More on 20th Century design and the Days

Great to be back hearing more about 20th Century Design at OPEN Ealing last night (a swig of red wine adds to the ambience too).

As with any overtly focused visual study one is more open to stimulus after the event and on the way home I noticed the rather nice logo of the Electrician's van - he was kind enough to give me a flyer so here's his phone number if you're a West Londoner needing a 'Sparks' 07783 581 157

An example of how we 'read visuals'

Seeing the design reminded me of how semiotic ally we read such signs - almost subconsciously talking in the multiple meanings and deciphering it all - so much we see from an early age that it is second nature.

Subject matter last night was British husband and wife duo Mr and Mrs Day who were particularly active in all sorts of designer projects after WW II - you can see some items in Collection Lab at Design Museum if you're so minded.


Contemporary Days: The Designs of Lucienne & Robin Day from Design Onscreen on Vimeo.

Robin and Lucienne Day transformed British design after World War II with striking furniture and textiles that signaled a new era of modernist sensibilities for everyday living. Robin's revolutionary furniture designs introduced materials such as plastic, steel and plywood to homes, offices and schools. His stacking polypropylene chair endures as an icon and now graces a Royal Mail postage stamp. Lucienne's abstract textile designs brought accessible elegance into the homes of postwar British consumers.

The Days' fresh design approaches, including their contributions to the Royal Festival Hall in 1951, helped fuel the artistic and commercial awakening that led Britain out of the devastation of World War II. The film traces the Days' personal and professional progression over the course of their careers, spanning more than seventy years - from their days at the Royal College of the Arts in the 1930s, through their long heyday at the forefront of British design, to their recent rediscovery by new generations of design aficionados.

The 60-minute film was created by Design Onscreen, with award-winning Scottish Director Murray Grigor and Cinematographer Hamid Shams.
On the subject of Design Museum we also spoke about Deyan Sudjic   now director there but a figure who has written engagingly about Design.

part of my library of Design

And here's one of the most significant examples of 'Brutalism' in Architecture - not a criticism here but the label that was attached to the style (this by Erno Goldfinger -no kidding).

Trellick Tower A design classic but doesn't mean you'd want to live in it