
Design
Design within the confines of art history is a creative activity or object, most frequently with an industrial or commercial undertone. Objects made under the heading of design are often a reflection of social, political, scientific, and environmental causes. Design has been used as a means to solve problems, as a fundamental objective behind the medium is to create new possibilities or to improve a process. These objects typically are immersive, including an element of interaction between the user and the material itself. At the crux of it all, creators have turned to design as a means to improve the quality of life for humankind. Design is also multidisciplinarity to its core and has been nourished by the arts for centuries.
Design has evidently evolved since its conception. Highly influenced by societal issues and politics, as well as parallel art movements, design objects reflect the period from which they were made. Although similar, it is important to distinguish the difference between design and Decorative Arts, a 19th-century movement known for the creation of art objects. In the century that followed, art and design were undeniably affected by global turmoil and politics, impacting artists universally, resulting in the birth of an array of art movements.
The 20th-century was a period of tremendous artistic upheaval. Design, art, performance, and theater were all tremendously impacted by the two world wars and the Cold War. On top of this, society was rapidly evolving, with rising social and political movements, such as voting rights and women's suffrage. As the world continued to change and progress, so did the world of art. Design belonged to many, if not all, of the major art movements of the 20th-century; including, Art Nouveau, Modernism, Surrealism, Art Deco, Bauhaus, and Postmodernism.
Design continued to evolve into the 21st century, paving the way for contemporary design. There are various misconceptions when it comes to contemporary design. Typically, confusion comes into place when the lines are blurred between the terms “design"" and “style."" Many use these words interchangeably, but it is important to note the distinguishing factors. Style is part of the design process. Once you have designed the functionality of the piece you are part of the way to the final design. Beyond this, creators will often ponder the definition of design in the 21st century. Designers and artists have drawn upon various 20th-century movements, such as Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavian Minimalism, and even, Holywood Regenycy.
Some people oppose the idea that design objects can be considered works of art. However, the borders are porous as some of them emphasize artistic features and are singular and unique. Like artists, designers imagine their pieces as personal creations or are released in limited quantities. Their works are often a means to express their visions of the world. It is important to note that collaborations between artists and designers reinforce the links between these two universes, animated by the same search for beauty. Discover a carefully chosen selection of design objects that span an array of movements, from the past to the present!
Save your search and find it in your favorites
Save your search to find it quickly
Saved search
Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches
Unsaved search
A problem occurred

Lucilla Table Lamp
Gianfranco Frattini
Design - 55 x 49 x 49 cm Design - 21.7 x 19.3 x 19.3 inch
$2,925


Vintage Marble Table
Ettore Sottsass
Design - 70.5 x 130 x 130 cm Design - 27.8 x 51.2 x 51.2 inch
$10,062


"The Eyes" from the "Geometric Wonders" serie
Anna Gawecka
Design - 120 x 120 x 2.5 cm Design - 47.2 x 47.2 x 1 inch
$1,158



Sans titre - Lampe tiki 1
Odin Pigelet
Design - 60 x 30 x 30 cm Design - 23.6 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch
$772






Captured Light III
Alexander Lazarkov
Design - 80 x 60 x 48 cm Design - 31.5 x 23.6 x 18.9 inch
$1,439


Midcentury Red Velvet Sofa
Ezio Longhi
Design - 142 x 160 x 62 cm Design - 55.9 x 63 x 24.4 inch
$1,404


Table Lamp “Cubosfera” (Cubic Sphere)
Alessandro Mendini
Design - 17 x 16 x 16 cm Design - 6.7 x 6.3 x 6.3 inch
$3,042

Code barre bordeaux
Philippe Siennicka
Design - 70 x 38 x 15 cm Design - 27.6 x 15 x 5.9 inch
$2,808

Vintage 1094 floor lamp
Gino Sarfatti
Design - 160 x 50 x 25 cm Design - 63 x 19.7 x 9.8 inch
$5,382

Dark Violet Elegant Vase
Jiri Beranek
Design - 22 x 14.5 x 14.5 cm Design - 8.7 x 5.7 x 5.7 inch
$456


Elegant vase with bubbles
Jaroslav Svoboda
Design - 14 x 12 x 12 cm Design - 5.5 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch
$456



Grand Dollar Dollar Reine
Robert Sgarra
Design - 18 x 42 x 0.5 cm Design - 7.1 x 16.5 x 0.2 inch
$374






Vintage Crystal Round Mirror Art
Carlo de Carli
Design - 71 x 71 x 2 cm Design - 28 x 28 x 0.8 inch
$1,755


Polifemo Floor Lamp
Carlo Forcolini
Design - 202 x 53 x 30 cm Design - 79.5 x 20.9 x 11.8 inch
$1,638


