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"design" vs. "styling"

115
liberty bell

Adam, so nice to have you drop by!

I think the article is valuable food for thought for ALL students of architecture - which we all remain, even 50+ years into our careers - to ponder. Reject or accept or revise as suits each one's personal philosophies, of course, it's an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.

And hey. I think I just managed to bump this thread up to page two, yes?

Sep 17, 05 9:26 am  · 
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johndevlin

wasn't British Rail design very much a product of socialism in Britain in the 60s and 70s? With Margaret Thatcher all that was swept away in the 80s and British Rail dismembered. 'Design' thrives under socialism, 'style' under capitalism.
the political zeitgeist (liberal or conservative) determines whether what we will have is design (in the first case) or style (in the second case).
Does this mean that liberals are profound problem-solvers, and conservatives superficial panderers to mass consumerism?


Just my very uninformed 2 cents worth. Now I expect I will be torn to shreds.

Sep 17, 05 2:14 pm  · 
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abracadabra

nice angle john. it opens 1 pandora's box.
within the ultimate spirit of the question i am inclined to say yes. a 4-way shredder with 4 variables.

Sep 17, 05 2:49 pm  · 
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mdler

I was at the bookstore yesterday. There is a book called 'Mini House'. The second book in the series is 'Mini House Style'

True story

Sep 18, 05 1:09 am  · 
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the cellardoor whore

' 'Design' thrives under socialism, 'style' under capitalism.'
' Now I expect I will be torn to shreds.'

but you know, already, you know...tsk

Sep 18, 05 1:20 pm  · 
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Josh Emig

And ... back to the top:

Maeda in Business Week: "Together, we're defining the business value of simplicity and the design tenets that will help achieve it."

The first in a series.

Sep 19, 05 4:08 pm  · 
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johndevlin

Apple's Jonathan Ive shows how this distinction breaks down. Apple products are so darn great as design that they create a style, even a lifestyle or an 'attitude', without at all losing their integrity. Reminds me of the old Olivetti typewriters. Now there's someone to woo into architecture. I don't think that Apple design is superficial style, but I cd be wrong. Lots of people hate Apple.

Sep 20, 05 2:42 am  · 
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liberty bell

The Public, thanjks for posting the link. Any chance you can post the rest in the series too?

Sep 20, 05 11:05 am  · 
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Josh Emig

Well, here's the second one. I had hoped it would become a more substantial column, but this one is decidedly thinner, leaving me wanting more.

Sep 20, 05 12:39 pm  · 
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Josh Emig

Also, I personally didn't know that Business Week had an architecture section, which doesn't look half bad and seems to provide a little different perspective on our field. But I haven't read it all.

Sep 20, 05 12:41 pm  · 
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Josh Emig

Okay, it seems to be all Arch Record pieces, so my bad.

Sep 20, 05 12:42 pm  · 
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imagebytekid

more ass than class.
+
telephoney

Sep 21, 05 3:57 am  · 
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vado retro

this thread has john devlin!!!

May 9, 06 9:53 pm  · 
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FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF BEEF

I had no idea Adam Greenfield was on archinect ... I met him at SXSW in March.

Nice guy.

May 9, 06 9:57 pm  · 
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Smokety Mc Smoke Smoke

Aggregät 4 = A4 = V2

hmmmm ....

May 9, 06 10:00 pm  · 
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