Constructivism was a design movement prevalent in the 1920's in Russia. Two of its most celebrated proponents were Alexander Rodchenko and his wife Vavara Stepnova. The movement was based upon a socialist-based ideology which looked at design as a way to construct a new culture and society for the benefit of the masses. Constructivism used advertising and commodities as mediums to promote benefits of the new socialistic and eventual communist government positions and programs. As such, most designs created by Rodchenko were advertisements for government-owned and or sanctioned products and services.
They considered themselves “engineers” (designers) rather than “artists”. They believed that personal expression and art for arts sake was decadent and selfish. As such, their creative process and design methodology was very structured. They looked at themselves are “builders of messages” and/or “information architects”, “constructing design solutions” to the needs of society. This attitude and approach to design was subsequently influential on the curriculum and design approach taught at the Bauhaus in Germany.
