abbie mawhinney - personal manifesto
DESCRIPTION
"Design style comes from the sum of the intellectual and the emotional experiences of the individual. For it to be positive and vital, design style must be exercised and developed. It is changeable and influenced by environment. A well-cultivated design style is likely to be exciting and provocative, design style at it's highest level."- Eleanor BrownTRANSCRIPT
ABBIEMAWHINNEYPERSONAL MANIFESTO
Personal
PERSONAL MANIFESTO
“Design style comes from the sum of the intellectual and emotionalexperiences of the individual. For it to be positive and vital, design style must be exercised and developed. It is changeable and influenced by environment. A well-cultivated design style is likely to be exciting
and provocative, design style at its highest level.”
- Eleanor Brown
To begin my personal manifesto journey I looked to my personal styleaswell as to my body of works thus far.
My personal style says a lot about me, it is indeed the result of myintellectual and emotional experiences. My current studies allow me to
exercise and develop it. It is changeable and is influencedby my environment.Personal
Manifesto
ManifestoMy work is a direct reflection of this. I have enjoyed the opportunity to experiment with different facets of my style but I have also observed
distinct concepts that continuously present themselves asreoccurring themes in my designs.
My designs are bold and brave. What ever I do, I do with dedication. There is little to be confused about and the intention is clear.
It is my challenge to counter balance this approach with intrigue and mystery so as to create the most desirable atmosphere of
comfort and harmony.
I am attracted to nature and its representation inside, some might call this bringing the outside in.
Thirdly, it is obvious that there is an element of minimalism is about me. I detest clutter and enjoy clear open spaces. It is my belief that
everything has a place and organisation and order is thebest way to achieve this.
Feminine
Contrast
Contrast is the title derived from the bold and brave nature of mydesign approach. It includes both the masculine side and the feminine
side of my personality and is representative of opposites.
All of us have a masculine and a feminine side. The masculine side comes from a place of strength and in contrast, the feminine side comes
from a place of goodness.
It is said that design too, has a masculine and feminine side. We see this in all forms be it fashion design, furniture design, architecture or interiors. To me perfection in design, and life, is the attainment of
a balance between the two.
The masculine comes from my ability to approach a project with strength,confidence, determination and vigor. I do this by enjoying structural elements such as steel beams and strong materials such as concrete. It is the masculine, which makes up the primary elements in my designs.Feminine
Masculine
MasculineAs a woman, I am naturally feminine and a need for my designs tobalance with a sense of femininity is strong. I do this throughdecoration, the small things, be it artwork, furniture or décor.Femininity in my designs cretaes the mystery and intrigue I feelnecessary to balance a space. It is the feminine that makes up the
secondary elements of my design.
I enjoy how both sides either blend together harmoniously or juxtapose against each other simultaneously. Each case presents interest andintrigue with opposing elements co-existing together. In whicheverexample opposites exists and contrast is the principle that defines
their relationship to one another.
Contrast
Resilience
Resilience is the term reached in order to represent my attraction tonature and the desire to have it appear throughout my designs.
The remarkable resilience of nature continuously amazes me. Its ability to survive against the odds is impressive and its capacity to absorbdisturbance whilst retaining its essential function, structure and
identity is to be respected, valued and admired.
In a society almost entirely defined by artificial things, a connection to nature seems necessary in order to stay centered and grounded atop of
the pressure that comes with modern day life. Through its use ininteriors I am able to create the harmony required to do so.
I am particularly attracted to the roughened and aged textures of stone, timber and minerals. In their natural form they offer an abundance of
shapes, patterns and colours.
Using natural materials enhances sustainability and promotes healthyecological design practices which given my background of sustainable
living and my inherent respect for the envirnment,is important and meaningful to me.Contrast
Beauty
Silence
Silence represents minimalism. Minimalism sets out to expose theessence, essentials and identity of a subject through eliminating all
non-essential forms, features or concepts.
To quote Antoine de Saint-Exupe, “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
It is this concept of taking away that appeals to me. To live with only fundamental elements creates space for thought and tranquility.
Organisation and order is also important to me and is vital in thepursuance of creatng minimalistic spaces.Beauty
Imagination
ImaginationIn conclusion, my design style encompasses these three aspects in anembodiment of which is my personal approach to design. In all of my
projects at least one or all of these details will be present.
The following pages are a collation of imagery and text fashioned toevocatively symbolize Contrast, Resilience and Silence.
