abbie mawhinney - personal manifesto

ABBIEMAWHINNEYPERSONAL MANIFESTO

Personal

PERSONAL MANIFESTO

“Design style comes from the sum of the intellectual and emotionalexperiences of the individual. For it to be positive and vital, design style must be exercised and developed. It is changeable and influenced by environment. A well-cultivated design style is likely to be exciting

and provocative, design style at its highest level.”

- Eleanor Brown

To begin my personal manifesto journey I looked to my personal styleaswell as to my body of works thus far.

My personal style says a lot about me, it is indeed the result of myintellectual and emotional experiences. My current studies allow me to

exercise and develop it. It is changeable and is influencedby my environment.Personal

Manifesto

ManifestoMy work is a direct reflection of this. I have enjoyed the opportunity to experiment with different facets of my style but I have also observed

distinct concepts that continuously present themselves asreoccurring themes in my designs.

My designs are bold and brave. What ever I do, I do with dedication. There is little to be confused about and the intention is clear.

It is my challenge to counter balance this approach with intrigue and mystery so as to create the most desirable atmosphere of

comfort and harmony.

I am attracted to nature and its representation inside, some might call this bringing the outside in.

Thirdly, it is obvious that there is an element of minimalism is about me. I detest clutter and enjoy clear open spaces. It is my belief that

everything has a place and organisation and order is thebest way to achieve this.

Feminine

Contrast

Contrast is the title derived from the bold and brave nature of mydesign approach. It includes both the masculine side and the feminine

side of my personality and is representative of opposites.

All of us have a masculine and a feminine side. The masculine side comes from a place of strength and in contrast, the feminine side comes

from a place of goodness.

It is said that design too, has a masculine and feminine side. We see this in all forms be it fashion design, furniture design, architecture or interiors. To me perfection in design, and life, is the attainment of

a balance between the two.

The masculine comes from my ability to approach a project with strength,confidence, determination and vigor. I do this by enjoying structural elements such as steel beams and strong materials such as concrete. It is the masculine, which makes up the primary elements in my designs.Feminine

Masculine

MasculineAs a woman, I am naturally feminine and a need for my designs tobalance with a sense of femininity is strong. I do this throughdecoration, the small things, be it artwork, furniture or décor.Femininity in my designs cretaes the mystery and intrigue I feelnecessary to balance a space. It is the feminine that makes up the

secondary elements of my design.

I enjoy how both sides either blend together harmoniously or juxtapose against each other simultaneously. Each case presents interest andintrigue with opposing elements co-existing together. In whicheverexample opposites exists and contrast is the principle that defines

their relationship to one another.

Contrast

Resilience

Resilience is the term reached in order to represent my attraction tonature and the desire to have it appear throughout my designs.

The remarkable resilience of nature continuously amazes me. Its ability to survive against the odds is impressive and its capacity to absorbdisturbance whilst retaining its essential function, structure and

identity is to be respected, valued and admired.

In a society almost entirely defined by artificial things, a connection to nature seems necessary in order to stay centered and grounded atop of

the pressure that comes with modern day life. Through its use ininteriors I am able to create the harmony required to do so.

I am particularly attracted to the roughened and aged textures of stone, timber and minerals. In their natural form they offer an abundance of

shapes, patterns and colours.

Using natural materials enhances sustainability and promotes healthyecological design practices which given my background of sustainable

living and my inherent respect for the envirnment,is important and meaningful to me.Contrast

Beauty

Silence

Silence represents minimalism. Minimalism sets out to expose theessence, essentials and identity of a subject through eliminating all

non-essential forms, features or concepts.

To quote Antoine de Saint-Exupe, “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

It is this concept of taking away that appeals to me. To live with only fundamental elements creates space for thought and tranquility.

Organisation and order is also important to me and is vital in thepursuance of creatng minimalistic spaces.Beauty

Imagination

ImaginationIn conclusion, my design style encompasses these three aspects in anembodiment of which is my personal approach to design. In all of my

projects at least one or all of these details will be present.

The following pages are a collation of imagery and text fashioned toevocatively symbolize Contrast, Resilience and Silence.

- Thank you, Abbie Mawhinney

Indulgance

indulgeto allow oneself the pleasure of somethingIndulgance

Resilience

nurt ureto cherish

foster & keep aliveResilience

BraveryLYLE NEWRYMIRRAWONG GADJURONG TRIBE WA

braverydesign

resilienceto survive the test of

timeBravery

Explanation

“it’s art if it can’t be explained. it’s fashion if no one asks for an explanation. it’s design if it doesn’t need an explanation.”

