midmod-ology: introduction, blog 1

an approach to design

As a movement, Mid Century Modern (MCM) shares its ideals with Modernism, the revolution in design and architecture that expressed the machine age in bold new forms. Emerging in Scandinavia in the 1920s and 1930s, MCM design displays a similar concern for function and practicality, a move towards a simplicity and democratic spirit. This embrace of functional, simple and unpretentious, was further enhanced by the Scandinavian emphasis on ‘approachability’, resulting in an enduring appeal and a broad-ranging influence.

Many great designs are quite simply wonderful to look at. They occupy interiors like spatial markers or pieces of sculpture while maintaining their functional purpose. For example, Arne Jacobsen’s ‘Egg’ chair serves an exquisitely executed artisan form while simultaneously beckoning you to have a seat; Scandinavian Modern pioneered the integration of beauty and practicality in a way never previously seen.

These are designs that invite interaction, forms that draw people in. They often show a perfectly judged balance between the human capacity to abstract and nature’s living vitality. They are quietly functional but memorably beautiful as well. On a basic level, technology in MCM design is not on show for its own sake, but serving a higher and more expressive purpose.

In the context of Modernism, ‘approachability’ might be preemptively considered a derogatory quality, smacking of compromise or a watering down of ideals. The early Modernists were waging war on tradition and took no prisoners. Ornament was a crime. 1920s Bauhaus materials were hard and industrial, forms were actively mechanistic, with the embrace of contrived and aggressive designs resulting in Brutalism. What sets Scandinavian Modern apart is it’s reconciliation of the contemporary ethos in design with the connection to nature that is innate in the human spirit. The result is a marriage of modern materials and techniques with natural materials and craft; of clean lines with organic curved forms; of basic functional performance with pleasure and emotional appeal. These are designs that show us the way forward while reminding us of where we come from.