Design classic

A design classic is an industrially manufactured object with timeless aesthetic value. It serves as a standard of its kind and, despite the year in which it was designed, is still up to date.^[1] Whether a certain object is or is not a design classic might often be debatable^[2] and the term is sometimes abused^[3] but there exists a body of acknowledged classics of product designs from the 19th and 20th century.^{[4] [5] [6]} For an object to become a design classic it takes time^[3] and what lasting impact the design had on society and what influence on later designs it had plays a large role in determining whether something is a design classic or not. Thus design classics are often strikingly simple, going to the essence, and are described with words like iconic, neat, valuable or having meaning.^[3]

References

1. ^ "Phaidon Design Classics". Phaidon. http://www.phaidon.co.uk/store/design/phaidon-design-classics-9780714843995/. Retrieved 22 September 2011. 
2. ^ Campbell, Emily (20 January 2009). "Design Classics: unequivocal, tangible, iconic?". http://designandsociety.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/design-classics-unequivocal-tangible-iconic/. Retrieved 22 September 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Bayley, Stephen (27 August 1999). "What makes a design classic?". The Independant. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/what-makes-a-design-classic-1115520.html. Retrieved 22 September 2011. 
4. ^ Taylor, Patrick. "Design Classics". http://www.patricktaylor.com/design-classics. Retrieved 22 September 2011. 
5. ^ Hill, David (12 September, 2006). "What Makes a Design Classic?". http://www.lenovoblogs.com/designmatters/2006/09/what-makes-a-design-classic/. Retrieved 22 September 2011. 
6. ^ Glancey, Jonathan (13 January 2009). "Stamps of approval: British design classics". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2009/jan/13/stamps-british-design-classics. Retrieved 22 September 2011.