Reflections: Ross Lovegrove

i really appreciated the way lovegrove incorporates the intuitiveness of impressionism into his work, particularly in his Ty Nant water bottle design - the rippled structure of the bottle based on a series of gestural strokes expressing the movement of water.

lovegrove expressed in his talk the darwinistic notion that "nature improves with greater purpose that which once existed". the concept of designing organically is set to take off in the future, considering the depletion of natural resources and the waste generated by man, hence his preoccupation with bio-polymers. 

of further interest was his design for a futuristic, solar powered car that functions also as a street lamp, inspired by an evocative image of a water droplet. though currently ridiculed/dismissed as a viable alternative to automobiles by car manufacturers, perhaps this truly is a vision of the future - sustainable, practical, and beneficial in the manner it would forcibly slow the pace of city life, making people take time and space to breathe.

what i gained the most from watching this video, however, was the evident passion of the man himself, the emotion in his voice when describing certain forms, the childlike fascination with dusty dinosaur bones in a natural museum. he is wholly consumed by his work, by his love of good design. designing, to lovegrove, is almost a physical need to express his ideas through moulding intelligent forms, rather than simply a means of income. he wants to create something of worth. furthermore, when he filmed the inside of his studio at 3am in the morning, there was still a designer there, working away. successful design takes dedication as well as skill. to design is to strive to emulate nature - to paraphrase lovegrove, improving what currently exists with greater purpose.