I have decided to add in this page for a number of reasons. One of those reasons is as a collection of terms explained in my own words for personal use and referral. Some of these terms might not refer specifically to design but will no doubt be relavent. I do not to intend to elaborate on each term very much, but give a very simplistic view.

Constructivism - Art used as an instrument for social purposes. Sheet metal and glass. Industrial Design. Geometric shapes.

De-Stijl - Dutch for “The Style.” 1920s. Also known as neo-plasticism. A utopian ideal of spiritual harmony and order. Essentials of form and colour. Primary Colours, Black and White. Horizontal and Vertical Lines with blocks of colour. Piet Mondrian, Theo van Doesburg, Gerrit Rietveld.

Romanticism - Strong emotion. Legitimised the individual imagination as a critical authority. Late 18th Century. Romanticism stressed the ‘awe’ of nature in art and language and the experience of sublimity through a connection with nature.

Socialism is a social and economic system in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. Control is either direct, through workers’ councils, or indirect through a state.

Sublime - The quality of God-like. Inspiring awe. Most exhalted kind.

Suprematism is an art movement focused on fundamental geometric forms (squares and circles). 1913. Russia. Kasimir Malevich.

TRIZ - aims to create an algorithmic approach to the invention of new systems, and the refinement of old systems.

Vorkurs is the preliminary course at the Bauhaus. The modern day equivalent is the Art and Design Foundation Course. Originally created by Johannes Itten. Other contributors are Josef Albers, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee.

VKhUTEMAS (1919) Formed by Vladmir Tatlin