Metal and Pulegoso Glass Table Lamp
Poliarte Studio
Design - 11 x 16 x 16 cm Design - 4.3 x 6.3 x 6.3 inch
$1,872



Rare, Atistic Large size Galaxy Vase
Miloslava Svobodova-Wyckmans
Design - 39 x 11 x 11 cm Design - 15.4 x 4.3 x 4.3 inch
$1,111


Vanity Mod. Dilly Daily
Luigi Massoni
Design - 125 x 65 x 64 cm Design - 49.2 x 25.6 x 25.2 inch
$10,062


Up Du5 and Du6 Armchair and Ottoman
Gaetano Pesce
Design - 103 x 130 x 120 cm Design - 40.6 x 51.2 x 47.2 inch
$6,318


Rumbo bench
JeanBaptiste Vandenheede
Design - 43 x 118 x 31 cm Design - 16.9 x 46.5 x 12.2 inch
$2,223

Table aile d’avion
Stefan Pichlmüller
Design - 87 x 298 x 71 cm Design - 34.3 x 117.3 x 28 inch
$40,950


Unity Blooming Bear - Small
Blooming Bears
Design - 32 x 18 x 12 cm Design - 12.6 x 7.1 x 4.7 inch
$2,625

Violoncelle
Franck Savoye (Francky)
Design - 130 x 41 x 12 cm Design - 51.2 x 16.1 x 4.7 inch
$2,106


Vintage chromed table
Guido Faleschini
Design - 73 x 127 x 125 cm Design - 28.7 x 50 x 49.2 inch
$6,903



Set of 9 Grey Maxima Benches by William Sawaya & Paolo Moroni
William Sawaya
Design - 99 x 54 x 51 cm Design - 39 x 21.3 x 20.1 inch
$3,276


Soriana Three Seater Sofa
Tobia Scarpa
Design - 65 x 250 x 100 cm Design - 25.6 x 98.4 x 39.4 inch
$25,740


Vintage Dining Table
Augusto Vanarelli
Design - 80 x 233 x 124 cm Design - 31.5 x 91.7 x 48.8 inch
$10,530

Chaise architecturale
Francesco Marino Di Teana
Design - 42 x 44 x 99 cm Design - 16.5 x 17.3 x 39 inch
$7,020

The Violence of Handwriting Across a Page
Jenny Holzer
Design - 32.3 x 35.5 x 2 cm Design - 12.7 x 14 x 0.8 inch
$349





Vintage P180 Armchair
Gastone Rinaldi
Design - 65 x 85 x 80 cm Design - 25.6 x 33.5 x 31.5 inch
$4,212



Osvaldo Borsani (6 armchairs)
Osvaldo Borsani
Design - 68 x 60 x 67 cm Design - 26.8 x 23.6 x 26.4 inch
$5,148


Vintage Brass Square Mirror
Luciano Frigerio
Design - 85 x 64 x 2 cm Design - 33.5 x 25.2 x 0.8 inch
$3,744

Vintage "Otero" Table Lamp Model 2748
Rodolfo Dordoni
Design - 47 x 40 x 40 cm Design - 18.5 x 15.7 x 15.7 inch
$3,510

Vintage Silver Pitcher
Mariano Alignani
Design - 32 x 22 x 25 cm Design - 12.6 x 8.7 x 9.8 inch
$4,446

Vintage Red Floor Lamp
Gina Vistosi
Design - 168 x 27 x 21 cm Design - 66.1 x 10.6 x 8.3 inch
$3,978



Set of 4 black Cobra chairs
Giotto Stoppino
Design - 78 x 46 x 49 cm Design - 30.7 x 18.1 x 19.3 inch
$4,914

Luxury love table
Roy van der Laars
Design - 70 x 30 x 40 cm Design - 27.6 x 11.8 x 15.7 inch
$7,605




Vintage Ceramic Camel with Bedouin
Friedrich Goldscheider
Design - 52 x 32 x 17.5 cm Design - 20.5 x 12.6 x 6.9 inch
$2,808

Geometric Table - Squadra e Curvilinee
Mario Ceroli
Design - 34 x 106 x 75 cm Design - 13.4 x 41.7 x 29.5 inch
$14,040


Peachy pink melts my heart
Clotilde.MJ
Design - 21.6 x 81.5 x 1.5 cm Design - 8.5 x 32.1 x 0.6 inch
$965



Tube en losange - Ecrin en plâtre et chaux
Stéphanie Guillou dite lellou
Design - 13 x 6 x 6 cm Design - 5.1 x 2.4 x 2.4 inch
$135





Frikandelfstblauw white I
Studio Snek
Design - 28.5 x 23.5 x 6 cm Design - 11.2 x 9.3 x 2.4 inch
$439
