DESIGN DICTIONARY
is used in design, where the body is rarely elastic and the force in question is not of a physical nature, but manifests itself as a visual and emotional energy. Tension is created through polarization or a hierarchical structure, rendering an object more desirable and attractive in the long term. TIMELESS Not constrained or subject to a fashion or era. Timeless can be defined in totally different ways and can relate to events, people, or objects. In everyday usage, any long-awaited aesthetic unaffected by changes in fashion is labelled timeless (compare: Classic). UNICUM A unicum (from Latin “unus” = one, one single) is an object or a product which only exists once in this form. Even though the (democratic) nature of design manifests itself in reproducibility and serial production, unica today are no longer restricted solely to the art market. Instead, some design products are marketed (and priced) as limited editions of a serial design, or as unique objects (compare: AXOR Signature). URBAN The adjective (from Latin “urbanus” = belonging to the city, to: urbs = city) stands for the city or characterizing urban life. Individuals are described as educated or sophisticated if their social manners or appearance are urban. The term urban design describes town planning and development and includes the planning and the creation of all building measures in a city or landscape. That includes public buildings as well as residential buildings, open spaces and infrastructure. In the context of products and interior design, creations with an urban touch or character are aimed towards usefulness in the modern metropolis. Urban furniture fits perfectly into big-city-life within loft spaces and skyscrapers, and is characterized by pure elegance, without ornamentation or other representative details.
design, the most widely known stylistic categories are functionalist, minimalist, organic and classical.
STYLE MIX A combination of style elements from different historical contexts (compare: Eclecticism) or from different aesthetic backgrounds. A style mix typically features objects taken from different designs. However, these different styles are not mixed within a product or a collection, ensuring that the individual style remains distinguishable. This is a commonly used method in interior design. Style elements are often used sparingly to establish accents and contrasts, attempting to create tension and challenge familiar perspectives. This lends a distinctive character to a minimalist or purist ambience. The intention is to invite a fresh perspective on objects considered as aesthetic standard-setters due to their immaculate appearance. SYMBOL ⁄ SYMBOLIC A symbol (from Greek “symbolikós” = identification or identity mark) always carries a meaning. It is an image defined by certain conventions and conveys a meaning that is open to interpretation. Whereas a sign conveys something specific, symbols are complex, representative of something that is imperceptible. Symbolic in this sense means representative or “referring to a deeper meaning”. In the context of design, symbols are not employed as direct signs (e.g. as in language theory or with traffic signs), but rather convey an indirect message, as a symbol goes beyond the meaning of the object itself. The meaning of symbols in religions, myths or art often resist translation or interpretation by reason alone. A similar depth of meaning can be found in design, but symbols in design mostly have an emotional function. Either the design itself conveys a familiar, conventional world (such as the wing chair or the AXOR Starck faucet, reminiscent of an old-fashioned pump) (compare: Archetype), or individual design elements stand for different aspects of life – such as the color gold for luxury, chrome for sophisticated technology, or leaf-shaped for nature. The symbolic function of design (as opposed to a mere indication of intended use and operation) becomes apparent in its relation to the social context. For instance, Bauhaus symbolized avant-gardist ideas, functionalism represented industrial progress, country style was a symbol for the simple life and minimalism stands for sophistication and high-tech comfort. TENSION In physics, the term tension describes the force inside an elastic body. A more metaphorical understanding
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