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A | back to top
Aluminum
A silver white metallic element, light in weight, flexible and
with good electrical and thermal conductivity. Aluminum occurs
in nature as the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust.
Aluminum alloy
An alloy is a combination of metals that are melted together to
create a stronger or different metal. An aluminum alloy is a combination
of metals that contains mostly aluminum.
Amorphous
Lacking a specific form or shape. An unrecognizable pattern or
structure.
Arborite
A brand name for laminated plastic.
Art Nouveau
A style that emerged in the 1880s. It was inspired by the British
Arts and Crafts style and the forms found in nature. Characteristics
include: abstracted naturalistic forms, curved lines, and elongated
flower motifs.
B | back to top
Bakelite
A non-flammable plastic, made from a combination of carbolic acid
and formaldehyde, invented by Belgian born scientist Dr.
Leo Baekland in New York and patented in 1907.
Bakelite is produced in a multitude of colors, commonly yellow,
brown, butterscotch, green and red. Omitting the pigment can produce
a transparent or translucent effect. The resin can be moulded or
cast, depending on variations in the formula.
The rounded corners of the Midge radio cabinet are a typical Bakelite
trait. Most objects made from Bakelite were found in the kitchen
in the form of napkin holders, cutlery handles, salt and pepper
shakers or serving trays. Jewellery designers also made use of
the material to produce rings and bracelets.
Birch
Birch trees are commonly found in the Northern Hemisphere. Their
bark is papery thin and easy to peel. Birch is a hardwood valued
for its strength and it is often used to manufacture furniture
and flooring. It is a blond wood but can be stained to look like
other, more expensive woods, such as mahogany.
Block printing
A printing method in which a block of wood, linoleum or other material's
surface is carved so that an image can be printed from it when
dipped in ink or paint. Sometimes referred to as relief printing.
Blown glass
Blown glass is the result of inflating a blob of hot glass on the
end of a blow pipe by blowing through the tube and manipulating
the shape using a variety of tools.
Buffets
Buffets are table-height cabinets that are used to hold china or
table linens.
C | back to top
c.
or circa
A term used to indicate approximate dates. For example: “The
chair was designed c. 1950” means the precise date of the
design is unknown, but happened around 1950.
Cast glass
Hot melted glass is poured into a mould to create a specific shape.
Cherry wood
A hardwood found in North America, which is characterized by a
fine, straight grain, smooth texture and reddish-orange colour.
Chrome
The highly polished look of a chrome-plated object is achieved
through a multi-step process. The product or part is cleaned and
polished before being placed into a plating bath containing an
electrolytic salt (chromium anhydride) solution. An electrical
charge is applied to the bath causing the chromium metal in the
bath to deposit onto the product or part.
Chrome was used on dome-shaped kettles instead of steel because
of its similar look and cheaper production cost. It is also used
on products such as toasters and chair legs.
Compression moulded polypropylene
A manufacturing process where preheated polypropylene is formed
under heat and pressure in a mould. Among its most notable characteristics
are its mechanical toughness, chemical resistance, smoothness and
resistance to scratches.
Contract furniture
This term refers to furniture that is produced and/or bought in
various quantities for the interiors of large spaces that are used
by many people, such as offices, educational and healthcare institutions,
restaurants, or hotels.
D
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Design
collective
Two or more artists or designers working together in a joint effort
to produce products. A collective is occasionally formed to accommodate
the specializations required in a design project, such as electronics
or engineering.
Drilling
Making a hole or a mark through a hard material using a drill.
E | back to top
Engraving
Carving out a design on a hard surface such as wood, stone or glass.
Etching
Glass is 'etched' by various means of altering the surface. Several
methods are employed to create a frosted look that is similar in
appearance to sandblasted glass. The most common method and one
of the earliest techniques is acid etching, that employs liquid
acid to alter one side of the glass object/piece.
Expo ‘67
Expo 67, Montreal World's Fair, drew 50 million visitors and ran
for one year. Expo 67 was an international exhibition with over
90 foreign, provincial, industrial and theme pavilions.
Extruded aluminum
Extrusion is the process of squeezing a heated metal (in this case
aluminum) through a tool, known as a die. A mechanical or hydraulic
press is used. This process created the continuous shape of the
Compact CD holder.
F | back to top
Fiberglass
(link in the intro - in style influences)
A material consisting of extremely fine filaments of glass which
are combined in yarn and woven into fabrics. Often used as a reinforcing
agent in plastics, as a thermal and acoustic insulator, or embedded
in various resins to make boat hulls and fishing rods.
