advance homework

August 20, 2016

The Sydney Morning Herald

Ms. Gabriella Coslovich

Sydney, Australia

Dear Editor:

Furniture design is an art form, a product of the creative mind that seeks to combine unique aesthetic qualities with functional human needs. Similar to the creativity of music industry professionals whose art is considered unique and consumers avidly seek and pay tribute to the original work, why is it that the art of furniture designers is not honored with the same respect?

While consumers of interior design services and products understand the amount of time, effort and creativity necessary to conceptualize and develop a design unique and appropriate for the clients’ needs, it is shocking how many will turn to knock offs and replicas of iconic and unique furniture designs in order to save money. Few people take the time to consider why supporting the replica furniture industry is so damaging.

For starters, quality is an obvious sacrifice made when choosing a replica over an original furniture piece. Replica makers exist to make products as cheaply as possible in order to make a profit. Therefore, replicas are made with little respect for craftsmanship and material. Consumers have the choice of purchasing a cheaply made mass-produced replica that will last a few years or investing in a timeless piece of art that will last a lifetime.

In addition to sacrificing quality for cost, replica makers also sacrifice the environment as they mass produce their products in factories overseas, with often little regard to acceptable working conditions, wages and environmental practices.

Finally, in supporting the replica furniture industry, consumers are directly contributing to the loss of local designers and the creativity of the furniture design industry. Local, original furniture designers are the individuals with the knowledge and understanding of how a product can positively impact the human experience. From designs that are accessible and universal to those that are ergonomic and environmentally friendly, without the knowledge of original local designer’s consumers can expect to lose out on these benefits of design.

Advocates of the replica furniture industry argue that replicas allow them to purchase and own something they love that they could not otherwise afford, and while the design industry works continuously to make design services and products accessible to all, not just those financially fortunate, that is no excuse to discredit the hard work and dedication of the original artist who spent the time and effort to develop their career and product around the needs of the consumer.

Similar to how individuals must pay royalties to music industry professionals for legal use of their intellectual property, the same should hold true for those wishing to replicate design elements of a furniture designers signature work. If such royalties are not paid to the original designer, copyright and trademark laws should be upheld in court so that legal action can be taken against companies who sell replicas of another designer work without permission.

It is time we showed respect and credit our designers for their unique visions, hard work and dedication and as consumers consider ethics and the environment before deciding to purchase a knock off of an original piece of art.

Sincerely, Ashley Lacen

Ashley Lacen

Undergraduate BBA, Design Management

Berkeley College