FRIEZE NEW YORK 2013
INTERNATIONAL HOME + HOUSEWARES SHOW 2013
TOKYO DESIGN WEEK 2012
BEIJING DESIGN WEEK 2012
Designer George Nelson once said, "There is a silly myth that generals win wars. What the facts show is that designers do." Firearms and design have a shared history extending at least as far back as Samuel Colt and the revolvers he displayed at the 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition. The American armory system and the use of interchangeable parts set a manufacturing precedent that would influence the production of everything from sewing machines, to typewriters, bicycles and cars.
Today, industrial designers continue to be influenced by the aesthetics and form of firearms. Just last month, I spotted Philippe Starck's Lounge Gun Floor Lamp in a model apartment on Union Square. Deyan Sudjic, in his 2009 book The Language of Things, discusses how the visual style of the Walther PPK was appropriated in the look of Richard Sapper's Tizio Lamp and the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Whether one is pro-gun-control or just pro-gun, there is no denying that firearms in America are consumer products, and they're popular products at that. The most recent Black Friday marked the largest number of firearms background checks (and purchases) since they've been keeping track—129,166—nearly 1/3rd higher than the previous record. In October, Gallup revealed that 1 in 3 Americans owns a gun and that self-reported gun ownership is the highest it has been in nearly two decades. Even London's Design Museum recently acquired an AK-47 [PDF], becoming the first contemporary design collection to include a gun.
Firearms offer an exemplary balance of form with function, incorporating ergonomics and aesthetics to elicit an emotional response in the user. But many popular design platforms have yet to discuss guns as designed objects in their own right. Which is why this year Core77 is attending the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas.
The SHOT Show is "the world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, law enforcement, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics and related products and services." Taking place from Tuesday January 17th through Friday January 20th, the convention will have over half a million square feet of exhibition space dedicated to guns and gun culture and an anticipated attendance of over 30,000 people.
Over the next week, we'll bring you coverage of the most notable innovations and design trends in firearms and related accoutrements, from awesome airsoft guns to conceal and carry holsters. Core77 will chat up industry professionals and even try out a few featured guns at a nearby shooting range!
More from the SHOT Show 2012:
» Introduction
» First Impressions on the Slide Fire
» The Year of the Zombie
» Concealed Carry
» Kriss Systems' Vector Submachine Gun
» APO's Custom Firearms
» A Photo Tour of the Show
Barbara Eldredge is a design writer and researcher living in New York City. An MFA candidate in SVA's Design Criticism program, Eldredge has spent the past year exploring the relationship between design, guns, museums, and morality for her forthcoming master's thesis.
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Comments
A very interesting article. I am certainly in favour of people (those who have no criminal record, of course) having the legal right to own firearms, but I also believe in the importance of having INTELLIGENT gun-control laws, created - and only created - by the central government of the land. Of course, these laws would need to be updated as time goes by.
Well holy shnikes! It's great to see an article on here that covers something other than bicycles, lamps, and absurd chairs (not that I have anything against those *occasionally). It would be nice to see an interview with a designer/engineer/director etc. from an actual manufacturer like H&K, Barrett etc. to understand what actually goes into the design of a firearm. I think it would be an incredible insight into the development of a product that is expected to function reliably and safely for decades and in some cases over a century rather than several months or a few years. Firearms after all the result of centuries of innovation and iconic objects/products which have drastically changed the course of world history. Looking forward to seeing coverage of SHOT show.
Great and interesting article (and future articles...). I've never really made the connection that very few and exceedingly less of our products have the lifecycle that firearms do. I have been fortunate enough to have a few heirloom quality pieces pass down through the family, some of which are 100+ years old and still operate exactly the same.
I guess when you run the risk of having that product cause bodily harm during a malfunction they tend to be built like brick out houses. Some power tools fall into this same category
I went on a tour of a Sturm Ruger factory in New Hampshire in 1997 with an engineering class in college. The production precision is incredible - and mainly relying on some pretty old-school technology. I'd be interested to hear how production has changed in the digital era.
Well about time Core77 did this! Yes, design and function have ripple effects that transcend all sorts of industries. I work at a gunsmith myself, and have actually built a fully functional PPK/S from a spare parts bin. You are legally allowed to build yourself the "occasional" firearm as well - meaning you can design and create function as you wish. Wish I was going to SHOT this year to catch up. One thing noticeably impressive with firearms is the number of pins used to hold everything together.
Very good article guys, well done!
Legal right to own a firearm is a wide discussed subject.
Honestly, I believe in the rights of people to own one, but also in an updated and more intelligent law.
Very good article guys, well done!
Nick
This was a great article and I cant wait to see the articles coming up on airsoft guns. While I am waiting ill be checking here http://www.airsplat.com/ for some new guns.