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by Sijia Ng
Imagine coming up with a fabulous concept for a design but not having the technology to produce it.
Sounds familiar? You are not alone in thinking this.
Many factors come into play when designing something. It could be cultural, social, economical, or more notably, technological advances. The influence of technology on design is not something new. Why, how do you think the Greeks came up with the design of their cities? Through sketches and simple tools? The design of ancient Greek cities would not have been possible without technological improvements of machines used in urban development.
Image courtesy of MoMA
Alvar Aalto the visionary architect, sometimes called “The Father of Modernism”, is a fine example of a designer who has utilized technology to produce acclaimed designs. Together with Artek, a Finnish manufacturing company, he innovated a technique of bending solid wood that resulted in his iconic Paimio Chair. The Paimio chair was a revolution in both the aesthetics and technology of modern furniture design.
It is possible to say that many designs would not have come into existence without new-found technology processes and the technology the design embodies. By technology processes, what I really mean is the technology used in the manufacturing processes. Therefore, the influence of technology on design can be broadly categorized into two parts:
What constitutes a technological design? Most of the time, the driving force behind these designs are that of high-end technologies. Technology is the selling point. Examples would include the 103-inch diagonal High Definition Plasma TV by Panasonic, the Serenata Mobile by Bang & Olufsen and the Wii ) by Nintendo, to name a few. Nonetheless, it is necessary to package the designs in spite of the technologies used. A popular mantra of industrial designers is “Form Follows Function”. In the case of technological designs, does form follow technology? It would be interesting to examine the designs of high-end technological products.
Shanghai Maglev Train
Maglev Wind Turbine
Both images courtesy of Instablogs Network, Citzen Media
For the uninitiated, magnetic levitation, or maglev, in design might seem a little out of this world. The basic principle of Maglev technology lies in the use of electronically controlled support magnets. This technology has been used in transportation systems such as the Shanghai Maglev Train and more recently, in wind turbine systems. Guaranteeing less power usage and a faster speed (431 km/hr in the Shanghai Maglev Train to be exact) with zero friction produced, the lifespans of designs that employ Maglev is certain to last a long time with a clean and futuristic look. It is only apt as advanced technology is the driving force behind these designs. Just imagine, a floating train without wheels!
Beluga SkySails
Image courtesy of WINTECC
Then there is the kite-like sail that cuts fuel use by drawing on wind energy. The “Beluga SkySails” employ a kite-like sail to tow a cargo ship across the ocean. With a control system for fully-automated operation and an optimal kite shape of a parafoil, the SkySails-System ensures aero-dynamic efficiency at any wind speed. The employment of such technology to reduce fuel usage seems all businesslike and serious, but take one look at the design and ‘whimsical’ comes to mind.
We live in a world of disposables nowadays. Disposable cups, bags, and some may include, disposable boyfriends. Time for a disposable phone? Randice Lisa Altschul, a toy and game designer, has done exactly that. Using recycled paper products and technology from Dieceland Technologies, the Phone-Card-Phone is only as thick as three credit cards, and with a planned magnetic strip, could even double up as a credit card. The retail price of the invention is estimated to be around $20. Small, slim, affordable, Phone-Card-Phone already seems like a winning product. Feel the urge to thrash your phone after a bad connection? Not a problem in this case.
Amazon Kindle
Image courtesy of Gadgets and Gizmos
The Amazon Kindle, an electronic book, is another technological design with a clean and smart appearance. It can carry hundreds of titles in its tiny frame, and has the unbelievable effect of reading off a page, much thanks to its E-Ink screen. The E-Ink screen has no backlight, doesn’t reflect much and is readable in direct sunlight. No more lugging around heavy books. As technological advances in the 21st century with the invention of E-Paper and E-Ink, this leaves one to wonder about the future of publishing. Will the invention of the Kindle phase out books? It is possible to think in the direction of customisable skins for the Kindle which might also eventually lead to different designs of electronic books in the market. One thing’s for sure, no more paper cuts from now on.
