Christmas Reading List

I decided to supplement my Christmas vacation with some Design reading that might be relevant to my IP.

Henry Drefuss "Designing for people"

A cult read among designers for more than half a century, the famous manifesto of America's greatest industrial designer is finally back in print! From the first answering machine ("the electronic brain") and the Hoover vacuum cleaner to the SS Independence and the Bell telephone, the creations of Henry S. Dreyfuss have shaped the cultural landscape of the 20th century. Written in a robust, fresh style, this book offers an inviting mix of professional advice, case studies, and design history along with historical black-and-white photos and the author's whimsical drawings. In addition, the author's uncompromising commitment to public service, ethics, and design responsibility makes this masterful guide a timely read for today's designers.Henry S. Dreyfuss is considered the founding father of industrial design and one of the most prolific designers of the past century. Born in New York City in 1904, he authored or inspired countless American design landmarks, including the model 300 Bell telephone, Hoover appliances, the Twentieth Century Limited locomotive, and RCA televisions.

Barry Katz/MIT Press "NONOBJECT"

What happens when designers think beyond the object to creative positive, unexpected design experiences.

“A designer’s motto should always be ‘What if?’ It certainly is the motto of NONOBJECT. The fantasy of what an object should or could be becomes a way for the designer to embrace experimentation and imbue projects with a vitality that expands beyond the physical object and into our experience.”
—Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator, Architecture and Design, The Museum of Modern Art

Fumihik0 Maki "Spoon"

SPOON presents the work of 100 product designers, selected by 10 critics, educators, designers and entrepreneurs who are all involved in innovative developments in contemporary design. Essentially an exhibition in a book, it provides an overview of the product design world and presents the most forward-looking and ground-breaking designers of today. The different kinds of objects illustrated – from furniture to tools, from high-tech products to cars and motorcycles – make up a wide collection of what is today considered good design.