Thoughts on Design
-- Larry Dubitsky

Throughout time, we have been concerned with design. Einstein said in his critique of the indeterminacy principle of quantum mechanics, "God does not play dice with universe." He believed in the deterministic ideas of classical physics, i.e., that a higher power designed the universe. He spent his life trying to find the principles of universal design.

All religions believe that God not only designed the world, but He also designed how men and women should live and behave in it. Along the same line of thinking the ancient Greeks felt we were at the mercy of the gods who decreed our fate from on high. Their epics and plays, Oedipus Rex, for example, extolled this tragic outlook.

Hindus believe in the idea of Karma; that your life is designed as a series of lessons you must learn to reach higher consciousness.

Classical Chinese painters designed landscapes, not to mirror a specific place or time, but to make visible the 'Chi' or breath of the universe. Ruskin, a 19th century English critic noted that visual design had a purpose. That purpose was beauty. To illustrate his idea, Ruskin drew 'a line of beauty'. When done, the line resembled the body of a violin.

The Bauhaus, an early 20th century German school of applied arts, formulated the idea that 'form follows function.' The clean, unadorned lines of their architecture and furniture are still with us today. The Brewer chair is a classic example of their philosophy.

Modern man believes he can 'take control' or design his life. The philosopher Descartes, representing the consciousness of the rational era, said, "I think, therefore, I am."

If you walk through an art museum and view its collection of early Renaissance paintings, you will find a common design theme used by the artists in their own way. If you walk through a collection of modern art as I did at the Hirschorn in Washington, you will probably have no way of relating one picture to another. There are no common design themes.

I was at the Hirschorn two years ago. It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon. The second floor gallery housing its permanent collection was deserted. I spent half an hour studying the paintings, then I started to walk away. I heard the clatter of heels behind me and a voice stopped me. "Sir," she said. It was the voice of a female museum guard.

"I've been watching you," she continued. "You seem to know something about painting. Could I ask you a question?"

She pointed to a large bilious green canvas. "Whenever I look at that picture, I get nauseous. It's not beautiful to me. Is it me or the picture?"

I laughed and explained that she probably agreed with the Englishman, Ruskin, that pictures were made to be beautiful. I told her of Suzanne K. Langer's philosophy of art: that art is an objectification of the inner life of the artist. It didn't have to be beautiful but, rather, meaningful. I went on to tell her that whoever painted the bilious green canvas probably had a tortured soul and he expressed it with perfect clarity.

So, what's the point? Thinking is designing. Through its design, your work communicates your state of mind. Yuor state of mind is an objectification of your feelings. In painting, a main rhythm that hooks into other rhythms is one element of good design. The rhythm creates a total sense of movement. This movement is what directs the viewer's eye around the canvas. Through the viewer's eye movement around the canvas an internal or aesthetic experience of the feeling you are communicating is realized.

The reality or value of your work is the expression and communication of throughts and feeling. A painting that expresses your feelings may not necessarily be beautiful, except, of course, if you feel beautiful.

There is no overriding aesthetic purpose in 'modern' art. The theme is eclectic. We celebrate originality. We demand 'newness'. The artis's vision must be unique. Above all, the artist must not be derivative (work that is similar to another artist). If you are a painter, take pains to make sure your work resembles that of no other artist. And, design or think about your painting so that it clearly expresses the feelings you want to communicate.