A lively exploration of eclecticism, playfulness, and whimsy in American postwar design, including architecture, graphic design, and product design This spirited volume shows how postwar designers embraced whimsy and eclecticism in their work, exploring playfulness as an essential construct of modernity.
Set against the backdrop of a society that was experiencing rapid change and high anxiety, Serious Play takes a revelatory look at how many of the country\'s leading designers connected with their audience through wit and imagination..
And in the postwar corporate world, the concept of Play is manifested in the influential advertising work of Paul Rand.
Playfulness can be seen in the colorful, child-sized furniture by Charles and Ray Eames, who also produced toys.
Designers such as Alexander Girard encouraged homeowners to populate their new shelving units with folk art, as well as unconventional and modern objects, to produce innovative and unexpected juxtapositions within modern architectural settings.
Storage walls became ubiquitous, often serving as a home\'s centerpiece.
Following World War II, Americans began accumulating more and more goods, spurring a transformation in the field of interior decoration.
A lively exploration of eclecticism, playfulness, and whimsy in American postwar design, including architecture, graphic design, and product design This spirited volume shows how postwar designers embraced whimsy and eclecticism in their work, exploring playfulness as an essential construct of modernity
