#Design History

[aworldofpattern]

Oscar de la Renta: 'Crafted like a mosaic, discover the making-of the #odlrfall2024 stained glass gown — ushering in a a new House-signature embroidery technique.'

Constructed from hundreds of polyamide panes, hand-sewn together in an Art Nouveau style reminiscent of Tiffany glass. Ready-to-wear: £36,546.

[germanpostwarmodern]

A Cabinet (1930s) attributed to Fer Semey and produced in the Netherlands

[periodinteriors]

Johan Vilhelm Gertner (Danish), A Bedroom in Bernstorff Palace near Copenhagen, c. 1845, oil on canvas.

[decorsociety]

The Timeless Palette of Art Nouveau 🎨

Hey there! We are Decor Society and we're passionate about bringing historical design to modern spaces, and we're kicking things off with Art Nouveau colors. Beyond those flowing, nature-inspired lines we all recognize, there's this gorgeous color world that defined the movement from 1890-1910.

Look at these incredible earthy tones, those muted greens, warm terracottas, and soft blues that somehow feel both vintage and completely fresh today (It is personally one of the favorite style at our office). The artists who pioneered this style (think Mucha and his posters!) pulled these colors straight from the natural world (autumn leaves, forest moss, and twilight skies.) 🌿

I've been playing with these color combinations in my own space lately, and they're surprisingly versatile (even for a beginner like me in the art nouveau space)! They bring in warmth without being overwhelming so they are perfect if you're going for something sophisticated but still livable (and it is good because you also won't get bored of it). 🏡

Want to experiment with these palettes yourself? We've got a design game in closed beta right now where you can actually play with historical color schemes like this one. Come join our Facebook community ✨ if you want to get in on the beta and connect with other design-obsessed folks like us!

[arsacra]

Czech matchbox labels warning of the dangers of alcohol dependence and drunk driving, printed at the Solo Lipnik match factory, 1962

"Luck does not add anyone's health"

"lowers morale, increases absence"

"He didn't count the beers, that's why he rests"

"If you submit, it enslaves you!"

"Drivers beware, dangerous area" (dangerous intersection?)

"Alcohol drowns wishes and desires"

"He stopped drinking, he's furninshing an apartment"

"If high blood proof, you will lose your ID"

"Alcohol reduces attention at work"

"Don't race them, they will ruin you!"

"Red [means] Injury" and "Intercountry action against traffic accidents"

"He who can't control himself does not belong behind the steering wheel"

[mote-historie]

Art Deco Designs for perfume bottles, The DeVilbiss Co. Ltd., 23 June 1924.

The National Archives’ visual collections

[vignellicenter]

In 1971, Massimo and Lella Vignelli designed a modular foam seating system but it was never produced. The system consisted of circular shapes that nested together to form an infinite number of seating configurations. Each piece would be made of foam with fabric coverings with zippers to attach everything together so it would stay put. The fabric cover would be removeable for cleaning.

This was around the same time the Vignellis were designing showrooms and exhibitions for Knoll who had acquired the Gavina Collection which included a foam modular seating system by Sebastian Matta. Although his system was much more organic in shape, perhaps they were inspired to give it a try with more geometric shapes?

In the archive we have the painted wooden models of the seating, vintage images, drawings and some correspondence.

Scroll through to see more about this conceptual Vignelli-designed seating system and also the Matta foam seating system on display in the Vignelli designed Knoll Au Louvre exhibition (1972) and the Knoll Gavina Group showroom (1968). Unfortunately, it was never made but we would have love to give it a try!

Images: 1-2. Vintage 35mm slide of model 3. rough sketch of seating components 4. measured drawing of seating components 5.-6. Drawings of possible seating configurations 7. snapshot of model in archives 8. Knoll correspondence regarding making prototypes 9. clipping of Massimo and Lella Vignelli in Gavina showroom with Matta modular seating 10. vintage 35mm slide of Matta seating at Knoll Au Louvre exhibition

#Vignelli #DesignArchives #nevermade #DesignHistory #Knoll #FurnitureDesign #1970s #modular #geometry

[cliozaur]

"If a chap can't compose an epic poem while he's waving a tapestry, he had better shut up, he'll never do any good at all."

William Morris, the guy who composed eight volume-poem Earthly Paradise while learning to wave a tapestry. He is my hero!

[moonmaidensblessing]

Fashion & Design in the BioShock Series (Part One)

Hello! Here is the fashion video at last! This took such a long time, but I hope it does its intended job of teaching people something new and adds a critical perspective to a game I think is art. Timestamps and resources are available in the description of the video, as well as closed captioning directly from the script I wrote. All of this was really fun to make, as I was able to deep dive into topics I really enjoy, like history, fashion, design, and video games! If you feel like I've missed anything or have questions, leave a comment, let's discuss!

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to watch it, it's always appreciated! If you like what I do, please like and subscribe! It lets me know this is work there is an audience for. And until next time, cheers! （ ´∀｀）☆

[art-and-design-black-and-white]

Rene Lalique, Perfume bottle, lead crystal, glass, Lalique et Cie, France, c. 1932. Via maas.museum

[justaboutsnapped]

Hamlet (The Beggarstaffs) // Society of Misery and Regrets • Lifetime Member (unknown)

[germanpostwarmodern]

"Vilbert" Side Chair designed in 1992 by Verner Panton for IKEA

[twelve-shades-of-grey]

[arsacra]

Czechoslovakian matchbox labels decorated with anti-pollution and littering PSAs, manufactured at Smrecina B. Bystrica match factory in 1963. more and even more matchbox labels

[speakspeak]

ulm forever

[vignellicenter]

Abe Hirschfeld, who made a fortune building parking garages, turned a parking garage at 330 East 61st Street into an exclusive fitness club in the 1980s.

In 1979, Vignelli Associates designed a logo, brochure, stationery, and membership materials for what their own brochure deemed “a country club in the heart of the city”

“A unique sporting club offering tennis, squash and racquetball”

“No sport and racquet facility like exists anywhere.”

By 1984, the club was the place to be seen with many celebrity sightings [for example, Cher, Diana Ross, Liza Minelli, Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Ashford and Simpson, Brooke Shields]

Quotes from a 1984 NY Times article about the health club’s social scene:

''The Vertical Club is today's Studio 54''

“People join other health clubs to get in shape before they join here''

“Pure Fellini''

“It is better socially than a singles bar because it's not so obvious”'

Here is what the VC brochure promised:

“Court time at your convenience is always assured, because Vertical Club membership is strictly limited. … The congeniality and prestige of the club us maintained by our Admissions Committee, which interviews and approves all applicants.”

Staff are ready “to make each visit to the Vertical Club a delightful leisure experience.”

Courts

“Courts are stacked vertically atop one another. Each level of the vertical club is equivalent to four stories; the building is the height of a 20-story structure.”

“Architect Eugene Ho has created tennis “al fresco” through open, retractable siding on the courts.”

Courtside Restaurant and Bar

“The glass-walled, elevated Courtside Restaurant overlooks our two exhibition tennis courts and glass-sided racquetball court.”

Graphics

“Vignelli Associates are designers of tremendous scope.”

Fee schedule

“Resident + spouse Initiation fee $4000 plus $125/mo”

And speaking of the 1980s, join us next week for our next Open Houses which will highlight artifacts from the archives from the 1980s. Check out our events page on our website for more details [link in bio]

9/25-9/26, 2024 10am-4pm

And in the spring with a completely different displays of 1980s artifact!

3/26-3/27, 2025 10am-4pm