List of Key Design Movements with Examples

Art Deco

• Originated France 1910 and flourished in United States and Germany in 1920s and 30s
• Inspired by different cultures i.e. Indigenous American and Egyptian
• Combines modern styles with fine craftsmanship and rich materials
• Represents luxury, decoration, and glamour
• Sumbolished the flourishing/optimism post First World War America
• Example: Chrysler building in New York City by William van Alen
• Impacted the design of everyday objects such as vacuum cleaners and radios

Arts & Crafts

• Flourished in Europe and North America between 1880 and 1920
• Emphasises craftsmanship (rejection of mass production)
• Natural materials, tradition construction methods
• Examples: wallpaper and fabrics by William Morris – based upon nature, very detailed, often dark in colour
• People today often prefer less ornate designs

Bahaus

• German design 1920-1930
• Clean lines, simple shapes, with little or no decoration
• Use of primary colours
• Modern materials such as glass, concrete and steel
• Example: Walter Gropius (founder of Bahaus movement) designed a chair based on a cube

Scandinavian Design Movement

• Flourished in 1950s in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland
• Functionality, simplicity, craftsmanship
• Designed to be assembled at home (flat-packed) and produced in large quantities – hence affordable
• Example: Eero Aarnio’s innovative durnture designs, such as plastic and fibreglass chairs

[The influence of the following design movements on the design of products]

• Can influence materials chosen (and thus cost / sustainability)
• Can influence sales / demand (as particular styles come into fashion)

identifying: key principles of the design movement; specific designers; iconic products representing that movement.

[coming soon]

Good starting point: htpps:// www.vam.ac.uk/collections/modernism

*Check individual articles

https://designkmg.weebly.com/design-movements.html