World Design: Nationalism and Globalism in Design - Hardcover

The functional design of most global products reflects nothing more profound than the power of their manufacturers, laments Aldersey-Williams, the London-based European editor of International Design. In his view, multinational corporations, by promoting a homogenous, Bauhaus-derived style and pretending that regional differences do not exist, have eroded national identities and jeopardized locally made artifacts around the world. In a study that will serve as a fertile sourcebook for designers and a coffee-table tour for browsers, Aldersey-Williams attempts to define the native design aesthetics of 19 countries, as seen by each country's leading designers. Japanese prefabricated tearooms, German coffee-makers and restaurant lights, Singaporean food packaging, Canadian gift boxes, Egyptian baby strollers, and electronic equipment, cars, furniture, appliances, jewelry, ads and posters from the U.S. to Yugoslavia are illustrated in 250 plates (150 in color).
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Perhaps because he is so deeply involved in the industrial design world, Aldersey-Williams loses sight of the forest as he gazes lovingly at the trees. He intended to address the question of international design trends as contrasted with various national artistic traditions by examining hundreds of consumer items (primarily electronics and furniture) country by country. Sections on each country discuss the design firms, designers, and problems peculiar to that country. Yet, with the exception of the sumptuously decorated products of India, no one outside the field of design would be able to distinguish among items produced by different countries without referring to the captions. Aldersey-Williams's text argues for nationalism but his illustrations argue for globalism. For specialists only.
- David McClelland, Temple Univ. Lib., Philadelphia
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.