Many objects are beautiful; and many creations are functional. But only few achieve enduring status. The "Design Classics" series presents such select products that have set standards in form, function and brand communication. Each monograph is a richly illustrated essay and product portrait, from conception to production, from prototype to collectors' item.
If there is a designer whose name is synonymous with industrial design it is Raymond Loewy (1893-1986). What Charles and Ray Eames are to furniture design, Raymond Loewy is to industrial design -- the modern master. Among the literally thousands of his well-known forms, shapes, and designs are the Coca-Cola bottle, the Studebaker, the U.S. Post Office logo, streamlined trains and ocean liners, the Shell and Exxon logos, and the Lucky Strike package. In Industrial Design the pioneering half-century of Loewy's career is offered in a stunning visual presentation of his most famous design achievements together with his personal account of a life in design. With mid-century modern design experiencing an incredible resurgence, this book is a key reference for that look.
From car and train design to product packaging, Raymond Loewy has left an indelible stamp on American culture. Over the 70 years of his career, Loewy, known for streamlined design, created mythical objects which came to be associated with the very Image of America itself: the Coca-Cola bottle and truck, the Greyhound bus, the package of Lucky Strike cigarettes. the Studebaker automobile, and much more. This remarkable book recounts the hidden captivating story of a key figure in the history of American design and includes period and current photos of his most notable designs.
“Enthralling - full of 'aha' moments about why some ideas soar and others never get off the ground. This book picks up where The Tipping Point left off." —Adam Grant Nothing “goes viral.” If you think a popular movie, song, or app came out of nowhere to become a word-of-mouth success in today’s crowded media environment, you’re missing the real story. Each blockbuster has a secret history—of power, influence, dark broadcasters, and passionate cults that turn some new products into cultural phenomena. Even the most brilliant ideas wither in obscurity if they fail to connect with the right network, and the consumers that matter most aren't the early adopters, but rather their friends, followers, and imitators -- the audience of your audience. In his groundbreaking investigation, Atlantic senior editor Derek Thompson uncovers the hidden psychology of why we like what we like and reveals the economics of cultural markets that invisibly shape our lives. Shattering the sentimental myths of hit-making that dominate pop culture and business, Thompson shows quality is insufficient for success, nobody has "good taste," and some of the most popular products in history were one bad break away from utter failure. It may be a new world, but there are some enduring truths to what audiences and consumers want. People love a familiar surprise: a product that is bold, yet sneakily recognizable. Every business, every artist, every person looking to promote themselves and their work wants to know what makes some works so successful while others disappear. Hit Makers is a magical mystery tour through the last century of pop culture blockbusters and the most valuable currency of the twenty-first century—people’s attention. From the dawn of impressionist art to the future of Facebook, from small Etsy designers to the origin of Star Wars, Derek Thompson leaves no pet rock unturned to tell the fascinating story of how culture happens and why things become popular. In Hit Makers, Derek Thompson investigates: * What Taylor Swift, the printing press, and the laugh track have in common * The secret link between ESPN's sticky programming and the The Weeknd's catchy choruses * How advertising critics predicted Donald Trump * The 5th grader who accidentally launched "Rock Around the Clock," the biggest hit in rock and roll history * How Barack Obama and his speechwriters think of themselves as songwriters * How Disney conquered the world—but the future of hits belongs to savvy amateurs and individuals * The French collector who accidentally created the Impressionist canon * Quantitative evidence that the biggest music hits aren’t always the best * Why almost all Hollywood blockbusters are sequels, reboots, and adaptations * Why one year--1991--is responsible for the way pop music sounds today * Why another year --1932--created the business model of film * How data scientists proved that “going viral” is a myth * How 19th century immigration patterns explain the most heard song in the Western Hemisphere
"An Atlantic senior editor presents an investigation into the lucrative quality of popularity in the 21st century to share economic insights into what makes ideas, productions and products successful, "--NoveList.
The invention of mass marketing led to cigarettes being emblazoned in advertising and film, deeply tied to modern notions of glamour and sex appeal. It is hard to find a photo of Humphrey Bogart or Lauren Bacall without a cigarette. No product has been so heavily promoted or has become so deeply entrenched in American consciousness. And no product has received such sustained scientific scrutiny. The development of new medical knowledge demonstrating the dire harms of smoking ultimately shaped the evolution of evidence-based medicine. In response, the tobacco industry engineered a campaign of scientific disinformation seeking to delay, disrupt, and suppress these studies. Using a massive archive of previously secret documents, historian Allan Brandt shows how the industry pioneered these campaigns, particularly using special interest lobbying and largesse to elude regulation. But even as the cultural dominance of the cigarette has waned and consumption has fallen dramatically in the U.S., Big Tobacco remains securely positioned to expand into new global markets. The implications for the future are vast: 100 million people died of smoking-related diseases in the 20th century; in the next 100 years, we expect 1 billion deaths worldwide.
Raymond Loewy was regarded as the father of modern industrial design. His drawings of the Coca-Cola truck, the Greyhound bus and the package of Lucky Strike cigarettes moulded our vision of 20th century America.
