Suggest a Design Classic
I'm always open to suggestions for new Design Classics to add, but please give a bit of background, and reasons why it could be included. I'm interested in products (preferably a specific model whose origins can be traced) rather than pure inventions.
Would like to suggest the Browning 1911 pistol, as it's nearly 100 years old and still being manufactured and supplied to police and armies around the world. Despite the dubious purpose of a gun, the 1911 represents one of the most effective ever designs and has served many countries for very many years, and is manufactured by many different companies and custom shops. Also its key design features appear in many other pistols.
Dominic, thanks for the suggestion. I will most likely take this up.
I'd like to nominate the Linn LP12 turntable. It is still in production in Scotland after more than 30 years (being updated every few and continuing to outperform any digital source component), and was Stereophile magazine's 2004 Analog Source Component of the Year. Performance aside, it is a wonderful example of pure, functional design.
An excellent suggestion. Thanks Charles. I'd been toying with the idea of including one of the Quad amplifiers, but the turntable is even better.
Fisher Space pen – a ballpoint that will not leak, writes reliably from all angles even upsidedown, and on all types of surfaces. The bullet pen particularly looks good, and it is compact when not in use.
It has certainly solved a pet hate of mine and it is very reliable. It forfilled NASA's requirements as well as being used on Russian space missions.
Mike – thanks for that. I had never heard of Fisher pens, but now that I've taken a look, I agree… the bullet pen looks especially interesting. Apparently it has been displayed in the New York Museum of Modern Art.
Patrick,
I think you have a fantastic webpage here! May I humbly suggest an addition to the design classics page?
The Zippo lighter. I know it's very plain and simple looking, but the fact that it's still being produced today with only very minor changes after 70+ years speaks for itself, I believe.
Hi I'd be tempted to add Quad electrostatic loudspeakers. Specifically the ESL-57's or the ESL-63's. The 57's were nominated most significant audio product in an English publication & the 63's were ranked no. 2 out of 100 products in Stereophile magazine.
Patrick,
How about the Bic Cristal ballpoint pen.
Absolutely minimal and completely invisible – everyone takes them totally for granted.
The original design Ping Anser Putter: never owned one but I've seen plenty around. The originals go for lots of money these days.
In 1966, possibly the greatest event of the PING Corporation's history occurred as Karsten Solheim had an idea for a new putter flash in his mind. As he was unable to find a piece of paper, the design for his new putter was sketched on the dust cover of a 78 RPM record. After Solheim had finalized the design, he was still in need for a name. Solheim's wife Louise suggested the name "Answer" for the new putter as it "was an answer for the vexing problems in putting". As the name "Answer" would be too long to fit on the putter, the name was shortened to just "Anser".
The Anser would go on to be the most influential putter in golf while setting the standard for what is considered to be the "conventional" putter and racking up 500 professional golf wins and becoming the "winningest" putter in history. The cavity back and low center of gravity provided superior feel for golfers of all abilities.
How about a Mini,
A british icon.
No design classic site could be complete without the Imac g3
Many thanks to everyone for the excellent suggestions. As I'm intending to add only one more design classic I'm giving this careful thought.
Patrick,
To get a favourite included in your site I think is akin to winning an Oscar. Several of mine are already featured: Vespa, Rolex, Willy's Jeep, Duralex Picardies, Routemaster bus. However, including the Vespa, these are the masterpieces that literally set my pulse racing when sighted, so fingers crossed:
Jaguar MK 2
Original Mini
MG roadster
Andrew, I appreciate the suggestions. The Jaguar and the MG are great cars. The thing is, it would be easy to keep adding classic cars – there are so many. I would also add the Citroën 'Light 15' Traction Avant (the Maigret car), Triumph TR4, Jaguar XK120, 1950 Studebaker, etc.
So I'm trying to limit the number of items per category to one, tempting though it is to add more cars. Incidentally, I'm never sure if the Mini is really a design classic. It was a groundbreaking design, but never a commercial success and it had some serious weaknesses (eg the subframes). And the Zippo lighter – a design icon but is it any good?
The same applies to furniture. There are so many classic designs, but I think with the Thonet Chair I've made the right choice. This is possibly the world's best design of anything, ever. It's a complete masterpiece, still going strong after nearly 150 years.
Another Oscar nomination: I had also thought of including the Dunlop Maxply wooden tennis racket (sporting equipment category) produced from 1933 to 1983 but couldn't find much information about it. The Ping putter is a possible alternative but those Maxplys are just gorgeous.
The most stunning Jonathan Ive design has got to be the G4 Cube. The aesthetics, minimalist fascias and technical innovations are outstanding and yet to be bettered in hardware design today.
