March 7th, 2007

The Shaker Design Philosophy

by Joshua Porter  |   22 Comments  |  shortlink: http://bokardo.com/p/580

The furniture-making Shakers have a great design philosophy

“Don’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful.”

The Shaker design philosophy is one of prioritization: their main priority is to be necessary and useful. Then, once that has been achieved, make something beautiful. To me this is a great way to explain design, without sacrificing beauty or expression of the designer. Many times I’ve got in trouble when trying to articulate this sentiment, such as my recent post on 5 Principles to Design By, in which I suggest that “Design is not Art”. I tell myself that design is not art so I can focus on the idea that design should be functional above all else, and once that is achieved the designer can imbue it with other properties.

Shaker tilting chairThe Shaker philosophy has led to an amazing array of designs. The Shakers invented, among other things, the circular saw, the washing machine, and the flat broom. They are also well-known for their simple, durable furniture. My wife and I have longed to buy Shaker furniture to fill our house, but because it is always made by hand and with solid wood it is relatively expensive. One nice example is the ladder-back chair, a design which we take for granted nowadays. An interesting version of this design is the Shaker tilting chair, with ball-and-socket joints on its rear legs so one can lean back in it without breaking the chair legs.

Ward Cunningham, inventor of the wiki, has a page dedicated to Shaker philosophy, which should come as no surprise given the simple utility of the software.

The Shakers themselves were an interesting lot, an extremely religious group started in Manchester, England in 1700s. They moved (9 of them) to the Watervliet area in New York in 1770s. The Shakers are very religious, and one of their strict beliefs hinders their growth as a community. That belief is in celibacy, or simply not having sex. Because of this their numbers have never been large and the only way that a Shaker community can form or survive is by conversion. By most accounts, the only remaining community of Shakers in the world is in Sabbathday Lake, Maine.

Even so, their philosophy lives on in countless designs refined over the years.

More on Shakers and their designs:

Check out my latest project: Make them Care!, a book on designing great sign-up experiences. Get reminded when it's published.

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Comments

1.  Shimon 1:27am, Thu 8th, 2007

Don’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful.

Thank you for this quote, i’ll take it on a note!

2.  Joe Duck 12:37pm, Sun 11th, 2007

Great post Josh, though I’m not sure this advice holds up well in the wild and freewheeling online world where design *and even success* seem to be governed more by superficiality, whimsy, and questionable content.

3.  Bob Sutton 10:05am, Wed 14th, 2007

You can say that again! Is it going too far to acknowledge that a cardinal principle of Shaker design is humility? Or how that virtue seems sorely missing in the “web-designer-as-rock-star” phenomenon? I marvel at all the talented folk who found in your “Five Principles to Design By” an affront to their aspirations as artistes rather than carefully chosen words about how serving necessity and usefulness enobles Design.

Looking ahead to a time when styling CSS is no more profound than child’s play, will the artists still outnumber the Shakers?

4.  Tristan 8:50pm, Wed 14th, 2007

I like that quote a lot. If you add that to your 5 principles, you may disregard my comment on that post! Thanks for this, it’s a good one to remember.

5.  æ¿€æƒ…成人 4:58am, Thu 15th, 2007

Very nice site. I have enjoyed reading it. Best regards TooMM

6.  Web Design Wales 6:33am, Mon 19th, 2007

Thanks for the pointer, I’m looking forward to reading it shortly

8.  Apple TV Converter Info 12:19am, Mon 26th, 2007

Thanks for this information.
Thanks for all the kind words of support!

9.  Outsource Web Design 7:14am, Mon 2nd, 2007

The article that has been given is quite informative . Excellent contribution.kind regards.

10.  custom real estate web design 1:50pm, Wed 11th, 2007

very information article. thanks.

11.  Michael M 9:08am, Sat 12th, 2007

Thanks for information here, I think gaining understanding for this subject is really important. The more we know the better we deal in different type of situations that we come across. Here is another related page that may be of interest to some, it’s all about shaker furniture, here it is http://www.woodcraft-furniture-magazine.com/Shaker-Furniture.php

12.  Designer Furniture 7:28am, Tue 12th, 2007

I think it is essential for the designer furniture to be uniqe and beautiful, but at the same time practical and useful.

13.  flyer 7:23pm, Thu 19th, 2007

The execellente design principles.

I think for being changed nevertheless that the principles as required can, for example if man a flyer Design make can man naturally its principles to use however those of the customer to come to it or have rather begin or?

14.  lilian 1:18pm, Sun 16th, 2007

thanks for this article, it helped me with my research on shaker design history.
nb. does anyone know whether they used nails etc?

15.  web 2.0 blog 2:12pm, Fri 21st, 2008

The same applies to website design which is why I try to prioritize usability over aesthetics.

16.  John Faircloth 11:34am, Wed 22nd, 2008

I think you have “missed the boat” in your assessment of Shaker philosophy concerning design.
Certainly the Shakers were consistent in their forms following their functions. However, there are far more profound principles, spiritual and theological, which guided their work and design.

To say that the Shakers are “extremely religious” is to miss the reality that they are first a spiritual people who happened to make furniture and distinctive crafts.

I think if you are interested in the principles of their design heritage, it would be good to first understand the Shakers as people and as people dedicated to God. I would like to suggest you consider a book of essays by Fr. Thomas Merton entitled “Seeking Paradise.”

17.  Dustin Kidd 6:46pm, Wed 7th, 2009

Thanks for the information! =]