{ chrislip.com/matthew : blog }
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31 October 2005
{ The ecological (r)evolution }
Emerging from underneath my pile of art history textbooks, I'm left with the impression that the rise of the modern era was marked by strict segregation of specific schools of art and design production, whereas the last few decades have seen increased diversification and the coexistence of innumerable styles and methodologies. Whether or not this is an accurate observation, the perpetuation of this idea has contributed to the sense that the highly debated and socially conscious design theories of older generations have given way to a myriad of hollow trends. This can be very discouraging for young designers who feel that "it's all been done before" and wonder what opportunities exist to truly shape the course of design in the twenty-first century.The opportunity may have finally come.
Although they had been lying dormant since having introduced us to Birkenstocks and recycled paper in the early nineties, groups of ecologically-minded radicals have recently resurfaced, unearthing a more mature form of environmentalism that might just be able to solve our problems. The long-term effect of this neo-granola movement has yet to be seen, but we can be sure that it will incite dramatic (even revolutionary?) changes in all aspects of our society, whether domestic or global.
To place our current situation in historical context, consider the profound influence of the Industrial Revolution on aesthetics and creative production in the nineteenth century. Artists and designers allowed the ideals of the era to find visual expression in their work, and they employed new processes in its production and distribution. The Revolution's influences even carried well into the twentieth century, spawning a number of smaller, shorter-lived periods of artistic reform.
The same will doubtless be true of this next phase in the evolution of civilization. And while we can already see the influences of this environmental focus on the world of art and design, what we have witnessed so far only hints at the massive potential for change.
Step aside, hollow trends. There's something much bigger on the horizon.
[ posted by Matthew Chrislip at 19:46 :
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4 Comments:
As an old-generation granola-eating birkenstock-wearing non-designer, I'm fascinated by your ideas but have a great deal of difficulty imagining what it might be like. Can you be more concrete for the more clueless (at least as regards design) among us? How do you imagine this could play out? I have no expectation of a crystal ball. Personally, I'm still waiting for the flying cars on the Jetsons.
I had a feeling someone was going to challenge my idealistic proclamation. :) I admit that I don't have a solid idea of how this will all play out, but I don't imagine that we'd be shaken too much by the introduction of flying cars or robotic maids. I think the "revolution" will be more related to production methods than to technological innovation. After all, we've already experienced massive technological advancement; it's our systems of production and commerce that are falling behind. For example, Paul Hawken, in his book titled The Ecology of Commerce, suggests that the next phase in the evolution of our economic system will require that the consumption (and restoration) of natural resources be factored into the cost of a product.
With specific regard to design, it's hard to pinpoint the aesthetic effect that this sort of change could have. It's very possible that the visual influences will be overshadowed by the revolution of production-side methodology.
Have I succeeded in clarifying anything?
Certainly "There's something much bigger on the horizon." This is a good opening conclusion. If we transmute it to the spiritual level and the second coming of Christ, this sentence becomes even more relevant. The New Jerusalem will be the ultimate new redesign.
If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart.
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