Democratic design - what does it mean?

[d12dozr]

I just came across the term "Democratic design" while reading about designer Karim Rashid...I'm interested in the meaning, but a cursory Google search didn't return any concise definitions.

I think it means 'designing for mass production'...is that correct?

[Gaieus]

Never heard that expression. Maybe I am just too totalitarian?

[mitcorb]

I might guess it means to design with end users requirements as a priority and less influenced by personal whims and prejudices.
Perhaps as you say, the widest appeal to the widest audience. Whereas, this may appeal to no one.

[Rich O Brien]

Isn't it a model that you can either sell or buy with the intention of it being Royalty Free?

You'll get some here

[Rich O Brien]

If only I could see masimo's guess

[d12dozr]

Oops...fixed Thanks, Rich

[d12dozr]

Thanks guys.

Here is the context the term was used in (from Wikipedia) :

@unknownuser said:

Rashid's award winning designs include democratic objects such as the Garbo waste can and Oh Chair for Umbra, interiors such as the Morimoto restaurant, Philadelphia and Semiramis hotel, Athens and exhibitions for Deutsche Bank and Audi. Rashid has collaborated with clients to create democratic design for Method and Dirt Devil, bikes for Biomega,[2] furniture for Artemide and Magis, brand identity for Citibank and Hyundai, high tech products for LaCie and Samsung, and luxury goods for Veuve Clicquot, Swarovski and Kenzo,[3] to name a few.

From this context, I think mitcorb's guess is pretty close. It seems the term is used by industrial designers, which are not too frequent around here, but I appreciate any other thoughts.

[honoluludesktop]

Sounds like the "bad guys" out of "Atlas Shrugged".

[charly2008]

Here you will find more about:

http://www.democraticdesign.com/

http://inhabitat.com/philippe-starck%E2%80%99s-designer-windmill-for-all/

http://www.sliderstudio.co.uk/about/democratic-design/

Design Center Baden-Württemberg - Fehler

(www.design-center.de)

Democratic Design: IKEA

Die Neue Sammlung - The International Design Museum Munich - is now the first museum to devote a major exhibition to this subject - presented in the inimitable art-and-design-crossover context of Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich.

(www.dexigner.com)

301 Moved Permanently

(designmind.frogdesign.com)

[d12dozr]

Thanks charly, I hadn't seen several of those pages.

It looks like the term Democratic design is used in two ways, one meaning

@unknownuser said:

the idea of functional, well designed furniture that is affordable to most people

and the other meaning

@unknownuser said:

to be conscious of and promote user feedback

[honoluludesktop]

Or as Ann Rand might hypothesize: "design that panders to the limitation of professional lay persons, and not to the individual genius that advances (and occasionally retards society".

[tim]

@honoluludesktop said:

Or as Ann Rand might hypothesize: "design that panders to the limitation of professional lay persons, and not to the individual genius that advances (and occasionally retards society".

That's Ayn Rand. Though I have no idea whether that's Ayn as in 'pain' or Ayn as in 'whine'. Either would be a pretty good commentary on the insanity.

[honoluludesktop]

@tim said:

.........That's Ayn Rand. Though I have no idea whether that's Ayn as in 'pain' or Ayn as in 'whine'. Either would be a pretty good commentary on the insanity.

Opps, now that's equally smart, to attack someones name.>_<

[tim]

@honoluludesktop said:

@tim said:

.........That's Ayn Rand. Though I have no idea whether that's Ayn as in 'pain' or Ayn as in 'whine'. Either would be a pretty good commentary on the insanity.

Opps, now that's equally smart, to attack someones name.>_<

Given that she attacked pretty much everybody for just about every reason under the sun I think I'm being amazingly polite…

But really, nothing there to get over excited about. It's all completely off the topic anyway.