Life Series on Raymond Loewy

[Tuckerfan1053]

There's a nice piece on Life Magazine's website about famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy. http://www.life.com/image/73574583/in-g ... ed-america

I found this picture of him taken in 1948 to be rather interesting. . .

[streamliner]

You know that you've made a tremendous impact on future products when an entire company stops to take note of your design philosophy. In this case, Loewy inspired Subaru to look closer at their design process...

[TuckerCar]

Interesting memo. However, here's what they came up with for the 1989 model:

[Tuckerfan1053]

One wonders if any other designer's passing today would inspire a car company to order a revision of their design process. I'm guessing probably not. Not only because there's few designers as well known and influential as Loewy was, but because few makers would be willing to admit that they were doing something wrong.

[Prototype]

Gentlemen such as Loewy ,Tremulis, Egan, Tucker...Etc, Etc...epitomzied what design culture was in the day when things were designed not only to be cutting edge, but to be sturdy and last (more or less) a lifetime. Gone are the days of real style and quality in favor of quantity for the purpose of profit. It is seen not only in automobiles, appliances, furniture and many other durable goods, including Children's toy's today. Many of these things have "european" styling, or "old world" craftsmanship, only to be assembled in China or Mexico. Case in point, Not one single toy that my 2 1/2 yr old Son received for Christmas was made in the United States. My 2009 GMC Sierra Z71 4X4 Crew Cab, was built in Mexico, I would not have purchased it had I had known, since I ordered it and never saw the actual window sticker when we picked it up! I saw some "Classic" Fisher price toys that have been re-issued and the design originates from 1930 or so, the very same ones I played with as a Child and still have. They were most likely design and engineered by the likes of Loewy or Tremulis, notably the "Bee pull toy" I saw at Target for $20.00, was not made of wood, but 99% plastic and, you guessed it, MADE IN CHINA, right on the box! How is this a Classic toy when it is only classic by design, not construction? I don't know the exact vintage of the the toys from my youth, but I still have them, albeit a bit worn and used, but still functional nonetheless. Will my 2009 GMC Sierra survive the test of time? Even with dilligent maintenance and garaging, probably not! Is it a timeless design? Probably not! Was it engineered to last a lifetime? Absolutely not! Give me a Tucker or Packard or Buick Roadmaster or just about anything built before 1968 and I'll show you "old world" craftsmanship and good 'ol "American enginuity" over all the "durable goods" available today! My point is their are no real "Great" designers left to speak of, that is if you include in the list of Guy's who design cars based on a Segway (GM) or that four-wheeled car contraption called a Yugo some years back.