Modernism - Is a response to modernity, an embrace of the modern, cultural project merges out of modernity.
Modernity - The social experience of industrialisation and urbanisation, period of time.
Post-modernism - Applied to a wide range of cultural analysis & production since 1970. Referred to as a significant shift in attitude.
MODERNISM
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The first piece of modernist design is the front cover to the journal Neue Graftik which was produced by modernist designer Carlo Vivarelli. The way that we can establish that this is a modernist piece of design is through the simplistic and logical layout that the design takes through origin of functionality coming first before aesthic, The hierarchy of the text is the first indicator of modernism as we are taken on a simple journey in our minds when looking at the journal, first our eyes are drawn to the title which have been placed in a larger point size at the left hand side at the top in three different languages we are then taken visually to the number 1 which is located below the title which the the next largest point size type on the page followed by the smaller areas of text. The use of just the colours black and white are also a obvious indicator of modernism design the fact that Vivarelli has not used any colour rather just black and stock, not input any illustration or vector design indicts this modernist attitude of just having the bare essentials on the page and supports Massimo Vignelli's idea of ''Modernism ascetic, spartan look still has a towering position of strength and dignity''.
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This modernist piece of design Josef Muller is part of a series of concert posters for Beethoven. As we can see there is no use of pictures to represent the musical aspect/background of Beethoven however there is the use of signs and symbols to reflect this musical quality that the poster is portraying, this is a large indictor of modernist design, the use of signs and symbols to reflect this musical quality strip the design down to its minimum, communicating the musical quality however sticking to this idea of simplicity. The use of two colours black and white also convey this idea of modernity, things being black and white to there rarest form avoiding any confusion or mis-interpretation, this use of black and white can also be related to the idea of classical and traditional music (the background of Beethoven's profession), Massimo Vignelli said ''The solution should reflect the approach taken, and by the virtue of its configuration, stimulate cultural reactions in the viewer'', the cultural reaction here relating to the the musical essence of Beethoven through signs and symbols. The use of a sans-serif typeface also connotes the idea of clarity and increases legibility and readability.
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This piece of modernist design is by an artist by the name of Armin Hoffman as we can see from the type which has been used in the largest point size on the page. Armin Hoffman was a swiss designer, swiss designs were prominent during the modernist period, not only were swiss designs a iconic example of modernism they were more prominent as they produced to have an ongoing contemporary slant which continue to maintain there aesthetic qualities even in the 21st century. The clear journey which is determined through the use of type and point size are a indictor of modernist design, the largee the point size the more important the type.
http://anasokolovic.hotglue.me/herbert
This modernist design by Herbert Bayer is evidently a modernist piece of design due to the use of grid, equal spacing and careful alignment, these are all attributes of modernist design. Bayer was a teacher at the Bauhaus, a teacher of painting, sculpture, advertising, architecture and most importantly typography. As we can see her the modernist approach of simplicity and clarity of evident though the use of legible and visible type that has been used. This piece clearly focuses on the practicality and ease of use for the audience in order for the strongest message to be portrayed in the purest form.
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This modernist piece yet again by Josef Muller is a clear representation of modernist design which has continued through the 21st century so far to maintain its aesthetic quality and contemporary mentality. The influential swiss design uses minimalistic colours, minimal type besides what is relevant and its formal layout to convey its organic message through civilisation and in-complex approach.
POST-MODERNISM
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This is clearly a post-modernist piece of design by April Greiman, the designer has clearly taken the extreme approach from a post-modernist perspective, was the first person to create digital art on a computer and this is one of her pieces from WET magazine. This is evident through the use of a infamous colour spectrum and disregard to layout and visual journey or indication of focal point of the message. The rebellious approach of fragmented elements layered upon each other clearly defeat any type of logical journey or logical communication of a message, there is no clear function for the piece which is one of the core concepts of modernism resulting in minimal practicality. In the centre of the page the audience can almost configure with the focal point however Greiman has used a filled black block to cover the eyes of the person in the image- once again dissolving the message and making it increasingly difficult for a clear message to be portrayed.
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This is a double page spread inside the magazine called 'The Face' which neville Brody is most well-known for designing editorial pieces. This is a clear example of post-modernist design as the use of media and exploration of colour and type is adventurous and bold. The use of media (paint) and the vibrant use of colours clearly separates the design from a modernist piece of art where minimalism is the key. It is interesting to see that the use of colours intersect the typography on the page, almost reducing legibility and readability however a risk that only a post-modernist designer would take to explore creativity and still portray a message.
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This front cover magazine design by David Carson a influential post-modernist designer for the rock and role magazine 'Ray Gun'. As we can see from the cover design there is a sense of disorientation of the type, the abstract nature of this disorientation is clearly intentional and exploratory. Although this is a piece of editorial design we can tell that it is postmodernist due to the lack of grid in terms of the layout, the scattered type and illustrative image is a clear representation of pop-culture, rock and roll and ultimately a break-through in terms of a cutting-edge look.
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This front cover magazine design was created by Terry Jones, the basis of the cover represents a sense of chaos through the use of frantic colours spread over the page, this sense of chaos is also portrayed through the unconventional editorial grid layout and the use of collage design. All of these factors add to this postmodernist approach Jones has taken to the piece, the target audience is clearly reflective of the pop-youth culture.
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This punk rock album design create by Jamie Reid is a neater representation of post-modernist art, the us of three different colours, the use of disoriented type on top of the image of the queen and the use of a fragmented flag design are all a reflection of a post modernist approach to the design.
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