Bianca D'Alessio

  AFRICA 1881 ~ 1994          In this week's discussion, we focused on African interiors. Reading about this really shifted the way I think about design and how I should research more cultures' take on interiors. One thing I learned is that in the African culture, their designs are all connected to something. Whether that be family, experiences, culture, etc. I liked learning about how the design in this era mixed function and symbolism to create a beautiful outcome. Unlike much of the Western design, African design emphasizes community and status. Overall, aesthetics was not the priority on its own. Meaning, function, and symbolism played just as important a role in making African design both international and rooted in community.                                          CURRENT APPLICATIONS          ...

      THE ARTS & CRAFTS MOVEMENT 1880 ~ 1920      The Arts and Crafts Movement was formed right after the Victorian period and the Industrial Revolution. The Victorian period, from 1837 to 1901, marked the beginning of consumer culture. While this period offered elaborate decor, stylish details, and the act of collecting accessories, the furniture and materials were poorly manufactured. This became a problem for furniture and textile companies because people stopped purchasing their products.     There was an architect named William Morris who stood against the Victorian period and the Industrial Revolution. He wanted to put an end to mass production and revert to the real and authentic nature of simplicity. Morris then started a movement in Britain, which later became known as the Arts and Crafts Movement, and spread quickly across the world. Some characteristics of this movement included that everything was handmade, based on medieval design...