Iconic designs

The author starts with the Greek roots of the word "iconic" and uses them to ask what the term really means when applied to design, and how calling something iconic helps us make sense of design and of the way objects acquire that status. The objects chosen are ones that stand out, stick in people's minds, are known around the world, and have drawn sustained press and media interest.

Fifty short chapters cover a range of things, from cheap, everyday products to expensive designer pieces. Each entry traces how an object came to be seen as iconic and considers its manufacture, its use, and its legacy, comparing it with other objects made at the same time or in similar styles. These entries are considerably longer than those in typical survey texts.

The book is organised into five parts, moving from public to personal themes. This arrangement suggests that icons do not only belong to public life; they also shape private identity through the objects people carry and that help define who they are.

It is intended for students and researchers in design history, design criticism, design studies, material culture, museum studies, art and architectural history, architecture, and design practice.