Safe: Design Takes on Risk

by Paola Antonelli (Editor), Phil Patton, Marie O'Mahony

Modern designs to keep us safe, from self-defense to shelter Safety is an instinctive need that has guided human choices throughout history. Now more than ever, it has become not only a focus, but almost an obsession. Designers are trained to mediate between disruptive change and normalcy and can soothe people's anxiety. When scientific revolutions happen, they translate them into objects that people can understand and use. Good design provides protection and security without sacrificing the need to innovate and invent. This book and the exhibition that it accompanies document the unique objects that designers have created to answer people's needs, both physical and psychological. Physical objects include shelters for victims of disasters and homeless people, hideaway furniture and personal armor and protective gear, while psychological objects include those that thwart identity theft, offer self-defense, and provide comforting reassurance. The objects presented here reflect how good design goes hand-in-hand with personal needs.

This book includes an introductory essay by Paola Antonelli, Curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at The Museum of Modern Art in New York; an essay by Phil Patton on cars; another by Marie O'Mahony on materials and technologies; and a third by Cameron Sinclair on design for refugees and third-world facilities. The issues addressed by each of these authors will find resonance in people's minds and souls.

236 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2005

About the author

Paola Antonelli is curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art. Since 1994, Paola has curated the following landmark exhibitions: "Achille Castiglioni: Design!;" "Humble Masterpieces;" "Mutant Materials in Contemporary Design; " "SAFE: Design Takes on Risk;" "Thresholds: Contemporary Design from the Netherlands;" "Projects 66: Campana/Ingo Maurer:" and "Workspheres." For these accomplishments she received the 2006 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Design Mind Award. She was also appointed senior fellow at the Royal College of Art, London and given an honorary doctorate by Kingston University. Prior to joining the staff at MoMA, Paola was the editor of Abitare and a contributing editor to Domus. Among the books she has written are: Humble Masterpieces: Everyday Marvels of Design and Objects of Design from the Museum of Modern Art. She also writes for publications such as Harper's Bazaar, Harvard Design, I.D., Metropolis, Nest, and Paper.

Reviews

[Mark Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reviews a 2004 exhibition at MoMA on the of design in a variety of risk related products. It was a lot of fun for both text and visuals. The pictures and visual design was fantastic. I meant to pick out a favorite product to share, but am having a hard time. The "shark suit" made (essentially) of chain mail was nice, and the table that also served as an earthquake shelter would be a strong contender. Much that was truly inspired!

[Joe Donohue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disguising security rarely works. You can put butterflies on barbed wire, but it does not change the barbed wire.