‘Push yourself to see and experience things you never would otherwise’ - Diane Charbonneau, Curator, Design Lab

In Part II of our photo essay on the Design Lab at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, we showcase more creative works along with curator insights on the value of design.

PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 220 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.

In this photo essay, we take a deeper creative dive into the Design Lab at Montreal’s Museum of Fine Arts (see Part I here). “It is important for everyone to build on their sense of design. Design is all around us, but ironically we sometimes forget about it if the object is well-designed,” said Diane Charbonneau, the museum’s Curator of Modern and Contemporary Decorative Arts.

We need to value design more. “Good design is not always costly, as IKEA has shown – well-designed products can also be affordable,” she explained, in a chat with YourStory. Functionality and cost are just some of the elements of design.

“When I curate an exhibition, I look for the story behind the objects and their relationships,” Diane explains. Narration is more important than a mere checklist of items. Past themes at the Design Lab have focused on toys, leather and sports equipment.

“Not all designers have an artistic background, but they must be creative,” she says. Design helps us explore and amplify our creative sides in different ways. “Design includes textures, colours, shapes, materials, and much more. Design goes beyond other forms like photography, and is a kind of seduction,” Diane explains.

Keeping yourself open to design treats you to lovely surprises. “Designers themselves have to keep working at their skills,” she adds. Museums, galleries and studios play an important role in showcasing good and even provocative design, and increasing social appreciation of the value of design.

Trends to watch are the rise of cultural value in design, and the importance of environmentally sustainable products. “Push yourself to see and experience things you never would otherwise,” Diane signs off.

Now what have you done today to observe and appreciate the value of something new?

Got a creative photograph to share? Email us at [email protected]!

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