Thirteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

Amulets have been studied in a variety of disciplines, from religious research to folklore, anthropology and psychology. However, there are very few studies about the side of the designers of the amulets. What motivates them? How do they define their work? Moreover, what is the context between contemporary design and amulets? In this study, I elaborate a unique field of material and visual culture in contemporary Israel - the design of artistic amulets in many fields of design: graphic, industrial, jewelry, fashion and textiles. Usually, amulets are meant for protection or mediation with a higher entity. Its uniqueness is that its shape and the way it is used do not indicate its intended function or its goal. This research presents contemporary objects that were created by Israeli Jewish designers, reflecting the characteristics of current times and expressing the spiritual and aesthetic needs of the designer as well as his views on social, political and cultural issues. The lecture is based on the fieldwork I have been doing for the past two years as a doctoral student in the Department of Jewish Art at Bar-Ilan University. My research is based on designers interviews, in addition to material and visual analysis of a wide variety of contemporary amulets.