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1000 Design Classics
The most innovative, iconic, and influential products ever designed - from 1663 to the present day Originating from the highly acclaimed and groundbreaking three-volume Phaidon Design Classics , this new book presents 1,000 of the world's greatest objects in one large-format volume - from everyday items by anonymous creators to lauded pieces by the likes of Charles and Ray Eames, Charlotte Perriand, Dieter Rams, Richard Sapper, Hans J. Wegner, and Florence Knoll. Carefully revised to bring every detail up to date, and with the addition of 100 new items that highlight designers from a diverse variety of backgrounds (including a greater number of female designers) and products from the last 15 years, this collection of the world's greatest product design is more comprehensive, compelling - and relevant - than ever before. The book showcases celebrated names alongside the new stars of modern design, including Le Corbusier, Alvar and Aino Aalto, Isamu Noguchi, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Lani Adeoye, Faye Toogood, and Lindsey Adelman. Each entry is accompanied by beautiful imagery and a detailed description that offers a rich insight into the product, its history, and its maker, from the renowned Tulip Chair by Eero Saarinen to the much-loved Bird Zero e-scooter. This handsome book is the perfect reference guide for design enthusiasts, industry professionals, and all those interested in the creative process.
592 pages, Hardcover
Published September 28, 2022
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313 people want to read
About the author
Phaidon Press
277 books436 followersPhaidon Press is a global publisher of books on art, architecture, design, fashion, photography, and popular culture, as well as cookbooks, children's books, and travel books. The company is based in London and New York City, with additional offices in Paris and Berlin. -wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 2, 2023
The first thing I did when I got this book home from the Library was to open it at a random and I became instantly enthralled! Designs from the past 60-years are contained in this heavy tome. There is something for everyone, from the simple yet ingenious paperclip to the complexity of the Tesla Model S.
Some items took me down memory lane, such as the DYMO 1840, which produced embossed strips of lettering to label things. We turned the dial to select the letter we wanted and squeezed the trigger to punch the letter and advance the strip. My grandparents had one and we had endless hours of fun with it.
Another item that induced nostalgia was the Pon Pon which we called a Space Hopper in the UK in the 1970s. It's a giant orange rubber ball with handles that you can sit on and bounce around on. Ours had a manic face with toothy grin on it and reminded me of a cartoon kangaroo, especially with the long narrow handles as 'ears.'
And then there is the Baby Buggy, which we referred to as an umbrella stroller for its ability to fold conveniently to the approximate size of an umbrella for easy carrying (it has a convenient 'C' shaped handle) or storing. The canvas fabric was striped reminiscent of a deckchair from the beach. Tubular aluminum meant it was lightweight. I learned from this book that British designer, Owen Finlay Maclaren used his knowledge of aviation engineering to create this ingenious piece of equipment after struggling through an airport carrying his grandchild's stroller.
It was interesting to learn the history of some items such as the Mirrored Ball, aka the Disco Ball, so popular in the 1970s, but did you know that it appeared as early as 1910 in American dancehalls and one appeared in the movie Casablanca in 1942.
Truly, there is something to interest everyone, whether you open this book at random and discover the contents or use the color coded Categories Index, there is enough to keep you engaged for hours.
Some items took me down memory lane, such as the DYMO 1840, which produced embossed strips of lettering to label things. We turned the dial to select the letter we wanted and squeezed the trigger to punch the letter and advance the strip. My grandparents had one and we had endless hours of fun with it.
Another item that induced nostalgia was the Pon Pon which we called a Space Hopper in the UK in the 1970s. It's a giant orange rubber ball with handles that you can sit on and bounce around on. Ours had a manic face with toothy grin on it and reminded me of a cartoon kangaroo, especially with the long narrow handles as 'ears.'
And then there is the Baby Buggy, which we referred to as an umbrella stroller for its ability to fold conveniently to the approximate size of an umbrella for easy carrying (it has a convenient 'C' shaped handle) or storing. The canvas fabric was striped reminiscent of a deckchair from the beach. Tubular aluminum meant it was lightweight. I learned from this book that British designer, Owen Finlay Maclaren used his knowledge of aviation engineering to create this ingenious piece of equipment after struggling through an airport carrying his grandchild's stroller.
It was interesting to learn the history of some items such as the Mirrored Ball, aka the Disco Ball, so popular in the 1970s, but did you know that it appeared as early as 1910 in American dancehalls and one appeared in the movie Casablanca in 1942.
Truly, there is something to interest everyone, whether you open this book at random and discover the contents or use the color coded Categories Index, there is enough to keep you engaged for hours.
