Beyond Functionalism
The Modernists measured the quality of a design by how well it performed its practical purpose -- its function. In our post-modern world, this no longer is a realiable way to guage the value of good design. What if the main purpose of a design object is not a practical function but a purely aesthetic one? As contemporary art has become less concerned about aesthetics (form and beauty), and more about ideas, statements, and contexts, the design world has increasingly moved into realms once reserved for high sculpture. Most of the major art museums now also house large collections of contemporary design. Art has always been a social barometer of human civilisations ....today, product design has emerged as [perhaps] the dominant expression of human culture. Collectors are now prepared to pay the kinds of prices for important and rare contemporary design objects, one would once only expect to pay for fine art. “Banquet” daybed by Maria Pergay sold for $421,000 at auction in 2007. 
“D” sofa by Ron Arad sold for $409,000 
Fernando & Humberto Campana's "Sushi" sofa sold at auction for $253,000. 
Enameled aluminium bench (Prototype) by Zaha Hadid $52,800
"Woosh" sofa by Zaha Hadid, from 1986, sold at auction in 2007 for $144,000.
A pair of shelves from Andrea Branzi's 1991 "Amnesie" collection sold for $55,200
Does the fine line between
Art and Design even exist? Objects by the Dutch design team Studio Job 