- Thank you, Abbie Mawhinney
Indulgance
indulgeto allow oneself the pleasure of somethingIndulgance
Resilience
nurt ureto cherish
foster & keep aliveResilience
BraveryLYLE NEWRYMIRRAWONG GADJURONG TRIBE WA
braverydesign
resilienceto survive the test of
timeBravery
Explanation
“it’s art if it can’t be explained. it’s fashion if no one asks for an explanation. it’s design if it doesn’t need an explanation.”
- wouter stokkelExplanation
LoveCHURCH OF LIGHTOSAKA JAPANTADAO ANDO 1989
Lovelovefor the loveof design
WisdomBLACK & WHITEGIANLUCA SPAGNUOLI 2007
wisdom“design is intelligence
made visible.”
- alina wheelerWisdom
DecisionCATE BLANCHETT AS BOB DYLANI’M NOT THERE 2007
decision“concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.”
- victor hugo
BILLIE HOLIDAYNEW YORK
C.1946
Decision
Directiondirectionregulate the course of control
restraintANNA MARIA URAJEVSKAYA
MICHELANGELO DI BATTISTA
Direction
Lonliness
lonliness
NATALIA VODIANOVAMARIO TESTINOLonliness
Sophisticationsophistication
SOPHIA LAUREN1962
Sophistication
Determinationstyle“a girl should be two things: classy
& fabulous.”
- coco chanel
determination FRIDA KAHLO1946
Determination
Transparency
“good design is obvious.great design is transparent.”
- joe sparanoTransparency
Expressionprettiness
Expression
MagicFLORENCE WELCHFLORENCE + THE MACHINE
expression
magicthe art of seduction
Magic
Strength
strengthVALERIJA KELAVA
POLO ROVERSIVOGUE ITALIA FEBRUARY 2011
Strength
Simplicitysimple
SET OF THREE FRENCH HERB & GARDEN SCISSORSDUNLIN HOME
things“simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
- leonardo de vinciSimplicity
manipulationEmpowerment
power
TILDA SWINTONW MAGAZINE AUGUST 2011
Empowerment
Silence
GRACE KELLY ON HER WEDDING DAYMONACO 1956
silencevirtuous silenceSilence
Minimalism
“less is more.”
- ludwig mies van der roheMinimalism
HOMEWARESSKANDIVIS
Freedom
Freedom
Intricacy‘THE BONEYARD’TUSCAN ARIZONA
intricatedetailIntricacy
Mr Foxfantastic
mrFox
“when you’re building a room, you’re building a character &
charcter is the strength & wisdom of a home.” - rose tarlowMr Fox
Coppercopper
MR COPPER PENDANTMERCHANT NO. 4
COLE STOOLMADE GOODS
Copper
Goldengold
Golden
Lightlight
Light
Commitment
commitment
“stay committed to your decisions but flexible in
your approach.”
- tom robbinsCommitment
materialitythe applied use of a
materialStr uct ure
str uct urethe arrangement of elementsStr uct ure
Purpose
“design is a plan for arrangingelements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose.”
- charles eamesPurpose
CreativitymysteryDAVID GULPILILAUSTRALIA
RECLAIMED TIMBER STAIRCASELOS ANGELES
... the heart of creativity.Creativity
HOT MUD SPRINGNAMASKARD THERMAL AREA
SOLFATARENFELD NORTHERN ICELAND
“a design is a planner with
aesthetic sense.”
- bruno manari
SALT LAKE EYRE SA
MURRAY FREDDRICKS
SustainWOODEN SPOONSDUNLIN HOME
GENUSS WERKSTATT COOKING SCHOOLPOLLAU ASTRIA
sustainabilitySustain
DefinitionWASHINGTON PARK RESIDENCESULLIVAN CONRAD ARCHITECTS
clearly outlined
definitiondistinct
ARCHEOLOGY MUSEUM OF VITORIAFRANCISCO MANGADO
Definition
HOUSE IN THE PYRENEESCADAVAL & SOLA-MORALES
Deathdeath
Death
“all architects want to live beyond their deaths.”
- philip johnson
“all architects want to live beyond their deaths.”
- philip johnson
Divinitydivinity
“i think; thereforei am.”
- rene descartes
Divinity
purityPurity
PAWSON HOUSE, LONDONJOHN PAWSON
Purity
PRESSED GLASS LIGHT BOWLTOM DIXON
Inspiration
TAJ LAKE PALACE HOTELUDAIPUR INDIA
Inspiration
Perfection
“the ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that
the necessary may speak.”
- hans hoffmannPerfection
IT’S PERSONAL.