Fluid
Pertaining to lines that easily change their shape at a constant
rate. A design that is described as being fluid employs curved
and sloping shapes.
G | back to top
Group of Seven
This group of seven artists came together to make art in the wilderness
of Ontario during the early 1900s. Their works were bold, strongly
coloured paintings influenced by the Post-Impressionist movement.
The artists believed in adding symbolism to their painted landscapes.
The Group of Seven included: Tom Thomson, Franklin Carmichael,
A.J. Casson, Lionel Fitzgerald, Lawren Harris, Edwin Holgate, A.Y.
Jackson, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. MacDonald, and F.H. Varley.
H | back to top
Habitat
An apartment building composed of 354 prefabricated, stacked, cube-like
structures. Designed by architect Moshe Safdie for Expo ‘67
in Montreal.
Halogen lighting
Halogen light bulbs were first developed and produced by General
Electric. They are a form of bright incandescent lighting that
has a tungsten filament and a bulb filled with halogen gas.
Tungsten has the highest melting point of all elements except carbon.
It boils at a temperature of about 5,700C, which corresponds approximately
to the temperature of the sun’s surface.
High-impact polypropylene
A versatile, hard and tough thermoplastic material. It is used
for its high melting point and it can be easily coloured. Polypropylene
is used to make moulded products and fibers such as containers,
electrical insulation, packaging and furniture. It is described
as high-impact when it is combined with other reinforcing materials,
such as rubber or glass.
Housewares
Products that are manufactured for and used in the home. This term
is often used to describe products used in the kitchen and bathroom.
Some examples are kettles, cutlery and cooking
pans.
Industrial
designer
A professional designer of goods, intended to be manufactured in
quantities. Industrial designers may develop new products or update
and improve the design of existing products. Examples of these
goods include: furniture, food packaging, tools, sports equipment
and cars.
Injection-moulded polypropylene
A method of injecting hot liquefied plastics (polypropylene) into
a metal cast. When cooled, it is released from the mould creating
a solid plastic product. An example of an injection moulded product
is a Tupperware container.
Inlaid plastic laminate
Thin sheets of plastic are cut and precisely pieced together
to form a pattern or motif. The flat, apparently seamless
surface
looks as though it is made out of one piece of plastic while
it is actually made of a number of pieces. Inlaid plastic
laminate
is often used to create signage and flooring.
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is any product of the human intellect that
is unique, novel, and unobvious and has some value in the marketplace
such as an idea, invention, expression or literary creation.
L
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Laminated
walnut and birch
Laminating is a process by which a thin layer of wood (a veneer)
is attached to a thicker layer of plywood to give a product the
appearance of solid wood. Laminate walnut and birch is often used
in office and household furniture. It is less expensive and somewhat
more durable than solid walnut and birch woods.
Latex foam
A product that is created by infusing latex with air to create
a foam. The amount of air mixed with the latex determines the hardness
of the foam produced. Latex is a mixture of rubber or plastic in
water. It is a building block of paints, adhesives, and other synthetic
rubber products.
Latex foam is used to make products such as cushions, mattresses,
packing materials, and makeup effects for the film industry.
Lignasil
Lignasil is a moulded bio-composite material (a substance made
up of two or more different substances). It is made from post-industrial
or post-agricultural (i.e. left-over from these processes) fibers
that can be recycled.
M
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Mass-production
Mass-production is the large scale manufacture of machinery and
other goods.
Products are made in large quantities all at the same time instead
of one at a time. This
results in a speedier, less costly manufacturing process. This
production method makes it easy to replace a product when it is
defective or when it breaks down. These days, most consumer goods
are mass-produced.
MDF
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) is a fabricated structural wood
material. It is made by compressing recycled wood fibers to form
an engineered wood product. MDF is often used in furniture and
cabinetry.
Memphis style
In 1981, Austrian-born architect/designer, Ettore Sottsass led
a group of colleagues, friends, and internationally renowned architects,
in the formation of the Memphis group in Italy. The group developed
a new contemporary avant-garde movement by designing rebellious
furniture and products that were characterized by bright colours
and odd forms. With their unique style, Sottsass and the Memphis
Group attempted to break down the barriers between high and low
class design.
Minimalist
Minimalist art and design is generally characterized by technically
precise lines, hard-edged geometric shapes, solid planes of colour,
and self-referential forms that avoid all external references.