On the other hand, many influential designers such as Alvar Aalto have challenged the conventional means of production processes in order to come up with winning designs. Others have invented processes to replicate the exact designs they have in mind. Either way, the manufacturing processes of a piece of design is very important to determine if a design can be produced or not.
Wassily Chair
Image courtesy of Arno
Unlike Alvar Aalto, Marcel Breuer, an influential architect and furniture designer, did not invent a new technology in the manufacturing process. Instead he came up with what we could term a horizontal invention; he made use of an existing technology and implemented it in furniture design. Marcel Breuer was the first designer to design the first bent tubular steel chair, also famously known as the Wassily Chair. By using technology not intended for the production of furniture, he has managed to wow the world with a timeless design.
The invention of laser-cutting has resulted in a whole new world of designs, made possible by precision cut and intricate designs. First proposed by Albert Einstein, and later refined by Charles Hard Townes, an American Nobel Prize-winning physicist and his brother-in-law, Arthur Leonard Schawlow, also a physicist, the laser beam finally came into existence in 1960. Laser-cutting is an extremely flexible production process and an excellent method of cutting out complex or intricate shapes. From plastics to glass, the possibilities are endless. Without laser-cutting, it is not possible to produce alluring designs such as the Adam and Eve key rings by Ben Panayi.
Rapid prototyping is another process that has changed the face of production. An automatic construction of physical objects using solid freeform fabrication, rapid prototyping takes virtual designs from computer aided design and recreates them in almost identical forms in the physical realm. The main draw of rapid prototyping is that previously impossible forms are made possible. This tool provides immense freedom in exploration for designers.
Unusual Plug Ashtray
Image courtesy of Luxury Design
Ever heard of inflatable steel? The folks at Full Blown Metals have just developed a manufacturing technique for that. Still patent pending, they have developed a technique of bending, forming and twisting steel that contradicts the preconceived nature of a material’s qualities. The process involves inflating stainless steel without molds. Designer Stephen Newby has made use of this technique to come up with soft pillow shapes and each inflated piece responds in a different way. This results in a unique shape for each piece of design.
Contact Lenses with Circuits and Lights
Image courtesy of University of Washington
Earlier on this year, engineers at the University of Washington have already created contact lens with an imprinted electronic circuit and lights. This prototype could enable drivers to see a vehicle’s speed projected onto the windshield or immerse video-game players in a virtual world. The design of the contact lens remains unchanged, but technology will enable a whole new experience for the user wearing the contact lenses.
Interactive Table
Image courtesy of Akihabara News
How about integrating technology and furniture? It’s already been done. Panasonic has come up with an interactive table with a touch sensitive screen. The table is able to communicate climate control and television shows. And yes, you guessed it. The table is designed with a futuristic outlook in mind, sleek and metallic in frame. Other companies are also in the loop, with General Motors showcasing a self-driving car at the international Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held earlier in Las Vegas this year.
What do these current developments bode for the future of design? You can expect to wear intelligent textiles intelligent textiles that could mean a change in colour of your pants on a whim. New forms and shapes could also be achieved for furniture and product design, amongst other exciting advancements in technology.
If it seems a little worrying that designs of the past will be forgotten, one need not fret too much about it. Design icons will always be celebrated, such as steam engine trains, ring-dial telephones, and typewriters. If it is an enduring design, be it integrated with or influenced by technology, it will always remain a part of history instead of being obscured into the past. A few examples would include the Super Lamp by Martine Bedine and the Carlton Bookcase by Ettore Sottsass. Both of them were members of the Memphis Group, an influential Italian design and architecture movement of the 1980s.
As we advance into the future, it is for certain that designs of the future will be integrated with technology, technologies beyond our wildest dreams. It is indeed an exciting time for humanity.
Toast bread from your personal computer, anyone? That’s not an impossible thought for now.
SIJIA NG
Contributor
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© 2003 - 2008 by TAXI Design Network. All rights reserved.
Imagine coming up with a fabulous concept for a design but not having the technology to produce it.
Sounds familiar? You are not alone in thinking this.
