purposely constructed." - Owen Jones
Jones persistently stated that the function should be the reason the item was created, and this function should be first priority. The ornamental aspect of an object should therefore come second in priority.
This is a very concise statement, but Jones was short sighted, over simplifying what is good and bad design. His theory can not possibly cover everything.
What happens to a purely ornamental piece? Art, an ornament, a statue? Following Jones' advice, the frame and hanging hook would be the main aspect of the art picture, an ornament would need a purpose other than looking nice - it must do something, and a stature would have to have a strong sturdy base and like the ornament, must serve a purpose - a drinking fountain I surpose? I believe that there is a time and place where purely ornamental object serve a purpose.
iPad/iPod
Products like this , however, display how we still view Jones' view on design as law. Purely practical, with the ornamentation coming second.
If we view 'ornamental' as swirls and curves and obsessive lines, than all apple products are not ornamental. With clean straight lines, curved sides and edges to be functional and like Pugin likes, materials that stay true to their properties. Jones would highly aprove. But the ornamental aspects of the iPad is everything that is shone from the screen. Curves, movement and depth is conveyed through the screen. The straight edges hold the ornamental movements and structures with, like a frame for art. It adds structure to 'messy' ornamentation within the bounds.
t,
Wellington, New Zealand
Like apple products, this fire place holds in the ornamentation within, adding structure to the chaos. This is how todays society has developed from Jones' way of thinking. Jones' 'rules' has been extended so much so that we now view everything ornamental as tacky and unnecessary.
Of course products and people need to differentiate from each other, so we have built the ornamentation into the structure. Straight modern lines in architecture are considered a point of difference, and yet this 'ornamentation' is not only coming second to the purpose and function of the product but it is part of it.
It is the same with the coke bottle. The ornamentation is the curve, and dots on the side and the branding sticker, but, likewise, these are also the function and the purpose.
