ENGINEERING AS A PROFESSION

Ask a number of people chosen at random what the word “engineering” conveys to them and you will be surprised at the differences in their answers. The question is difficult to clarify in a few words, and precise definitions are difficult to find. Perhaps an adequate starting point would be to claim that engineering is a profession concerned with the application of the resources of the universe to create devices, systems and structures to satisfy the needs of mankind. Further, many engineers are engaged in tasks not clearly identifiable with particular devices, systems or structures.

An easy way out is to let the existing curricula in engineering colleges around the country define the substance of engineering. The usual structure of engineering curricular includes four main components. First come the basis of physics, chemistry and mathematics. Then a block of humanities courses are required.

Engineering is often compared to medicine and law in discussions of professional status. It would appear to qualify according to the dictionary meaning of the word. Engineers require specialized knowledge and intensive preparation with continued study after leaving the university. The profession has a strong organizational structure, requires high standards, and operates in the public service. These attributes are commonly associated with the word professional as it is used here.

Most important is the fact that engineers see themselves as professionals. They have to be technically competent and operate with responsibility in conformity with accepted notions of professionalism.

The type of responsibility is rather different from that of a doctor. The doctor’s responsibility is clearly recognizable because of the directness of the doctor-patient relationship. For the engineer, the result of his labours-be it a bridge, air-conditioning unit, automobile or computer- is interposed between him and the user. However, since people’s lives are often at stake if an error is made, a high level of competence is essential.

There is certain lack of distinctiveness about the engineering profession because of the very wide range of activities and individual backgrounds encompassed. The number of people involved is larger than in most other professional areas.

FASHION DESIGNERS

Haute couture had its beginnings in the mid-nineteenth century. Until that time dress-maker or tailor designers had controlled the design and production of ladies’ garments, creating one ensemble for one individual client. France and particularly Paris, was the source for haute couture. In French, the word “couture” means sewing: a “couturier” is a male tailor or dressmaker. In haute couture, models are created by the designer, bear his or her name and are protected by copyright from reproduction. An haute couture establishment, therefore is a first class designing and dressmaking concern.

The first haute couturier was Charles Frederick Worth. In 1840s he became the first couturier of France, a position he held until his death. The years 1905-18 were dominated by the most colourful personality of the world couture at that time, Paul Poiret. Poiret’s clothes were simple in line, yet feminine and exotic. Many of his designs were based on eastern themes: harem skirts, kimonos, gold fabrics, fur trimmings and Persian embroideries.

Immediately after the First World War, designers such as Lanvin and Patou became active. Lanvin gowns were elegant, made from beautiful fabrics such as gold and silver materials. Jean Patou was particularly noted for his return to a natural waistline and longer skirts.

The years 1920-39 became great ones for haute couture. The return to femininity was helped by the innovations of the famous designers Madeleine Vionnet and Gabriel Chanel. Vionnet believed that the feminine figure was very important to successful designs and couture and that the natural form should not be disgusted or distorted. Many of her designs were draped classical gowns. Typical were her day dresses and skirts of heavy crêpe, while for evening she used sheer fabrics which would float and drape; such designs were especially typical of Vionnet in the thirties.

Coco Chanel was a legend in the world of couture. In the 1920s she introduced casual looking, comfortable wear which was ultra chic. Her easy-to-wear suits became a wardrobe classic, made of soft tweeds or jersey wool and consisting of a plain or pleated straight short skirt, a jersey top and a jacket, which was often collarless. She also designed simple dresses and skirts, all with great care and attention to detail. She made wool a dress fabric; often it was plain, but jackets usually had a silk or quilted lining to match the blouse or jumper. The Chanel figure was slim and straight.

Chanel creations were deceptively simple in appearance but great attention was paid to cut and length. Trimming was limited to carefully chosen fancy buttons and edging. The double string, long necklace of pearls or amber, the lapel pin, the earrings, the bracelets and pendants were essential parts of Chanel ensemble setting off the plain garments.

Designer

Designer is a broad term for a person who designs any of a variety of things. That usually implies the task of creating or of being creative in a particular area of expertise. It is frequently used to reference someone who draws or in some ways uses visual cues to organize their work. Designers are usually responsible for making a model that takes into consideration each step in a product's development, including not only how a product will be used but also how it will be made.

Designer is also the title for a person practicing in one of the design fields, such as architecture or engineering, but who is not licensed or does not possess a four year degree in that field.

Designer is especially used in reference to a fashion designer, usually one who has his/her own line or house, such as Givenchy and Versace.

Designers work in a set of widely different fields, where common design principles might only exist in a small degree. Examples of different types of designers include: automotive designer, costume designer, fashion designer, game designer, graphic designer, industrial designer, interior designer, landscape designer, scenic designer, systems designer and web designer.

COSTUME DESIGNER

The costume designer is the person whose responsibility is to design costumes for a film or stage production. He or she is considered part of the ‘production team,’ alongside the director, scenic and lighting designers. The costume designer might also collaborate with a hair/wig master or a makeup designer, with the latter two operating on a subordinate level. In European theatre the role is somewhat different as the theatre designer will design both costume and scenic elements.

Costume designers will typically seek to enhance a character's person, within the framework of the director's vision, through the way that character is dressed. At the same time, the designer must ensure that the designs allow the actor to move in a manner consistent with the historical period and enables the actor to execute the director's blocking of the production without damage to the garments. Additional considerations include the durability and washability of garments, particularly in extended runs. The designer must work in consultation with not only the director, but the set and lighting designers to ensure that the overall design of the production works together. The designer needs to possess strong artistic capabilities as well as a thorough knowledge of pattern development, draping, drafting, textiles and costume/fashion history.

Graphic design

Graphic design is a form of communication using text and/or images to present information. The art of graphic design embraces a range of mental skills and crafts including typography, image development and page layout. Graphic design is applied in communication design and fine art. Like many forms of communication, graphic design often refers to both the process (designing) by which the communication is created, and the products (designs) such as creative solutions, imagery and multimedia compositions. The designs are applied to static media as well as electronic media, not always in the completed form. In commercial art, client edits, technical preparation and mass production are usually required, but usually not considered to be within the scope of graphic design.

Although the term 'graphic designer' was first coined in the 20th century, the story of graphic design spans the history of marks of humankind from the magic of the caves of Lascaux to the dazzling neons of Ginza. In both this lengthy history and in the relatively recent explosion of imaging in the 20th and 21st centuries, there is sometimes a blurring distinction and over-lapping of advertising art, graphic design and fine art. After all, they share the same elements, theories, principles, practices and languages, and sometimes the same benefactor or client. In advertising art the ultimate objective is the sale of goods and services. In graphic design, ‘the essence is to give order to information, form to ideas, expression and feeling to artifacts that document human experience.’ ‘Fine art refers to arts that are 'concerned with beauty'...’

Design elements are the basic tools in every design discipline. The elements (including shape, form, texture, line, value, and colour) compose the basic vocabulary of visual design. Design principles, such as balance, rhythm, emphasis, and unity, constitute the broader structural aspects of the composition.

Christian Dior

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1569