February 22, 2026
Sometimes a design is so commonplace that it seems as if it has always been in existence.
i often search the library catalog for Phaidon Press books because art, design, + photography. this one highlights beautiful objects in history. i loved every single page.
favorites include:
safety pins 1849
moleskin notebook c. 1850
jacks 1850s (originally called knucklebones!)
acme thunderer 1884 (has remained unchanged + still heard today in sports stadiums around the world)
paperclip 1899
binderclip 1911
frisbee 1948 (period when UFOs were beginning to occupy popular imagination)
scrabble 1948 (it originally had no board + was scored differently)
rolodex rotary card file 1952
key ring 1970 "... one of the most intimate design objects we can ever own, and one of the cheapest and least regarded."
ball pentel R50 Pen 1970 (that green!)
tripp trapp child's chair 1972
rubik's cube 1974 (originally named the magic cube + sold more than 100 million by 1983 making it one of most successful toys of the 20th century)
atari cx40 joystick 1977
sony walkman 1979 (originally aimed at youth market with a 'blue jean' metallic color. kevin bacon wore one in 1984 film footloose)
post-it notes 1980 (mythical status in innovation history)
swatch watch 1983 (to date more than 250 million sold)
apple macintosh 1984 (originally only 128k memory, no numeric pad or function keys)
ipod 2001 (1000 songs! shuffle mode!)
iphone 2007
i often search the library catalog for Phaidon Press books because art, design, + photography. this one highlights beautiful objects in history. i loved every single page.
favorites include:
safety pins 1849
moleskin notebook c. 1850
jacks 1850s (originally called knucklebones!)
acme thunderer 1884 (has remained unchanged + still heard today in sports stadiums around the world)
paperclip 1899
binderclip 1911
frisbee 1948 (period when UFOs were beginning to occupy popular imagination)
scrabble 1948 (it originally had no board + was scored differently)
rolodex rotary card file 1952
key ring 1970 "... one of the most intimate design objects we can ever own, and one of the cheapest and least regarded."
ball pentel R50 Pen 1970 (that green!)
tripp trapp child's chair 1972
rubik's cube 1974 (originally named the magic cube + sold more than 100 million by 1983 making it one of most successful toys of the 20th century)
atari cx40 joystick 1977
sony walkman 1979 (originally aimed at youth market with a 'blue jean' metallic color. kevin bacon wore one in 1984 film footloose)
post-it notes 1980 (mythical status in innovation history)
swatch watch 1983 (to date more than 250 million sold)
apple macintosh 1984 (originally only 128k memory, no numeric pad or function keys)
ipod 2001 (1000 songs! shuffle mode!)
iphone 2007
August 30, 2025
كنت فاكره ان الكتاب عن تصميم الجرافيك علشان كده استعارته من المكتبة بس طلع عن تصميمات الأشياء عامة من أدوات المطبخ او الأثاث وغيرها من سنة ١٦٠٠ لغاية ٢٠١٩
الفكرة حلوة
أنا مقرأتهوش بالكامل بس كنت بفر كده فيه واتوقف عند الحاجات اللي عايزه اعرف عنها
هصور الكتاب ع انستجرام 👇
@mai.designer92
الفكرة حلوة
أنا مقرأتهوش بالكامل بس كنت بفر كده فيه واتوقف عند الحاجات اللي عايزه اعرف عنها
هصور الكتاب ع انستجرام 👇
@mai.designer92
January 19, 2023
Inexplicable that they didn’t include the 1953 Studebaker hardtop in this book. Or the coke bottle. Otherwise, an entertaining catalog of stuff. A bit Euro-centric, perhaps, or even UK-centric. Still, entertaining.
December 17, 2022
This is a fascinating book and for me it is also a trip down memory lane. So many objects such a as the Bush portable radio that you see in many British period dramas. I had two and therefore I had pretend stereo!!!
There are probably more pictures of seats than any other item which proves we spend a lot of time sitting!
There are probably more pictures of seats than any other item which proves we spend a lot of time sitting!
April 19, 2023
I'll be honest, I didn't read every entry, but I did read a lot of them that I found interesting or remembered. Good, quick history of classic (and some strange) designs.
July 28, 2025
If you enjoy innovative design, you will adore this book. It includes everything from a paper clip to the bullet train, and SO MANY different kinds of chairs. Were you wondering who invented the hanging egg chair? It was Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel in 1957. Packed with interesting facts, great pictures, and tons of fun.
December 14, 2024
Formatted linearly with a short but through explanation of its subjects. Is a very visual timeline of designs throughout the eras.
Very happy I decided to pick this up from my library on opening day!
Very happy I decided to pick this up from my library on opening day!
September 11, 2023
This book just gave me a lot of ideas for concepts to use.
November 23, 2023
It looks good on my dresser
November 25, 2024
Excellent book. 1000 design classics. Phenomenal amount of information, with nice writeup and pictures. The ultimate reference guide to design classics.
September 13, 2025
Wonderful ideas and discoveries! Trip down memory lane to my childhood.
Great short informative blurbs on all the items. Like the chronological arrangement too.
Great short informative blurbs on all the items. Like the chronological arrangement too.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews