Originally published in 1997 this wonderful book is still topical because it deals with everyday things in our daily life and why they look the way they do. Amazingly all the hundreds of things pictured throughout the book can be seen in the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York.
What I found fascinating is that the contents are not only what might be considered fine art but items that can be found in any home: a clock; picture frame; book jacket; cup and saucer; detergent box; radio. The word design applies to all these items and three chapters (Design for daily life, Design for shaping space, Design for communicating) explores the way design from the past influences the appearance of things today.
The chapters start with an illustrated essay followed by pages of images with excellent captions, for example, pages 120 and 121 has eleven photos of lights including an Italian first century BC oil lamp, 1777 chandeliers, an Edgar Brandt standing light he designed in 1925, Poul Henningsen famous 1958 artichoke hanging light and 1980s flashlights.
A really nice thing about the book is the first class design by Drenttel Doyle Partners (and still going in New York) the page layouts and typography are just perfect and it's a pleasure to turn the pages. The other nice thing is that if you look around the net a good copy can be picked for very little, a 192 page bargain.
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