W/C 21.01.19
3. The Power Of Ignorance |
Weekly Event: |
'Eames: The Architect And The Painter' - a documentary film
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This week in design and technology we delved into the world iconic American design duo Charles and Ray Eames. 'Eames: The Architect & The Painter' draws from a treasure trove of archival material, as well as new interviews with friends, colleague, and experts to capture the fascinating story and relationship of the Eameses.
Their name is still most commonly associated with the chairs sold by the Herman Miller company, but the film argues that their characteristic mix of the practical and the aesthetic has left traces in nearly every aspect of contemporary life. To the present day, the Eameses life and work remain synonymous with a certain image of modernity. Perhaps the greatest secret to the success of the Eameses was that they refused to specialise. By taking commissions and launching new projects of their own for architecture, film, furniture, toys, games, museum exhibits, textiles, magazines, and more, they developed a comprehensive, even universal approach to their work. I hadn’t realised they had been so involved in film making – although I had seen a version of ‘Powers of Ten’ without realising it was inspired by Eames work. It seems to brilliantly anticipate google earth. Infact a lot of the Eamses work and methods seem to be a precursor to modern design and technology. Take the office; a place of endless experimentation and creativity. A circus-esque living workshop of stimulus, ideas and experiments, much akin to the likes of IDEO, the MIT Media Lab and the Google Creative Lab.
Then take their philosophy: “The best for the most for the least” - a simple democratic ideal echoed in companies of the 21st century... 'At IKEA our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people.’ 'To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.' Google Mission ‘Omnia, omnibus, ubique.’ (‘all things for all people, everywhere’) Harrods Motto It can also be argued that character of Charles Eames lived on in the likes of Steve Jobs. Jobs unknowing seems to have inherited the design philosophies and sense of self-promotion. The documentary hardly idealised Charles. Like Steve Jobs — Charles Eames did not share credit. His name alone went on the studio’s products. And as stories of Charles Eames infidelity were told, I thought also to Steve Jobs duplicity in denying his daughter. Aside from the comparisons to the world of 21st century design, I took away a lesson in the importance of learning. The Eameses never delegated understanding. Learning and doing enables a deeper, more intimate comprehension of problems that takes you closer to solving them. ‘If you sell your expertise you have a limited repertoire. If you sell your ignorance it’s an unlimited repertoire. He [Charles] was selling his ignorance and his desire to learn about a subject. And the journey of him not knowing to knowing was his work.’ Richard Saul Wurman, TED Founder Sell the boundless curiosity of your mind, not the narrow confines of your expertise. |