American Design

American Design from the John C. Waddell Collection Through March 11, 2012 This temporary installation explores how American corporations partnered with freelance industrial designers during the 1930s to create eye-catching products that would appeal to Depression-era consumers. These products frequently used innovative materials—like plastic and laboratory glass—and sleek, streamlined shapes that blended functionality with style. Some of the designers worked in relative anonymity while others became well-known advocates for the importance of good design in mass production. Related Publication: A Modern World: American Design from the Yale University Art Gallery, 1920–1950