We focus a lot on those interior designers and furniture designers of the past whose work was so powerful and life-altering that it still impacts design today. There’s another type of design that has an equal impact on our lives, and that’s industrial design. You have to look no further than Raymond Loewy to find one of the best industrial designers of all time.
What is so striking about Loewy’s body of work is how futuristic and ahead of the time it is. Much of his career took place during the 1930s-1950s (though he is known to have worked for over seven decades); way before many of the most notable Mid-Century Modern designers started turning heads. Though stylish, Loewy took into account many elements other than just looks to create his designs, which no doubt has played a part in their popularity. His designs often feature sensuous curves, bright colors, stark contrasts and other modern elements.
Some of his most famous industrial designs are an interior of a Boeing 307 (Stratoliner) owned by Howard Hughes, steam locomotives for the Pennsylvania Railroad,a 1935 Sears Coldspot refrigerator, Electrolux L300 refrigerator, Lucky Strike package, the 1947 Studebaker Champion, Schick electric razor, Coca-Cola bottle redesign, the Shell logo, the interiors of NASA's Skylab space station, and many, many more items that made an impact.
What is so striking about Loewy’s body of work is how futuristic and ahead of the time it is. Much of his career took place during the 1930s-1950s (though he is known to have worked for over seven decades); way before many of the most notable Mid-Century Modern designers started turning heads. Though stylish, Loewy took into account many elements other than just looks to create his designs, which no doubt has played a part in their popularity. His designs often feature sensuous curves, bright colors, stark contrasts and other modern elements.
Some of his most famous industrial designs are an interior of a Boeing 307 (Stratoliner) owned by Howard Hughes, steam locomotives for the Pennsylvania Railroad,a 1935 Sears Coldspot refrigerator, Electrolux L300 refrigerator, Lucky Strike package, the 1947 Studebaker Champion, Schick electric razor, Coca-Cola bottle redesign, the Shell logo, the interiors of NASA's Skylab space station, and many, many more items that made an impact.
His furniture and other home items followed the suit of his intelligent industrial design, featuring straight and curved lines, bright colors, forward thinking and great shapes. Though not as popular as other Mid-Century Modern furniture designers, his furniture designs are fun, pop-y and fresh, and would still look great in interiors of today—Mid-Century Modern style or not!
Originally from France, Loewy made his way to the United States with only his military uniform and little money to his name, but with talent, skills and perseverance became one of the most influential industrial designers this nation has ever known, impacting a whole world of products, interiors, vehicles, furniture and more!
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