Design Report

THE INFLUENCE OF BAUHAUS THINKING ON MODERN DESIGN

The Bauhaus school was a Germany art school that was open from 1919 founded by Walter Gropius in Weimar and closes his doors in 1933 under Nazi pressure. The main ideas behind this movement were, forms follow functions where a form is applied because of his function and not for his aesthetic. True materials, mean that materials should reflect the true nature of the objects. Minimalist style, where lines, geometrical shapes and colour mattered.

Deeply believing in functionality Bauhaus school tried to combine arts and technology to allow products to be mass-produced and more affordable. To achieve this they tried to think as economical as possible. Key points were the smart use of materials, money, and space with a zero-waste ideal.

This movement has a mayor impact in graphic design, typography furniture and architecture.

Legacy on Graphic design and type:

Distinctive of this period was the use of primary colours, or black and white with red or blue. Surrealist style using photo collages and the use of broken grids and layouts.

Figure 1

The tilt-type was used to give energy to the piece. Also, the different font sizes were used as part of the design. The type had minimalist and geometric shapes. one of the most popular Bauhaus fonts is the Universal typeface created by Hebert Bayer.

Figure 2

A big diversification on the sans serif fonts were developed during this period. Bauhaus typographers believed that sans serif type was indispensable for three reasons: first it was the only type capable of expressing the spirit of the machine age, second, sans serif lacked any nationalist association and third the simple clarity and impresional character were the best match for photography.

We can see the use of the Bauhaus style on albums covers, books, signs and political posters. ” One of its most pervasive effects is in the signs that guide us around unfamiliar places like airports: the best of them use clear sans serif fonts, symbols that are graphically simplified but still informative and an underlying geometric order ” (Rowan Moore, 21 Jan 2019, theguardian.com).

Figure 3

The next example is a poster for tweet-up in Japan made by Doug Bowman. we can see the Bauhaus influences in the tilt-type, in the use of primary colours only and different font sizes.

Figure 4

Legacy on architecture:

The architecture from this period demands functionality over ornamentation. the style combined practical, artistic and social proposes. Asymmetry and regularity were also seen over symmetry. Over mass spaces were also favored to create space in to the building. Any kind of ornamentation was rejected and classic architecture with geometrical shapes was wanted. Gray, white, black or beige were the most used colours with smooth facades and flat roofs. Some exterior walls were taken up almost entirely by glass. Steel and beams from the building were also exposed as part of the design and as a reminder to the idea of the true material.

Grupios also developed a plan to build estates. The first estate constituted of 60 detached houses with garden purely residential (lacking schools). Later on, the Konsum building was added, a three-story block with shops. He reduces the costs by using prefabricated materials and through standardization.

Figure 5

The picture above is the Bauhaus school from Dessau designed by Walter Gropius. This school was build beside an industrial estate to be closer to the factories and the workshops.

Today we can found characteristics from the Bauhaus style almost everywhere

Figure 6
Figure 7

On figure 6 and 7 we can see the influence of Bauhaus due to the geometrical shape of the building, flat roof where the beams that sustain the roof are remaining visible making part of the design. Also, the use of big windows to illuminate the space. The use of solid blocky colours are a clear legacy.

Figure 8

Walter Gropius was one of the designers of the MetLife Building (originally called the PanAm Building) in New York City. The 59-story skyscraper was completed in 1963

Legacy on furniture:

The design of the furniture was meant to be as minimal and functional as possible without pretentious forms. Most often their furniture was made out of a combination of steel, wood, leather, and woven textiles. The most used colours were chromium, black and white, brown and grey.
One of the most famous pieces is the Wassily Chair that was designed by Marcel Breuer.

Figure 9

Nowadays we can see the use of this design in IKEA furniture where the minimalist design and the concept from the Bauhaus style are still present.

Figure 10, 11 and 12

Where we can find a lot of this furniture design is in the waiting rooms form hospitals, medical centers, offices… They are found more often in public buildings due to the low production cost and affordable replacement if they get broken. The manufacture of them still be in the same style with blocky colours, steel tubular frame and use of textile for the seat and the the back of the seat.

Figure 13

Figure 14

Conclusion:

From my point of view, the ideology and thinking that Bauhaus school tried to teach have shaped the modern world we know today. From the graphic design perspective, it teaches us that simplicity and minimalism sometimes is a better solution to deliver a clear message with a greater impact on the public. Geometric shapes and the sans serifs fonts developed at this time, make things be are more legible ( signs, posters, book covers, etc.). On certain occasions, the lack of excessive ornaments and loaded designs make the design more appealing and clear for the public.
From the architecture perspective, I think their approach leads to the construction of skyscrapers with big glass facades. The different mentality allows the construction of building with big interior spaces, illuminated naturally. Also, the thinking of reducing cost and time production makes possible a faster development of the cities and industry.
From the perspective of the furniture design, most of the furniture we can find today has the same approach when it comes to production and meeting the needs we have. Almost every kitchen today is fitted with cabinets and tops in the same structure as it was designed then.
Overall, the 14 years of operation of the Bauhaus have brought a great technological advance to make things more affordable to everyone due to the development of the unique mentality of that time.

REFERENCES:

IMAGE SOURCES:
⦁ Figure 1: dessau (2019). poster: joost schmidt – plakat zur bauhaus-ausstellung 1923 | bauhaus-shop. [online] bauhaus-shop. Available at: https://www.bauhaus-shop.de/poster-bauhaus-plakat-ausstellung-1923-joost-schmi.html [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Figure 2: reddit. (2019). just noticed that the Beats by Dre logo uses Bayer’s “universal” type.. [online] Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/typography/comments/7alx2b/just_noticed_that_the_beats_by_dre_logo_uses/ [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Figure 3: Pixabay.com. (2019). Free Image on Pixabay – Airport, Signs, Plane. [online] Available at: https://pixabay.com/photos/airport-signs-plane-249529/ [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].