It is an abstract form of art which developed as a reaction against
the subjective elements of Abstract Expressionism.
Internationally renowned Minimalists: Barnett Newman (American
Painter), Agnes Martin (Canadian/American Painter), Ellsworth Kelly
(American Painter/Sculptor), Sol Lewitt (American Installation
Artist), Eva Hesse (German/American Painter/Sculptor), Frank Stella
(American Painter/Sculptor), and Faye HeavyShield (Native Canadian
Installation Artist).
Modern
An object is described as Modern when its design focuses on its
function and the use of minimalist style. Modernism avoids ornamentation
and employs new materials to produce well-designed objects for
everyday use.
Modular furniture
Furniture that offers standardized units or sections for easy construction
and flexible arrangement. For example, the Habitat chair and ottoman
could be easily rearranged for a variety of uses.
Moulded plastic
Plastic that is heated and formed into a specific shape using a
mould. Moulds are custom designed and moulding processes include:
injection moulding, blow moulding, vacuum forming.
Moulds
A hollow cavity or shape that allows for an object in a molten
or liquid state to be formed.
N | back to top
Nylon
cord
Nylon is a dense thermal plastic that, when melted, can be shaped
into fibers, sheets, fabrics and cord. It is extremely elastic
and strong.
O | back to top
Organic or biomorphic shapes
Shapes that resemble living organisms, but do not look exactly
like them.
P | back to top
Patent
To obtain the exclusive right to make, use, licence or sell an
invention or process.
Patina
A coating or incrustation produced by oxidization on the surface
of a substance. This change in appearance is usually produced with
age and use.
Phenolic
Phenolic is a type of resin that is set using heat. The word phenolic
is derived from phenol. Phenol is found in coal, wood tar, or benzine
and is a poisonous, caustic, crystalline compound used to manufacture
resins, dyes and pharmaceuticals.
Plastic (in the intro)
Any of various organic compounds produced by polymerization, that
have the capability of being moulded or of receiving form usually
by the application of heat and pressure.
Plastic laminates (link in the intro - in style influences)
A layer of paper or cloth that is impregnated and coated with plastic.
Plywood
A material used for building purposes, consisting of thin layers
of wood (veneers) glued over each other. The grain of alternate
layers is crossed, in general at right angles.
Polyester
A wrinkle-resistant fabric of fibers made from resins.
Polypropylene
A versatile, hard and tough thermoplastic material. It is used
for its high melting point (it won’t melt or lose its shape
in heated environments) and it can be easily coloured. Polypropylene
is used to make moulded products and fibers such as containers,
electrical insulation, packaging and furniture.
Pop art
A style that influenced everything from fashion to furniture. Arriving
in North America from England in the 1960s, Pop art focused on
familiar images from popular culture such as comic strips, advertisements,
and supermarket products. Internationally renowned Pop artists
included: Richard Hamilton (British), Andy Warhol (American), Roy
Lichtenstein (American), Jasper Johns (American), and Robert Rauschenberg
(American).
Porcelain
A strong, translucent, ceramic material that is fired and often
glazed with decorative motifs.
Post-modernism
Post-modernism contradicts the Modernist movement in art and design.
It questions the simplicity, logic, and order of modernism and
promotes ambiguity and contradiction. In design, this involved
the use of colour, ornamentation and references to historic styles
and eccentric features.
Powder coating
This is a method of spraying a fine powder onto a metal by means
of electrostatic technology and then using heat to bake it on,
in order to make the finish extremely resistant and durable. An
example of powder coating is the white coat found on an oven or
refrigerator.
PVC
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), in its regular form, is a stiff, strong,
heat and weather resistant plastic used to make enclosures for
computers and compact disks. PVC can also be softened with chemical
processing, and in this form is used for shrink-wrap, food packaging
and rain gear.
R
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Radio design
In 1900, Reginald Fessenden, born in east Bolton, Quebec became
the first person to transmit the sound of a human voice without
the use of wires. Soon after, radio sets were developed and took
the form of simple boxes that covered many small components. By
the 1950s, people were aware of the radio’s importance in
their everyday lives and wanted sets that looked good and represented
the latest trends.
Rotational casting
Polyethylene (a type of plastic) is placed in a sealed tin mould
and then heated and rotated so that it melts and sets evenly.
Sandblasting
A blast of air or steam mixed with sand, used to carve out or cut
a surface.
Screen printing
This is a stencil process of printmaking. An image is imposed on
a screen and blank areas are coated with an impermeable substance.
