I choose Alvar Aalto’s first modernist chair design, mostly because he was a designer way ahead of his time. The Jacksons, stackable model 611 chairs, Alvar Aalto ca. 1930. This design encourages collaboration, better use of space, and fuels social interaction. When used it could be for a variety of purposes and isn’t limited to a single function of use. Aalto’s design allows for the modular aspect of modern design and how the simplicity allows for adaptation over time. The slow design principle, evolve can be applied naturally to this design because of those interactions that are required to use them. The model 611 chairs are made out of laminated and solid birch and wood ages over time, while they mature people create experiences and memories while utilizing a simple chair. By leaving that kind of impression, the design can be deemed successful. What impresses me the most about this design is that Aalto relied on the idea of honesty to material, open to ideas, but also practiced new techniques.
Many things are often over looked or forgotten about when we associate certain materials to objects we encounter on a daily basis. For the second slow design principle I applied reveal which led me to pick another design by Aalto. Artek is the current manufacturer that still uses Aalto’s original design. Artek/Aalvo, a331 Beehive Pendant, brass ceiling lamp, 1953 is a brass and aluminum light fixture that takes the form of a beehive but the aluminum is painted white and the brass left unpainted. The contrast of the soft white and the orange-y brass give the materials new meaning that would normally be missed. One would normally associate aluminum and brass as cheap or ugly metals because of our day-today products. Pop cans, containers of all kinds and we generally throw those things away. Aalto transforms that idea into a sustainable and beautiful form. Being able to change and identity of a material and making more purposes for it is impressive as it gets.
For fantasy design one, I was inspired by changing a metal form’s identity. Silver banded rings that have designs engraved very thinly and will only be truly exposed after long term wear when tarnish starts to appear. The tarnish will fill the design and can be polished for renewal if someone wanted to “reset” it. The slow design principle behind this idea is reflect because it can encourage contemplation through observation and reflecting on that time that had passed to expose those details in the design. Those two things together can create such personal object that is capable of defining someone.
Fantasy design two takes a more practical approach to the slow design principle of expand. I would create a modular leaf table that can be folded away into a cabinet or wall mounted but exposed. With this kind of adaptability people living in small apartments or who are more minimalists, they can create their spaces to suit the needs of the person or the space. Multi-functional furniture is taking all real and potential possibilities of spacial utilization.
