Design Recommendations - For all ages

BOOKS for ADULTS

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Design

by Philip Rawson
Prentice-Hall, 1987

Intended for anyone involved with design, this highly illustrated book considers the whole history of design with modern design being one segment of it.

Design Museum Book of 20th Century Design

by Catherine McDermott
Overlook Press, 1998

Covering a wide variety of subjects from architecture to fashion to packaging, this beautifully illustrated volume presents the most influential and important pieces of design of the 20th century.

Nineteenth Century Design: From Pugin to Mackintosh

by Charlotte Gere and Michael Whiteway
Abrams, 1994

Full of illustrations and examples, this appraisal of nineteenth-century design covers all aspects of design of that century as well as all leading designers of that century.

Smart Design: Products That Change Our Lives

by Clive Grinyer
Roto Vision SA, 2001

Recognizing that design can make the difference between two products that successfully perform the same function, Smart Design presents the designer and design process behind twenty-four products.

The Look of the Century

by Michael Tambini
DK Publishing, Inc., 1996

Packed with illustrations, this book divides the 20th century into decades and introduces the most important design movements and designers of each.

Twentieth-Century Design

by Jonathan M. Woodham
Oxford University Press, 1997

In this concise study of the history of twentieth-century design, the author demonstrates design to be a powerful marketing tool with a tremendous impact on the consumer.

William Morris: Décor and Design

by Elizabeth Wilhide
Abrams, 1991

Pioneer of the Arts and Crafts Movement, William Morris designed stained glass, carpets, furniture, tiles and tapestry. The author provides background information on Morris as well as many photos of his work.

World Design: The Best in Classic and Contemporary Furniture, Fashion, Graphics and More

by Uta Abendroth, et al.,
Chronicle Books, 1999

In bringing together some of the best designs in a range of fields from the modern era, this colorful volume highlights more than three hundred designers and their work.

KIDS BOOKS

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A Color Sampler

by Kathleen Westray
Ticknor and Fields, 1993

This book introduces a variety of color categories—primary, secondary, intermediate, and complementary—and discusses various color interactions.

Know About Pattern

by Henry Pluckrose
Franklin Watts, 1988

The author helps children become aware of the patterns all around them.

Lines

by Phillip Yenawine
Delacorte Press, 1991

Explore the element of lines and how they are transformed through the artistic process.

Shapes

by Philip Yenawine
The Museum of Modern Art, 1991

The author shows children how artists use shape, one of the elements of design, in creating their work.

WEBSITES

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Smithsonian Institution's Art and Design
http://www.si.edu/art_and_design

The Smithsonian Institution’s website provides a large section on art and design. Many aspects of architecture, crafts, graphic arts, and industrial design are discussed and illustrated.

White House Collection of American Crafts
http://americanart.si.edu/collections/exhibits/whc/index.html

The White House collection of American crafts was put together in 1993 and includes 72 works created by 27 American craftspeople. The site provides photos of the work and biographical information about the creators.