POINT: Evolutions

The title of this unit could not be more suiting to the units theme as

a whole. This time period was about Evolution, not only in the design

world but in the world surrounding it as well. Most prominent was the

question of "What does it mean to be modern?"

That being said, a large part of the units girth was an explanation of

the various responses to this question and the evolutions of these

responses.  First there was the original Modernism, a rejection of all

things manmade. This first modernism was what evolved out of the Arts

& Crafts movement. This was a celebration of the machine and machine

age materials such as steel, iron, and glass. This period was about

simplification and the evolution of the ideals of what is considered

the right way to live. However, with this came much criticism, stating

that the styles being put forth were too cold and starck to be

considered liveable.

It was these criticisms that brought the design world into

Postmodernism and the rise of the Interior Decorator. These people

were evolution, the answer to design crisis. Homeowners viewed them as

friends, confidants, those with all the answers to the tasteful

interior. And thus, the quest for decorating knowledge evolved into an

obsession. Books, then magazines, television, the internet, all serve

as means for people to have access to good design. But as with

currencies, an influx in knowledge makes each individual piece of it a

little less valuable. With the rise of HGTV and shows like Design

Star, true design talent is depriciated a little more each day and no

once it is gone, it's very unlikely that it will ever come back.

I think that because this is the final point essay and while we're on the topic of evolutions, I think it would be suiting to look back on the semester and the evolutions that have occurred over the time we have covered. 

In Egypt, one of the first and most prominent civilizations in ancient history, evolution was about marking their place on the landscape. Evolving as a people, as a civilization. Evolving from nothing into something.

In Greece, it was an evolution of nature. In Rome, an evolution of government. It was about breaking precedents and becoming stronger and more powerful than any civilization before.

The Renaissance was an evolution of ideals, of new ways of thinking about the world and how to exist within it.

In the Gothic time period, an evolution of spirituality and finding oneself within the presence of the divine. About building taller and more narrow than ever before.

With Industrialism came the evolution of the machine and items built with them. An age of iron and glass blindsided man and a time where goods from around the world were available to all began.

In the Arts & Crafts movement came an evolution of reactions to Industrialism, a revert back to the beauty and elegance of hand craftsmanship.

Then came the evolution of the great debate. What does it mean to be modern? A question that rages on until today. One we will not know if we successfully answered until some day in the distant future, when a design student writes their very own point essay, examining our time, our choices, our accomplishments, our successes, and our failures.