Industrial Design

by Raymond Loewy

Raymond Loewy's name is synonymous with industrial design. His creative vision married the production methodology of the Machine Age to the modern world of mass consumption. The only designer ever awarded a Time magazine cover story, Loewy designed for everyone - from the American housewife, for whom he created the bestselling look of the 1935 Coldspot refrigerator, to President Kennedy, for whom he redesigned Air Force One. Industrial Design presents the pioneering half-century of Loewy's career with photographs of his most famous designs and personal accounts of his life in design. Among the thousands of well-known forms and shapes that he created are the Coca-Cola bottle, the Studebaker, the U.S. Post Office logo, streamlined trains and ocean liners, the Shell and Exxon logos, NASA's Skylab, and the interior of the Concorde. This retrospective, the last book that Loewy wrote, is a testament to his work and to its enduring influence on the look of the twentieth century.

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Art

Paperback

First published October 15, 1979

About the author

Raymond Fernand Loewy (5 November 1893 - 14 July 1986) was one of the best known industrial designers of the 20th century. Born in France, he spent most of his professional career in the United States where he influenced countless aspects of North American culture. Among his many iconic contributions to modern life were the Shell logo, the Greyhound bus, the S-1 locomotive, the Lucky Strike package, Coldspot refrigerators and the Studebaker Avanti. His career spanned seven decades.

Reviews

[Topaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more of a coffee table book/visual compilation of many of Raymond Loewy's works. There is not much text to describe or give context to any projects. It is not a biography either. Mostly a picture book but shows a wide range of works covering his entire career.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a guy. One of the greatest designers ever, with an interesting life to boot. Inspiring book and, unsurprisingly, very pleasant to the eyes.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a book fitting the category of highly praisingly written biographies, with a cause.
The book gives an excellent book into the life and work of one of the most successful industrial designers of the twentieth century.
Very inspiring, although at some points unrealistically positive. But as I said, if one person had to be written about in an extremely positive manner, Loewy would be the man.