A look at the wider issues of design and industrial culture throughout Europe, Scandinavia, North America, and the Far East. The book explores the way in which 20th-century designs such as the Coca-Cola bottle have affected our culture more than those considered true classics

Classic, indispensable introduction to industrial design in the last century.

Author Greg Votolato presents the intricate story of how design evolved as a profession and a leisure activity. Votolato demonstrates that design in affluent American culture is as much about personalization of the material world as it is about the performance and appearance of manufactured goods. 114 illustrations.

This substantially revised edition of Lewis Blackwell's classic study provides an up-to-date, decade-by-decade analysis of the issues that have shaped the history and development of typographic design. The book provides an informed and accessible guide to the typography of the twentieth century and the key questions that are shaping contemporary graphic practice. Subjects include the arrival of mass production, the development of the grid, the arrival of new media forms, and the role the launch of the Macintosh played in fostering a new generation of designers enfranchised by digital technology. Beyond the twentieth century, the digital sphere has grown exponentially, placing typographic decisions in the hands of ever more users of computers, smartphones, e-readers, and tablets. Blackwell discusses the strains this has placed on type, the fresh questions it has asked, and the way the forms of letters are evolving in response.

This innovative volume is the first to provide the design student, practitioner, and educator with an invaluable comprehensive reference of visual and narrative material that illustrates and evaluates the unique and important history surrounding graphic design and architecture. Graphic Design and Architecture, A 20th Century History closely examines the relationship between typography, image, symbolism, and the built environment by exploring principal themes, major technological developments, important manufacturers, and pioneering designers over the last 100 years. It is a complete resource that belongs on every designer’s bookshelf.