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Iconic Designs

50 Stories about 50 Things
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Iconic Designs is a richly illustrated exploration of fifty classic designs found in everyday life, from cityscapes to offices and screens. Grace Lees-Maffei introduces what makes a design iconic, while fifty essays by cultural critics reveal the unique qualities and stories behind each object, spanning from the late 19th century to today. Featured items include the Sydney Opera House, Post-It Note, Chanel suit, Sony Walkman™, Hello Kitty™, Helvetica typeface, Ford Model T, London Underground map, and Apple iMac G3.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$5199
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Recommended for design lovers, students, and anyone interested in the stories behind influential everyday objects and cultural icons.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Iconic Designs is a beautifully designed and illustrated guide to fifty classic ‘things’—designs that we find in the city, in our homes and offices, on page and screen, and in our everyday lives. In her introduction, Grace Lees-Maffei explores what makes a design ‘iconic’, and fifty essays by leading design and cultural critics tell the story of each iconic ‘thing’, its innovative and unique qualities, and its journey to classic status.

Subjects range from the late 19th century to the present day and include the Sydney Opera House, the Post-It Note, Coco Chanel’s classic suit, the Sony Walkman™, Hello Kitty™, the typeface Helvetica, the Ford Model T, Harry Beck’s diagrammatic map of the London Underground, and the Apple iMac G3.

This handsome volume provides a treasure trove of ‘stories’ that will shed new light on the iconic designs that we use without thinking, aspire to possess, love or hate (or love to hate), and which form part of the fabric of our everyday lives.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A lavishly illustrated and treasurable guide, this book showcases design's vast reach from practical objects to cultural symbols. Charlotte Fiell, design historian, praises its thoughtful curation of classics alongside ubiquitous designs, while Peter McNeil highlights its imaginative approach crossing age, class, and region. A must-read for design students and enthusiasts.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781350112476

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 23 January 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bloomsbury Visual Arts

Illustration: 50 colour illus

Contributors:

  • Edited by Grace Lees-Maffei

Audience: General / adult, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 14.0mm

Width: 188.0mm

Height: 246.0mm

Weight: 660g

Pages: 240

Collections

Arts & Culture Education & Reference Fashion & Design History & Archaeology History & Military Non-Fiction

About the Author

Grace Lees-Maffei is Professor of Design History at the University of Hertfordshire, UK.

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