Iconix

Exceptional Product Design

Wolfgang Joensson

• Publisher: Skyhorse
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781510730397
• eBook ISBN: 9781510730403
• Topic: Design
• Subtopic: Product Design

Iconix is a comprehensive collection of iconic product design objects, chronologically organized from the beginning of the Industrial Revolution to the present. Each spread of this richly illustrated book showcases the author's representation of the chosen design, expressing its essence and capturing its spirit. In the introductory text, he shares his concept of the term iconicity to help the reader understand what makes these products stand out and why they are considered icons today. More than one hundred remarkable product designs from all areas, including household appliances, everyday objects, furniture, entertainment technology and office equipment, are presented in this collection. Accompanying the images are well-researched and charming vignettes about each product, with amusing insights and fun tidbits of information about its time and place. Each one informs how design has been influenced by changes in technology, science, and society. While these products were considered innovative at their inception, all have withstood the test of time and many are still, remarkably, in use today. Whether you are drawn to this book because of an interest in design or a penchant for nostalgia and the objects that trigger memories—or both—you will undoubtedly recognize quite a few of these products, such as the Coca-Cola bottle, the Wester & Co pocket knife, the Kitchen Aid mixer, the Le Creuset Dutch oven, the Weber grill, the Bic cristal pen, the Rolodex address file, Kikkoman soy sauce bottles, the Kodak Instamatic, the Polaroid SX-70, the SONY Walkman, the Apple MacIntosh, and the Dyson air-multiplier. Maybe they were part of your childhood or represent your ideal in design; certainly, they will evoke a sense of the familiar. Iconix is an engaging and accessible presentation of the history of product design, providing an extensive catalog of the most memorable product designs of the past 150 years.

ICONIX

How to make a curvaceous sculpture from a tree? Cut it into strips, lathe them, then bend those over steam around a form. The result is ingenious and an example of beauty and practicality. Unassembled, three dozen chairs fit into a single box. To allow spilled liquids to drain quickly, woven cane material was used for the seat. This made it perfect for Austrian coffee houses, hence its nickname Wiener Kaffeehausstuhl. At a time of mostly one-off furniture, this one was notable for its serial production process. No other product better marks the beginning of industrial design.

THONET

Chair No. 14

Austria 1859

Michael Thonet (German-Austrian)

To contain fizzy liquid without losing pressure, you need a tight seal. In this bottle, a glass marble pushed up by the pressure of the carbonation does the trick. The red rubber ring and the glass intuitively express that function. To pop the top, you merely had to push down the marble with your thumb. Only problem was kids loved to smash the bottle and play with the marble.

HOPE GLASS WORKS

Mineral Water Bottle

United Kingdom 1873

Hiram Codd (English)

A bottle with dimples makes it easier to grasp when pouring a dram or two. This functional advantage also gave character and a strong image to this elegant form, so much so that the brand of whiskey sold in the bottle adopted Dimple as its own name. It is distinctive also as being the first bottle shape to be patented in the United States.

DIMPLE

Bottle

Scotland 1890

unknown

Fold it away. That’s what you can do to reduce the risk of cutting yourself with an open knife blade. Add a corkscrew to open that bottle of wine, and you have a very practical and extremely versatile tool. A limitless variety of models has been launched, but the basic idea remains—a useful, handy, and quality utensil right there in your pocket.

Wester & Co.

Pocket Knife

Germany 1890

unknown

A pleasing ergonomic handle, sculpted from wood, a simple twist-lock, et voilà!—a tool so emblematic of French culture that it has become the generic name for any wooden-handled knife. Unchanged for more than a century, this vital utensil is found not only in many households, but also in workshops of craftsmen and artists. Even Pablo Picasso sculpted with it, proving that perfection can be truly inspiring.

OPINEL

No. 10 Knife

France 1897

Joseph Opinel (French)

The brush feels soft in the hand, and its smooth curves make it easy to grasp. The flexible red-rubber cushion holds the bristles—an innovation labeled “pneumatic” by the creator. Almost unchanged from the original design and still available well over a century later, this is proof that no better brush has ever been conceived. The shape’s simplicity is striking, giving it a timeless elegance.

MASON PEARSON

Hairbrush

United Kingdom 1885

Mason Pearson (English)

With its combination of feminine curves and phallic profile, this is probably the most recognizable shape in the world. It is also the first bottle ever to be patented. With a form that evolved over many iterations, it always kept the characteristic emblematic shape, embodying a sensuality that made it distinctive.

Coca-Cola

Bottle

United States of America 1915

Earl R. Dean (American)

Almost a century old and nearly unchanged, this product combines a robustness with a design that evokes familiarity and conviviality. You see where the motor sits. The stand swings protectively around the bowl. Easy to understand, ready to mix, it blends ingredients, but it also blends into the kitchen environment.

KITCHENAID

Mixer

United States of America 1918

Herbert Johnson (American)

Although the first telephone booth was erected in Berlin in 1881, it is the British version that has become more evocative. Its design draws on visual imagery from architectural artifacts like tombs and galleries in London. With a dome-shaped roof, intricate paned window structure, and bright-red color, the booth has become synonymous with the British capital and English culture. Even if you’ve never been to London, you’ve surely seen them in the movies.

K 2

Phone Booth

United Kingdom 1920

Giles Gilbert Scott (English)

The glass sphere gives a warm glow—that’s comfortable. Light is directed to the desk it stands on—that’s practical. The choice of...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Design Creates Memories
• What Makes Products Iconic?
• Iconix
• About the Author
• List of Designers
• List of Manufacturers
• Bibliography / Sources