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Serious Play: Design in Midcentury America

Serious Play: Design in Midcentury America

by Obniski, Monica
No customer reviews yet ISBN 9780300234220 Yale University Press

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. Following World War II, Americans began accumulating more and more goods, spurring a transformation in the field of interior decoration. Storage walls became ubiquitous, often serving as a home's centerpiece. 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. Playfulness can be seen in the colorful, child-sized furniture by Charles and Ray Eames, who also produced toys. And in the postwar corporate world, the concept of play is manifested in the influential advertising work of Paul Rand. 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.

Published in association with the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Denver Art Museum


Exhibition Schedule:

Milwaukee Art Museum
(09/28/18-01/06/19)

Denver Art Museum
(05/05/19-08/25/19)

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Product details

BrandYale University Press
Pub dateOct 2, 2018
ISBN-100300234228
ISBN-139780300234220
Pages256
LanguageEnglish
Dimensions11.2 × 9.9 × 1 in
Weight4 lb
Last updated 2026-08-31 00:32
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