Edward Prince Furniture Design - Design Portfolio - Philosophy
Personal Aesthetic.
My design philosophy is based on originality, not reproduction although I am comfortable drawing on many design styles (Primitive, Georgian, Shaker, Art Deco, Modernism etc.), I aim to produce furniture that is unique and contemporary yet grounded in the arts and crafts and the contemporary designer/craftsman movements philosophies. Being a furniture maker as well as a designer, I am also very interested in the craft of the making. I am constantly looking for new ways of blending and extending the traditions of the early craftsmen with exciting uses for materials, techniques and the best of contemporary innovations.
I believe in an inclusive and collaborative process of design guided more by values than ideology. Influences can draw on almost anything depending upon the project and client. Whatever the human mind has given attention to from science and engineering, religion, the arts, nature and politics can provide creative stimulus. This is combined in a fluid process of adaptation to achieve something unique and where appropriate can have some impact upon the context of an idea. Key drivers of my aesthetics lie in a strong belief in responding to the human spirit, the concept of yin and yang, playing with the proportions of the golden section, a wish for elegance in both visual and conceptual interpretation. There has to be pleasure in use, enjoyment of details that can be taken for granted but can provide the observer with an ‘ah ha’ moment.
The Modernists of the early 20th century realized the importance of good design when they began looking for alternative approaches to furniture production. Aesthetics, intellectual content and functionality were all considered with equal importance. Good design ensures that the object functions as it should, has a level of meaning, is aesthetically pleasing to the client, is structurally sound, comes in on budget and is completed on time.
A Human element.
The human being is a wonderful creation aesthetically, functionally and emotionally. Each has personalities (not all great, true) but they are none the less imbued with spirit. It is this same sense of humanity that I wish to bring forward in the objects that I am creating. Objects in our lives should reflect human qualities and have a personality. I believe the very core of an outstanding design is felt through its sensory appeal; how does the piece stimulate the eyes, the hands, the ear even the soul? When looking at intelligently conceived and made pieces of furniture you get the felling that if it were alive it would have a positive personality, character and values in fact they should reflect your own. It is for these reasons I have a deep suspicion of the white box minimalist brigade. These style fascists have imposed a soulless monochrome world on humanity forgetting our human nature and may their popularity be short lived.
Quality.
The pleasure of living with a quality object is an intangible emotion which cannot be quantified and provides a multi dimensional benefit. Quality is felt when all the parts fit perfectly, there are big gaps or rough edges. These pieces exude the care with which they were created. Quality is subconsciously felt when a door opens and closes with the minimum of effort, it feels right. Quality is a continual harmony of timber grain, colour and pattern. When an object is made with quality as its foundation they are likely to appreciate in value. Finally in a planet of diminishing resources quality products do not demand constant replacement
“It’s unwise to pay too much,
but it’s unwise to pay too little.
When you pay too much
you loose a little money.
That is all
When you pay too little
you sometimes loose everything
because the thing that you bought was incapable
of doing the thing you bought it to do.
The common law of business balance
prohibits paying a little and getting a lot.
It can’t be done.
If you deal with the lowest bidder
It’s well to add something for the risk you run.
And if you do that,
you will have enough to pay for something better.
John Ruskin
Craftsmanship.
There is huge satisfaction from transforming an idea into reality. With the exception of sanding making a thing with your hands is a very pleasurable experience and the reward of seeing a pile of wood evolve into furniture is very satisfying. I tread a thin line between the machine and hand made. A machine made object will be perfect and the first one will be exactly the same as the last one. Yet with a machine made piece there is something missing. I like the idea that when master rug makers make their hand-knotted Turkish rugs they include a deliberate mistake which only they know about because they believe only perfection should belong to god. It is this sprit that is missing in machine made furniture the human element, a sole, the spirit of the maker. When craftsmanship is combined with good design the result is an object that contains something of its creator, it is this quality which craftsman made furniture exudes in a way that machine made objects will never be able to.
Methods and Materials
Throughout the process of design, building, or restoration care is taken to ensure the proper selection of quality Timber and hardware. I personally select the wood carefully matching each element to the special requirements of each project. I obtain lumber from a variety of sources, preferably from those associated with FSC (forest stewardship certification) sustainable management programs and specialist suppliers. Individual wooden parts are oriented within a composition to feature the most attractive, durable surfaces while accommodating the inevitable movement that wood experiences with atmospheric changes. Wood is an amazing material - it reflects and absorbs light in a unique way. It moves constantly, through expansion and contraction. There are a huge range of colours, grain patterns ranging from subtle to complex and completely unique. They are a palpable document that traces the history of the tree.
Sustainability
Sustainability is manifested in two ways the materials used and also attention to quality. When precious resources are consumed to make furniture with a short lifespan not only are the materials wasted but also the energy invested in their creation. By buying less but of greater design and quality integrity the pleasure of their use is spread over decades even longer and the investment made goes far deeper. All it takes is a little extra thought and care, learning and adapting all the time.
I endeavor to put into practice the fundamental aspects of sustainable design in all areas of my business. I am interested in the entire lifecycle of the products I produce and their impact on people and the environment.
While each project is different and each new client has different requirements, I aim to produce furniture that has a very long lifespan, is made from sustainably harvested or reclaimed/recycled timbers, is non-toxic and produced using safe and ethical labour practices.