Project Gutenberg Self-Publishing - eBooks | Read eBooks online

Democratic Design

Frank Lloyd Wright a Biography (by Finis Farr)
Frank Lloyd Wright Rebel in Concrete (by Aylesa Forsee)
The principles of design (by Rhead, G. Woolliscroft (George Woolliscroft))
Design (by Tuckerman, Arthur Lyman)
Organic Chemistry : Part 1 Volume Part 1 (by William Henry Perkin)

In recent years, architects, fashion designers, interior designers, and retailers have used the term “democratic design” to define quality designs that are affordable and accessible to mainstream consumers.

From the onset of his career, designer Philippe Stark envisioned the creation of affordable designs that could be embraced by a wide audience. The “starchitect” is celebrated for bringing dramatic, theatrical designs to luxury hotels across the globe. He’s also credited for delivering stylish tableware, furniture, and lighting designs to the masses.

The late Ingvar Kamprad also embraced this philosophy when he launched Ikea in 1943. As of August 2017, the iconic furniture retailer had 403 stores that spanned 49 countries. The company’s website features a “Democratic Design” section, which highlights the importance of form, function, quality, and sustainability at low prices. It states: “We call it ‘Democratic Design’ because we believe good home furnishing is for everyone.”

The democratic design concept also moved into the fashion industry. About a decade ago, retail chains H&M, Kohl’s, and Target entered into collaborations with topnotch designers such as Versace, Vera Wang, and Michael Graves. They created quite a buzz among mainstream shoppers and sparked the curiosity of many couture designers when they introduced affordable, trend-driven fashions and home items. The term “fast fashion” became widely used to describe these collections that quickly captured and delivered mainstream consumers the latest trends from Fashion Week.

In the 1930s, American architect Frank Lloyd Wright redefined the way the middle class lived when he designed his first “Usonian” home. He worked on a $5,000 budget (about $80,000 in current dollars). From 1936 to 1959, he created many homes of this kind. His designs influenced the ranch style homes that became popular in the 1950s.

In Frank Lloyd Wright Rebel in Concrete, Aylesa Forsee says:

For some time Wright had been saying to anyone who would listen that America’s major architectural problem had become building, at a moderate cost, houses that would still have artistic excellence and originality. The kind of house he visualized he called Usonian. Usonia, he quipped, meant the United States as it should be. These dwellings must have a harmonious relationship to their environment, but also be for the life lived in the building. (p. 127)

For more on Wright’s aesthetic, read Frank Lloyd Wright.

Democratic design also played a role in the world of color. Purple was very costly to produce until British chemist William Henry Perkin discovered the first synthetic purple dye, which he called mauveine. Until then, purple was reserved for royalty.

Ironically, Queen Victoria sparked popular demand for the color when she wore a mauveine dress to her daughter’s wedding. Perkin’s creation of the synthetic dye made the color widely available. In Organic Chemistry, Perkin provided details about the creation of dyes.

By Regina Molaro