dessiner le design les arts decoratifs, parison now until january 10th, 2009

currently at les art decoratifs, paris is ‘dessiner le design’ – an exhibition of design drawings by more than 12 of today’s influential designers. the works on show question the role of manual and digital processes within design. in the current computer age we are living in, what part has drawing come to play? computers do not replace manual methods of drawing. rather, they come with complexities, but on the other hand, also offer precision and the ability to allow all kinds of audits, as well as opening up the possibilities of simulating an object in different ways…

ronan et erwan bouroullec, free drawing in pencil, 2007

contemporary designers use all the tools available today, but the hand drawing is a gesture which cannot be replaced. it is the birth of an idea or product – the start of its development. drawing is still very much an important mode of representation, although its purpose may be different from designer to designer. for example, konstantin grcic uses the sketch as a technical tool to help visualize, understand and develop a form. but drawing can also be more free and an expression of a personal universe, such as those by benjamin graindorge.

more than 200 drawings by designer practitioners such as the bouroullec brothers, françois brument, pierre charpin, naoto fukasawa, benjamin graindorge, konstantin grcic, mathieu lehanneur, jasper morrison, marc newson, pierre paulin and laurent massaloux are on show, from preliminary sketches to formal research drawings, exhibiting this manual technique as an important language and expression of design.

design sketches on show in parisronan and erwan bouroullec, ballpoint pen drawing on paper, 2005

design sketches on show in parisronan and erwan bouroullec, design research drawing for the vegetal chair, vitra, black felt on paper, 2009

design sketches on show in parisronan et erwan bouroullec, sketch for vegetal chair, vitra, felt pen on paper(sketchbook), 2005

design sketches on show in parisronan et erwan bouroullec, design research – planning for camper shop, pencil and felt pen on paper(sketchbook), 2007

design sketches on show in pariskonstantin grcic, preliminary drawing for the chaos side chair, classicon, 1999

design sketches on show in paris

konstantin grcic, design research for 360° stool, magis, 2008

design sketches on show in parisjasper morrison, atmospheric drawing for a rug of many bosoms, 1985

design sketches on show in parisjasper morrison, design research for thinking man’s chair, cappellini, 1986design sketches on show in parisjasper morrison, design concept for the bus shelter in hanover, 1992

design sketches on show in parisbenjamin graindorge, design research for floating garden, colored pencil, 2009

design sketches on show in parisbenjamin graindorge, preparatory drawing for the aquarium, 2006

design sketches on show in parisnaoto fukasawa, drawing for ‘chair’, vitra, 2007

design sketches on show in parisnaoto fukasawa, drawing for ‘chair’, vitra, 2007

design sketches on show in parispierre charpin, drawing, 2008

design sketches on show in parispierre charpin, drawing, 2006

design sketches on show in parispierre paulin, board presentation, greenroom of the radio house, paris, pencil, cardboard and color transfer layer with rhodoïd protection, collection of pierre paulin

design sketches on show in parispierre paulin, design presention – study of car with folding roof system which fits into trunk, ink and transfer layer, c.1964-1965, col­lec­tion of pierre paulin