Write your post this week on your opinion of Newson’s work. How would you describe him as a designer? What from your research is your favorite and least favorite piece of design work from Newson?
I believe Newson takes an interesting approach to color, shapes, and techniques of manufacture when thinking about his pieces.
He designs so much stuff: from airplane’s first-class interiors to bunk beds and kitchen utilities. He also designs luggage bags and perfume bottles (in collaboration with Louis Vitton). Pens, vases, furniture, you name it!
I wouldn’t say that all of his works represent the same aesthetic, however, it would be only fair to mention that a lot of them do. I would also notice that his aesthetic reminds me of some of Henry Matisse’s art with its colorful weird fluid-like shapes. (especially if you look at Newson’s earlier works).
He mentions:
- travel
- Australia (culturally embedded habit of travel)
- jewelry! the least esoteric (they taught skills much more than in other arts departments)
- scale!!!! for him, it is a very big thing in his designs
- he believes that there is a universal approach to designing stuff, so it does not really matter what exactly are u designing, the approach is what matters. different scales, and different materials, but the same process.
I believe that the idea that every designer should be preoccupied with the idea of creating something that would sustain the test of time is very interesting. Indeed, a lot of designs we use in day-to-day life were invented quite a long time ago. Of course, some of them were also reinvented and “polished”, however, their functionality and purpose generally stay unchanged.
The matter of scale in design is also something we discussed in regard to prototyping. Really, if you think about it, designing something that is appropriate to the scale is quite important, in the early stages as well, as allows a designer to gain comprehensive feedback from the audience (in terms of usability and some features).
My favorite invention that is listed on his website is probably in between these two:
and 