Only Richard Sapper Could Turn the Hairdryer Into a Masterpiece
A new monograph celebrates the late German industrial designer.
Over the course of his career, esteemed industrial designer Richard Sapper, who passed away in Milan in December, produced countless designs for a range of top brands, including Kartell, Knoll, IBM, and Artemide. His work scaled from small home electronics, such as hairdryers and coffee grinders, to cars for Fiat. His oeuvre, displayed in an upcoming Phaidon monograph, reveals his distinct knack for adding an aesthetic bent to high-performing objects. In many ways, this combination of form and function encapsulates the demands of the modern consumer. Take a look at some highlights here.
IBM Upright Typewriter Prototype, IBM, 1981.
Courtesy of IBM
K 1340, Polyethylene children's chair designed by Marco Zanuso, Kartell, 1964.
Courtesy of Aldo Ballo
4060, Coffee and tea set, Alessi, 1982.
Courtesy of Aldo Ballo
Zoombike, folding bicycle, Elettromontaggi, 2000.
Courtesy of Aldo Ballo
Hairdryer, La Rinascente, 1959.
Courtesy of Aldo Ballo
Phaidon's monograph, edited by Jonathan Olivares, is available for pre-order now.
Courtesy of Phaidon
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