Design and the New Year

January 6th, 2012 | samricca

I went to see some exhibits at the SF MOMA yesterday: Richard Serra’s drawings, Dieter Rams’ design objects, and Francesca Woodman’s photography. I knew Serra’s work would be very heady and Rams’ designs would be inspiring, visually pleasing, nostalgic, and thought-provoking. But I had no preconceptions about Woodman, as I was not familiar with her work.

She was a photography student at RISD in the 60s and her work was cutting-edge to say the least. What truly grabbed me was her ability to create fresh ideas for an oh-so-old-and-done subject of self-portraiture. That is the essence, the talent, behind any great artist: the ability to put a fresh spin on age-old concepts. Isn’t that what designers struggle to do every day? Sure, Rams had some advantages working with new products and technologies of his time. But buttons are buttons and dials are dials. And somehow he managed to make them recede and come forward simultaneously.

I am at once comforted, inspired, and intimidated. The road ahead is a long one; but it looks like a great adventure!

Over the next few weeks I will be working on updating my site with new work. Check back in February!  I am also working on getting some of my writings unto my blog instead of hidden away in notebooks no one else will read.

Hope you’re having a great start to the new year.

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