complex formula

Went to see the F1 exhibit at The Design Museum. NDG has written about how splendid the graphics etc were. Personally I was overcome with nostalgia at the site of this lovely black JPS thing. The Formula One of my youth.

And I was struck by the irony (is it irony, I don't know anymore, it probably isn't, maybe I'll start again.)  I was struck by the contrast between this familar design bromide on the wall outside the gallery; 'progress means simplifying, not complicating' and the story that the exhibit itself told - which was of constant progress through increased complexity and complication.

Even if you ignore the splendid Cooper T51 and start in the 80s with these sleek but boxy things you can see the escalating complexity over the next 20 years.

The 21st century things are almost fractal, the closer you peer the more complication you see.

They're still beautiful, but they're asymmetric, unpredictable, with curious little bits that pop up to solve particular aerodynamic problems or whatever. They're things of detail not vision. More like bundles of contingent solution s than a singular, simple design decision. Lots of little ideas rather than one big one. Good Lord,  it's almost like there are parallels with other things.

And I know, it's not always this complicated. It's been exploded.

Having said that, this is probably my favourite car design ever, the Morris Minor. Not because it's simple but because it was famously compared to a poached egg, and it looks a lot like an armchair on wheels.

Comments

[Ben]

Nicely put.

That's the best exhibition the Design Museum have had for a long, long time.

[George Parker]

Ah... The Morris Minor... I had a Minor van when I was at Art school in Manchester in the early sixties. Drove the shit out of. Used to get 50 people in the back going from pub to pub, even down to St Ives every summer to sell bad art to tourists and get drunk on the beach! Blew up one engine, got a "new - second hand" one for about 30 quid, drove the shit out of it again. It's probably still going!!! They don't make em like that anymore... Course, you look at things differently when you're eighteen!!!

[David Armano]

Ok Russell, we get it. You are a car person as opposed to a motorbike person. Hey, there are Cat people and Dog people—there really no right or wrong, just preference.

And you worked in the Armchair on wheels reference again. Splendid!

;)

Seriously, great photos. I really do love this part of your blog. And I agree with you about the Morris Minor. I love it. There are a few cars in the world that put a smile on your face, not one of "product lust" but more like seeing an old, friendly + familiar face.

I imagine a car like this to get many warm smiles...

[Rodney Tanner]

"...down to St Ives every summer to sell bad art to tourists and get drunk on the beach!"

Waves of nostalgia there George. I was there in my 1955 MM convertable, with a surfboard sticking out the back!! Mine died against a lamp post, hiden in a in a snow drift, on Riegate hill.

[harshal]

Whoa! been a while since i've visited, but this post blew me away.

Thank you many times over for the pictures. Am an unabashed F1/car fan.

Fond memories of the MM as well. But it's still possible to find spares and the odd working condition MM in these parts..

[harshal]

You might want to see this
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindustan_Ambassador)

Been a bit of a revival here for the "amby" in part due to a souped up engine, in part the magic of the Old World Charm. Quite a few yuppies learned how to drive on this, waaay back in the good ole days(!)

What i meant, of course, is that the good times have never been so good.