Many factors come into play when designing something. It could be cultural, social, economical, or more notably, technological advances. The influence of technology on design is not something new. Why, how do you think the Greeks came up with the design of their cities? Through sketches and simple tools? The design of ancient Greek cities would not have been possible without technological improvements of machines used in urban development.
Image courtesy of MoMA
Alvar Aalto the visionary architect, sometimes called “The Father of Modernism”, is a fine example of a designer who has utilized technology to produce acclaimed designs. Together with Artek, a Finnish manufacturing company, he innovated a technique of bending solid wood that resulted in his iconic Paimio Chair. The Paimio chair was a revolution in both the aesthetics and technology of modern furniture design.
It is possible to say that many designs would not have come into existence without new-found technology processes and the technology the design embodies. By technology processes, what I really mean is the technology used in the manufacturing processes. Therefore, the influence of technology on design can be broadly categorized into two parts:
- Technological designs
- Technology in the manufacturing processes
What constitutes a technological design? Most of the time, the driving force behind these designs are that of high-end technologies. Technology is the selling point. Examples would include the 103-inch diagonal High Definition Plasma TV by Panasonic, the Serenata Mobile by Bang & Olufsen and the Wii ) by Nintendo, to name a few. Nonetheless, it is necessary to package the designs in spite of the technologies used. A popular mantra of industrial designers is “Form Follows Function”. In the case of technological designs, does form follow technology? It would be interesting to examine the designs of high-end technological products.
Shanghai Maglev Train
Maglev Wind Turbine
Both images courtesy of Instablogs Network, Citzen Media
For the uninitiated, magnetic levitation, or maglev, in design might seem a little out of this world. The basic principle of Maglev technology lies in the use of electronically controlled support magnets. This technology has been used in transportation systems such as the Shanghai Maglev Train and more recently, in wind turbine systems. Guaranteeing less power usage and a faster speed (431 km/hr in the Shanghai Maglev Train to be exact) with zero friction produced, the lifespans of designs that employ Maglev is certain to last a long time with a clean and futuristic look. It is only apt as advanced technology is the driving force behind these designs. Just imagine, a floating train without wheels!
Beluga SkySails
Image courtesy of WINTECC
Then there is the kite-like sail that cuts fuel use by drawing on wind energy. The “Beluga SkySails” employ a kite-like sail to tow a cargo ship across the ocean. With a control system for fully-automated operation and an optimal kite shape of a parafoil, the SkySails-System ensures aero-dynamic efficiency at any wind speed. The employment of such technology to reduce fuel usage seems all businesslike and serious, but take one look at the design and ‘whimsical’ comes to mind.
We live in a world of disposables nowadays. Disposable cups, bags, and some may include, disposable boyfriends. Time for a disposable phone? Randice Lisa Altschul, a toy and game designer, has done exactly that. Using recycled paper products and technology from Dieceland Technologies, the Phone-Card-Phone is only as thick as three credit cards, and with a planned magnetic strip, could even double up as a credit card. The retail price of the invention is estimated to be around $20. Small, slim, affordable, Phone-Card-Phone already seems like a winning product. Feel the urge to thrash your phone after a bad connection? Not a problem in this case.
Amazon Kindle
Image courtesy of Gadgets and Gizmos
The Amazon Kindle, an electronic book, is another technological design with a clean and smart appearance. It can carry hundreds of titles in its tiny frame, and has the unbelievable effect of reading off a page, much thanks to its E-Ink screen. The E-Ink screen has no backlight, doesn’t reflect much and is readable in direct sunlight. No more lugging around heavy books. As technological advances in the 21st century with the invention of E-Paper and E-Ink, this leaves one to wonder about the future of publishing. Will the invention of the Kindle phase out books? It is possible to think in the direction of customisable skins for the Kindle which might also eventually lead to different designs of electronic books in the market. One thing’s for sure, no more paper cuts from now on.
On the other hand, many influential designers such as Alvar Aalto have challenged the conventional means of production processes in order to come up with winning designs. Others have invented processes to replicate the exact designs they have in mind. Either way, the manufacturing processes of a piece of design is very important to determine if a design can be produced or not.
Wassily Chair
Image courtesy of Arno
Unlike Alvar Aalto, Marcel Breuer, an influential architect and furniture designer, did not invent a new technology in the manufacturing process. Instead he came up with what we could term a horizontal invention; he made use of an existing technology and implemented it in furniture design. Marcel Breuer was the first designer to design the first bent tubular steel chair, also famously known as the Wassily Chair. By using technology not intended for the production of furniture, he has managed to wow the world with a timeless design.
The invention of laser-cutting has resulted in a whole new world of designs, made possible by precision cut and intricate designs. First proposed by Albert Einstein, and later refined by Charles Hard Townes, an American Nobel Prize-winning physicist and his brother-in-law, Arthur Leonard Schawlow, also a physicist, the laser beam finally came into existence in 1960. Laser-cutting is an extremely flexible production process and an excellent method of cutting out complex or intricate shapes. From plastics to glass, the possibilities are endless. Without laser-cutting, it is not possible to produce alluring designs such as the Adam and Eve key rings by Ben Panayi.
Rapid prototyping is another process that has changed the face of production. An automatic construction of physical objects using solid freeform fabrication, rapid prototyping takes virtual designs from computer aided design and recreates them in almost identical forms in the physical realm. The main draw of rapid prototyping is that previously impossible forms are made possible. This tool provides immense freedom in exploration for designers.
Unusual Plug Ashtray
Image courtesy of Luxury Design
Ever heard of inflatable steel? The folks at Full Blown Metals have just developed a manufacturing technique for that. Still patent pending, they have developed a technique of bending, forming and twisting steel that contradicts the preconceived nature of a material’s qualities. The process involves inflating stainless steel without molds. Designer Stephen Newby has made use of this technique to come up with soft pillow shapes and each inflated piece responds in a different way. This results in a unique shape for each piece of design.
Contact Lenses with Circuits and Lights
Image courtesy of University of Washington
Earlier on this year, engineers at the University of Washington have already created contact lens with an imprinted electronic circuit and lights. This prototype could enable drivers to see a vehicle’s speed projected onto the windshield or immerse video-game players in a virtual world. The design of the contact lens remains unchanged, but technology will enable a whole new experience for the user wearing the contact lenses.
Interactive Table
Image courtesy of Akihabara News
How about integrating technology and furniture? It’s already been done. Panasonic has come up with an interactive table with a touch sensitive screen. The table is able to communicate climate control and television shows. And yes, you guessed it. The table is designed with a futuristic outlook in mind, sleek and metallic in frame. Other companies are also in the loop, with General Motors showcasing a self-driving car at the international Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held earlier in Las Vegas this year.
What do these current developments bode for the future of design? You can expect to wear intelligent textiles intelligent textiles that could mean a change in colour of your pants on a whim. New forms and shapes could also be achieved for furniture and product design, amongst other exciting advancements in technology.
If it seems a little worrying that designs of the past will be forgotten, one need not fret too much about it. Design icons will always be celebrated, such as steam engine trains, ring-dial telephones, and typewriters. If it is an enduring design, be it integrated with or influenced by technology, it will always remain a part of history instead of being obscured into the past. A few examples would include the Super Lamp by Martine Bedine and the Carlton Bookcase by Ettore Sottsass. Both of them were members of the Memphis Group, an influential Italian design and architecture movement of the 1980s.
As we advance into the future, it is for certain that designs of the future will be integrated with technology, technologies beyond our wildest dreams. It is indeed an exciting time for humanity.
Toast bread from your personal computer, anyone? That’s not an impossible thought for now.
SIJIA NG
Contributor
..........................................................................................................
 | Ric Stultz is an illustrator and painter living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His days are spent with hot coffee, wet paint, Macintosh computers and rock & roll. He lives with his girlfriend and a beagle-cattle dog mix named Chloe.
Click on his picture to read more about him. | |
| Creative Wisconsin Contributor |
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Read ARTICLES on THE DRIVER SPEAKS
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© 2003 - 2008 by TAXI Design Network. All rights reserved.