First published 1985
This annual collection presents the most significant design achievements from around the world during 1985 and 1986. Architect and critic Robert A.M. Stern assembles furniture, lighting, textiles, and product designs that shaped contemporary living. The volume documents emerging trends in postmodern design, from Memphis Group furniture to high-tech industrial products. Stern examines how designers responded to changing lifestyles and new materials. Each entry includes photographs and technical specifications. The book captures a pivotal moment when design moved beyond modernist orthodoxy toward more playful and eclectic approaches. Stern argues that good design must balance function with cultural meaning. The collection reveals how designers across continents influenced each other through trade publications and international exhibitions. This yearbook offers designers, architects, and design enthusiasts a comprehensive view of mid-1980s creative innovation.
Genres: art, 20th-century, non-fiction, design
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-significance
Period: 1985, 1986
Paperback · Thames and Hudson Ltd