Moving Objects: A Cultural History of Emotive Design

Moving Objects explores emotive design, which involves designing objects that demand to be engaged with rather than simply used. It traces the phenomenon back to the 'Dutch inflection' and looks for its origins in surrealism. It offers a critique of Speculative Design and examines the work of designers such as Mathias Bengtsson, who involves 'growing furniture inside computers'.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 09 February 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Emotive design, a concept explored in Moving Objects, revolves around crafted items that beckon interaction rather than mere utilization. If postmodernism thrived on ironic detachment, and Critical Design delves into inquiries, then emotive design surpasses these, confronting the ways in which designers infuse their creations with emotional resonance. Damon Taylor's pioneering study delves into these intensely personal, highly authored works, frequently produced in limited editions and marketed akin to art. Examples include a chair crafted from plush toys, a leather sofa resembling a cow, and a jewelry box fashioned from human hair. Taylor traces the phenomenon back to the Dutch inflection that originated with Droog designers like Jurgen Bey and Hella Jongerius, conducting an analysis of the evolution of Design Art and seeking its roots in the surrealist explorations. He offers a critique of Speculative Design and examines the work of designers like Mathias Bengtsson, whose practice involves "growing furniture inside computers." Taylor poses the question of what transpires when the tangible merges with the digital realm, transforming design into a contemplation of mobilities. Through this lens, Moving Objects explores contemporary concerns surrounding our relationship with artifacts and the potential of design to shape our experiences.

Weight: 534g
Dimension: 155 x 235 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350360006