George Nelson: Compact Design Portfolio [Hardcover]

Michael Webb (Author), Raul Cabra (Editor), Marisa Bartolucci (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Compact Design Portfolio | Publication Date: June 2003

Continuing to put great classic and contemporary design within everyones grasp, Chronicle Books proudly delivers the next four installments of the popular Compact Design Portfolio. Written by top design critics, these books cover modern masters whose work ranges from the cozily domestic to the aggressively avant-garde: Eva Zeisel, whose elegantly democratic housewares span a 70-year career; Ingo Maurer, who raises lamp and lighting design to a high art form; Gaetano Pesce, whose rejection of traditional good taste brought about revolutionary furniture design; and George Nelson, the impresario behind the Marshmallow sofa and other Herman Miller classics. Follow-ing the introductory essay, a visual gallery exhibits selections of the designers best work in photographs and sketches. Presented in an irresistible small format, this series encapsulates the life, work, and influence of the great designers of our time.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Webb was born in London and has lived in Los Angeles for twenty years. He is the author of fourteen books on architecture and design, including Architecture/Design LA and Architects HouseThemselves . Webb is a regular contributor to Architectural Digest, Metropolis, the Los Angeles Times , and several European publications.

Raul Cabra is the principal of Cabra Diseno, a San Francisco design firm.

Marisa Bartolucci is former executive editor of Metropolis magazine and the author of several critically acclaimed design books. She lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811837866
• ISBN-13: 978-0811837866
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,452,002 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Webb is the author of 26 books on modern architecture and design. He was born in 1937 and grew up in London, where he worked at The Times and Country Life magazine, before moving to the U.S. in 1969 to become Programming Director of the American Film Institute. He resumed his writing career in 1981 and now lives in Los Angeles when he is not traveling the world to gather material for books and articles.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A WONDERFUL PICTURAL ACQUAINTANCE WITH GEORGE NELSON DESIGN, January 14, 2006

By 

Availar James "Availar James" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: George Nelson: Compact Design Portfolio (Hardcover)

For those who are just starting to find out who George Nelson, the designer, was, this is a very good start.
George Nelson was not only a creative artistic talent, he was also a commercial genius (just like Picasso was). These two talents provided his secret for success that would reward him throughout his life. This book documents some of his most famous creations. This is not a huge book but it gives a good impression of his most celebrated icons. I also suggest to visit the wonderful online archive about George Nelson at WWW.GEORGENELSON.ORG.

3.0 out of 5 stars Nelson, old school, February 24, 2010

By 

David Kim (High Point, NC) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: George Nelson: Compact Design Portfolio (Hardcover)

I guess I'm spoiled by the internet age media. For a design book, I felt the illustrations to be dated (because it is dated). Of course, my impressions would be different if I found the designs more compelling. Instead, I found many of the furniture designs and color schemes to be childish, non-functional, and in short, somewhat kitsch. They struck me as immature or incomplete attempts to render the spirit of Bauhaus movement and De Stijl coloring. All of this may be forgivable, if there was a solid text to go with the illustrations that explain the philosophy behind the design. But, beyond the introduction, this, too, is lacking.

However, the book is a neat little tome - could make a good miniature coffee table gift.

5.0 out of 5 stars George Nelson: Compact Design Portfolio, November 20, 2009

By 

Sandy Mccauley - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: George Nelson: Compact Design Portfolio (Hardcover)

This is a great little book. It has some amazing comtemporary furniture designed by George Nelson.