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1. A timeless artefact is one which would not go quickly into or out of fashion. It is sometimes an original design which successfully meets some unchanging need or desire or an object which mimics some natural form.
 
2. A Porsche 550 spider, a golf ball, the Sydney Opera House.
 
My best shot.
 
Rob Curedale
Industrial Design Manager
Haworth Inc
One Haworth Center
Holland MI 49423 9576
Phone:    616 393 4323
Fax:         616 393 3056
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>>> Mark Palmer <[log in to unmask]> 04/05/02 02:27PM >>>
Hi Kristina,

> The focus for my research is the concept of Timeless Design. My aim is
> to try to define this concept in terms specific enough to contribute to
> design education.

I have a feeling that you may be on 'difficult' ground from the outset.

> I would very much appreciate if those of you with a moment to spare (who has?) and/or special interest in the subject could answer 2 questions. Very short!
>   1.. Could you in one sentence tell what timeless-ness is NOT, rather than is.

Something that has 'value' or is understood in relation to a particular
epoch or culture.

>   2.. Could give me an example of a timeless object (artefact or architecture).

Well considering that we exist within a particular time and culture it
is difficult to say whether we would ever be capable of judging what is
timeless. At best we might be able to say that something 'speaks' to us
from another time, but whether this speaks to 'our' time or is
'timeless' is another matter entirely and one that in truth could
never be known unless you were yourself 'timeless'.

It seems to me that good design often overturns certain paradigms as
much as advancing others. If one were able to assert the notion of
'timeless' design there would have to be a set of 'ultimate' values by
which design were judged and that design worked towards. If we were
able to recognise these values they would in a sense be already 'known'
and the notion of timeless design would be fairly spurious as a result
there would just be 'good' and 'bad' design.


all the best,

Mark



          ************************************************
                           Dr Mark Palmer
                Arts & Humanities Research Board Fellow
                       School of Art & Design
                            College Road
                      Staffordshire University
                           Stoke-on-Trent
                               ST4 2DE
                tel:    +44 (0)1782 294802 (direct)
                fax:    +44 (0)1782 294873
                       [log in to unmask]
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