Soft Electronics

by Jaro Gielens (Editor)

The fascinating world of product design that emerged between the 1970s and 1990s symbolized the birth of a new age and human behavior. From coffee grinders to fondue sets to hairdryers, each home appliance was intended to help in the daily household routines―but they were also masterpieces of style. Jaro Gielens’s personal collection is one of the world’s largest selections of artifacts that pay homage to this iconic era of design. Soft Electronics explores a nostalgic and unique set of products from a very distinct time for design. Each object possesses a sense of longevity, quality, and innovation―one that has been hard to match since manufacturing was moved overseas and planned obsolescence redefined our relationship with electronic goods.

Genres: Design

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating collection of retro designs! I appreciated that the book expounded on the cultural zeitgeist influencing trends in the industry, as well as pictures of not just the products, but its advertisements and photographs from that era.