I don’t know how many people got a chance to actually realise how design can make a whole difference to how things look.
While getting my diploma, I had the chance to do a few design modules, and I sure loved them to bits. Hey, designing over writing, any time! I first learnt about Bauhaus. A concept, a school, a design, a font, a simplistic nature.
I was told to do a brochure based on Bauhaus, and unfortunately I’m not able to share it in soft copy because my computer erased all my data (back up your files regularly!). Doing the project made me realise how easy, yet difficult it was to learn the concept. Simplicity, design. Form, function.
Three primary colours: red, yellow, blue. 3 shapes: triangle, rectangle (or square), circle. Add in two most basic colours, black and white, and you’ve got yourself a concept.
by AB Design
my poster looked somewhat like this, except that instead of colour clashing, the words were in black.
In another module, we were told to do a website based on the title “Journey”. I decided to do a journey on Bauhaus, as I was intrigued by its nature. I did my research, focusing on the timeline of Bauhaus, from when the school started, till it closed, the teachers, the types of art in school. It was the best decision ever. The design had to be kept simple, the work I was doing was something I was actually interested in and has a passion for. Hard work paid off, and I got an A for the project.
It amazed me, how Walter Gropius could manage to come up with something so simple yet beautiful: Bauhaus.
Here’s some information which I thought was interesting, focusing on the school. (=
Timeline:
1919: Bauhaus was founded by German Architect, Walter Gropius. Bauhaus was a school and combined elements of arts and design.
1925: The school moved from Weimar to Bessau
1928: Gropius stepped down as director, Hannes Meyer took over
1930: Meyer stepped down due to pressure from the right-wing government. He was replaced by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe There was political instability in Germany, and Miles relocated the school to Berlin.
1933: The school closed down.
Teachers:
Walter Gropius – founder of Bauhaus
Paul Klee – specialised in book binding and stained glass
Wassily Kandinsky – used geometrical elements and encouraged “free painting”
Josef Albers – introduced students in the school to the principals of handicrafts. Designed furniture and glass
Laszlo Moholy-Nagy – Headed the typography workshop and metalworking studio
Arts:
Colour theory, metal work, typography (hence the font Bauhaus), weaving, pottery, textiles
How many buildings have we seen? And how many have been influenced by Bauhaus?
Here are a few images of architecture which have been influenced by Bauhaus.
Credits to Jeffrey Howe
Credits to Peter Visiontay
Photo taken by me at Docklands.
Next time you see anything of interest, take a step, and think about what could have possibly influenced that particular design. It could be anything. From a vase, to a handbag, the interior of the house, brochures, the list goes on.
I hope that there’s someone out there who loves Bauhaus as much as I do. I’d love to do a / go on a geek discussion / excursion with you!
Simply CHARming 