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    Iconix: Exceptional Product Design
    Iconix: Exceptional Product Design
    Iconix: Exceptional Product Design
    Ebook327 pages42 minutes

    Iconix: Exceptional Product Design

    By Wolfgang Joensson

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    About this ebook

    Iconix is a comprehensive collection of iconic product design objects, chronologically organized from the beginning of the Industrial Revolution to the present. Each spread of this richly illustrated book showcases the author’s representation of the chosen design, expressing its essence and capturing its spirit. In the introductory text, he shares his concept of the term iconicity to help the reader understand what makes these products stand out and why they are considered icons today.

    More than one hundred remarkable product designs from all areas, including household appliances, everyday objects, furniture, entertainment technology and office equipment, are presented in this collection. Accompanying the images are well-researched and charming vignettes about each product, with amusing insights and fun tidbits of information about its time and place. Each one informs how design has been influenced by changes in technology, science, and society. While these products were considered innovative at their inception, all have withstood the test of time and many are still, remarkably, in use today.

    Whether you are drawn to this book because of an interest in design or a penchant for nostalgia and the objects that trigger memories—or both—you will undoubtedly recognize quite a few of these products, such as the Coca-Cola bottle, the Wester & Co pocket knife, the Kitchen Aid mixer, the Le Creuset Dutch oven, the Weber grill, the Bic cristal pen, the Rolodex address file, Kikkoman soy sauce bottles, the Kodak Instamatic, the Polaroid SX-70, the SONY Walkman, the Apple MacIntosh, and the Dyson air-multiplier. Maybe they were part of your childhood or represent your ideal in design; certainly, they will evoke a sense of the familiar. Iconix is an engaging and accessible presentation of the history of product design, providing an extensive catalog of the most memorable product designs of the past 150 years.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSkyhorse
    Release dateNov 20, 2018
    ISBN9781510730403
    Iconix: Exceptional Product Design

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      Book preview

      Iconix - Wolfgang Joensson

      Cover Page of Iconix

      Praise for ICONIX

      In this age of accelerating complexity, it is a pleasure to be introduced to Wolfgang’s beautifully illustrated book—to just settle back, smile, and be reminded of the forgotten, simple objects that we live with and enjoyed in the past, present, and future.

      —Charles W. Pelly, former president of the Industrial Designers Society of America and founder of BMW-Designworks

      An amazing time travel machine! This inventory of the iconic objects of our daily life is a reference for all of us, but also for our design schools and their students.

      —Maurille Larivière, cofounder and president of The Sustainable Design School, Nice, France

      This collection is a timely reminder that not everything has been digitally transformed. Talented human beings, designers who care passionately about the people who will use their designs, continue to inspire. Form-making that will become iconic the way these are is not easy; but worth learning how. This is an exceptional guide in the quest.

      —RitaSue Siegel, founder and partner, RitaSue Siegel Resources

      "Iconix, what a perfect name for Wolfgang’s new book!! Amazing how he has illustrated the everyday products we use that have become the symbol and representative image in our minds for a whole category of products, e.g., Carousel Projector, Apple MacIntosh, Walkman. Design is global."

      —Dana Wolcott, adjunct professor and lead innovation coach at Rochester Institute of Technology

      Title Page of Iconix

      Copyright © 2018 by Wolfgang Joensson

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

      Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or info@skyhorsepublishing.com.

      Skyhorse® and Skyhorse Publishing® are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.®, a Delaware corporation.

      Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com.

      10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

      Cover design by Wolfgang Joensson

      Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-3039-7

      Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-3040-3

      Printed in China

      Contents

      Acknowledgments

      Design Creates Memories

      What Makes Products Iconic?

      Iconix

      About the Author

      List of Designers

      List of Manufacturers

      Bibliography / Sources

      Acknowledgments

      It takes a village to write a book was the exasperated advice from my sister-in-law, Dr. Cindy Ott, a fine author and professor of American history. Her entertaining, yet instructive writing style has been a leading example for me. She is right to point out the necessity for help from others, which is why I would like to thank her and the following people for their support and help.

      First in line is Ian Ferris, a brilliant designer who came up with the idea that I should write and encouraged me on my way. Several of my designer friends have motivated and helped me choose the icons: Tim Toomey, Dieter Wanke, and Ronald Ihrig. My business partner, Lutz Gebhardt, discussed with me and also contributed icon ideas. His unwavering support and enthusiasm is just one of those life forces everyone should have around.

      Having designed but never written before, I relied heavily on the patient support, editing, criticism, and overall inspiration of my muse and partner in life, Susan Kuntz. Her relentless will to drop everything and discuss my book was highly appreciated throughout the process. From the very early pages on, she has diligently worked with me on the content and made sure the result is presentable. Without her, this book—and my life—would not be half as good.

      The wonderful Anne-Laure Guiard-Schmidt has not only boosted my confidence in myself from the first day I met her and during the making of this book, but was also instrumental in finding the title. Jim Peterson and Jonathan Duff, both great writers, have helped me to understand writing better, and I thank them for their time and effort. John Flint, a former editor, has helped me tremendously by suggesting reading material to improve my writing and advising me on how to make my text better. He has also painstakingly edited everything.

      As a designer, I want to create all visuals by myself, but I am smart enough to know when to ask for help there, too. Urs Stemmler, a great transportation designer, helped me with ideas and criticism regarding some icons. Angelika Scholz, as often in my past,

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