Visionary Raymond Loewy Honored In Google Doodle And A Look At Some Of His Greatest Designs.

Today’s Google Doodle honors what would have been the 120th birthday of French industrial designer Raymond Loewy (1893-1986). The Doodle, a pencil sketch, was inspired by the Pennsylvania Railroad's S1 steam locomotive he designed as you can clearly see the resemblance to Loewy's original sketch in the above image.



So what did Raymond Loewy actually design? Believe it or not, pretty much everything. From the world's best known brand logos, pencil sharpeners, clocks, kitchen appliances, coke bottles, coke dispensers and furniture to Planes, Trains and Automobiles (to steal a movie title), the Father of Industrial Design ”made products irresistible at a time when nobody really wanted to pay for anything,” TIME magazine once wrote.



His designs straddled the mid-century modern style and the streamlined art deco. Most recognizable amongst his achievements are the Shell and Exxon logos, the Lucky Strike cigarette packaging, GG1 and S1 locomotives, the slenderized Coca-Cola bottle, the John F. Kennedy memorial postage stamp, the interior of Saturn I, Saturn V, and Skylab, the Greyhound bus and logo, U.S. Postal Service emblem, a line of Frigidaire refrigerators, ranges, and freezers, and the Studebaker Avanti, Champion and Starliner.



above: just some of Loewy's logo designs

"Design, vitalized and simplified, will make the comforts of civilized life available to an ever-increasing number of Americans." -- Raymond Loewy

Some of his designs (shown with his beautiful sketches if possible):

Avanti:


Bottle and dispensers for Coca Cola:


Greyhound Bus and Logo Design:


Pencil sharpener, tea set, carpet and furniture by Loewy:


Lucky Strike logo and packaging:


USPS emblem and JFK memorial Stamp:



Here are just some of his career highlights:

1975 Smithsonian Institution opened The Designs of Raymond Loewy, a four-month exhibit dedicated to "the man who changed the face of industrial design."

1972 Poll of stylists representing the Big Three automakers voted his 1953 Studebaker Starliner Coupé an "industry best." Also named one of the most influential Americans by LIFE magazine.

1967 Began working as a habitability consultant to NASA.


1965 Joined the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped.

1962 After designing the Shell logo, it becomes such a recognizable icon that Shell drops its name from their advertisements.


1961 Designed the Studebaker Avanti, holding to the motto, "weight is the enemy."

1954 Designed the Greyhound bus.

1953 Designed the Studebaker Starliner Coupé, which the Museum of Modern Art later called a "work of art."

1952 Founded the Compagnie de I'Esthetique Industrielle in Paris, France.

1951 Published second design textbook, Industrial Design, and his autobiography Never Leave Well Enough Alone.

1949 Appeared on the cover of TIME magazine.


1939 Redesigned the Lucky Strike cigarette packaging.

1937 Published first book, The Locomotive: Its Aesthetics.

1936 Designed the GG-1 electric locomotive for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

1934 Designed the Coldspot refrigerator for Sears Roebuck & Company.


1930 Hired as a consultant by the Hupp Motor Company.

1929 Redesigned the Gestetner mimeograph machine. Founder and art director of Raymond Loewy, William Snaith, Inc., in New York City (later established as Raymond Loewy International).

1919 Provided popular fashion illustrations for magazines such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Freelanced as a window designer for department stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy's.



In 1975 the Smithsonian Institution opened The Designs of Raymond Loewy, a four-month exhibit dedicated to "the man who changed the face of industrial design." Loewy later commented, "While working closely with the Smithsonian, I was provided with the opportunity to reassess the past." And what a past it was. Loewy - businessman, educator, illustrator and author - had undoubtedly established himself as one of history's most famous and influential designers.


above: Loewy with his design for Air Force 1

Loewy and Viola moved to France several years later, where they enjoyed leisurely travel and a more relaxed lifestyle. On July 14, 1986, after a period of poor health, Raymond Loewy died in Monte Carlo, Monaco. He was 92 years old.

Loewy's death sparked a worldwide media frenzy over his immeasurable talent and contributions to industrial design. New York Times reporter Susan Heller wrote, "One can hardly open a beer or a soft drink, fix breakfast, board a plane, buy gas, mail a letter or shop for an appliance without encountering a Loewy creation."

Official Raymond Loewy sites:
www.raymondloewy.com
www.RaymondLoewy.org
www.RaymondLoewyFoundation.com

Infiniti Q50s Get Fashion Makeovers by Thom Browne and Zac Posen To Be Sold On Gilt.com

Two of the hottest designers in the high-fashion world, Zac Posen (who some of you may know from his red carpet gowns and/or his role on Project Runway) and Thom Browne, The New York fashion designer and recipient of the 2013 CDFA Menswear Designer Of The Year award, have each designed a special 2014 Infiniti Q50. The specially outfitted (pardon the pun) cars will be available in December via the online luxury site Gilt.com (if you don't belong, click here for an invite code ) where the two buyers will also receive a $10,000 Gilt.com shopping credit, as well as a style consultation. The cars will be priced at $75,000 each.