Figure 4: Google.com. (2019). Image: poster for tweetup in Japan by Doug Bowman on Dribbble. [online] Available at: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.dribbble.com%2Fusers%2F17%2Fscreenshots%2F34035%2Fshot_1278702456.png&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fdribbble.com%2Fshots%2F34035-poster-for-tweetup-in-Japan&docid=FHQtRRelJisJvM&tbnid=laU3TZfPt0mDbM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjLt7nNrvHjAhWqQkEAHXWZD6sQMwiBASguMC4..i&w=400&h=300&bih=589&biw=1227&q=bauhaus%20inspired%20posters&ved=0ahUKEwjLt7nNrvHjAhWqQkEAHXWZD6sQMwiBASguMC4&iact=mrc&uact=8 [Accessed 7 Aug. 2019].

⦁ Figure 5: Grandtourdermoderne.de. (2019). Dessau-Roßlau. [online] Available at: https://www.grandtourdermoderne.de/magazin/reisen/das-bauhaus-und-die-moderne-in-sachsen-anhalt/dessau-rosslau/ [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Figure 6: Myrooff.com. (2019). FLAT ROOF DESIGN. [online] Available at: https://myrooff.com/flat-roof-design/ [Accessed 7 Aug. 2019].

Figure 7: Pinoy House Designs. (2019). Modern Flat Roof House Plans – Pinoy House Designs. [online] Available at: https://pinoyhousedesigns.com/modern-flat-roof-house-plans/ [Accessed 7 Aug. 2019].

⦁ Figure 8: Savingplaces.org. (2019). A Brief History of Bauhaus Architecture | National Trust for Historic Preservation. [online] Available at: https://savingplaces.org/stories/a-brief-history-of-bauhaus-architecture#.XUblWOhKjIU [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Figure 9: Astbury, J. (2019). Marcel Breuer: the Bauhaus furniture master with a passion for architecture. [online] Dezeen. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2018/11/27/marcel-breuer-bauhaus-100-furniture-designer-architect/ [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Figure 10: KF98508, F. (2019). First Meeting Chair Black PU Chrome Base KF98508 – HuntOffice.ie. [online] Huntoffice.ie. Available at: https://www.huntoffice.ie/first-meeting-chair-black-pu-chrome-base-kf98508-kf98508.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhJrqBRDZARIsALhp1WSifn_vVAymz34d6m5wDKvsLRC7aj2jt9gqqYgCaPiI3pw9VAOpVc8aAmC8EALw_wcB [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Figure 11: MARTIN Chair, b. (2019). MARTIN Chair – IKEA. [online] IKEA US/EN. Available at: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S09219527/ [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Figure 12: 1stdibs.com. (2019). Karin Mobring Easy Chairs Model Amiral by Ikea in Sweden For Sale at 1stdibs. [online] Available at: https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/seating/lounge-chairs/karin-mobring-easy-chairs-model-amiral-ikea-sweden/id-f_7263753/ [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Figure 13: Verywell Health. (2019). Learn the Real Reason You Spend So Long Waiting for the Doctor. [online] Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/why-do-i-wait-so-long-at-the-doctors-office-2615092 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Figure 14: Harvard Business Review. (2019). To Reduce Emergency Room Wait Times, Tie Them to Payments. [online] Available at: https://hbr.org/2019/02/to-reduce-emergency-room-wait-times-tie-them-to-payments [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].

Bibliography:

From the next three books

  • Graphic design a history by Stephen J. Eskilson (second edition)
  • Bauhaus by Magdalena Droste
  • 100 ideas that changed graphic design by Steven Heller & Veronique Vienne

And web pages

⦁ Andra, L. (2019). Graphic Design: The Bauhaus Style In 2019 – Pixlr Blog. [online] Pixlr Blog. Available at: https://blog.pixlr.com/graphic-design-the-bauhaus-style-in-2019/ [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Widewalls. (2019). The Modern Letter – The Best of the Bauhaus Typography. [online] Available at: https://www.widewalls.ch/bauhaus-typography/ [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Apartment Therapy. (2019). Quick History: The Bauhaus & Its Influence. [online] Available at: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/post-241-93344 [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Artists Network. (2019). The Bauhaus School and Its Influence on the Modern Age. [online] Available at: https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-history/the-bauhaus-effect/ [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Sites.google.com. (2019). Key Features – Bauhaus Architecture. [online] Available at: https://sites.google.com/site/apahbauhausarchitecture/home/key-features [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Savingplaces.org. (2019). A Brief History of Bauhaus Architecture | National Trust for Historic Preservation. [online] Available at: https://savingplaces.org/stories/a-brief-history-of-bauhaus-architecture#.XUblWOhKjIU [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Savingplaces.org. (2019). A Brief History of Bauhaus Architecture | National Trust for Historic Preservation. [online] Available at: https://savingplaces.org/stories/a-brief-history-of-bauhaus-architecture#.XUblWOhKjIU [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].
⦁ Astbury, J. (2019). Marcel Breuer: the Bauhaus furniture master with a passion for architecture. [online] Dezeen. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2018/11/27/marcel-breuer-bauhaus-100-furniture-designer-architect/ [Accessed 4 Aug. 2019].