How is Design ‘Aesthetic’? Processes of Meaning Formulation and Cultural Framing in Design

Mads Nygaard Folkmann, Hans-Christian Jensen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

This paper has a dual purpose. First, it will present an interpretive framework for investigating the formation and articulation of aesthetic meaning in design. Hereby, aesthetic meaning can be seen to evolve on three levels, on a sensual-phenomenological level, a conceptual-critical level, and a contextual-discursive level. Taking this as an outset, the paper will then critically reflect the impact of the cultural framing of design and focus at the cultural element of aestheticization, that is, the procedures by which design objects are not only regarded as aesthetic in themselves but also attributed meaning as aesthetic by external factors, e.g. in mediation. The play on aesthetic meaning in the context of aestheticization is reflected in a close analysis of a case of contemporary Danish design, the lamp series Caravaggio (2005) by Cecilia Manz for the company Light Years. Thus, it is an argument of the paper, that when we ask for the aesthetics in design, how design is aesthetic, this may be answered by both addressing the internal meaning formulation and the external cultural framing in design.
Original languageEnglish
JournalWassard Elea Rivista
Volume2
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)14-30
Number of pages17
Publication statusPublished - 20. Apr 2014
EventThe Aesthetics of Design: American Society of Aesthetics - Ascea, Italy
Duration: 16. May 2014 → 18. May 2014

Seminar

SeminarThe Aesthetics of Design
CountryItaly
CityAscea
Period16/05/2014 → 18/05/2014

Cite this

Folkmann, Mads Nygaard ; Jensen, Hans-Christian. / How is Design ‘Aesthetic’? Processes of Meaning Formulation and Cultural Framing in Design. In: Wassard Elea Rivista. 2014 ; Vol. 2, No. 1. pp. 14-30.
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Folkmann, MN & Jensen, H-C 2014, 'How is Design ‘Aesthetic’? Processes of Meaning Formulation and Cultural Framing in Design', Wassard Elea Rivista, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 14-30.

How is Design ‘Aesthetic’? Processes of Meaning Formulation and Cultural Framing in Design. / Folkmann, Mads Nygaard; Jensen, Hans-Christian.

In: Wassard Elea Rivista, Vol. 2, No. 1, 20.04.2014, p. 14-30.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › Research › peer-review

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AU - Jensen, Hans-Christian

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N2 - This paper has a dual purpose. First, it will present an interpretive framework for investigating the formation and articulation of aesthetic meaning in design. Hereby, aesthetic meaning can be seen to evolve on three levels, on a sensual-phenomenological level, a conceptual-critical level, and a contextual-discursive level. Taking this as an outset, the paper will then critically reflect the impact of the cultural framing of design and focus at the cultural element of aestheticization, that is, the procedures by which design objects are not only regarded as aesthetic in themselves but also attributed meaning as aesthetic by external factors, e.g. in mediation. The play on aesthetic meaning in the context of aestheticization is reflected in a close analysis of a case of contemporary Danish design, the lamp series Caravaggio (2005) by Cecilia Manz for the company Light Years. Thus, it is an argument of the paper, that when we ask for the aesthetics in design, how design is aesthetic, this may be answered by both addressing the internal meaning formulation and the external cultural framing in design.

AB - This paper has a dual purpose. First, it will present an interpretive framework for investigating the formation and articulation of aesthetic meaning in design. Hereby, aesthetic meaning can be seen to evolve on three levels, on a sensual-phenomenological level, a conceptual-critical level, and a contextual-discursive level. Taking this as an outset, the paper will then critically reflect the impact of the cultural framing of design and focus at the cultural element of aestheticization, that is, the procedures by which design objects are not only regarded as aesthetic in themselves but also attributed meaning as aesthetic by external factors, e.g. in mediation. The play on aesthetic meaning in the context of aestheticization is reflected in a close analysis of a case of contemporary Danish design, the lamp series Caravaggio (2005) by Cecilia Manz for the company Light Years. Thus, it is an argument of the paper, that when we ask for the aesthetics in design, how design is aesthetic, this may be answered by both addressing the internal meaning formulation and the external cultural framing in design.

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Folkmann MN, Jensen H-C. How is Design ‘Aesthetic’? Processes of Meaning Formulation and Cultural Framing in Design. Wassard Elea Rivista. 2014 Apr 20;2(1):14-30.