Nature and design: thoughts on sources and subjects

Abstract

This article takes the theme ‘Is nature the best designer?’ and, in order to show that nature was historically and remains today a viable, valid and relevant source of design, particularly surface and pattern design, looks at three examples. Firstly it examines the designs of the Victorian designer, William Morris, done for the company Morris & Co., to show the potential of nature as a source of images. It simultaneously investigates his writings, where he expands on the reasons for finding nature so inspiring. This shows that nature has always stood for something more than a source of visual inspiration but has been a symbol of other, more abstract, aspirations, in his case as a beacon for a better social system. The article then investigates two contemporary South African projects producing popular arts, namely Ardmore Ceramics and Kaross, in order to show that nature remains an inspiration, both for visual images as well as for more abstract ideals.

AFRIKAANS: Ontwerp en die natuur: idees oor bronne en temas. Hierdie artikel neem as tema die vraag ‘Is die natuur die beste ontwerper?’, en fokus op drie voorbeelde van ontwerp om sodoende aan te toon dat die natuur in die verlede ‘n praktiese, geldige en relevante bron van ontwerp – veral oppervlak-en patroonontwerp – was, en ook in die hede ‘n waardevolle bron is. Die eerste voorbeeld wat in hierdie verband ondersoek word, sluit in die ontwerpe van Victoriaanse ontwerper Wiliam Morris, geskep vir Morris & Co. Sy werk verteenwoordig die natuur se potesiaal as bron vir ontwerpe. Terselfder tyd word gekyk na Morris se skrywe, waarin hy verduidelik waarom die natuur so ‘n waardevolle bron van inspirasie is. Morris se benadering toon dat die natuur meer as net inspirasie bied vir visueele beelde, maar ook op ‘n dieper vlak as simbool van meer abstrakte doelwitte dien, soos byvoorbeeld, as model vir ‘n beter sosiale sisteem. Vervolgens ondersoek die artikel twee hedendaagse Suid Afrikaanse projekte wat populêre kuns produseer, naamlik Ardmore Ceramics en Kaross, om te wys hoe die natuur steeds as bron vir visuele inspirasie sowel as nie-tasbare ideale dien.