DESIGN CLASSICS
The stu
Design is one of those words that has been kidnapped and tortured over the past decade. Cheap stores misuse the label ‘designer’ as a way of selling ordinary clothes, and the ’design boom’ of the 905 gave the impression that quality design simply meant expensive novelties like the lemon squeezers on spindly legs that
ff of life
nearly everything that helps us to live our modern lives, has been conceived, tested, and shaped by a designer. So what, exactly, is great design? To coincide with the publication of a book naming 1000 design classics, we team up with The Lighthouse, Scotland’s National Centre for Architecture and Design, to ask design
broke after 5 minutes. But in between those two extremes,
’Great design is in the unseen’
Gill Hicks was for many years a stalwart of the London design scene as head of curation at the Design Council. But on 7 July 2005 everything changed when Hicks was a victim of the London bombings. Miraculously, she survived, but lost both her lower legs in the tragedy. Since then, her views on design have been subjected to a fundamental reappraisal. Last week Gill left the design world to help fight for peaceful solutions to the world’s political problems. Here, she explains her own
personal design epiphany.
hat is great design'.’ This is one of those questions that has an infinite number of possible answers. Is it a
single object'.’ Is it wearable. driveable. or is itjust a beautiful thing'.’
I think you could tell a lot about a person by their answer to this question: whether they are followers of Bauhaus — pure in function thus pleasing in form — reflecting a sense of order. creating calm in a hectic life. Or that their heart follows the raw beauty of all that is Bohemian — eclectic styles ‘flung‘ together effortlessly to create a sense of design that flows from person to house to object — fashion. interior. vase.
Whatever your design preferences — for me truly great design is in the unseen. the unheard. in the effortless nature of its very being. Design is what gets you there. wherever ‘there’ is.
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Design is the unsung hero that enables us to live easier and more efficiently. Now. as a recently disabled person. design plays a more direct. significant role — whether it be in the comfort and ease of use of my wheelchair. the technology that allows greater mobility within my prosthetic legs or just the general level of congeniality of the public em'ironment. great. well considered design can make all the difference.
Most able people don‘t really ever have to think about the design of their environment. What is strange is that every step. every pavement. every stair or entry way poses its own challenge: I praise the designers who have thought about all the possible users before deciding on a final solution.
Thank you for every step that I get to climb with ease!
professionals to nominate a classic of their own.
This month, Gill Hicks left the Design Council in order to pursue a new life, focusing on building and regaining peace throughout the world. She is also currently writing her memoir, ‘One Unknown’, published by Rodale, due out in spring 2007.