Design as Art- Bruno Munari

In “Design as Art,” Bruno Munari discusses how today’s artist is no longer creating works to be appreciated by exclusive groups. Instead, today’s artists’ apply their talents to everyday objects, creating thoughtful pieces for a wider audience. 

Previous to mass production, objects were often both functional in their purpose, and beautiful in their design. The beauty or decoration would not interfere with the object’s purpose; instead, it would enhance it. In the article “Finding beauty in everyday objects: Cultural icons share what they find beautiful,” Canadian news outlet, The Globe and Mail, interviewed designers on what “everyday object” they treasured. The standout responses were from- Siamak Hariri, Lars Dressler, Les Mandelbaum, and Julia Dault, who all chose objects not native to Canada. The chosen objects were not only functional to the respective culture they originated from, but also beautiful in their present or absent decoration. 

Image courtesy of Kevin Van Paassen for The Globe and Mail

Merging the worlds of everyday objects and art ensures the happiness of the object’s user. While that sounds simple, it is not. The previously mentioned objects were chosen due to their materiality, functionality, and beauty. These objects have been made in the respective cultures for decades and centuries, using locally available materials, and patterns, at times, also infusing historical aspects. I believe good design that is also beautiful comes with knowledge, experimentation, and purpose. The chosen objects were created to serve a need. They were made through trial and error using different materials, and perfected over the years. Designing for specific needs creates objects that are not only useful and necessary, but beautiful.