Fall 08 :: Why do we create?
Image via inhabitat.
Isn't this impressive? This structure is called Ziggurat, the latest design of the Dubai-based environmental design firm Timelinks. The structure, visually stunning in its design and scale, is also supposedly "capable of running completely off the grid by utilizing steam, wind, other natural resources and a super efficient public transportation system that runs both horizontally and vertically". This is certainly a project that we should pay particular attention to, for its technology may some day change the way we live here at home. (Take a moment to read a little bit on it and see another great image.)
Now, what does it remind you of?
Maybe?
Pyramid of the Moon @ Teotihuacan, Mexico. Image by Alberto Rigau.
Or possibly?
Pyramids @ Giza, Egypt. Image via Thinking About Innovation.
It is no surprise that designers of today would gather inspiration from great masterpieces of the past. Throughout design history there has been a tendency to appropriate, or make some else's ideas your own through reinterpretation.
What do you think of this? Why is it important for designers to always create original ideas? Why not? Do you think that using this strategy of appropriation is pertinent within today's contemporary design scene?
As said by Edith Wharton: "True originality consists not in a new manner but in a new vision." What would it be like to live in a place where all buildings and structures were alike? Obviously, it would begin to be quite boring. There is no originality and creative masterpieces that interest you. It would start to feel like we are clones all living the same life; all living in the same kind of houses.
Designers need to be original. They shouldn't be called "designers'' if they are copying others others' work. Maybe plagiarists, not designers. As the Dean Malecha's mother said, "if everyone is thinking the same, no one is thinking at all." If everyone has the same design, no one is really designing. This is the interesting part of being in the Design school where everyone has a different solution to the problem. As opposed to engineering or math everyone's answer must be the same. By being original you are putting your heart and soul into your design and by doing so expressing part of yourself. However, There is some risks with being original. Not everyone will like your idea. It is easier to redesign something that you know people already like.
It is interesting to see how designers can take elements and themes of ancient, historical structures and tie them in with their contemporary design. By doing this, the designer has successfully appropriated an ancient design and reinterpreted to make it a concurrent, captivating piece of art that might remind us of a timeless edifice, like the pyramids. Appropriation is an effective way to still keep some of the interesting art of the past but still be unique in your design.
Posted by Stephen A Bell on August 27, 2008 at 10:52 AM EDT #
It's important for designers to always create original idea because that is the task we set out to do. To create new things to improve the life of others. Whether it be severely modifying an idea/design already in existence, or coming up with something incredibly original. Even then, what's original? Aren't we always working of some idea we've seen before? I think this is the best strategy we know of right now. To take something in existence, and alter it in such a way that it is different enough from the original-as long as it is used to improve certain conditions or the lives of others in some way. That's the sole purpose we're here on earth- to do good for others- to find joy.
Posted by Chelsea Amato on August 27, 2008 at 04:44 PM EDT #
I think this structure is very amazing. When I first glanced at it, I thought it was just a building, not a entire communtiy or city even.
It is a very eco-friendly structure, which I think many buildings should be. But it is being built in a place where peoples rights are not the best. So why hasn't our contry built such an eco-friendly structure? I may do more research on that.
Design wise, it is incredible to look at. The sheer amount of people they want to fit in their is amzing. This building almost seems unreal. But at the same time, in egypt, did the pyrimids seem unrealistic? Probably, so we as designers have to see the incredible. The amazing structures of the past should inspire us to do great things. Push us beyond our limits. Just like the great pyrimids probably pushed the borders of possible.
Also, I believe we should learn from the past, but with in reason. Because in order to create something that has never been done, we must think in a way that has never been thought. (I read that from Francis Bacon's, "Idols of the Mind")
Posted by Sarah E. Atkinson on August 29, 2008 at 01:38 PM EDT #
It is very important for designers to be original but that doesn't mean we can not learn from our past. "The future is the past returning through another gate" were the words of Arnold Glasgow. The futuristic structure shown at the top of this page is only the past returning to the present. Yet the structure is an innovation what was previously done. Now is that creative and original?I would say that is creative and original because they took a basic concept for building but turned it into their own. As long as a designer can turn that past design into their own I feel that is creative and it is original. That doesn't mean a designer can't go out and come up with a completely new idea and put it out there for others to critique it. New ideas are always needed that doesn't mean they are always appreciated. Creativity is the movement of life.
Without creativity and innovation we, as a society, would never move towards the future.
Posted by Marguerite Barnes on August 30, 2008 at 11:07 AM EDT #
One of the best ways to create unique, or "original", ideas is to focus on solving current or past problems. I believe that designers inherently have the gift of innovation and creating efficiency via current issues of design. However, original ideas also spawn from previous experiences with people, places, objects, and events. Designers' work takes into consideration not only how something will look, but also how it will be used and how it will be made. This only reiterates the point that designers' originality is absolutely needed for both the their benefit, and the benefit of others.
So, I believe that the term "original" is relative. Since designers are creative, they generate new concepts and ideas or find new associations between present concepts and ideas.
Appropriation is tricky. Kind of like trademarks and copyright. Many people have been sued for "taking ideas" from others, even though they were just that little bit different. That's the problem with design. It's all ideas and concepts.
For instance, this architectural design is obviously built off of the concept of the pyramids. In the article itself, it is called an "eco-pyramid". But what these people did, I feel, is take an existing design and improve it--modernized it. And if designers can take an ancient pyramid and make it appropriate to modern times, then more kudos to them. That's what they're here for.
Who would want to be stuck in the past? Certainly not me.
