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Designing with Michael Graves Design: My Summer Internship Journey
Exploring Industrial and Accessible Design with Michael Graves Design
By: Joshua Archer
I have been an admirer of Michael Graves Design for a long time, so I was ecstatic to be given the opportunity to create with a company that I so highly regard. As I am currently studying textiles and soft goods, I am not familiar with all aspects of industrial design which is primarily the work of Michael Graves Design. Even so, the company graciously worked to craft a bespoke experience that differed from the “gofer” tasks of a traditional internship. The result is a collection of assignments, or design “sprints”, which offered an array of opportunities to familiarize myself with industrial design, accessible design, and overall Michael Graves Design.
The Henry Ford Grand Tour
Given the incredible opportunity to explore the Michael Graves Design Archive at The Henry Ford Museum, I was tasked to pick a selection of items and reinterpret them through an accessibility lens. This meant finding ways to improve upon how the products perform in relation to bending, reaching, dexterity, and other difficult tasks of daily life. This was a fun challenge to blend accessible design with classic Michael Graves products.
Rug Designs
The compositions of Michael Graves have always been fascinating to me, so when coming up with rug designs I wanted to apply this imagery in a fresh light. This small collection was a great exercise in exploring how these iconic motifs might make their way into large scale print and pattern.
CommodeParade
CommodeParade, a parody on the international CowParade public art exhibit, explores the Michael Graves Comfort Commode for CVS Health in new and unexpected ways. I drew inspiration from artists I admire, pop culture, and some of my own work. The result is an eclectic collection that I hope will turn heads!
The Warehouse Grand Tour
The Warehouse is, in many ways, the ultimate synthesis of Graves’ mind. The many artifacts within provided ample inspiration to explore how these items, many from the 18th and 19th century, might inform current design language and functionality. I had a wonderful time enjoying Graves’ residence and ideating new products in this truly postmodern methodology.
I am beyond grateful for my summer with Michael Graves Design, and cannot thank them enough for taking the time to provide a truly holistic exposure to all things Michael Graves. Thank you to The Henry Ford for hosting me to explore their vast collection, and Kean University for providing me access to the sublime Warehouse.