"What Objects Communicate"
All objects carry inherent symbolic meanings. Semiotics, the study of signs and symbols, serves the function of communication, implying that all objects contain subliminal messages within their design. These messages communicate and convey meanings to the user.
According to Helmut Krauch, the shapes of objects emit signals that can influence the user's perception and behavior when interacting with the object.
However, the designers of the modern movement primarily focused on the practical functions of objects, neglecting the emotions, meanings, and symbols that objects can convey to users. They emphasized functional form and design, often at the expense of ornamentation.
Postmodernist designers use semiotics to convey meanings and values through everyday objects, unlike designers in the past who used decorative elements to express the character of the design and to convey social hierarchy.
For example, designers associated with the Arts and Crafts movement, like Charles Voysey and Charles Mackintosh, incorporated semiotic meanings into their works. They used motives such as perforated hearts, circles, and squares to symbolize love, body, and spirit.
Another example is the work of Emile Gallé, a French designer who infused his furniture with his own "spirit" and language as part of the école de Nancy movement. Gallé sought to impart the essence of plants in his furniture, using wilting leaves and wood as design elements to humanize his creations.
It's crucial to understand that every object communicates meanings, such as their use and social hierarchy. Therefore, by eliminating the semiotics of a product, its symbolism is also eliminated, resulting in a dehumanized design and denying a fundamental method of cultural communication.