Friedrich von Borries

Considering how much I enjoy Apple specifically for its innovative design work, this exhibition book was a huge disappointment as neither the articles nor the illustrated content was very inspiring. The issue with the essays, written mostly by foreign academics with ties to the hosting museum, I assume is largely an issue of translation and style. I've long abandoned academic journals and their pompous overtones for more accessible content, and unfortunately the majority of museum exhibition books and art history tomes still engage in this style of snobbery. Since most of the authors are also German (as was the hosting institution), I assume that the original text was German and therefore the translation therein causes a sense of disconnect. Once I got to the second half of the book, which presented a timeline of Apple and its various products designed by Johnathan Ive, I figured that I was in safe territory, but yet again I was underwhelmed. The exhibition pieces were well laid out in terms of page design, but there was no accompanying text to give us any context. Sure, the preliminary essays were supposed to play that role to an extent, but side by side content would have drawn out a lot more potential thought, even if it does break with Apple's über minimalist stylings. I am sure that some museum (or iMuseum if Apple continues to develop as a brand and company) will do another exhibition on the topic, so I hope that next time around they do a better job of it.… (meer)