The Zac Posen Infiniti Q50:











The Thom Browne Infiniti Q50:













the press release:
The Infiniti Q50 had a new look revealed in New York City, thanks to two of the hottest designers in the high-fashion world. The cars were unveiled to media at the Infiniti of Manhattan dealership located in the city's famed Hell's Kitchen area.

"I was totally blown away when I saw it; the ombré-effect that we created [with the exterior paint], and set out to create, really worked as an object. That emphasized the movement and the shape of the car, which is what was most important to me," said Zac Posen, fashion designer.

Posen dresses some of today's hottest celebrities. He and his contemporary, Thom Browne, each took a turn at outfitting the newest addition to the Infiniti lineup. These custom-tailored cars feature elements exclusive to each designer's aesthetics.

"In talking to Infiniti at the beginning and really learning their design philosophy, and that being very individual, very secure and confident in being an individual, that was how I approached this initially, and wanted to do something as conceptual as possible for making sure the customer saw something that was really unique and individual," said Browne.

The Thom Browne 2014 Infiniti Q50 exterior features a chrome finish. The vehicle is accented with his signature red, white and blue stripe throughout, from the seats to the floor mats, and stitching on the steering wheel. There's also Browne's hallmark sterling silver ring encircling the gear-shift handle.

With a more feminine flair, Posen's creation displays a unique paint application that evokes the back of a glamorous silk gown. The interior's inspiration?

"Then I opened the door and got into what I call the red-carpet interior. Working with very luxurious materials, the shagreen handle, the shagreen stick, it's all piped in leather that contrasts it. And playing with tonality of reds," said Posen.

Gilt.com joined with Infiniti to offer these luxury sports sedans; both brands say the partnership just made sense.

"Gilt and Infiniti have very similar customers. They are very fashion savvy, tech savvy, they like new things and we think this is a great partnership," said Kelly MacDonald, Infiniti Marketing.

The two buyers of these 2014 Infinitis will also receive a $10,000 Gilt.com shopping credit, as well as a style consultation.

"From here the cars are going to five events focused around Gilt City shopping events. We'll have Thom- and Zac-designed concept rooms to house their cars in five cities. So next week it goes to Dallas, then Chicago, then New York, Miami and L.A., from now until December. We have a chance to bring the cars to life so people can see them in person," said Clara Pang, business development, Gilt.

These Infiniti Q50 packages will be sold for $75,000 each on gilt.com in December with a portion of the proceeds benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

To learn more, visit here

images and info courtesy of Infiniti

Aston Martin's CC100 Is One Super Sick Speedster (over 30 photos).

A unique year produces a unique and visionary car. Created as a stunning celebration of Aston Martin’s century of sports car excellence, the ‘CC100’ is a concept car reflecting the sporting heritage and exceptional design capability woven throughout 100 years of Aston Martin history.



CC100 looks back to a proud past and forward to an exciting future. A clear affinity with the legendary 1959 Le Mans and Nürburgring winning race car DBR1 can be seen in the design, with forward-looking features shaped from the same advanced materials and expert engineering used throughout our contemporary model range.








Using the latest iteration of Aston Martin’s naturally aspirated V12 engine, CC100 includes unique engine mountings to ensure the powerhouse sits low down in the chassis. This specially machined drive-train powers the CC100 from rest to 62 mph in a little over four seconds, while the top speed is limited to 180 mph.




Mated to a six-speed hydraulically actuated automated sequential manual transmission and controlled via steering column-mounted paddle shifts CC100’s lightweight gearbox delivers truly sporting changes perfectly suited to the Speedster’s track-focused nature.



With a body and interior crafted from carbon fibre, tooled and provided by low volume specialists Multimatic, Aston Martin designers used this aerospace standard material to create a unique design features and to also ensure CC100 both light and lithe.








Designed and constructed in less than six months, the CC100 represents a shining example of the Aston Martin flexibility.





Expert modellers worked intensively to turn these initial designs into a tangible, physical form. All Aston Martins are initially created by hand, shaping each line, measuring each dimension precisely and working to create perfect aesthetics. Finely honed to create the exact blend of sporting aggression and beauty CC100 had become more than a concept.







As an open-topped speedster, the interior and exterior boundaries merged together and from the start CC100's racing cockpit was an integral element of the concept. The team wanted a lightweight, race car environment and used inspiration from DBR1 to design a slim dashboard proportion with compact racing seats. Further design cues came from a theme of post-war aeronautical engineering, giving rise to complex interior panelling and dynamic wing forms.




Trimming and finishing the interior meant using the same material artistry found on our road cars. Lightweight carbon fibre provides structural rigidity with a unique weave also creating a dynamic cockpit environment. Racing seats are clothed in the finest Bridge of Weir leather but fitted with full safety harness. Glass control buttons and the same distinctive glass ECU starter match those found throughout the Aston Martin model range.




Revealed to the world at the ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring race, CC100 was driven on its debut by Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez. Alongside him on this unique celebratory lap of the iconic Nordschleife was DBR1, the same car that completed the 1000km of Nürburgring in 1959, crewed by the same man - Sir Stirling Moss.




"CC100 is the epitome of everything that is great about Aston Martin. Fantastic heritage, exceptional design, superb engineering and an adventurous spirit." -- Aston Martin CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez

all images and information courtesy of Aston Martin