Icons of Design: The 20th Century - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3791323067 ISBN 13: 9783791323060

Publisher: Prestel Pub, 2000

Synopsis

Design is the topic of the latest edition in Prestels series on Icons of the 20th Century, complementing the volumes already available on art, architecture, photography, and fashion. "Icons of Design" tells the story of 80 ordinary items which gained iconic status during the course of the 20th century. The introductory essay explains how an object becomes iconic, and the method the editors used to select the internationally diverse spectrum of design objects shown and discussed in the book. Raymond Loewys streamlined pencil sharpener, the classic Italian espresso maker, the VW bug, Lego, and Ron Arads bookworm shelf all earn their inclusion through the impact they have had on the history of 20th-century design. Concise and authoritative texts by leading experts in the field are complemented by sumptuous color photography, contemporary documentation, and biographies of featured designers. A selected bibliography and an index complete the booka vital addition to everybodys bookshelf. Even enthusiasts, collectors, and specialists will make many new discoveries.

About this title

From the Publisher

The Coca Cola bottle, Zippo lighter, Minox Camera, Lego building blocks, Barbie, Harley Davidson, Apple Macintosh, and Philips Compact Disc are considered everyday objects, but they are also noted for their extraordinary design. ICONS OF DESIGN: The 20th Century introduces more than 80 exceptional objects that symbolize something greater than their mere form or function. The creatively smooth, seductive and simple designs that captured our fascination have become icons of our industrial culture. From 1900 until the beginning of the new millennium, this volume surveys an internationally diverse spectrum of design objects: from a unique piece such as Raymond Loewys streamlined pencil sharpener to mass produced items such as the classic Italian espresso maker Moka Express, the VW Beetle, or Ron Arads Bookworm shelf. What unites these diverse cult objects is the impact they have had on the history of twentieth-century design and culture. In ICONS OF DESIGN, the designs vary from houseware items like the Tupperware container to transportation and industrial designs. These industrial icons include the Underwood Typewriter No. 5, the Ford Model T, the Mercedes Silver Arrow, the Hindenburg Zeppelin, the DC-3 Dakota, the Citron 2CV, the Vespa Motor Scooter, and the Greyhound Scenicruiser. The greatest names and accomplishments in design during the past 100 years are featured in ICONS OF DESIGN. Among the designers included are Alvar Aalto, Ron Arad, Peter Behrens, Marcel Beuer, Achille Castiglioni, Charles Eames, Henry Ford, Frog Design, Eileen Gray, Harley Davidson, Josef Hoffmann, Arne Jacobsen, Raymond Loewy, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Ferdinand Porsche, Dieter Rams, Gerrit Rietveld, Richard Sapper, Ettore Sottsass, Philippe Starck, Earl Tupper, and Wilhelm Wagenfeld. ICONS OF DESIGN is the latest edition in Prestels series Icons of the 20th Century. Focusing on design, it complements the volumes already available on art, architecture, photography and fashion. Concise and authoritative texts by leading experts in the field are matched with sumptuous photography, historical documentation and biographies of the designers. A select bibliography and an index round out the book, making it an informative and entertaining source for anybody interested in design. Specialists, collectors and enthusiast alike will find this volume a necessary fixture to their design library.

From the Inside Flap

Not all of our everyday objects simply remind us of the mundane tasks for which they were designed. A select fewmasterpieces of design that capture our fascinationhave become icons of our industrial culture. Icons of Design: The 20th Century introduces more than 80 exceptional objects that symbolize something greater that their mere form or function.

About this edition

• Publisher: Prestel Pub
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 3791323067
• ISBN 13: 9783791323060
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 184
• Editor: Albus Volker, Kras Reyer, Woodham Jonathan M.