The Working Model
The Working Model
Norman Bel Geddes
Norman Bel GEddes Began his career working as a set designer In Los Angeles he then later , in 1927, opened an industrial design studio and produced a wide range of products including radios cocktail shakers cars and everything in between. His designs include a variety of unrealised futuristic concepts such as teardrop shaped cars 9 deck aeroplanes and more. through the range of products and buildings he's designed in his career he's considered one of the most significant and important designers to have ever lived.
I chose to look at Geddes Because of the wide range of both items he's designed and techniques he's used through everything from prototyping to drafting come on his works are both prolific and numerous. I also specially like the way he uses streamlined designs and smooth shapes to create these very typical futuristic bases on top of which he creates intriguing and different designs.
In Bel geddes book 'Horizons' where he talks about his designs and ideas he does not obviously state any specific links to anything as inspirations to designs. But throughout the book he talks about the designs in a mechanical sense where he talks about streamlining and uses examples such as marine mammals cutting through the water which in the design his ocean liner can, in my opinion, be clearly seen as an inspiration and will be something i will have to look at later on.
I also appreciate the fact that Bel Geddes says "cars, airships, steamships or other objects of an industrial nature stimulates you the same way that the Parthenon stimulates you and as such should be considered a work of art." in saying this he is showing that he does not value function over form and his designs while still industrial in nature are in themselves works of art that do create a sense of awe and amazment.
OCEAN LINER No.4
