American design, like much of American culture, perennially oscillates between populism and elitism, between the revolutionary beauty and availability of Tupperware and the elusive exclusivity of Tiffany's. This book traces the development of American design from the "armory practice" of early American machinists through mid-century "design for modern living" to the branded, consumer-oriented design of the present day, including work by Charles and Ray Eames, Raymond Loewy and Frank Gehry, among many others. Paola Antonelli's lively introduction provides an overview of United States design culture, while an essay by Russell Flinchum illuminates the masterpieces of Modern American design that are superbly reproduced in this volume's plate section.
Paola Antonelli is Senior Curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Russell Flinchum teaches in the Design Criticism program at the School of Visual Arts and lectures for the Department of Education at The Museum of Modern Art. He has been the Archivist of the Century Association Archives Foundation since 1999.
Paola Antonelli is Senior Curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Russell Flinchum teaches in the Design Criticism program at the School of Visual Arts and lectures for the Department of Education at The Museum of Modern Art. He has been the Archivist of the Century Association Archives Foundation since 1999.
