Design

[legalmoose]

Went to the Corcoran this evening to hear Karim Rashid give a talk on design as part of the events surrounding the Modernism exhibit they're currently holding. It was a good talk, I enjoyed it thoroughly (as did Richard, whom I had invited along). He talked a lot about democratization of design, both in terms of making things more available and that more and more folks are now able to design and produce things in this digital age.

He was especially not impressed by items which are expensive simply because of the name/label attached to them. To paraphrase: "A $300 t-shirt had better be damned incredible and do a lot for you, like heat or cool you to the perfect temperature instantly, or keep your nipples from popping out or the like."
Perfect example on his the latter point, at dinner afterward Richard showed me two books he had put together through Apple and iPhoto publishing that are just magnificent. To think anyone would be publishing their own photo books (not merely collecting individual photos in an album) would have been incredible not that long ago, yet here were two quality productions done from home.

All in all a good way to spend a Thursday night.

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Comments

[mikeinbama.livejournal.com]

Hi, I found your journal through a mutual LJ buddy.

[legalmoose]

So I saw. Welcome to the insanity. :D

[tracytracy.livejournal.com]

did you see the exhibit? It isn't bringing in the crowds that they had hoped. I for one am not excited about it - I keep getting flyers and postcards in the mail but their showcase art for this is a chair.

Um. Okay. So it is a pretty cool chair but it isn't cool enough for me to go WOW! I GOTTA SEE THAT IN PERSON, and hand over $14.

So I'm curious to hear from someone who saw the show to get their opinion of it.

[legalmoose]

I have seen the exhibit, yes. I quite enjoyed it, but then again I'm a fan of mid-century modern. I thought it was laid out pretty well, considering the space they're working with. The art they borrowed from DC area museums sometimes works well with the original Victoria and Albert collection and sometimes does not. On the whole I think the exhibit was good, and I liked it a lot (and would go again). I did pick up the catalog, too, which I never do.