Bianca D'Alessio

                        Postmodernism The 1980's           Postmodernism in interior design grew out of a desire to break away from the clean, rigid rules of modernism and bring personality back into spaces. Instead of focusing only on function, designers started mixing styles, using bold colors, playful shapes, and references to the past in unexpected ways.           Looking back, it’s clear that postmodernism followed a kind of rise and fall. It began as an avant-garde movement that challenged traditional ideas, then quickly became popular and widely accepted. At its height, it was everywhere, shaping major projects and high profile commissions, proving that it wasn’t just experimental but also a serious and commercially successful design approach.           Over time, though, that originality started to fade. Postmodern design...

     After Modernism  The 60's & 70's                 Interior design after World War II had a lot of the ideas from 1950s modernism carried into the 1960s. Events like the Festival of Britain helped spread modern design to a wider audience, and styles like Scandinavian design became really popular for their simplicity and focus on functionality. Designers during this time were experimenting with new materials like injection molded plastic and fiberglass, which made furniture more affordable and easier to produce. At the same time, there was still a strong connection to art, especially through abstract expressions. You can see this mix of art and function in pieces like Joseph Albers nesting tables , Marimekko Unikko pattern , Tulip chair , and Swan chair . A lot of interiors also started using “all-in-one systems,” where furniture and storage were combined to make spaces more efficient and streamlined.    ...

                                   Commercial Interiors & History of Women in  Interior Design            Commercial interiors in the twentieth century reveal how deeply design is tied to the changing nature of work, culture, and economic life. If skyscrapers are the cathedrals of the modern age, then the office interior became something like a sanctuary (though unlike historic sacred spaces, these interiors were constantly changing and rarely preserved). Only a few, like Johnson Wax and John Deere, still exist, while many others, including Paul Rudolph’s Burroughs Welcome Laboratories and the SOM/Knoll Connecticut General Life complex, have disappeared over time. Early office design was shaped by Taylorism, with a focus on efficiency and order, but this gradually shifted toward more flexible ideas like the open plan and Burolandschaft, esp...

  Other Modernism Modernism in America   Mid Century Modern ~ 1950-1960            Mid century modern interior design brought a fresh and relaxed way of living into the home. Instead of heavy decor, it focused on simplicity and open space. Rooms were designed with flat surfaces, angular details, and asymmetrical shapes that felt modern but still comfortable. One of the defining features was the use of large glass walls which filled the interiors with natural light and made it feel as if the outdoors were part of the home. Open floor plans and even bi level layouts helped create a natural flow between spaces, making homes feel bigger and more connected. This style became especially popular on the West Coast, where the climate made it easy to blend indoor living with outdoor surroundings.            The colors and furniture choices added warmth and personality to these spaces. Many interiors used earthy, ...