Design research: 10 designers

1. Jen Stark
I discovered the works of Jen Stark while researching ideas for our memory containers. Her work is colorful and amazingly intricate; the paper sculptures are not only vivid but dimensional as well. I was immediately drawn to her use of color, particularly the use of a rainbow of colors in most of her art. While there is an obvious similarity to both the sculptures and drawings, I don't think it detracts from the beauty of each piece. I like the continuity and familiarity I have come to expect from her. I'm beginning to think she is something of an enigma as I cannot seem to find any personal information about her, except that she lives and works in Miami, FL. Her work is featured in magazines like Wired, Ready Made, Rojo Magazine, and The Map Magazine. She also had a solo show that began in September of 2007 in Chicago. It's impossible to not like her art so check out her site and blog. Here is a sampling of what she creates:









This last piece is titled "How to become a millionaire in 100 days". She cut pieces of paper totalling 1,000,000 pieces in 100 days. Featured in The Map Magazine 2007.



2. Eileen Gray (1878-1976)
The design world could not be discussed without mentioning the works and influence of Eileen Gray. Born in Ireland in 1878, Gray brought to life a new and progressive style of design to the early twentieth century, transforming the post-Victorian era into movements of modernism and art deco. She contributed her progressive ideas into the forms of amazing furniture and interior design and architecture. Though she would not become extremely famous for her work during her lifetime, she collaborated with contemporaries such as Le Corbusier and Jean Badovici. She also studied techniques in lacquering with Seizo Sugawara, at which she became incredibly well versed in. The lacquered panels she created were what first brought notice to her work when she held a modest exhibit for them in 1913.
Though born in Ireland, Gray spent the majority of her life in Paris. She studied art at the Slade school of Art in London and enjoyed the many privileges of being born into a wealthy family. Throughout both world wars she moved between homes in London, Ireland, and Paris, but remained slightly reclusive for the duration of her life. Gray was one of the first women to inspire the modernism and art deco movements as well as achieve critical success for her innovative thinking during a period when men dominated the worlds of architecture and design. Her major accomplishments include an apartment on rue de Lota in Paris, where she spent four years designing an home for a young woman complete with custom furniture, lighting and rugs; her own home near Monaco called E-1027; and most notably her furniture pieces such as the Bibendum chair, the S-chair, the Pirogue sofa, and the E-1027 side table.

above, l-r: Pirogue sofa in rue de Lota apartment; folding "S-chair"; Bibendum chair seen with lacquered block screen also in rue de Lota apartment.



above, l-r: E-1027 side table; E-1027 (Gray's home near Monaco); Bibendum chair.


3. Eero Saarinen

• Born in Finland in 1910, Eero Saarinen (son of architect Eliel Saarinen) would become an integral cog in the modernist movement in the US during the mid-20th century. His family emigrated to the US in 1923; he would study art (sculpture) and later transition into the design world through architecture and furniture design.
• Studied in Paris in 1929; studied architecture at Yale University from 1930-1934; in 1937 he began working for his father's firm in Ann Arbor, MI, and taught at the Cranbrook Academy of Art.
• Students at Cranbrook, Ray and Charles Eames, later became collaborators with Saarinen; together they designed the "Organic (highback) chair" and "La Chaise". The trio remained friends for many years.
• Worked with Knoll Associates (Florence Knoll) with whom he created some of his most famous furniture pieces. The "Tulip" Chair and "Pedestal" table originated from his desire to eliminate the "slum of legs" that home furniture was cluttered with. The origin of the "Womb" chair was a request by Knoll herself, as she wanted a "chair she could curl up in".

• Saarinen's designs have an intensely evident sculptural quality; he referred to himself as a "form giver" to objects. He viewed architecture as a discipline, much like fine arts, and sculpture in particular. His career consummated a new trend in postwar modernism that rarely exhibited straight lines.

Contributions to the design world:









4. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969)

Let's start with the photos:


above: Barcelona pavilion


above: Weissenhof Apartments


above: Barcelona chair


above: Brno chair



A pioneer of modern architecture, German-born American designer/architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe sought to create an architectural style that would define the 20th century as others had done for centuries before him. Using materials such as steel, glass, and concrete, van der Rohe created a simple and rational approach to design that would divide the masses; some loved his "skin and bones" no-frills style, while others hated the sterile, cold environments the materials created. In fact, skyscrapers around the world are modeled after his designs. As a designer he created iconic pieces of furniture such as the Barcelona chair and the Brno chair (pictured). Known for phrases such as "less is more" and "God is in the details", van der Rohe exemplifies the modern movement and will forever be recognized as the man behind minimalism.


5. Poul Kjaerholm (1929-1980)

above, l-r: pk-9, pk-20, and pk-0.

above: pk 80 daybed

Born in 1929 in Denmark, Poul Kjaerholm was a trained carpenter who later studied at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts. Marrying traditional craftsmanship with industrial production would become his mark on the world of design; along the lines of L.M. van der Rohe, Kjaerholm would use steel, wood, and leather to create his timeless and universally appealing furniture. In modernist style, the clean, sleek lines of his furniture were similar to his contemporaries' pieces, yet stood out as elegantly pure forms. He strived to achieve perfection in his products, down to the smallest details--like hidden joints--which instilled high standards on the quality of craft during production. In pursuit of this perfection in construction as well as comfort, his pieces became remarkable ideals of modern style. Still popular today, Kjaerholm's works are valued as icons of the 20th century.

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