculpture, to attending the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) where he received his Master in Fine Arts. Dale chose to teach at RISD for eleven years and he established their glass program.

Joslyn Window

            In 1961, Dale learned to melt and fuse glass and after this his career started to take off. Only three years later, in 1964, Dale “receives the Seattle Weavers Guild Award for innovative use of glass and fiber” and is “awarded highest honors from the American Institute of Interior Designers” a year later. His first environmental installation was installed in Pilchuck in 1971. From then on his portfolio of work continues to grow and grow.

            While in England in 1976, a car accident leaves Dale with 258 stitches in his face and loss of sight in his left eye. As if this wasn’t bad enough for the artist, about three years later he was in a bodysurfing accident where he dislocates his shoulder and then gives up his position of being in charge of production of his projects. Although he has given up his position his work has been quite successful and beautiful. He has had installations in many different parts of the world like the White House, Las Vegas, London, Venice and many others.

            After looking more in depth at Dale Chihuly’s work he has really become one of my favorite artists. It’s amazing what he is able to create with glass and the difficulties he had to overcome is really inspirational.

                                          Works Cited

“Chronology.” Dale Chihuly. n.p. n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.              

            <http://www.chihuly.com/>. 

Chihuly, Dale, et al. Chiuhly Projects. Seattle: Portland Press, 2000. Print.

 



 

Michael Graves (shorter post)

            Michael Graves is a name many people have probably heard but may not know too much about, including myself. I’ve heard the name numerous times, but never knew much about him besides that he designed products for Target. I chose to pick him as one of my designers so I could learn a little more about him and so I would be able to put some information to the name.            

            Michael Graves was born in 1934 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He attended the University of Cincinnati and later Harvard University’s graduate school of design. He also went to the American Academy of Rome to study.  He later began teaching at Princeton University in 1962 and stayed to teach architecture for over 25 years. In 1964 he founded the Michael Graves & Associates in Princeton, NJ and since the opening of his company he has designed over 350 buildings worldwide along with more than 2,000 products for various companies.

Conical Kettle

            Michael Graves’s designs for Alessi are probably the most well known. He designed the conical kettle with birds in 1985. In an interview he had with the New York Times, Graves talks about why he used certain colors for the Alessi Kettle. He said, “Blue is cool, so you’re supposed to think that it’s not hot. And the bird is red: you’re supposed to think to be careful to remove the bird.” The phrase “function before form” has come up many times throughout our class and readings so far, his quote seemed to fit right in. As simple as the thinking behind the design was, I personally think that was a great part because he focused on the function of the kettle.

The Dolphin Hotel

            To focus more on his architecture, a few buildings Graves is well known for include “the Public Services Building in Portland, Oregon (1982), the library in San Juan Capistrano, California (1983), the Humana Corporation headquarters in Louisville (1982-86), the Dolphin Hotel in Disney World, Florida (1989), and the annex to the Whitney Museum of Art in New York (1989-90).” I was surprised to read that he was a part of designing the Dolphin Hotel in Disney World, Florida having stayed there before. I thought the hotel was massive, beautiful and I was really intrigued by the architecture. This just goes to show me that design is truly all around me in my everyday life. 

                                      Works Cited

“ALESSI – Kettle 9093 Michael Graves NEW Blue or Black For Sale.” 

            Photograph.Collectibles-Articles.com. n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. 

            <http://www.collectibles-articles.com/>.

Ben Mangor. “Walt Disney World, Dolphin Hotel, Orlando, Florida USA.” 

            Photograph. Super Stock. n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. 

            <http://www.superstock.com/>.

 

“Michael Graves.” Art Directory. n.p. n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.

            <http://www.art-directory.info/>.

“Michael Graves Biography.” Target. n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.             

            <http://pressroom.target.com/>.

“Michael Graves.” Kettererkunst. n.d. 12 Apr. 2011.              

            <http://www.kettererkunst.com/>.

Rima Suqi. “Michael Graves on Objects He Designs for Target, and Himself.”

