Design in crisis

Contents:

• Pandemic
• Design during war

In her new column, design historian Maria Savostyanova explores how designers have dealt with serious challenges such as wars and pandemics. She analyzes the projects and ideas that emerged during this challenging time, demonstrating how difficulties became catalysts for creativity and innovation in design.

Pandemic

The 2020 pandemic will go down in the history of the 21st century as a significant period of crisis that radically changed the approach of designers to their work. This challenge prompted professionals to rethink their strategies and create products and solutions that previously seemed impossible. Designers adapted to the new conditions, developing innovative concepts and approaches that respond to the challenges of the time.

With the emergence of coronavirus, developments aimed at combating the pandemic came to the forefront. One such project was the innovative Urban Sun lantern, created by Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde of Studio Roosegaarde. This lantern uses ultraviolet light to disinfect open spaces. Roosegaarde proposed using far-ultraviolet light with a modified wavelength, which, according to research, effectively destroys viruses while minimizing the risk to human health. This project demonstrates how design and technology can combine to address pressing sanitation challenges during a pandemic.

The light is installed on top of a cable system, providing illumination over large areas. This significantly improves the safety of places such as train stations, schools, and city squares. Effective lighting creates a comfortable atmosphere and reduces the likelihood of crime. Proper selection and installation of lanterns is essential for improving visibility and preventing accidents in public places.

During the pandemic, the topic of escaping to secluded and wild places has become relevant. How can you escape the hustle and bustle of the city while still maintaining comfort and essential living conditions? Casa Covida is a 3D-printed adobe cabin in Colorado. Developed by American studio Emerging Objects, Casa Covida is unique in that you can take the printer with you to remote areas, where you can print a two-person home on-site. This approach allows you to provide housing in the most inaccessible places, combining sustainability with innovative technology.

The experimental cabin in the San Luis Valley includes a room, bedroom, and bathroom. The adobe walls, created from a mixture of sand, silt, clay, and water, are formed using a three-axis SCARA (Surface-Cross-Arm Robotic Arm). The walls are printed quickly, after which they are left to dry and harden in the sun. Although Casa Covida does not look like a universal housing for mass use, its concept demonstrates a clear vector in the search for sustainable architectural solutions.

Designing working The landscape of buildings and public spaces has undergone significant changes since the pandemic. Sociologists and psychologists are formulating new recommendations based on their research. One key aspect is the need for a "new openness to nature." This involves not only integrating plants and eliminating synthetic materials, but also creating conditions for direct interaction with nature. It's important to provide access to the forest or, at a minimum, a "winter garden"—a space entirely dedicated to relaxation amidst greenery, the sounds of nature, and soothing water. Such changes contribute to improved employee mental well-being and increased productivity, making them essential for modern design.

After the pandemic, people have become concerned about the possible establishment of digital dictatorships, which leads to a preference for open spaces where data is collected transparently. It's important not only to ensure data security but also to actively inform users about it. This issue requires the attention of those who follow modern trends and strive to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.

Significant innovations are expected in various design fields after the pandemic. One example is a sink faucet that automatically turns on the water for 20 seconds. Devices with sensors that warn users if handwashing is insufficient are also being developed. Designers and technologists are working to create colored hand sanitizers that will become transparent only after completely killing germs. These innovations are aimed at improving hygiene and safety in everyday life, making them particularly relevant in the post-pandemic period.

Experts are actively developing concepts for the creation of live animal markets in China. The focus is on ensuring safe separation between people and animals, which will reduce the risk of pathogen transmission. Effective animal isolation measures will help protect public health and prevent epidemics.

Crises shape the future, bringing changes and encouraging us to celebrate achievements. Alice Rawsthorne, a renowned critic, and Paola Antonelli, a curator, have presented the book "Design Emergency: Building a Better Future" (Phaidon, 2022). During the pandemic, they collected materials on projects that arose in the context of crisis, focusing on key themes such as technology, society, communication, and ecology. In their book, the authors share the stories of outstanding designers, architects, engineers, artists, scientists, and activists who, in their opinion, play a vital role in creating positive change in the modern world. The book serves as an inspiring resource, showing how design can contribute to a better life and the development of a sustainable future.

Design in Time of War

The major crises of the 20th century, such as the two world wars, attract particular attention from design historians. These conflicts not only destroyed established practices and claimed the lives of designers, but also led to changes in social structures and stylistic directions. At the same time, wars became a catalyst for intensive technological development, which contributed to the accelerated economic growth of countries in the post-war period.

Many inventions created during the war years significantly simplified the daily lives of millions of people in the post-war period. For example, paper napkins and toilet paper, solar lamps and tea bags became popular after the First World War. After World War II, humanity gained not only the atomic bomb and radar, but also many useful technologies, such as jeeps, superglue, jet engines, synthetic rubber, microwave ovens, and duct tape. The challenges posed during World War II laid the foundation for the emergence of computers and the internet just a few years later. The contribution of military technology to everyday life cannot be overstated, as it became the basis for many modern conveniences and innovations.

