Test your Design IQ
MANILA, Philippines - Who is the American architect who is a pioneer in the field of industrial design? He not only designed the iconic interiors of Radio City Music Hall in New York City, but also some of the world’s most recognizable household product packaging like for Crest toothpaste and the Tide bulls-eye?
He was born on Nov. 23, 1894 in Blue Earth, Minn. and left the small town for California after graduating high school in 1912. By 1914, he was a student at the Mark Hopkins Institute, and began studying architecture at the University of California in Berkley in 1915.
He attended the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which influenced his approach to design and established a design consulting firm in New York City.
He first gained note as a designer when he created displays for the Franklin Simon Department Store in Manhattan in 1926, which were noteworthy for their use of ordinary industrial materials as corrugated iron and cork.
In 1932, he won the competition to design the interiors of Radio City Music Hall, which is considered an Art Deco masterpiece.
From lavish interiors to household product packaging, his designs have been woven into the fabric of American life since the early years of the 20th century. His packaging designs are some of the most memorable and ubiquitous. A 20-year association with Procter and Gamble included the design of dozens of household products, including the packaging of Crest toothpaste, which has not changed since its introduction in the 1950s.
His package designs for Aqua Velva, an after shave lotion, won a gold medal for the best package design in 1956 from the Packagers Design Council. His product designs for Cheer and Oydol laundry detergents, Prell shampoo, Gleem toothpaste, Jif peanut butter, Pampers disposable diapers, and Bounty paper towels. Examples of the extruded-aluminum lamppost he designed for New York City in 1959 stand on many streets.
Some of his designs endure today. In the late 1920s, Reynolds Metals, then a young company, asked him to find new uses for aluminum foil. He later came up with wallpaper that was subsequently produced by companies like Schumacher and Company and Thibault. He also invented the textured plywood called Weldex, patented in 1940, for the US Plywood Corporation.
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Last week’s question: Identify the New York City landmark pictured in last week’s issue
Answer: Empire State Building
Winner: Gerard G. Maguyon of Caloocan City
Text your answer to 0926-3508061 with your name and address. One winner will be chosen through a raffle of texts with the correct answer. The winner will receive P2,000 worth of SM gift certificates for use at Our Home, SM Department Store, or SM Supermarket. They can claim their prize at Our Home in SM Megamall. Bring photocopies of two valid IDs and a clipping of the Design Quiz issue in which you appear as winner.
