myblogaboutinteriordesign

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Being A Women In The Design World

As part of our second teaching block, Contextualising Practice, we are meant to write an essay about any topic that interests us and that is somehow related to design. 

As there is plenty of room and ideas, I had a hard time choosing something to write about because there are many important topics in the design world that should be addressed and discussed. At the very beginning we had a lecture about Design History and our lecturer mentioned ‘Herstory’. I didn’t know what it meant so I had to do some research about it and it really intrigued me. Herstory, is basically a term for history, written from a feminist perspective, emphasizing the role of women, or told from a woman's point of view. From this point onwards I started doing research into women in the design world. Especially Cheryl Buckleys Article ‘Made in Patriarchy’ (published in 1986 in the Design Issue, III(2): 3-14 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) led me to the topic that i am now writing about. In her Article she writes about the nature of design and the designer, the role of the historian in interpreting and understanding the connections between women and design, and about the changing nature of debates with feminism. 

As a women myself, going into the design industry, I think it’s important to be educated about the history of women in design. Growing up in Germany, having learnt about the Bauhaus, I once read a book about all the lost women from Bauhaus and I was reminded of that again as I was doing my research. It really made me question, why women weren’t acknowledged as designers, why they weren’t mentioned in History books because it wasn’t as if they didn’t existed. There were plenty of women doing amazing and revolutionising design but they were either standing in the shadow of their Husbands success or got famous just after they died. 

I am a feminist and therefore I want to write about why women got forgotten in history and why this is still happening today and I also want to write about some of the women that I think should have been mentioned. 

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Sooo ... I’ve changed my design a couple of times but I have finally done my visual. I am actually very happy with it although it took me a while to get there.

In some of my sketches I always drew a night version, just because I really enjoy dimmed light and a dark sky, it makes me feel comfy and can create a whole different atmosphere. I have decided to make the room somewhat open, with one glass panel missing, so that it is cosy in the room but a light breeze can also pass through. I think this would intensify the feeling of being in nature as well as being surrounded by trees. In addition I’ve added a few climbing plants on the side of the roof because I really like them. In more tropical climates, they grow like crazy and it reminds me of being somewhere else, far away from home.  

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ORGANIC

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CALMING

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DYNAMIC

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A Creative Space In Nature ...

The first project is about designing a space which is three by three metres. It can be any height, any shape, basically anything you can image but it can’t be any larger than nine square metres. 

It’s really difficult to think of something when you only have one requirement, so in order to give us a headstart we are supposed to think of 3 adjectives which are connected to our chosen building. Then, we need to find an abstract and an architectural image resembling each word. I had a little browse through several architectural blogs and websites and I chose the words dynamic, organic and balanced. 

Based on these words I decided to design a round space, outside of the Gallery, in the Art Garden. One of the extensions is a cafe and it reaches out into the Art Garden, so I thought it would be a suitable location for my space. 

Visitors of the Gallery can come into this building after a stroll through the Gallery, inspired by the exhibitions and paint, draw or sketch. All the materials needed for that will be available and there will be a large seating area, where people can also read. The space is only meant to be for one or two people and you can book a slot at the reception of the Gallery. 

I want to create a peaceful atmosphere and a sense of being in nature when you are inside the building. This could be achieved through all glass wall or maybe even an open space, although it couldn’t be used very often considering the lovely British weather ... Other ways to create that feeling of calmness could be created by using natural materials such as wood which can also create a sense of warmth. Hopefully I can realise all of these thoughts into visuals and create the exact atmosphere I am hoping for. 

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Illustration of the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester.

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Architecture in Manchester

Having visited Manchester only twice before moving here, I was quite excited to explore the city and its architectural history. We walked along a given route which took us from one point of the city to the other side of the city. I noticed that there was a big divide between old brick buildings, such as the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and modern, only just recently built buildings such as the Civil Justice Centre. This probably stems from the large construction boom which is part of a governmental project to boost economy growth in the North of England. After the architectural walk I read a few articles about the increased construction in the city, which I noticed as well when I was exploring the city. 

Based on that walk, we had to choose a building which inspire us, historically interested us or sparked some sort of significance to you. 

A few years ago I visited Whitworth Gallery with my Art A-Level course and I remember really loving the modern extensions of the building which reach out into the park which surrounds the Gallery. Revisiting it again was sadly not possible as it was closed due to the pandemic and when it reopened I was quarantined. This building is so diverse with its different architectural styles and its long ever changing history, that it provides perfect inspiration for our 3x3 Interior. The task is to design a space that can be any shape, style or height but it can only be 9 square metres big. I have a few ideas for now but lets see what my actual design will be... :)

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Some illustrations of my very first projects ... the one on the left was our summer project and is based on a Museum in Mannheim, Germany, which is close to where I live. The illustration on the right is the Old Corner Cinema in Manchester. I really enjoyed the shape of this building and the rusty green panels. I drew these on my ipad which is my favourite drawing medium. 

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First Blog Post

I'm guessing that if you've read the title, you would know that this blog is about Interior Design (suprise!) and to be honest I am a first year student, meaning I don’t have much academical knowledge regarding Interior Design. 

Nevertheless I try to gain knowledge everyday through blogs, social media and design magazines and accumulate an understanding for colours, shapes and atmospheres. Hopefully you will see my progress through this blog and enjoy the journey of me becoming an interior designer. I will post about my projects, successes and my inspirations.

Enjoy :)