Tough times have often prompted Designers were encouraged to create unexpected ideas that they might not have considered under calmer circumstances. In 1914, with the outbreak of World War I, Eileen Gray designed a lacquer screen titled "Destiny" for the collector Jacques Doucet. It depicts two men and an old man swathed in white blankets, likely a drawing by a patient at the Salpêtrière psychiatric hospital. The design vividly captures the mood of the era, filled with apprehension and the anticipation of a military catastrophe of unprecedented proportions. This work of art has become a symbol of these turbulent times and demonstrates how historical events influence creativity and design decisions.

Ceramicist Lucy Rie left her native Austria and moved to London when the National Socialists came to power in Germany. During World War II, she and her partner, Hans Koper, focused on producing unique ceramic buttons, distinguished by their original designs and decorative craftsmanship. These buttons were in demand among fashion houses and seamstresses, who continued to work even during the war. Amazingly, these buttons have become an important part of Lucy Rea's legacy and continue to appear at auction, highlighting her contribution to the world of ceramics and fashion.

During the early years of the German occupation, designer and graphic artist Willem Sandberg applied his graphic and typographic skills to creating forged documents. He assisted hundreds of Jews, political figures, and others threatened with persecution. The forged documents were produced on Sundays in a print shop owned by his friend and fellow Resistance fighter, Frans Duwaer. This activity truly saved many lives.

When the Gestapo discovered their group, Sandberg was forced to hide for a long time under a false name in the southeast of the Netherlands. Between December 1943 and April 1945, he created a series of 19 brochures, known today as Experimenta Typografica. Each brochure included 60 pages containing drawings, collages, typographic experiments, and text. This work not only reflects the artist’s artistic pursuits, but also serves as an important historical testimony to a time when creativity and art struggled with repression.

Sandberg created multiple copies of each brochure using materials at hand, such as scraps of paper and Cardboard found on the street. He also used wallpaper and pages torn from magazines. Each of these books was devoted to themes that influenced his work before the war: architecture, death, education, love, and typography. After the war, Sandberg returned to Amsterdam, reunited with his wife and son, and was appointed director of the Stedelijk Museum. This period of his life was an important contribution to the development of the city's cultural life. During World War II, designers in the United States, not subject to mass mobilization, had the opportunity to continue exploring and developing their ideas. One such legend of American design was Charles and Ray Eames, who experimented with plywood, exploring how to manipulate the material without destroying it. Their invention—the "Kazam! machine," a homemade device for molding plywood—was an important step in the creation of the Plywood Group collection, consisting of chairs with plywood bodies and complex curves. This design approach not only demonstrated innovative material handling techniques but also became a significant milestone in the history of modern furniture design.

The Eameses' first product was a splint designed to immobilize an injured limb. This lightweight, stackable, and durable design quickly gained popularity. In 1943, the designers received a significant order from the US Navy, which led to large shipments of splints to the front. The funds received supported the further development of plywood. In 1945, the company introduced a number of new products, including a children's chair, an "Elephant" toy, and the famous LCW (Lounge Chair Wood) chair, made from plywood shells with unique curves. These pieces became a symbol of innovative furniture design and production, demonstrating high quality and functionality.

In the history of design, there is a significant category of projects and solutions that arose as a result of disasters. One example is the PPS (Paper Partition System) technology developed by architect Shiregu Ban. This original paper partition system was first implemented in 2004 in the Japanese city of Niigata after a devastating earthquake. A special fabric was used in the construction of the partitions, and the joints were made of plywood. Ropes were used to ensure strength and stability, and each cell, intended for single-family living, was enclosed with sheets of cardboard. This innovation not only demonstrated a creative approach to temporary solutions, but also emphasized the importance of design in emergency situations when it is necessary to quickly and effectively organize space for victims.

Shigeru Ban Architects adapted the original design, implementing a structure of support beams made of cardboard tubes that are connected to each other. The Paper Partition system was successfully used during the 2011 earthquake in Italy and is currently used in refugee camps in Ukraine and Europe. This innovative design demonstrates the effectiveness and resilience of lightweight materials in emergency situations, providing the necessary conditions for temporary housing and dividing spaces.

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In the 20th century, major wars brought significant suffering and destruction, but they also facilitated the development of new technologies. In the 21st century, this principle has changed: in the digital age, progress moves faster in conditions of calm. Modern innovations such as artificial intelligence, cloud technology, and the Internet of Things are developing rapidly, even when the world is in a state of relative peace. Technological advances are now the result of scientific research and investment efforts, rather than the consequences of conflict. Thus, the silence outside the windows becomes the key to rapid development and the implementation of new solutions in various areas of life.

Explore additional materials:

• Interview with Maria Savostyanova about the future of design, women's collectives, and NFTs
• Column by Maria Savostyanova about significant works of 2021
• Original and derivative. An excerpt from the book "Design Today"