Tools: Extending Our Reach

Cara McCarthy

ISBN 10: 091050377X / ISBN 13: 9780910503778

Published by Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 2015

About this Item

A catalogue for Cooper Hewitts reopening exhibition, that showcases objects from ten of the Smithsonian Institutions museums. It shows the interconnectedness of scientist, designer, historian, anthropologist, engineer and artist through design-thinking and problemsolving while also revealing distinct perspectives and methodologies. Num Pages: 272 pages, 200 colour illustrations. BIC Classification: AKP. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 243 x 203 x 31. Weight in Grams: 1286. . 2015. Hardcover. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # V9780910503778

Bibliographic Details

Title: Tools: Extending Our Reach

Publisher: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Publication Date: 2015

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis:

An unprecedented survey of tools throughout human history and their role at the forefront of design

Tools celebrates the richness of the human imagination through a surprising range of juxtaposed and seemingly disparate objects. Accompanying an exhibition of the same name that celebrates the fall 2014 reopening of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Tools is unprecedented in its composition of collaborators--the exhibition is Cooper Hewitt's first pan-institutional show, spanning ten Smithsonian museums. From the earliest times to the present, tools have been at the frontier of design, demonstrating how technology and culture are inextricably linked. Consider, for example, that hand axes remained the dominant tool for 1.5 million years before any significant change was made to the human toolkit, and that the range of tools began to expand only 10,000 years ago. It is notable that the design of our basic tools--hammers, saws, screwdrivers, drills--has remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years, indicating not only their continuity of need and function, but also the effectiveness of their design solutions. Their various incarnations and histories link us to the past. Other tools highlight new technologies and scientific breakthroughs that have opened new worlds to us. Through lush images, authoritative essays and superb design, the book shows the interconnectedness of scientists, designers, historians, anthropologists, engineers and artists through design-thinking and problem-solving, while also looking at various design perspectives and methodologies. Tools explores the world of design ideas while celebrating human ingenuity across cultures and over time.