Midmod dreamhouse
Deliverables: Presentation of a physical prototype that meaningfully represents designers of a specific design movement.
Involvement: Physical prototype dollhouse and furniture design and production, Photoshop.
Tools: Illustrator, Photoshop, Laser cutter, 3D printer, Hand tools.
Collaborators: Caroline Davis, Madi Green, Lydia Meadows.
The Midmod Dreamhouse is a Barbie branded Chelsea Can Be dollhouse that represents an unrepresented profession in the Barbie world. It utilizes design philosophies and styles of Midcentury Modern design from the dollhouse design down to the doll’s clothing.
Process:
To meaningfully represent the designers and era of Midcentury Modern design, our team dreamed up the Midmod Dreamhouse. We approached it from the smaller Chelsea Can Be series, allowing for more elements of representation to be created for the project. Over one month, we designed and produced an entire playset inspired by all things Midcentury modern. This included elements such as: dollhouse fabrication, furniture creation, doll clothing, Packaging design, informative zine and poster, instruction booklet, and song composition.
Outcome:
To represent the designers of the Midcentury Modern era, we decided to approach the project from a standpoint of play in the form of a Barbie Dreamhouse. The only representation coming close to a designer is the painter Barbie, which this project also seeks to rectify. It allows for girls to become aware of another profession to hopefully inspire a new generation of graphic designers.
The project features a Midcentury Modern Dreamhouse with elements inspired by the Eames house and Jean Prouvé. The supplemental pieces include Eames, Risom, Saarinen chairs, the Eames Bird, a Savoy vase, a Florence Knoll textile rug, two print posters from Harry Bertoia and Elaine Lustig, and books from Cipe Pineles and Alvin Lustig. Additionally, a separate, smaller Chelsea set was created to represent the Graphic Design Profession as a whole featuring Chelsea as a modern graphic designer with a sketchbook, pencil, and computer.
