The preservation of human creativity and dignity of work in an economy increasingly dominated by machines is a value and a challenge that resonates even today. The problem for the reformers was how to meet the lofty democratic goal of making handcrafted everyday objects of good design affordable for all. American artists and designers, as it turned out, would succeed with this fundamental aim of the Arts and Crafts movement even more so than its founders.
Artists who aligned themselves with the movement internationally sought a return to work by hand, the dignity of labor, and unity of design. Design unity was the ideal for one’s whole environment—that is, all elements of a home, from its architecture to its furnishings and decoration, should be conceived as a total work of art, each part working in harmony with the other. Despite these common goals, works of great individuality were produced by different regions and countries because the movement’s advocates considered local history, materials and sources highly important.
In America, the movement produced works that were notable for their simple designs and spare ornamentation, often inspired by nature. The clean silhouettes of these objects continue to influence the look of modern design to this very day. Yet for both creators and consumers, Arts and Crafts objects represented more than an aesthetic: their value derived from a production process that honored the individual and a simpler way of life.
