According to Steven Heller, the concept of mainstream vs underground is relevant in contemporary design because now, designers just follow current trends. For example, Steven Heller says “Today, designers for mainstream advertising companies, weaned on alternative approaches, have folded the underground into the mainstream and call it “cool.” This example shows many “underground” has been brought back and people thing its cool. People often just follow the trends that happen around the world, if others think its cool, then you’ll think its cool too. Designers is taking underground ideas and adding onto it and changing it up to become another idea.

My designer I chose was Jeff Koons, he fits into mainstream because most of his work is based of everyday objects. The artwork was called “Puppy”, it is created to be caught up with the current world events. Puppy is coated with flowers and changes according to the season. Ever since covid took over the world everyone had to wear a mask and to keep up with the things happening around the world, Puppy got a mask too!

Puppy was built based off a design of formal gardens of the 18th-century and items like Chia Pets. Although Chia Pets were seen in the 2000, Jeff Koons combined two ideas from the early years into one and created something that is kept up with the world. As time goes by, Puppy will move along with us. Just like a real dog, Puppy gets taken care of.

Saltz J. When the Low Went Very High. New York. 2009;42(42):62-64. Accessed December 2, 2020.

Smith R. A New Dog in Town, Steel and Sprouting. New York Times. June 8, 2000.
Accessed December 2, 2020.


Zulaika, Joseba. “In Love with Puppy: Flowers, Architecture, Art, and the Art of Irony.” International Journal of Iberian Studies, vol. 16, no. 3, Oct. 2003, pp. 145–158. EBSCOhost,