Socialist elements in Soviet design ideology

Socialist elements in Soviet design ideology

Jerlei, Triin

Article:

In this presentation, I will aim to define the Socialist elements of Soviet design ideology during late socialism. I will discuss the Soviet Union in general and define only the ideological qualities of the Soviet design and how they related to questions of form. As Soviet-made products often follow the same design stylistics as Western objects of the same period, it may seem difficult to find a certain design ideology behind them or to pinpoint the Socialist qualities of design. I will argue that the main characteristics of Soviet design ideology are not located in the form of the objects, but rather in their mode of production. Despite the different control mechanisms, there was no centralized organ responsible for industrial design and products were judged mostly on economic or technological grounds. While there were many books and articles on Soviet design and design ideology, none of them actually discuss the questions of form, but rather deal with economics and the purpose of design. Therefore, designers had some artistic freedom and were able to follow modern trends. The ideological qualities of design were hidden rather in the physical and ideological context of production, adding a Socialist quality to all Soviet-made objects.

In this presentation, I will aim to define the Socialist elements of Soviet design ideology during late socialism. I will discuss the Soviet Union in general and define only the ideological qualities of the Soviet design and how they related to questions of form. As Soviet-made products often follow the same design stylistics as Western objects of the same period, it may seem difficult to find a certain design ideology behind them or to pinpoint the Socialist qualities of design. I will argue that the main characteristics of Soviet design ideology are not located in the form of the objects, but rather in their mode of production. Despite the different control mechanisms, there was no centralized organ responsible for industrial design and products were judged mostly on economic or technological grounds. While there were many books and articles on Soviet design and design ideology, none of them actually discuss the questions of form, but rather deal with economics and the purpose of design. Therefore, designers had some artistic freedom and were able to follow modern trends. The ideological qualities of design were hidden rather in the physical and ideological context of production, adding a Socialist quality to all Soviet-made objects.

Palavras-chave:

DOI: 10.5151/despro-icdhs2014-0085

Referências bibliográficas

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Como citar:

Jerlei, Triin; "Socialist elements in Soviet design ideology", p-587-592. In: Tradition, Transition, Tragectories: major or minor influences? [=ICDHS 2014 - 9th Conference of the International Committee for Design History and Design Studies]. São Paulo: Blucher, 2014.
ISSN 23186968, DOI 10.5151/despro-icdhs2014-0085