Designing for People [Paperback]

Henry Dreyfuss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2003

A cult read among designers for more than half a century, the famous manifesto of America's greatest industrial designer is finally back in print!

From the first answering machine ("the electronic brain") and the Hoover vacuum cleaner to the SS Independence and the Bell telephone, the creations of Henry S. Dreyfuss have shaped the cultural landscape of the 20th century. Written in a robust, fresh style, this book offers an inviting mix of professional advice, case studies, and design history along with historical black-and-white photos and the author's whimsical drawings. In addition, the author's uncompromising commitment to public service, ethics, and design responsibility makes this masterful guide a timely read for today's designers. 152 B&W Illustrations

Editorial Reviews

Review

"a classic and a must-read for every businessperson who cares about quality.”
(Tom Peters, in the foreword to Designing for People )

About the Author

Henry S. Dreyfuss is considered the founding father of industrial design and one of the most prolific designers of the past century. Born in New York City in 1904, he authored or inspired countless American design landmarks, including the model 300 Bell telephone, Hoover appliances, the Twentieth Century Limited locomotive, and RCA televisions.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581153120
• ISBN-13: 978-1581153125
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,000,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Written in 1955; still relevant and insightful, November 14, 2000

By 

David P. Bishop (Sewickley, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Designing for People (A Viking compass book ; C392) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book, written in 1955, is relevant today in the same way that Fred Brooks' Mythical Man Month has retained its relevance over time.

I found this book very pleasant to read, because Dreyfuss explains his approach to design consulting in an almost anecdotal way without sacrificing the seriousness of the subject. For example, while discussing the importance of investigating users needs, he tells stories about having driven locomotives, spread manure, and performing service calls for the phone company. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the tone of the book lacked the kind of egoism often seen in books like this. Dreyfuss uses language like "we," "our contribution," and "the industrial designer," and includes examples of mistakes and missteps as well as good design examples. In fact, chapter 15, "Not by Design," is devoted to instances where the practitioners made errors and mistaken assumptions.

I recommend reading this book; the design principles put forth transcend many years, and it is as entertaining as it is informative..

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Design Guidlines Then and Now, August 9, 2005

By 

Scott Garrison "Design Junkie" (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Designing for People (Paperback)

Dreyfuss' "Designing for People" proved an inspiring collection of anecdotes and stories exemplifying the true functions of an industrial designer. Nostalgia combined with some sage-like advice, Dreyfuss reminds the designer of his or her role in the product development field. To paraphrase Dreyfuss: the industrial designer is a person who wears many hats; one who is part artist, engineer, businessman, researcher, politician, builder, and guinea pig. His assessment is accurate and proven, and his words of wisdom should be used as a guideline for all industrial designers in modern times.

That said, Dreyfuss does tend to come across very matter-of-factly at times, leaving little gray area in his black and white world. As a result Mr. Dreyfuss sides with the Bauhaus approach where form follows function-indeed, he often mentions the resulting form of a product as a side-note, if he mentions it at all. Whereas this may be an annoyance for some readers, the lessons you take away from his life experiences are truly informative and insightful.

As the amount of 3D design in product development grows, designers today are faced with the difficulty of "skin designing" verses thoughtful, foundation-based designing. If nothing else, this book should serve as inspiration for those of us in the field to design based on function and aesthetics-we have a duty and responsibility to client and society to base designs on research and thoughtfulness, not simply the known tools in a computer program. In any case, DFP should be on the required reading list for industrial design students to teach the history and guidelines of our profession. "Designing for People" serves as not only a reminder of the way it used to be, but it also inspires the designer to believe how it should be now.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Classic of Industrial Design, April 15, 2004

By 

Coleman Yee (Singapore) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Designing for People (Paperback)

Henry Dreyfuss is among the top industrial designers ever, and here he shares many of the experiences from his industrial design projects, many of them dealing with everyday objects that we take for granted.

This book gives insight on many of the thought processes involved in the face of the many projects where he had essentially zero direct experience in. His unrelenting focus on "Joe and Josephine" -- the human actually using the product -- has resulted in an array of user-friendly products, even before that term was used.

He also covers almost anything to do with industrial design, or running an industrial design firm, including starting off, relationships with clients, payment issues, staff management, etc.

This book would be interesting for anyone interested in design in general, or even the merely curious who would like to know why some everyday objects are the way they are.

An easy and interesting read.