Thursday, April 21, 2022

I like it. What is it? The Design Museum.

Our excursion for Encounters in Humanities on March 15 was to the Design Museum. This is a smallish museum in Kensington, right on the 49 bus route, devoted to all things design...art, fashion, tech, you name it. Unlike the other museums you'll find in London, this one can be enjoyed thoroughly in the space of two hours or less. The museum is free, though it also has exhibitions you can opt to pay for. This spring featured one about Amy Winehouse, and the students who went really enjoyed it. 

What made this museum interesting was the questions exhibits attempted to pose about ethical and sustainable design. I don't know if it occurred to students that design could involve moral decisions, as well as decisions about efficiency, marketability, form and function. This is an excellent excursion for Encounters in Humanities, because it serves as a contrast to the Victoria and Albert Museum's archaic artifacts, which are more about aesthetics and were incredibly indulgent. What is featured in the Design Museum are examples of practical artifacts built to be produced more cheaply and distributed to the general population. Another great feature is that it will likely look remarkably different from year to year, as the advancements in the kind of design and tech exhibited come very fast.


Here is an example of political design, featuring a protest sign with a focus on Tony Blair. It's an interesting design because from far away it looks to be a placard for his election, then immediately you notice the blood spots within the letter gaps, and the transposing of the "i" and "a." A good design except that as an English teacher, the misspelling needles me a bit.
I wanted to touch the "chubby chair" so badly but the sign said don't.













This exhibit juxtaposed old tobacco marketing with labels meant to warn uses of the dangers of smoking. If you can't see it, the boxes on the bottom feature a victim of lung cancer, a tumorous tongue, and a foot mangled by peripheral vascular disease.
This wall was prompted by contributions from patrons who were asked about what they perceive to be examples of great design. There's a good reason the Underground is featured...which I will expand on in an upcoming post, tentatively titled "Ten Things I Loved in London."
This display was about kickstarters. The circles are a visual representation of how often certain types of projects get kickstarted and how successful they are. Of course I was interested in games, having contributed to a few game kickstarters myself (come on, Frosthaven!). The most funded project in each category was interesting...for games it was Exploding Kittens.
This is the 2012 London Olympic torch. It is perforated with 8,000 holes representing the 8,000 runners in the torch relay and the 8,000 mile distance of the run. But the holes also made it easy to grip, and more lightweight to carry, and they ensure the heat from the flame is dissipated and not overheating the handle. Neat.
A shot of the museum's interior...the sign changes its text from Maker to Designer to User.
Another shot of the interior. Pretty cool design that makes it feel airy and light instead of suffocating, which museums tend to be.
For those interested in fashion, this exhibit featured sustainable clothing made from recycled materials.
This is an ever-expanding exhibit featuring the evolution of multiple communication and recording technologies. It's a more practical version of the big radio tower at Tate Modern I guess.


This is a great exhibit questioning the definition of "good design." It features a lightweight wooden splint for leg injuries, and an AK-47 assault rifle. Both are examples of efficiency and perfect function, but are they both "good," since one saves lives and the other takes them? 


Note for teachers: As I said, for Encounters in Humanities this is a great contrast to the Victoria and Albert as far as experiencing cultural artifacts. Any kind of design major would find this interesting. 

A specific prompt you might choose has to do with this question of morality and design...something that makes the students consider a designer's responsibility to their community, to peace, and to the ecosystem.



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