Spring / Summer catalogue, 2005
Abbeville
Press presents the newest volume in the acclaimed series International
Design Yearbook, #20, with guest editor Marcel Wanders and general
editor Jennifer Hudson
"An exemplary series of product design annuals. The photography
and graphic presentation are excellent." --Interior
Design
Since its
launch two decades ago, designers and architects have regarded
Abbeville's annual International Design Yearbook as the most
authoritative guide to contemporary design. Now, Abbeville Press
is pleased to release the most recent volume in the series,
International Design Yearbook 20 (cloth, $85.00).
As in the
previous IDY annuals, a guest editor has chosen the designs
showcased in this volume. This year's selections were made by
internationally acclaimed designer Marcel Wanders, whose offbeat
eccentricities and unusual approach to design, combined with
a reputation for being "tall, handsome, flamboyant, loquacious,
mischievous, confrontational, passionate, mercurial, opinionated
and uncontrollable" ensure an unusual volume in the series.
He has not disappointed. From the moment you notice the secret
message on the front edge (go ahead--pick up the book and see
if you can figure it out!), through the illustrated fable he
presents as introduction, to the wide variety of whimsical and
wild objects inside, Wanders has created a visual display that
challenges the intellect (and the child!) in each of us.
Wanders
is uniquely qualified to take on the daunting task of selecting
the best furniture, lighting, tableware, textiles, and products
created over the past 18 months for inclusion in International
Design Yearbook 20. On each page is a new expression of surprise
and delight, some new way of thinking about a common object;
a vase shaped like a sneeze, picture frame wallpaper, a robotic
dog, a tiny laser-cut steel house, a furry teapot, and a paper-pulp
disposable phone. But if Marcel Wanders has said, "My designs
are humorous, but never a joke," then the book he has edited
holds fast to the same principle. The objects herein are as
functional as they are beautiful as they are witty. While some
objects initially startle or amuse, others please or intrigue
more and more upon each viewing. Find here the perfectly designed
lamp, the chair that invites you to rest, a set of double pitchers
designed to dilute juice, or a sneaker with computer-chip monitored
support and cushioning. This is design at its best, in all its
infinite variations.
Each object
is lavishly illustrated with the superb photography that has
helped earn the series its excellent reputation. In addition,
full technical information is provided for each entry. The reference
section provides readers with a comprehensive list of suppliers'
names and addresses, as well as biographies of the designers.
International
Design Yearbook has for years been regarded as the "bible"
of professional designers and architects worldwide. With its
exhaustive collection of state-of-the-art designs, its thoughtful
selection made by one of today's most influential designers,
its splendid photographs, and comprehensive reference section,
this newest volume upholds the series' well-earned reputation.
About
the editor
Marcel Wanders was born in Boxtel, The Netherlands, in 1963.
He opened his own studio, Wanders Wonders, in 1995 and the Marcel
Wanders Studio in 2001. His clients include Cappellini, Droog
Design, British Airways, Mandarina Duck, Flos, and Boffi, and
his designs are represented in collections of the Museum of
Modern Art in New York and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
International
Design Yearbook 20
Edited by Jennifer Hudson
Guest Edited by Marcel Wanders
240 pages, 300 full-color illustrations, cloth, $85.00
ISBN 0-7892-0582-0
Contact:
Molly Dorozenski
Abbeville Press
Tel.: 212-366-5585 ext. 23
mdorozenski@abbeville.com
Www.abbeville.com
