The Research On William Morris

The thoughts and practices of William Morris (1834-1896) had enlightened an artist generation to devote their efforts into modern design. His personal charisma has been recognized as one of the important sources for establishing modern design styles and modernist design. Deutscher Werkbund and Bauhaus, in many way, were the continuation of Morris thoughts. Gropius implemented Morris ideas into his Bauhaus Declaration.However, Morris lived a contradicted life: he shed the positive light on modern design movement, and tried hard to turn back the history wheel. He had heavy cross, modern and tradition, soul and profit, on his back, managed to march on to the design path in modern meaning. In his design, Morris set up integrity and purity as spiritual base, which in turn set up the foundation of concise style for modern design. Morris's thoughts has continual enlightening power, and no doubt negative aspects as well. For later generations to surpass his, they would still feel the power of enlightening.To think the modern design pioneer's thoughts is to reincarnate their thoughts in the thinker's mind. Such kind of reincarnation is beneficial to human interests. It linked our thoughts with history, communication minds between modern man and the past human. Thus defines the search on to the ancient proverb " Know yourself.".