Umbrella Diagram: 1981-2021, five decades of forecasts and CMF design

Authors

  • Clino Trini Castelli Castelli.Design

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23738/CCSJ.130210b

Keywords:

CMF design and forecasting, Iconic Colors, Syntactic Colors, Color Presence, Color Distribution

Abstract

The Umbrella Diagram, developed by Clino Trini Castelli since 1978, is a fundamental tool to configure CMF design languages and forecast historical color and material trends survey. The tool, based on decades, is represented by arches instead of an evolution of a timeline. This cyclical progress proved to be premonitory of the strong changes observed between the color languages of the decades. The umbrella shape of the diagram stems from the coexistence of large arches (historical trends) with smaller arches (fashion trends), frequently in conflict. Castelli first turned to the past of the 70s, 60s and 50s, testing his format backwards based on what was already observed. He then applied the same principles and parameters, looking rather at the 1980s and, till today, to the other four upcoming decades. The Umbrella Diagram was conceived as a proprietary tool of Castelli Design and reserved for his international customers and educational activities.

Author Biography

  • Clino Trini Castelli, Castelli.Design

    Clino Trini Castelli (b. 1944) designer, artist and design theorist lives and works in Milan. Internationally known for CMF design (Color, Material and Finishes) of which he was the initiator, Castelli introduced the "No-form" renewal of plastic languages applied to industrial products through the tools of Design Primario. As opposed to traditional compositional methods, Clino Trini Castelli has focused on the design of the more intangible aspects of figuration, like color and material, light and sound, emphasizing the virtues of a sensorial approach to art and design. Since the early 1970s this has made him a pioneer in research on the emotional identity of products in the industrial sector. His work has received important European, American and Japanese prizes, including two ADI Compasso d’Oro awards.

References

Lentati, G. 1984. Il colore in versione tonale policromatica. Ufficiostile 1: 44-45.

Mitchell, T. C. 1996. New Thinking in Design: Conversations on Theory and Practice. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

Raimondo, C. 1982. La tendenza tonale e il colore negli anni ’80 (Intervista a Clino T. Castelli sui trend). Supplemento Interni Annual ’82 – Colore, Interni 316: 8-13.

Takehara, A. 1984. The Philosopher of Color Clino Castelli. Car Styling 48: 13-36.

Trini Castelli, C. 1978. I diagrammi del colore. Data Arte 31: 12-17.

Trini Castelli, C. 1995. At the native state: rise and destiny of the ecological product. In: Design of Amenity. Selected Paper of International Symposium. AA.VV., ed. Kyushu: University Press, 464- 468.

Trini Castelli, C. 1999. Transitive Design: A Design Language for the Zeroes. Milano: Electa.

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Published

2021-11-09

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 02 (2021)

Section

Papers

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How to Cite

“Umbrella Diagram: 1981-2021, five decades of forecasts and CMF design” (2021) Cultura e Scienza del Colore - Color Culture and Science, 13(02), pp. 84–90. doi:10.23738/CCSJ.130210b.