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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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 alloyAn 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.
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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 glassBlown 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.
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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 glassHot 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 | back to top Design collectiveTwo 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.
DrillingMaking a hole or a mark through a hard material using a drill.
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Engraving Carving out a design on a hard surface such as wood, stone or glass.
EtchingGlass 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 ëtheme‰ 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 5,700 C, 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.
HousewaresProducts 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. I | back to top
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 polypropyleneA 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 | back to top Laminated walnut and birchLaminating 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. LignasilLignasil 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 | back to top Mass-productionMass-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 furnitureFurniture 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.
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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.
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Organic or biomorphic shapes Shapes that resemble living organisms, but do not look exactly like them.
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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 coatingThis 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. PVCPolyvinyl 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.
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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. S | back to topSandblastingA 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 techniqueSpinning 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)
Teak
Veneer 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 resinsAn 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.
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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 coveringsA 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 In
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