Planning & Inspiration
DESIGN DICTIONARY
FROG DESIGN Frog Design is one of the most well-known international design studios. The company was founded under the name “Esslinger Design” in 1969 by Hartmut Esslinger. Working from Altensteig within the Black Forest, Esslinger worked with with Georg Spreng and Andreas Haug to create the Tri-Bel hand shower, for which Hansgrohe received its first design award in 1974. The studio had its international breakthrough at the beginning of the 1980s, receiving global recognition for its work, particularly the legendary Apple IIc and Apple Macintosh designs. During this decade, the company changed its name to Frog Design and relocated to Silicon Valley. The acronym FROG is an abbreviation for “Federal Republic of Germany”. Today, the design studio has offices around the globe. www.frogdesign.com GOLDEN RATIO In art and architecture, the Golden Ratio is the ideal ratio among different lengths of an object or a construction to one another. It is considered the epitome of aesthetics and harmony and was used intuitively long before its formula was discovered. It is argued that the Golden Ratio can be found in many works of the Renaissance artists such as Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Dürer. The Golden Ratio defines the harmonious partition of an object into a shorter and a longer section in the mathematical ratio of b:a = c:b. The ratio of the longer section to the total length is the same as the ratio of the smaller section to the longer one (compare: AXOR Uno). HAPTICS ⁄ HAPTIC Haptics (from Greek “haptikos” = able to touch) is the study of tactile sense. Through touching surfaces and by being touched, living organisms receive various impressions and information. In design, the haptic perception of an object influences our well-being. Our reactions, whether we experience comfort or disgust, a feeling of warmth or coldness, or a sense of ease or irritation, are intuitive and beyond our control. The term goes back to the German psychologist Max Dessoir. He recommended in his publication “Über den Hautsinn” in 1892 to name the study of tactile senses, following terms such as ‘acoustics’ and ‘optics’. The tactile perception of a surface largely determines our emotional relationship to the object, but also our confidence in its ergonomic quality, for example in that of a chair or a musical instrument. Haptic design principles are used in different areas, e.g. in product packaging haptics (form and surface structure), where it is used as an important recognition factor for a brand. A pleasant tactile experience is a decisive product feature, especially for products which are used several times a day (e.g. bathroom faucets). HARMONY ⁄ HARMONIC Harmony (from Latin ⁄ Greek “harmonia”= agreement, concord) is an aesthetic term for the meeting and coexistence of two or more different but matching parts. These parts complement one another, resulting in a harmonious, balanced appearance. Ideally, all different parts retain their own identity, but join together to form a new unit. In most systems—as in music or color—the individual elements must share a common origin on a deeper level in order to be compatible (such as belonging to the same pitch in music or to the same color category). INDIVIDUALIZATION The term (from Latin “individuum” = individual being) has its origins in sociology, and refers to the increased desire in the West for individuals to construct their own identities during early industrialization and
or an object. Dynamic therefore signifies the opposite of static. However, dynamics can also mean the inner movement of a piece of art, a design object, a building or a room design. A sense of dynamism or movement can be achieved through deliberate nuances, rhythms or organic, sweeping lines. ECLECTICISM ⁄ ECLECTIC Eclecticism (from Greek “eklektos” = selected) is a design principle which draws upon different objects, styles, materials, elements or philosophies and combines them to create something new. As an artistic movement and design principle which openly draws upon existing or historic works of art, eclecticism has significantly shaped human creativity for centuries. It also characterizes different periods of European art from historicism onwards. The term eclecticism was used pejoratively in the past, applied to any art that lacked originality. In postmodernism, eclecticism as an art method became important for critical reflection on existing material. In design, the eclectic principle represents a technique to edit or reinterpret (art) quotations, or to create or reinterpret an original (creative and innovative) formal experience. This way, something new arises from established objects. Often, the result is a combination of references and symbols from the worlds of design and architecture (compare: AXOR Urquiola). ELEGANCE ⁄ ELEGANT Elegance (from Latin “elegantia” = fine taste or fineness) is associated with a sophisticated, stylish taste which has a distinctive and cultured appearance. People who dress elegantly and furnish their home in an elegant style wish to express a refined, cultivated sense of taste. The elements employed are mostly classical and harmonious, with bold or ornate elements often avoided. ERGONOMICS ⁄ ERGONOMIC Ergonomic is mostly used as a synonym for anatomically designed or optimal for human use. Ergonomics (from ancient Greek “ergon” = work and “nomos” = rule, law) is concerned with designing a work space that is efficient and gentle on the body. Ergonomic design aims to improve the interaction of man and machine and to create products that are easier to handle and more comfortable to use. EXTRAVAGANT The term extravagant means “in an eccentric or exaggerated, overstretched manner purposely different and therefore notable ⁄ exceptional”. Previously used in a negative sense , extravagant today describes any creation in product design, architecture or interior design that is exceptional, new and unusual, partly futuristic, often made with the purpose to polarize. FORMAL EXPRESSION Formal expression describes the way in which an object or a room achieves a certain expression by means of its formal elements. Rooms and objects express themselves in their arrangement and via metaphorical references—for example a handle in the shape of a leaf. The term formal expression is in line with the idea that individual design elements (basic shapes, lines, colors, etc.) can achieve a certain expression through their arrangement—just like the words in a language. An object can therefore be soft or aggressive, expressive or concentrated, discreet or dominant, mini- malist or sculptural.
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