Critical opinion on history of design - Term Paper Example

Design and Technology History of Design (Wood) The history of design entails the study of objects of design in their historical and stylistic contexts including the social, the cultural, the economic, the political, the technical and the aesthetic i.e. objects of fashion, crafts, interiors, textiles, graphic design, industrial design and product design. Basically, the history of design also incorporates the criticism of the heroic structure of the general discipline, in response to the establishment of material culture much as art history has had to respond to visual; resultantly, this has been achieved by shifting its focus towards the core acts involved – which include production and consumption.

Significantly, the design history also exists as a component of practice based courses with its teaching and study being as a result of the National Advisory Council of Britain and was launched in the 1960s under the art and design programs. Considerably, the council aimed at making art and design education a legitimate academic activity which necessitated the employment or ‘buying in’ of specialists from art history disciplines, leading to a particular style of delivery. Wood is among the core components of design (as a material) that most people including designers, appreciate and love; simply because it is an incredibly useful material that has minimal effect to the environment (Gustav 1).

Over the years, wood has provided humans with shelter, warmth, tools and furniture and it has been a great inspiration that even the earliest man interacted with wood in this most basic ways and more. Typically, wood is embedded with many layers, all of which are symbolic in the aspects of its history in design, time and where it has been applied; for instance, wood keeps a record of its environment and each year brings new growth that marks its past or the rings of a tree can teach us about the environment and specific events in the trees life holding its history within and its living energy expresses it outward.

Most of the craftsmen that use wood in design express energy that is added to the depth of the material; reflectively, furniture has been part of the human experience since the development of the non-nomadic cultures and there is historical evidence that it goes the Neolithic period (Gustav 1). This theory is an example of how design in general has been of great significance to the human era, not to forget that it does not in any negative way affect the environment. Furniture designed from wood is not only a product but is also considered to be a from of decorative art; additionally, on top of furniture’s well established role it can serve a symbolic or religious purpose and can be made using a variety of woodworking joints which often reflect the local culture.

Works CitedGustav, R. Wood + Meaning + Design: Gustav Reyes blog spot. May 11, 2012. Web, January 12, 2014 < http://gustav-reyes.blogspot.com/2012/05/historical-record.html >