Image: A collection of modern chairs by Saarinen
Furniture design is a special field where fashion and function collide. Furniture pieces not only add practicality to a space, but they also add personality and style.
Furniture design has significantly evolved over time. Some styles have remained somewhat constant throughout the years, whereas others have drastically changed or become outdated.
Today, creating new furniture styles is often considered an industrial art form. The study of industrial furniture design integrates visual elements, engineering design, and product development to efficiently build goods that attract consumers.
To help you find the best furniture design books for the bookshelf, you should consider the book’s focus and usefulness in relation to modern design principles. Check out these three books we’ve gathered for you:
100 Designs for a Modern World
Young George Kravis bought his first object of industrial design in 1948 and hasn’t looked back–he has now collected over 3,500 items. 100 Designs for a Modern World is a must-have for lovers of modernism, as it highlights some of the most influential pieces of modern industrial design from 1900 to today. Featuring one hundred selected and beautifully photographed objects, the book includes radios, chairs, irons, electric clocks, tableware, and other graphic designs.
Mid-Century Modern Icons of Design
The mid-twentieth century was considered one of the most popular, dynamic, and collectable periods of international design. Mid-Century Modern Icons of Design features beautiful illustrations of iconic designs, from Poul Henningsen lamps to Eames chairs and George Nelson clocks.
Brazil Modern: The Rediscovery of Twentieth-Century Brazilian Furniture
Considered the last great, largely known tradition of modernism, twentieth-century Brazilian furniture design is characterized by rich textured exotic hardwoods and beautifully handcrafted chairs, cabinets, and tables that represent the national character of brasiliadade. Providing some much-needed background, Brazil Modern: The Rediscovery of Twentieth-Century Brazilian Furniture highlights the history and legacy of this innovative design tradition with well over 400 historic images and modern photography. Artists in the book include Lina Bo Bardi, Joaquim Tenreiro, and Oscar Niemeyer.