In 'The Grammar Of Ornament" (1956) Owen Jones argued that, "Construction should be decorated. Decoration should never be constructed." Through this statement I beleive Jones was verbully illustrating his dislike and dissagreement towards designs that were not contructed for their purpose. Jones though that without a contruction to start with decoration has no relevence, hence why he made this argument. Jones was trying to expressing his belief that to situate a design on a life-like and artistic form which has no relative link to the fuction, was misleading and dishonest. A. W. N. Pugis, a designer from the 19th century that also was convinced by Jones statement believed it was important to stay true to your materials. By this he meant that if one ignored the materials proper they outcome of the designs would be dishonest and 'ugly'. He was lead to believe that with keeping a balance of beauty and utility came good and true design.
He spoke strongly about his argument with the intetions of trying to lead people to believe that this should be considered and important rule for design. Jones, along with Pugin were strong avocates for the importance of standards and principles of design. Like other designers from the 19th century they were passionate about contributing to a design reform aimed to set standards for taste in the public interest. They worked alongside each other to set rules for fellow designers. The Crystal Palace, in which 'The Exibition Of the Art And Industry of All Nations" took place, held many pieces by designers that were both for the design reform and those who like to follow their own rules and beliefs. The items in the exhibition to the public eye were seen as extraordinary. It attracted the people who were uneducated about architecture and it's decoration leading them to believe it was a way to express their wealth. Jones served as an organizer for the exhibition and wrote that majority of the goods on display demonstrated "novelty without beauty, beauty without intelligence and all work without faith". This backs up his argument that "Construction should be decorated. Decoration should never be constructed."
I disagree with the statement made by Owen Jones. As a designer I believe you should be able to make the rules up yourself. the idea of design is to create something new and innovative without following in someones footsteps. It is appropriate to use other designs for inspiration but to do what one person believes is the 'correct' way of doing something means nothing will ever change or develop. The chair pictured above is an accurate example of what Jones thought to be misleading and dishonest, however I believe in today's modern society most people would strongly disagree, seeing this piece of design as creative and adventurous. The chair is bright, delicate scrunched-up like flower in its natural form structured to create a chair. The chair clearly withholding the natural aesthetics of a flower in its pure and natural form. The fantasy like creation is an accurate example of what Jones defined as "decoration constructed" which in the 19th century simply would have been 'wrong'. However, in contemporary design the possibilities are far more open that what use to be.
