Customer Reviews

Design of the 20th Century

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A richly illustrated encyclopedia of the most important names, objects and ideas in the history of 20th century design (graphic design, furniture, textile, glass, ceramics and metalware). Featured in its 780 pages are more than 400 one- or two-page articles on design-related styles, individuals, schools, companies and institutions, illustrated by over 700 full-color photographs. (Copyright © by Roy R. Behrens, from Ballast Quarterly Review, Vol 15 No 2, Winter 1999-2000.)

This is an excellent reference book on 20th century design. It has over 700 color photographs and illustrations and is very well organized. The pocketbook size (5.5 x 7.5 in.) makes it very user friendly.The price point makes it a real bargain.

Whether you're an interior, industrial or other sort of designer, an architect, or simply a design conoisseur, this book will help answer almost all your questions about designers, design houses, movements, etc. In addition to this (definitions, biographies, etc.) you'll find an abundance of very good pictures that go with most of the entries, that illustrate them very well.

The only reason I give it four stars is because some topics it seems to cover with lots of detail (a good example is "Herman Miller") while others are left with a few lines. Yes: Herman Miller is a huge name in furniture design, but that doesn't make Gaudi, for example, any smaller.

As always, this is a beautifully put together book from Taschen. It has a lot of important information, but tends to be more on the short and concise side as opposed to numerous details. Also, the layout of the book can be frustrating at times, as it's in alphabetical order and not chronological. Which is interesting...