100 years 100 product designers

Author: Dong Huiming / Wang Yanling (editors)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: The 20th century was the most glorious era in human history so far. The advancement of science and technology, as well as the flourishing of cultural and artistic achievements, propelled human civilization to unprecedented heights. It was also the century when modern design evolved from its birth to maturity, with a series of design trends emerging alongside social progress, creating a rich tapestry of material and spiritual wealth that greatly improved the quality of human life. Standing at the threshold of the new millennium, looking back at the past 100 years, we discover a galaxy of brilliant stars among the vast sea of design creators. These active design masters from different historical periods, with their extraordinary wisdom and transcendent creativity, have contributed outstanding works that not only guided the transformation of global lifestyles but also became a shared cultural heritage of humankind, regarded by posterity as symbols of 20th-century social development. Gathering these shining design stars together and condensing the eternal creative heights into a classic form is the main purpose of this "100 Masters of the Century" series. The editors have meticulously selected 400 design masters who had a significant impact on 20th-century design, compiling their biographies, representative works, and major design philosophies into four volumes: "Product Design," "Graphic Design," "Service Design," and "Furniture Design." Through highly condensed presentations of these magnificent design treasures, the series offers readers a profound century-long commemorative gift for those who love and admire excellent design. Each volume is organized primarily by the surnames of the design masters, with foreign names sorted alphabetically. The introduction to each master consists of approximately 1,000 words of biographical overview, life photographs, representative works, and critiques. The series is compiled in accordance with scientific, accurate, objective, and comprehensive principles, avoiding subjective judgments and discussions as much as possible, leaving space for readers to contemplate independently. The series is a precious collection dedicated to readers. From the careers and timeless works of these design giants, we can perceive the essence of design, appreciate the inner beauty, contemplate profound concepts, and elevate our own cultivation. For design students and professional designers, it helps to build a monumental respect and a forward-looking goal on your growth journey; for design enthusiasts, it serves as a school for refining personal taste and expanding aesthetic horizons. This book introduces the works of the world's 100 most renowned design masters. As readers carefully appreciate their works, they will discover vast differences among them, even in their philosophies, which may seem contradictory! And precisely because of this, the world is rich and diverse. In comparison, industrial design in China has only just begun to take off. Moreover, due to the rapid pace of economic growth, Chinese designers, who have been forced to hop onto this moving train, have had little time to fully contemplate the design challenges they face, leading to crude imitation or mediocre so-called "design innovation" becoming an embarrassing spectacle in Chinese manufacturing during the last two decades of the 20th century, starkly at odds with the image of our "hardworking and wise" nation. The authors hope that through this richly conceptualized small book and future high-quality design publications, they can convey a message to the industrial design community of China: only design creation rooted in deep cultural heritage can spark vibrant novelty; learning from the spirit of the masters and savoring the depth of their words can help us truly understand the mysteries of their forms; and incorporating more humanistic thinking into the design process can elevate the quality of the final works. Only in this way can Chinese design reach a level on par with the world in the 21st century.