“Whistling Bird” Kettle, Michael Graves. 1985
“I believe well-designed places and objects can actually improve healing, while poor design can inhibit it”
Michael Graves
Design has been with me almost all my life since I was in high school. At that moment it was just an interest in shapes, colours and beauty. But generally speaking it was a fascination with artistic creation.
This probably influenced my decision to study architecture, as some years later I was director of an art gallery and then I got involved almost by accident in the world of interior design.
All this came to my mind today when I visited for the first time the Imperial War Museum.
I love museums, as many of you know, but this one in particular was not easy to visit as everything that relates to war, destruction and suffering affects me as I can feel the pain of all those involved being one left with an awareness of the vulnerability of human kind, the cruelty of some and the immense capacity in overcoming tragedy, of the many.
What has this to do with design you might ask?
A lot.
I chose design as my life because design for me means the possibility of creating beauty, and when you create beauty you are working towards harmony and balance; both conditions for peace.
Just the fact that we can be creators of beauty and harmony, in my mind,helps us to give the best of ourselves. Beauty has a regenerative quality if looked at in a positive way.
I believe in harmony. I believe in beauty. I believe that if we embrace them not as a shallow display of fashion, but as a condition for developing the best in us and those around us, then I think design has a say, and a very important one, in the creation of happiness.
Because of this I would like to share with you some quotes on design by names that most of you certainly will recognise.
Peace to all.
“Coconut” chair, George Nelson. 1955
“What we call a good design is one which achieves integrity- that is, unity or wholeness – in balanced relation to its environment”
George Nelson
“Acanthus” wallpaper, William Morris. 1875
“If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful”
William Morris
Royal Ontario Museum, Daniel Libeskind. 2007
“I think there is a new awareness in this 21st century that design is as important to where and how we live as it is for museums, concert halls and civic buildings”
Daniel Libeskind
Villa Mairea, Alvar Aalto. 1940
“Beauty is the harmony of purpose and form”
Alvar Alto