- wouter stokkelExplanation

LoveCHURCH OF LIGHTOSAKA JAPANTADAO ANDO 1989

Lovelovefor the loveof design

WisdomBLACK & WHITEGIANLUCA SPAGNUOLI 2007

wisdom“design is intelligence

made visible.”

- alina wheelerWisdom

DecisionCATE BLANCHETT AS BOB DYLANI’M NOT THERE 2007

decision“concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.”

- victor hugo

BILLIE HOLIDAYNEW YORK

C.1946

Decision

Directiondirectionregulate the course of control

restraintANNA MARIA URAJEVSKAYA

MICHELANGELO DI BATTISTA

Direction

Lonliness

lonliness

NATALIA VODIANOVAMARIO TESTINOLonliness

Sophisticationsophistication

SOPHIA LAUREN1962

Sophistication

Determinationstyle“a girl should be two things: classy

& fabulous.”

- coco chanel

determination FRIDA KAHLO1946

Determination

Transparency

“good design is obvious.great design is transparent.”

- joe sparanoTransparency

Expressionprettiness

Expression

MagicFLORENCE WELCHFLORENCE + THE MACHINE

expression

magicthe art of seduction

Magic

Strength

strengthVALERIJA KELAVA

POLO ROVERSIVOGUE ITALIA FEBRUARY 2011

Strength

Simplicitysimple

SET OF THREE FRENCH HERB & GARDEN SCISSORSDUNLIN HOME

things“simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

- leonardo de vinciSimplicity

manipulationEmpowerment

power

TILDA SWINTONW MAGAZINE AUGUST 2011

Empowerment

Silence

GRACE KELLY ON HER WEDDING DAYMONACO 1956

silencevirtuous silenceSilence

Minimalism

“less is more.”

- ludwig mies van der roheMinimalism

HOMEWARESSKANDIVIS

Freedom

Freedom

Intricacy‘THE BONEYARD’TUSCAN ARIZONA

intricatedetailIntricacy

Mr Foxfantastic

mrFox

“when you’re building a room, you’re building a character &

charcter is the strength & wisdom of a home.” - rose tarlowMr Fox

Coppercopper

MR COPPER PENDANTMERCHANT NO. 4

COLE STOOLMADE GOODS

Copper

Goldengold

Golden

Lightlight

Light

Commitment

commitment

“stay committed to your decisions but flexible in

your approach.”

- tom robbinsCommitment

materialitythe applied use of a

materialStr uct ure

str uct urethe arrangement of elementsStr uct ure

Purpose

“design is a plan for arrangingelements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose.”

- charles eamesPurpose

CreativitymysteryDAVID GULPILILAUSTRALIA

RECLAIMED TIMBER STAIRCASELOS ANGELES

... the heart of creativity.Creativity

HOT MUD SPRINGNAMASKARD THERMAL AREA

SOLFATARENFELD NORTHERN ICELAND

“a design is a planner with

aesthetic sense.”

- bruno manari

SALT LAKE EYRE SA

MURRAY FREDDRICKS

SustainWOODEN SPOONSDUNLIN HOME

GENUSS WERKSTATT COOKING SCHOOLPOLLAU ASTRIA

sustainabilitySustain

DefinitionWASHINGTON PARK RESIDENCESULLIVAN CONRAD ARCHITECTS

clearly outlined

definitiondistinct

ARCHEOLOGY MUSEUM OF VITORIAFRANCISCO MANGADO

Definition

HOUSE IN THE PYRENEESCADAVAL & SOLA-MORALES

Deathdeath

Death

“all architects want to live beyond their deaths.”

- philip johnson

“all architects want to live beyond their deaths.”

- philip johnson

Divinitydivinity

“i think; thereforei am.”

- rene descartes

Divinity

purityPurity

PAWSON HOUSE, LONDONJOHN PAWSON

Purity

PRESSED GLASS LIGHT BOWLTOM DIXON

Inspiration

TAJ LAKE PALACE HOTELUDAIPUR INDIA

Inspiration

Perfection

“the ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that

the necessary may speak.”

- hans hoffmannPerfection

IT’S PERSONAL.