Please include the cube with your fantastic list!
I am surprised no-one has mentioned the brilliant range of Apple Mac computers, with their innovative, user friendly design, not to mention the iPod.
The classic laptop, seen in almost every Hollywood movie in the last five years (but now banished from BBC television programmes following trade pressure from the PC manufacturers), is the Mac PowerBook G4 15inch monitor – I am using one to post this message.
Thanks for the suggestion, but d'you think something can become established as a great design classic in the space of only five years or so? It's doubtless a great laptop, but to me it does look like just another laptop. From what you say about its use as a prop in movies and on TV, I assume it must be quite distinctive.
I think you should add converse shoes to your page as they are design classics, first invented in 1928 and still going strong today. As with most design classics they are simple but ingenious.
Faema E61 group head. Definitely a design classic in the world of espresso machines.
Perhaps you might consider these two motoring icons:
The E-Type Jaguar and the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud
Both of these cars have enduring qualities, and many examples of both marques still exist today despite the Jaguar having been discontinued early in the 1970's and the Rolls Royce having bowed out in 1965.
An afterthought:
Although I accept the Hasselblad as a Design Classic, surely you must surely consider the Leica rangefinder camera as such. These cameras, are being made today using the same basic shape and design principles used by Oscar Barnack in making the original camera.
Patrick,
Wow, I posted that suggestion almost a year ago! I'm also very glad that you responded to it.
Anyway, the Zippo design is a very good one that has been a staple part of American culture for 75 years. I would highly suggest that you look into the history and design of it some more before decided whether or not to add it to your website.
Cheers,
Adam
PS: If you want to you, you're more than welcome to e-mail me with any questions. I'm a bit of Zippo nut!
Once again, thanks for the suggestions. A couple of thoughts:
The discipline has been to limit the number of designs to one per category (eg car, plane, boat, watch, item of furniture, etc).
Also, eight classic designs I've selected so far are from the USA, as are several of the above suggestions. It would be good to add something from another culture. Something from Russia, or China, or Indonesia, or Africa? Not for the sake of political correctness but because the item stands alongside the best in the world.
The problem is exposure. Western designs tend to be more known to us because we are in the West.
On the Zippo lighter: "a staple part of American culture for 75 years" – yes, but why? Mine blows out in the slightest breeze.
Hi
If you go to google and key in the coke bottle and also the DS citroen car, both acknowledged as design icons, you're off to a good start. Plenty of into re design background!
Rather than give you links, it's best you choose!
Hi Patrick. Great site.
You have some of my favourites already – Rolex, Linn Sondek, Duralex Picardie, Fender Strat…
I've been thinking about what to suggest. Martin acoustic guitar? Lacoste polo shirt? Ray-ban sunglasses? My suggestion is…
The Times Atlas Of The World – Comprehensive Edition
I remember spending many lunch hours in the school library studying it and imagining the places. It is a pleasure to own and has lots of history.
Paul
Hello Patrick
My suggestion for an item for inclusion on your list of classics is the Airstream Trailer. Airstreams have been manufactured for over 75 years and are clearly iconic of recreational travel trailers. Some people use them for full time residence, office space and even as restaurants. They are seen in movies, TV and they are often depicted in art works. They are a true classic in design.
Jim
Jim, thanks, and I agree – the Converse Trailer is an American design classic. So are the Converse shoes. I'd still like to add something that isn't from the West.
A worthy addition is the Mason Cash mixing bowl, although the pudding bowl is an equal candidate.
How about:
The Victorinox swiss army knife (the original style with the red handles)
The Post-it note
The Boeing 747
Microsoft Word
Regarding non-western classics, I feel sure that there are really good examples but I can't quite put my finger on any of them… various things that have been mass produced in the far east for a very long time but are so inconspicuous and taken for granted that they are almost invisible. The nearest I can think of is the YKK zip fastener, but this perhaps isn't the best example as it doesn't exist in a single iconic form and doesn't have anything much about it that sets it apart from its rivals other than ubiquity.
"… so inconspicuous and taken for granted that they are almost invisible"
That's exactly it, like the The Post-it note. A good suggestion. Incidentally, I've already included the Swiss Army Knife
what exactly is classic design?
I wouldn't say this is exact, but a 'classic' is something that is established as an outstanding and enduring example of its type.
A analogue clock – it one works so well you would never have a reason to change it. everyone depends on time. also – how could you change a clock it either works or it doesn't. there are many different design versions of it but the idea remains untarnished.
Someone called Filippo suggested the Riva Aquarama (surely a design classic), but at last – a non-Western design classic to add: Zhang Xiaoquan household scissors.
Thank you for all the suggestions. Comments are now closed.