Art Deco Serving Trays: Classic Design

two year 12 student projects

I’ve been working on this wood project related to topic called “Classic Design” that my students have to study for their IB Design and Technology exams. Classic design really got going in the Art Deco and Bauhaus movements. The idea is an age-old argument about form follows function or vice versa…really just thinking about both a lot is the key with this subject. Think of precious objects like the mocha express (invented 1933) that were beautiful conjunctions of what the industrial revolution made possible for designers who wanted to make affordable objects with stay-power…it’s arguably the precursor to sustainability and eco-design because the objects stand up against our contemporary “throw-away culture”. Other great examples things like include the VW Beetle and Levi’s Jeans.

An important aspect of classic design is “retro-styling”. A straight-forward term that refers to making modern objects that reference beautiful designs of the past.

I saw these Art Deco wooden trays made in 1920s France and took them as inspiration for the project. We used chipboard to create a unique texture and added Danish oil, and citrus finishing wax after construction to make the objects: all natural, all biodegradable. I experimented with resin on one of my trays to give the piece more water resistance and didn’t like the results. It also added a lot of extra weight to the tray. I left the option open to my students to finish the board with resin if they wanted. I wanted to students to go full eco-design, but many chose resin. I suppose it doesn’t matter much, as I don’t think these pieces will end up in a landfill because they’ll be cherished by the owner, and that’s the point of classic design.