Dominic Bradbury's compendium on the golden era of design celebrates 300 protagonists worldwide. Their designs from the post-war era are still milestones today.
Walter Dorwin Teague, Boeing 707, interior design, 1956. photo: Teague
Design and Democracy
Born out of postwar reconstruction and revival, as well as an economic consumer boom, mid-century modernism embraced the ambition of democratising design but in a way that was joyful, inspirational and always engaging. Pioneering designers of the period focused on function over ornament, while adopting the ideal that good design should make the world a better place, crafting carefully conceived and affordable products that were within the reach of many. This book sheds light on the modern masters who embraced this philosophy, including Alvar Aalto, Lina Bo Bardi, Lucienne Day, Tony Duquette, Charles and Ray Eames Jean Gillon, Arne Jacobsen, Carlo Mollino, Charlotte Perriand, Lucie Rie and Sori Yanagi, as well as many lesser-known heroes of the movement.
Arne Jacobsen, SAS Royal Hotel including the Egg Chair, 1960. photo: Paul Warchol
Pioniers and their stories
Featuring 300 of the finest designers from around the world in an accessible A-Z format, this book reveals their stories. The book also celebrates mid-century modernism as a truly international movement, reflecting the importance of regional design in countries such as Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, and many other parts of the world, as well as Europe, Scandinavia, and North America. It is an homage to the design pioneers who defined the Mid-Century aesthetic through their work in furniture, glassware, ceramics, and textiles. The pieces included are Hans Wegner’s Butterfly Chair, Anni Albers’ textiles, Verner Panton’s psychedelic 1960s interiors, Mario Bellini’s much-in-demand Camaleonda sofa, American woodworker Sam Maloof’s coveted rocking chairs, Serge Mouille’s impossibly elegant spider lights, Gae Aulenti’s biomorphic Pipistrello lamp and Giuseppe Scapinelli’s dynamic Agua Coffee Table. Besides the visual inspiration, the book brings products to life from every corner of the globe.
Dominic Bradbury, Mid-Century Modern Designers, 3010 x 230 mm, Hardcover, 350 illustrations, Phaidon, April 2025, ISBN 9781838669270
