When design really works Susie Hodge.

Includes index.

Beauty -- Individuality -- Form -- Function -- Expression -- Movement -- Impact -- Convenience -- Communication -- Harmony.

"Why are some designs more successful and influential than others? In When Design Really Works, art historian Susie Hodge dissects eighty outstanding designs, from the Polaroid and camera and the Sony Walkman to the Coca-Cola bottle and Converse All Star sneakers. Featuring designers as diverse as Le Corbusier, Alvar Aalto, Dieter Rams, Ron Arad, and Philippe Starck, this insightful book highlights the elements of each design that distinguish it from its peers, such as functionality, innovative use of materials or technologies, and aesthetic appeal. When Design Really Works will open your eyes to the defining qualities of the enduring product designs that have become part of our everyday lives." --Cover page 4. Design is something that many of us rarely think about, yet it pervades every aspect of our lives from the clothes we wear to the simple items we use every day, like the spoon and toothbrush.When Design Really Works takes a deeper look at the objects that enrich our lives through the examination of 80 classic designs that have stood the test of time through the centuries. Selected by the expert eye of distinguished art and design historian Susie Hodge, the entries in this book include stunning, full-color images and fascinating analysis of:

The Polaroid camera
The stiletto shoe
The Zippo lighter
The Coca-Cola contour glass bottle
The safety pin
Divided into ten categories--from beauty and communication to convenience and expression--the defining qualities of each design is dissected to draw the reader's attention to the aspects that have made it so successful for so long. Biographies of the featured designers, including locations of their key works, round out this compact yet comprehensive guide.