Serious Play: Design in Midcentury America

Edited by Monica Obniski and Darrin Alfred This spirited volume shows how postwar designers embraced whimsy and eclecticism in their work, exploring playfulness as an essential construct of modernity. Following World War II, Americans began accumulating more and more goods, spurring a transformation in the field of interior decoration. Storage walls became ubiquitous, often serving as a home’s centerpiece. Designers such as Alexander Girard encouraged homeowners to populate their new shelving units with folk art, as well as unconventional and modern objects, to produce innovative and unexpected juxtapositions within modern architectural settings. Playfulness can be seen in the colorful, child-sized furniture by Charles and Ray Eames, who also produced toys. Pub Date: 2018 Format: Hardback with bw & color illus. Pages: 256 pp. Size: 9.75 x 11.25 inches ISBN: 9780300234220