PARSONS AAS INTERIOR DESIGN - The New School

We must DutIfully aDVocate the
neeD to Push forWarD WIth
ProgressIVe DesIgn
each and every subway car must be kept
clean of graffiti. It was a simple move,
but one that effectively tackled the
slippery slope of perception – one where
graffiti equaled rebels, rebels equaled
chaos, chaos equaled crime, and crime
kept passengers away. By taking out the
graffiti, the far removed but connected
act of crime was taken out too. In short
time the stations were almost completely
free of crime. A tactic as simple
as cleaning up the stations had proved
its ability to change a perception strong
enough to cement change.
In the current global atmosphere, the
role of designer exponentially grows in
importance. We must dutifully advocate
the need to push forward with progressive
design. We are the ones who must
convey the need for work places to
remain stimulating, residences comfortable,
and public places commanding
and orderly. For all intent and purposes,
we will need to become the protectors
of design.
But with every challenge, of course lies
opportunity. Just as the change in the
social tide will call for greater efforts to
procure design progression, it presents
an equal opportunity for innovation.
It was, after all, the decade of civil
rights and JFK that moved us away
from neutral wood interiors to bright
bold colors and the iconic furniture of
Verner Panton. It was the air of rebellion
against Vietnam and Nixon that
paralleled the introduction of the ball
chair, shag carpeting and all things
transcendental.
Society and design are deeply intermingled
units thriving in osmosis.
Just as the world of design reaps the
benefit of stimulating societal change,
society reaps the benefit of stimulating
design. History is most definitely in
the making for the design world in the
decade to come.
61
fIrst PrIZe
DecaDe
of DesIgn
aWarDeD by
the IIDa