Have you ever wondered what makes certain designers stand out from the rest? How can some people blend fields to make masterpieces? How come designers in history worked across so many mediums? Welcome to your introduction to Multidiscipline Design!

What is Multidiscipline Design?

At its core, multidisciplinary design is learning from and utilising multiple fields within design. At Nollie, we want to share the transferable skills within design to make the process easier for you to become multidisciplinary. If you’re new here, you can check out our 12 Principles of Multidiscipline Design. 

Multidiscipline Design comes from designers who have an understanding of multiple fields within design. When you learn how one field of design interacts with another, it builds a larger understanding of how to deploy your creative talent.

I always compare multidiscipline design to playing guitar. Once you have the basics down, it becomes easier to use that knowledge to learn other instruments and you can play Bass or Ukelele. If you are a designer, learning one form of design is going to massively help learn another. 

I began my multidisciplinary journey when transitioning from Graphic Design to Industrial Design and I couldn’t believe how similar the process was! 

If this concept is new to you, it may seem impossibly overwhelming but truth is multidiscipline design used to be the norm. You might be surprised to learn that this design approach is deeply rooted in history. We’ll look back to the multidisciplinary practices of the Bauhaus movement, the Renaissance, and the designers today.

The Multidiscipline Design of The Bauhaus

The Bauhaus was a German school that operated between 1919 and 1933, before being closed under the threat of the Nazi regime. In its time, the school revolutionised design and we still celebrate it today. 

Led by Walter Gropius, the Bauhaus embraced multidisciplinary design. This movement influenced the fields of architecture, furniture design, typography, and more. In their first year, instructors introduced every student to a range of fields to develop many creative skills before getting them to select their major.

The Bauhaus produced iconic designs that are still celebrated around the world. Examples include Marcel Breuer’s Wassily Chair and the elegant Barcelona Chair by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. 

This multidisciplinary approach is still used by the best design schools in the world today, like the Design Academy Eindhoven. But one of the reasons I created this blog is that many people don’t have access to that kind of education. 

Multidisciplinary Design shouldn’t be a secret reserved for those who can afford a great education, but should be for anyone. Multidisciplinary Design should be accessible for everyone.

The Multidisciplinary Design of the Renaissance

Before the Bauhaus, there was another celebrated movement of where Multidisciplinary Design was important, the Renaissance.

Think of artists like Leonardo da Vinci. He effortlessly bridged the gap between art and science. His creativity is still being celebrated over 500 years later! But one thing that he understood was how to learn from different fields and apply that learning to his work.

“Whatever you do in life, if you want to be creative and intelligent, and develop your brain, you must do everything with the awareness that everything, in some way, connects to everything else.”

Leonardo Da Vinci

Da Vinci’s famous Vitruvian Man captures the heart of multidisciplinary design. It shows the harmony between art, math, and anatomy. The Renaissance masters knew that by combining fields, they could make art that was groundbreaking.

The Multidisciplinary Design of Today

Fast forward to today. We’ve already mentioned how the great design schools in the world continue educating designers using a Multidisiciplinary approach. But, chances are you never went to a fancy design school. So who else is practicing Multidiscipline Design?

Celebrated designers like Philippe Starck, Marc Newson, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and Max Bill push the boundaries of design. They do this by blending different disciplines. We wrote a list of 10 Great Multidisciplinary Designers if you want to learn who else fits into this category of creativity.

Philippe Starck made iconic designs. They include the Louis Ghost Chair and the Juicy Salif lemon squeezer. They show his ability to mix modern tech with a touch of whimsy.

“A minimal knowledge of physics, astrophysics, and perhaps mathematics, brings to light certain patterns that make these subjects easier to understand. It is striking to see the extreme similarity between these scientific propositions and the forms that recur in all times, places and civilizations.”

Philippe Starck 

Marc Newson’s sleek and futuristic pieces, like the Lockheed Lounge, show his mastery of both design and sculpture. He became a pioneer in Industrial Design, but uses his knowledge of Jewelry Design to help inspire his work.

“Studing jewelry gives you an incredible technical background. If you can work on very, very small things, then, I think, typically you find it easier to go bigger rather than the other way around. I think a lot of architects have struggled with small things. Whereas if you start small, it’s easier to get bigger.”

Marc Newson

The Benefits of Multidisciplinary Design

We’ve explored a little bit of history and inspiring figures behind multidisciplinary design. Now, let’s dive into the benefits of using this approach in our own creative journeys.

1. Limitless Possibilities

Multidisciplinary design opens up a vast playground of ideas and possibilities. By mixing fields, we can access new creativity and innovation. They would otherwise remain unexplored. It’s about mixing old skills with new tech. Or, fusing art with green ideas. Multidisciplinary design lets us break free and dream big.

One of the best things about being Multidisciplinary is the acceptance that even if you don’t know how to do something, you can rely on research, learning and your design process to help you achieve your outcome.

2. We have strong problem-solving skills. 

Multidisciplinary Designers have stronger problem-solving skills than specialist designers. We have them because we bring together many perspectives and skill sets. This mix gives us a powerful tool for solving complex challenges. Multidisciplinary design encourages us to think broadly. 

Having an understanding of many fields of design and how they interlink allow you to find exciting and different solutions that specialist designers can overlook. You can use your holistic approach to expand the opportunities available when working with clients.

3. Discovery and Self-Growth

Multidisciplinary Design is a journey that requires dedication and a passion for design, and a passion for embracing your creativity. 

Using the guitar example mentioned earlier, you need to have a good understanding of how to play guitar to help you play Bass. This takes time, and practice. But in time, it makes you more versatile, the same applies for design. It requires a growth mindset.

Exploring different disciplines not only expands our skill sets but also broadens our horizons. We become more adaptable. We become more versatile. We become capable of leaving our comfort zones. The more we embrace multidisciplinary design, the more we develop as designers and as individuals.

4. Collaboration and Community

Multidisciplinary Design is all about collaborating and building a network with your local community of creatives. The best place to develop new skills is by finding and getting the expertise of creatives who come from different perspectives.

For example, even though I have no background in Architecture, I know I can feed my curiosity about architecture by asking my close friends who work in that field. 

Find others who share your passion for design and creativity. It can be daunting, especially if you’re not great at meeting people, but its a highly valuable skill. It will help you build relationships and these can even come back around to help you in moments when you least expect it.

One great place to meet designers who care less about specialties and more on their creative output is by going to the local makerspace. If you’re unfamiliar, a makerspace is a public studio that provides access to design tools and equipment that is accessible to the public.

You can find out more about Makerspaces and where to find your nearest Makerspace in this post.

Conclusion

So now you know about the best kept secret in design, do you think you have what it takes to become a multidisciplinary designer? Remember, multidisciplinary design is not just a technique or an approach, it’s a mindset that allows you to think of design holistically.

At Nollie Design, we want to help you firstly realise that you have this untapped creative potential, and give you the skills and resources to help you develop your journey into Multidisciplinary Design.

If you want to learn more, I recommend starting with our 12 Principles of Multidisciplinary Design.

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