Also known as Streamline Moderne, Streamlining was a later branch of Art Deco. Streamlining is the shaping of an object, such as an aircraft body or wing, to reduce the amount of drag or resistance to motion through a stream of air. Another word for this is aerodynamics.
Raymond Loewy is one of the most well known designers of this style. The French industrial designer spent most of his career in America where he influenced countless aspects of American life from transportation to commercial art. Loewy is often referred to as the 'father of industrial design' because he was the first person to promote the idea that large corporations could hire industrial designers to provide advice on the development of their products. Loewy was known for his relationship with Studabaker cars, the Pennsylvania Railroad company, Coca Cola, NASA and for designing the Lucky Strike cigarettes package.
In the 1930s there was much interest in streamlined vehicles, boats and aircraft breaking a number of speed records. Streamlining started to be used in a wide range of static objects such as radios, kettles and other domestic items. Streamlining was used to enhance the aesthetic appeal of these objects. Streamlining coincided with advancements in manufacturing processes and the use of materials such as Aluminium and Bakelite that could be moulded into shapes. |
