Upper Northeastern Prehistoric Motif as Implications for Product Design

Abstract

        Objective of this research is to study and collect prehistoric patterns in The Upper Northeastern in order to apply for product design. From the study of prehistoric motif in Upper Northeastern during 5,600-1,800 years BC, pre-existing motif are human, animals, flowers, geometry, and lined motif. Techniques applied included painting, scratching and affixing, which depending on the type of work. The researchers have compared motif obtained from the study and conclude that baked clay utensils are the oldest. Painting on cliff and other motif are contemporary with the late era of baked clay utensils or during 2,300-1,800 years BC. Those motif during prehistoric era are varied.
         From that conclusion, an idea to select associated unique 2-dimensional symbolic motif from painting on utensils to be modeled for 3-dimensional product design. In addition, this research allows a chance to expose motif as intended from prehistoric era to perceive aesthetics of the ancestors through symbols and motif. Currently, we acknowledge more about lifestyle of people in that era as well as using symbols to imply abundant of area such as snake coil-like motif, wave-like motif, and spiral-like motif. These motif are 2-dimensional.
          Unique characteristic associated to snake coil-like motif is the first issue for an experiment for product design. Examples are fruit tray made from different materials such as Calathea, bamboo, ceramic, iron as well as different sizes of lamps, and area for private meditation which conceptualized to deploy 2-dimensional symbolic motif conceptualized to apply for 3-dimensional design. This can be used to design and develop concept for variety of product creation depending on the interest of designer, artist, or student both in the present and in the future. This is in an important factor in order to create product design works to combine culture and people lifestyle that have cultural variation.