            Home & Garden. The New York Times. 30 Mar. 2011. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.

            <http://www.nytimes.com/>.

Paul Rand  (longer post)

            Another designer I have heard the name of and knew just the basics about is Paul Rand. I’ve learned just a few things about Rand from a previous design class and the current design course I’m in. I wanted to learn a little more about the graphic designer since that is the area I’m interested in getting a degree in.

            Paul Rand was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1914 as Peretz Rosenbaum. He was educated at the Pratt Institute, Parsons School of Design, and the Art Students League.  He later went on to teach at Cooper Union, the Pratt Institute, and Yale University.

            As stated in the Graphic Design Archive Online, Paul Rand’s career can be divided into three sections. “From 1937-1941, he worked in media promotion and book design; from 1941-1954, he focused more on advertising design; and from 1954 on, he began to concentrate on corporate identity programs.”

            His first designs were for his father’s grocery store and his school’s events. He began his career creating stock images that were supplied to newspapers and magazines. Around this time was when Paul decided to change his name from Peretz Rosenbaum to Paul Rand to avoid the Jewish identity given by his name. “Peter Behrens notes the importance of this new title: ‘Rand’s new persona, which served as the brand name for his many accomplishments, was the first corporate identity he created, and it may also eventually prove to be the most enduring.’”  By his early twenties Rand was already gaining international attention. Even before he was such a well-known designer he was branding himself. I think you have to be a pretty intelligent person that knows exactly what you want to do what Paul Rand had.

            Rand was chosen for the job of setting the page layout for an anniversary issue for the Apparel Arts in 1936. After doing such great work with this job he was given a full-time position along with an offer as art director of Esquire-Coronet magazines. At first Rand didn’t believe he had evolved the level of skill needed to accept the job, but soon after at twenty-three years old he decided to take the position. It's truly unbelievable the amount of work Paul Rand did by the early age of twenty-three and how much skill he already possessed.

            Rand’s corporate identity that gained him the most notoriety was the IBM logo he designed in 1956. He then modified the logo in 1960 and later in 1972 to the popular striped logo. Louis Danziger gave much credibility to Paul Rand when he said, “he almost singlehandedly convinced business that design was an effective tool. […] Anyone designing in the 1950s and 1960s owed much to Rand, who largely made it possible for us to work. He more than anyone else made the profession reputable. We went from being commercial artists to being graphic designers largely on his merits.” Paul Rand designed logos for Westinghouse, UPS, and ABC to name a few. His designs were rumored to reach $100,000 each in the ‘80s and 90’s. He also helped to establish the Swiss Style of design.

             I really enjoy the simplicity of many of Paul Rand’s designs like the ABC and UPS logos. He doesn’t feel the need to make his work look busy to give it the feeling of importance. In an interview with John Maeda, one of Paul’s students and friends, Paul is asked “what are the fundamental skills of a designer and he responded by saying the fundamental skill is talent.” Paul definitely has the talent he talks about in this interview. I find him to be an extremely creative person, especially because sometimes making a very simplistic design is harder to make than a complex one. Unfortunately, Paul Rand is no longer with us as he passed away from cancer in 1996. His work continues to influence designers and people everywhere.

 

Paul Rand's logos for ABC television, IBM, UPS, and Ford

     

                                                Works Cited

“Original Mad Men: Paul Rand & Saul Bass.” The Dapper Dude. Photograph. 

            20 July. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. <http://thedapperdude.com/>.

 

“Paul Rand: A Brief Biography.” Paul-Rand.com. n.p.  n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.                   

            <http://www.paul-rand.com/>.

“Paul Rand.” Graphic Design Archive Online. RIT Libraries. n.d. Web. 12 Apr.  

            2011. <http://library.rit.edu/>.

“Thoughts On Design: Maeda @ Media, Interview excerpt with John Maeda.” 

               Paul-Rand.com. n.p. n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. 

               <http://www.paul-rand.com/>.