BARBARA GORMAN + RICHARD GORMAN

By definition “manifesto” means a statement of intent. Many designers and architects in the late 18th century and early 20th century wrote their design manifesto. Our design roots are with those designers that were embracing and creating what would become known as modern design. It had rules regarding aesthetics as well as social, political, technical and economic goals. Our approach to design starts here and to us true “modern” is defined by this period. We make a distinction between the terms “modern” and “contemporary”. Contemporary design can be a catch-all, of the moment, no rules, but simply new. Modern is spare, not ornamental, elegant, by necessity about proportion and material. Great modern is difficult to achieve because by definition it works with the least amount to achieve the design goal.