Humanities in Design

¶ … Consciousness in Purpose

The twentieth century was a period of major change for humanity, not only because of the increasing rapidity of technological advancements that the period was witness to but also because of the growing understanding humanity acquired of itself. Through psychological, sociological, and even philosophical inquiry man came to know and understand man in a more empirical fashion, including some concrete demonstrations of how certain choices are made. Increasing knowledge in other areas, such as environmental science, also enabled mankind to make better and more responsible choices, however this did not always meet with the right psychological mechanisms to be actually carried out. Still, design is more and more coming to focus on conscious and purposeful ends in many different ways.

Frank Lloyd Wright is perhaps the epitome of the practical designer of the twentieth century, though his architectural masterpieces are by no means without their aesthetic charm. With "form follows function" as his unofficial mantra, Wright designed houses and other structures that were meant to be specifically situated in the exact locations for which they were designed, blending the natural environment and modern functional needs in a manner that is almost living sculpture. Wright did not just design something to "look good," but he quite purposefully and consciously attempted to capture the already-present aesthetic of whatever environment he was designing for, while also accounting for the functional and practical needs and desires of his clients. This was somewhat revolutionary at the time Wright brought his method to the world, but now it is being adopted in increasingly subtle and complex ways.

The entire "green design" movement that attempts to minimize the consumption of resources and reduce the environmental impact of a home or other building can be seen as a direct descendant of the "form follows function" idea -- the awareness that buildings and their denizens interact and do things, and are not static creations that sit undisturbed and un-disturbing. While it is true that many innovations meant to make homes and buildings more consciously and purposefully designed have nothing to do with aesthetics or overall design principles, from the type of insulation used to super-efficient water heaters that remain hidden in basements, but many aspects of green design are also becoming or leading to conscious aesthetic choices, as well. A more efficient home has thicker exterior walls, and this can be incorporated into overall design perspectives; the use of windows and lighting is of extreme importance when it comes to energy efficiency and when it comes to aesthetics, so a blending of these elements is seen in many newer constructions; many different functional enhancements have been designed that are meant to reduce the amount of reliance on electricity and other types of energy that also influence design, including the very layout of a home. The entire green movement truly is a design-based response to a practical and pressing problem.