Ink is then forced through the mesh onto the printing surface.
This process is sometimes referred to as silk-screening.
This method of printing is used when there is a large quantity
of items to be printed that are exactly the same. Examples of products
that would use this method of printing are: brochures, packaging,
posters, and fabrics.
Silk-screening
This is a stencil process of printmaking. An image is imposed on
a silk screen and blank areas are coated with an impermeable substance.
Ink is then forced through the mesh onto the printing surface.
This process is sometimes referred to as silk-screening.
This method of printing is used when there is a large quantity
of items to be printed that are exactly the same. Examples of products
that would use this method of printing are: brochures, packaging,
posters, and fabrics.
#22 sprung-steel chair
This was the second version of Walter Nugent’s one-piece,
tempered, steel-rod chair. The chromed steel base replaced the
original oiled walnut wood base of the #11 chair. Both chairs feature
a sweeping curve between the back and the seat. Available in 75
different colours and upholstered in either ribbed or solid vinyl.
Spun aluminum/Spinning technique
Spinning involves pressing a sheet of metal with a tool against
a rotating form until the metal takes shape. Aluminum is a metal
that is silvery white in appearance and that holds its strength
when stretched or under tension. The form of the metal is easily
changed. It does not rust, but is susceptible to acids and alkalis.
The metal has a silvery matte finish and is used to produce many
housewares.
Other techniques of working with aluminum include: extrusion that
creates hard edged shapes and casting that makes fluid shapes.
Spun steel
Spinning involves pressing a sheet of metal with a tool against
a rotating form until the metal takes shape. Steel is a solid,
firm, lasting, mouldable alloy of iron and carbon. It has a shiny
appearance and is used in outdoor furniture for its strength and
durability.
Stainless steel
Steel is a strong, malleable alloy of iron and carbon. Stainless
steel contains chromium that makes it resistant to corrosion.
Steel tubing (also known as: Tubular Steel)
Steel that has been shaped into a tube.
Studio manufacturing
An individual or group that establishes a company balancing craft
and industrial practices. The designer-manufacturer acquires
finished components, or subcontracts these to small, specialized
industries, then assembles and fine-tunes the product in his
studio. Studio manufacturers are prevalent in the furniture and
housewares industries.
Teak
Veneer
A thin layer of a brownish-yellow wood that is attached to a thicker
layer of plywood, in order to give the appearance of solid wood.
Transformative furniture
Furniture that has the ability to change form, appearance, or structure.
Often a functional transformation allowing for multiple uses.
Transformer
An electric device which uses electromagnetic induction to transform
electric energy from one set of circuits to another set of circuits.
This transfer allows the frequency of the energy to remain unchanged
while the voltage and current usually change.
Translucent
An object is translucent when is transmits light but it not completely
transparent.
Translucent and opaque resins
An object is translucent when is transmits light but is not completely
transparent.
An opaque object is impenetrable by light. It is neither transparent
nor translucent.
Resin is an organic substance that is extracted from certain plants
or prepared through polymerization of certain molecules. It is
used to make varnishes and certain plastics.
Tubular steel
Steel that has been shaped into a tube.
U | back to top
Universal
design
The design of products and environments to be useable by all people,
to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation
or specialized design. Universally designed products, systems and
environments recognize the needs of all users, regardless of age,
gender, cultural background or ability.
V | back to top
Vinyl coverings
A shiny, tough, flexible plastic, used to cover various surfaces.
Viscose
A rayon fabric manufactured using cellulose. Cellulose is found
in nature as the common material of plant cell walls. It occurs
in almost pure form in cotton fiber or in combination with other
materials in wood and plant leaves.
Viscose is often used in clothing and textiles due to its soft
and silky texture.
Sources:
Online
www.completemetalworks.com/definitions.html
www.dictionary.com
www.umassd.edu/specialprograms/artslinks/b3/Worden/wLESSON0.html
www.visualstore.com
www.highlandhardwoods.com/wood_closeups/closeup_images/closeup_cherry.jpg
www.homesforeasyliving.com
www.jamesriser.com/MetalSpinning/Beading/Example1.html
www.artcyclopedia.com
plastics.dupont.com
www.energysolutionscenter.org/TechProDemo/Business_Sector/Industrial/Metal_Extrusion.htm
www.gepolymerland.com/research/glossary/techgloss.html
www.parisho.com/chrome.htm
www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/chrome/whatis.htm
www.deco-echoes.com/bakelite.html
In print
Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language.
New York, Portland House, 1989.
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