POP! Design

Pop Design got its name from 'Popular Culture'. This is because, the representatives of this era designed for the youngsters (kids from the baby boom have grown since the Post War) so their designs included bright colors. Other characteristics during this period are: Psychedelia, trashy, kitsch, plastic material and drug abuse effects. This era was inspired from Dadaism and Abstract Expressionism. Pop Design originated from Britain in 1952, member of which are called as The Independent Group include: Eduardo Paolozzi, Richard Hamilton, architects Alison and Peter Smithson and critics Lawrence Alloway and Reyner Banham.

The first artwork produced in the late 1940's, 1947 to be exact was by Scottish sculptor and artist Eduardo Paolozzi named "I was a Rich Man's Plaything".

This artwork was inspired by Surrealism and Dada photomontage and it has a darker tone of British Pop Art. It had cut up images of Pop culture documents, a Coca-Cola advertisement and a military recruitment advertisement.

Pop Art expanded quickly in America. One of the most popular American Pop artists was Andy Warhol along with Tom Wesselman and Roy Lichtenstein. Warhol's Campbell Soup was very popular at the time. Society became more materialistic during this period and that influenced their art.

Roy Lichtenstein "In the car"

'Pop Furniture' started in the 1960's, the time of 'The Beatles'. 

Bocca Sofa - Studio 65 - 1972

This is a perfect example of Pop Design. It is just a simple big bold red lips sofa which gained popularity around the world.
Materials Used: Cold expanded polyurethane, elasticized fabric cover.

Lounge furniture - Roberto Sebastian - 1965

Another example of Pop furniture; designed by Roberto Sebastian (1965). It looks like a jigsaw puzzle and the eye-catching small yellow piece in middle really made the whole product stand out in my opinion. I mean if the yellow piece was not there, for me, it would have been a bit boring.

Materials: Polyurethane foam and wool.

 

References:
- 1stWebDesigner LTD., 2008-'14, 'Great Art Movements That Inspired Modern Web Designers [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/art-inspiration-for-designers/ [Accessed at: 23 January 2014] 
- Blogger.com, 1999, History of Industrial Design [ONLINE] Available at: http://jujootm.blogspot.com/2008/10/popfurniture.html [Accessed 23 January 2014]
- The Art Story Foundation, 2014, Pop Art [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.theartstory.org/movement-pop-art.htm [Accessed 23 January 2014]