Posted by Larissa Baransky on September 01, 2008 at 04:56 PM EDT #
It is important to create original and innovative ideas because as a result of these attempts, a new invention could be born. Our physical world limits the imagination of all designers. After many years have passed, people will begin to believe that everything that could have been invented already has and that every ?new? design is simply a copy. It is the belief that these limitations are illusions that sparks desire to try something different. Even if the final product is a failure, one has attempted the innovative and thus inspired others to do the same. There is always a good chance that one of those attempts leads to a new invention and thus a new way of thinking.
Posted by Carlos Torres-Cervantes on September 01, 2008 at 08:17 PM EDT #
I think this is a phenomenal. Structure and very cutting edge. I do consider this to be an original structure. The designer might have been inspired by the other structures, but I would never call it a copy or unoriginal. I think that it is important to know the history of ones field, and in my opinion it can only help and even provide inspiration or spark an idea, a designer can also make a more contemporary version and improve an older structure (or whatever the medium may be.)
I actually have always been taught to do research on past artists (or designers) who have done similar projects to know what has and hasent been done and use their mistakes, failures, and successes to make your work even better. It also helps me get my thoughts flowing because its easier to look at other works and get an idea rather then just stare at a blank piece of white paper and wait for an idea to spark in your mind.
I do think that each persons interpretation of the same concept idea is an incredible things, just like with the masks we recently did in our studio classes. Everyone got the same instructions and guidelines, yet each persons project came out so different.
Posted by Ronlee Ben-Gal on September 01, 2008 at 11:26 PM EDT #
Designers owe it not only to themselves but also to their respective societies to produce original ideas and designs to bring forth social progress. Our cultures are reflective of the designs we create, so therefore we should attempt to take full advantage of combining our intended messages with appropriate mediums. Whether it is the political cartoon of the Boston Massacre by Paul Revere that fired up the American colonists to rebel against England to the innovative "Inspi(RED)" advertisements and products that raised the awareness of HIV/AIDS in Africa in a new, unique manner, the interactions between the designs and the audiences, our works invoke thoughts and desired feelings.
As mentioned above by my classmate, one of the drawbacks to designing something totally original and "out there" is the possibility of that design be ostracized and criticized greatly, but I feel that is not a sufficient reason to not design something original. We are supposed to venture into the unknown; it is our responsibility as designers.
As for as the appropriation of borrowed elements is concerned, we must come to understand this biblical scripture (Ecclesiastes 1:9): "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun." I believe Irish poet James Stephens said it best: ?Originality does not consist in saying what no one has ever said before, but in saying exactly what you think yourself.? While here, the designers of the Ziggurat clearly drew inspiration from the greatest architectural structures this world has seen, but gave their design a new "flavor", from the materials used, the methods involved in the construction, and the purpose. The intent of their design is to make a revolutionizing impact on the world as a whole to initiate more eco-friendly designs, unlike the mentioned pyramidal structures of the past that were used to worship important figures and gods.
Sure moving from the past in order to evolve and progress is important, but we must use what the past has offered us for building blocks. As the proverb goes, "one who does not know the past does not know their future."
Posted by Garian Baker on September 02, 2008 at 04:52 PM EDT #
I believe this is great idea and it is just the tip of the iceberg as far as new building or community ideas. I the use of eco friendly sources of power like steam, wind, solar, etc. is definetly a step in the right direction with the energy/fossil fuel crisis goin on. Also with this idea it may make it possible for humans to live in other places thought to be unhabitabal such as anartica, sahara desert, rain forest without damaging the environment too much.
I also think it is very important for designers to create original ideas because it is fresh and new and could always be improved on if it may not work. Also with original ideas makes it possible for new options never imagined to originate and spawn more new ideas. It may not be important for new original ideas because things that are already invented and that are around now can always be improved to be better, faster, stronger, etc.
Using appropriation is pertinent within today's contemporary design scene because with the growing technological advances today some older designs that may be out of date or thought of as failures could work or be improved on to help out the society today.
Posted by Damon Baptiste on September 02, 2008 at 04:57 PM EDT #
It?s important for designers to create new or original ideas because we as humans seek change, as a sign of progression; however, the things we tend to consider ?original? are simply variations on something that has been done before. As M.C. Escher states, ?Originality is merely an illusion.?
For example, this beautiful structure in Dubai looks very futuristic, and at first glance one would think it hasn?t been done before. And while we have yet to create a carbon-neutral super-structure that is 2.3 square kilometers in size, a closer look shows that the structure, in a sense, has been done; pyramids have been used in architecture for thousands of years. However, the ?Ziggurat? has taken the idea of a pyramid and reinventing it, which gives us this completely new and modern superstructure, which I would personally consider appropriate, and pertinent to today?s design scene.
Posted by Dayle Barnes on September 04, 2008 at 09:48 PM EDT #
I believe it is very important for designers to be original and come up with their own ideas because if everyone constantly used someone else's ideas, everything would pretty much be the same. There would hardly be any variety in the designs. However, you cannot create something that you've never seen; so designers will need something to base their originality off of. Not to say to take someone else's entire concept and call it original; but, maybe learning FROM it or making it better; thus creating originality. The Egyptians didn't pull the idea of a pyramid out of thin air. They learned from earlier designs before them such as the Ziggurats of the Sumerians. Egyptians took this idea and turned it into the pyramids by filling in the gaps between the steps, almost remarkably making the Egyptian design more well-known than the Sumerian.
Posted by Addison Clincy on September 16, 2008 at 10:24 AM EDT #