How much ornament, detail and shaping will contemporary design thinking accept? I think the answer is, a lot . Although more and more ornament is finding its way back in and designers are being influenced by natural elements in new ways, on the whole, millwork in large architectural projects and mainstream furniture still seems to be influenced by a desire for uniformity and crisp edges. There is room for further softening and experimentation. Taking a hands-on approach is important for designers — understanding the fabrication process as well as the opportunities and limitations of tools helps inform and inspire future work. This experimentation with a simple table has opened up a new line of thinking on some larger projects and a better understanding of how things come together. Just as I reacted to the machine aesthetic of furniture some years ago there seems to be a renewed comfort in simplicity, thinking back to the handmade and to details of the past as our lives become increasingly abstract and digital. This balance has been on the minds of designers for quite some time but perhaps a hands-on approach is the best way to make a connection with the things we design. q
All of the images show the side table design in progress, starting with a veneer on engineered core with sharp corners and working toward rounded edges and a shaped leg profile in solid wood. The side table is designed to sit next to a couch and hold magazines. The bottom portion is angled so the spines of the magazine tilt up and are more visible when looking at them from above. Since the design is inspired by the way it will be used it seemed appropriate for the details to soften and to consider how it will be touched.
all images Michael Blois
on site review 39: tools
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