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AVolume5 review of the new book from the Whitney Library of Design.
The study of metals, their effect through out history in arts, architecture and warfare is a fantastic lens through which to see the development of design. The constant evolution of material development, if driven by the ideas of a secret cast of artist priest in Egypt folding gold for the death mask of a fallen pharaoh or the genius of Leonard da Vinci designing new canons for a city's defenses, have told the story of human endeavor through time.
Metal - Design and Fabrication, by David and Susan Frisch is a cross section study of the working processes of metals today. Written for the designer the book takes us through a clear out line of the properties of metals with analyses of advantages and disadvantages of each.
We then move into the realm of metal fabrication, the "kitchen" of metal design. Each technique used for giving shape to a designed element and the tools needed to accomplish each task are reviewed. Wonderful photos of the working process and the tools used illustrate the book in a rich full format.
The designer is constantly finding new potential opportunities at each turn of the page to realize design concepts. From spinning metal disks against a wooden buck by hand to the laser and water jet cutters used today to make intricate shapes, the designer today is faced with many potential paths of fabrication to enrich a design.
What is fun is to go back and review the work of Pierre Chareau, Le Corbusier and Marcel Breuer with this book in hand. Too often we see only the finish work presented to us by historians with out the recognition of the team of people and the tool base needed to allow for the design to exist. This book is very important to the process of uncovering the "method of making" which is critical to good design. Design must offer both efficiencies in fabrication and effectiveness in meeting the critical criteria in a give environment and Metal -Design and Fabrication places a map of the paths of development into the hands of the designer.
What are the best materials for this design?
Which is the best way to form these materials?
What if we do it using another tool base?
This book offers the designer the understanding of the production path their ideas will take as they move into prototype form. Chapters on;
Cutting and Shearing
Drilling and Punching
Bending and Rolling
Press work and Spinning Mill and Lathe Techniques
Welding and Soldering Mechanical Fastening
Blending and Grinding
Sandblasting and Deburring
Brushing and Polishing
Organic Coatings
Plating and Anodizing
Computer and Machinery Interfaces
give the designer full access to the fabrication criteria.
Metal -Design and Fabrication opens the range of opportunities of moving an idea to a finish work. A must book for the desk top of every architect, furniture designer and product designer today.
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