Posted by Harry
Books | 14 Oct 07 | Comments (1) | Stumble
Most people know designboom as the design portal and as the people behind the popular 'design marts' at shows like 100% Design. Well, they also find time to create and publish some great little design books, and though small in size, they're large on design with lots of compelling images and text. premio vico magistretti; 'living simplicity in furniture design', is the latest title and it includes 140 entries from their recent 'premio vico magistretti' international design competition. The theme for the contest was "combine simplicity with playfulness, elegance, freshness, and contemporary spirit in home and office furniture design.". And as you may have seen on the designboom contest results page, the designs submitted were worthy. The book is too. Softcover, 112 pages, well illustrated, $18 or $20 including shipping.
The competition was titled 'living simplicity in furniture design' so I was disappointed that the primary requirement of 'simplicity' was not present in so many of the shorlisted entries. This quality appears to have been overlooked in favour of cleverness, dual functionality and conceptual juxtapositioning.
I researched and studied Magistretti's body of work in order to refine my design to a level of simplicity that I think he would have appreciated. On seeing the selected shorlist and the entries that received awards I now feel that my efforts were wasted for the purpose of this competition.
Maybe I should have endowed my design with multiple functions and user interaction, even though that was something that Magistretti rarely, if ever, did. He appears to have preferred simple and elegant form with singular function. He may not be turning in his grave, but I feel certain he would have chosen differently.
And surely Peter Marigold's 'Prop', which received an honorable mention, breaks the competition rule...
"small accessories are not accepted".
I don't have a problem with losing, I just don't like losing out in a competition that breaks its own rules and ethos.