The Curse of the Classic: A Bourdieurian Perspective and Exploration of the Danish Furniture Design Classics

Abstract

Due to a lack of research on what constitutes a furniture design classic, this study explores the phenomenon and aims to uncover its underlying characteristics and its social significance in a Danish context. Since the concept is socially constructed and highly context dependent, it can be perceived and explained in different ways. This complexity is demonstrated by the many theoretical perspectives on design classics, such as design theory, economics, networks and sociology. However, none of these specifically focus on furniture and classics, suggesting that there are opportunities for expansion. An abductive approach was therefore applied to the research to enable the integration of existing theories with new data to develop and further the current knowledge. For the purpose of this research, four interviews were conducted in a semi-structured manner, while five interviews were analyzed and coded in respect to the theory provided by Bourdieu. Coherent with the research approach, the collected data was analyzed in relation to previously mentioned theory. The resulting findings revealed that the furniture design classics within Danish society are closely tied to economic, symbolic and cultural capital. More importantly, it was identified that the notion of classic might stem from a collective habitus, thus supporting the theory of Bourdieu. Furthermore, aligning with the perspective provided by the theory or Norman, it was found that the classics would be expected to trigger an emotional response in the consumer, albeit not necessarily on a conscious and reflective level. Overall the findings support the understanding of furniture design classics as a social construct. The project thus found valid grounds for applying the theory of Norman and Bourdieu to the aspect of furniture design classics to gain a deeper understanding of the notion and what they signify. Lastly, it was established that further research on the phenomenon of design classics and the critical implications of the term in regards to future design processes would be beneficial.