What do they have in common?...Nothing

Klein Reid, Stephen Dixion, and Tupperware

I did like the Klein Reed forms, but hated the pretentious object based stuff for stuffs sake.

I have also continued to look at plastic vessels from Tupperware and found this comparison funny:

Finally I feel torn about surface on my pots, but I also like work that is somewhat political or overt in its nature. So I've been looking at the work of Stephen Dixion. I'm not sure what I "think" but I do enjoy the layering of surface, and the juxtaposition of historical and contemporary and his use of kitch.

Redwing and Melmac!!!

The first couple of images are from Red Wing Pottery. This stuff has a special place in my heart because it's all over the place at home. I was looking at this week in addition to the following.

Inspirational Plastic?
I referenced this Melmac dinnerwhere in the group crit but couldn't remember its name. I wanted to refresh my memory and show off some immages.


The second image is an Eames design. Russel Wright also designed a line for the company. Durrable and affordable, another testament to design "with a purpose". Instead of what I think we have so much of now, design for design's sake. Melmac was largely produced in the 1950's and '60's, marketed to middle class famalies.

I also really like the kistch factor, and color palate.

Steve Frykholm at KCAI

Creative Director of Herman Miller, Steve Frykholm visited the KCAI campus today giving a presentation as part of Kansas City Design week. The presentation was attended mostly by students in the Design Department and Hallmark employees and as a follower of the Eames generation of Cranbrook Grads I was super excited to attend!


Frykholm was raised in the Kansas City, Kansas area, and after attending Cranbrook was the first in house graphic designer to be hired by Herman Miller. Almost forty years, and a laundry list of awards later he has seen the classic and innovative design and furniture company through many changes. Posters that where designed for company picnics are now in collections at MoMA and the Danish Museum of Decorative Art.


Noteworthy: One thing I noticed about this presentation was how "design" is so linked to interfacing with the public. As someone that spends most of my creative time in the studio, I like the idea of taking work out into other, more public realms.

I've linked two YouTube spots one ("This is You") is about the company Herman Miller, and the other is in response to patients on Mid Century furniture expiring, and quickly being copied by other companies. What will entice the consumer to buy from the real deal when a cheaper option presents it self? Is it more than clever advertising?