treehouse comments

Tim Bray just posted about an online survey he filled out for the Economist (which, btw, I've been reading lately too, for the first time, and I have to agree with Matt Yglesias' description of them as a mix of "interesting reporting and bizarre editorial judgment".) Anyway, one of the questions of the survey was, sort of strangely, What do you think is the Twentieth Century’s most iconic piece of design; write in your answer and an explanation.

I've thought about this for about 1 minute so far and I'm not sure anyone can really answer. I thought of the original Volkswagon Beetle, but that seems like more of a contender for 2nd half of the 20th century design, so I'm still working on it.

Any takers?

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Lunar lander. (Explanation necessary?)
- tom moody 5-09-2007 10:27 pm [add a comment]

For me, unfortunately. I can't even think of what that thing looks like. Maybe I'm too young (although my Mother swore she propped me up in front of the TV to watch it.)
- jim 5-09-2007 10:30 pm [add a comment]

She most certainly did prop you up in front of the TV. Somewhere we have pictures of it.
- elisabeth 5-09-2007 11:50 pm [add a comment]

lander

It's anti-design, really. Pure functionality. Get down on the surface and get back. Assuming the moon shot wasn't fake it's the thing to be proudest of. Especially if civilization slumps (a real possibility in view of Bush, fundies, corruption, etc) and we can't go back.

- tom moody 5-09-2007 10:35 pm [add a comment]

Wow. That thing looks like it's made out of tin foil. Is that why some people think it's fake? I understand what you're saying though. Nice one.

After a few more minutes I came up with the Coca-Cola bottle (shape + logo.) I think maybe you're better at this than me.
- jim 5-09-2007 10:42 pm [add a comment]

The logo is 19th century, but the bottle is indeed 20th century. (I had to look it up.) The bottle was inspired by the shape of the cocao pod, even though the product isn't Cocoa-cola.
- mark 5-10-2007 1:47 am [add a comment]

No, it was really coca-cola. When did that stop?
- jim 5-10-2007 2:08 am [add a comment]

They still use the coca leaf, but without the active ingredient. The Straight Dope traces the change to about 100 years ago.
- mark 5-10-2007 2:28 am [add a comment]

Raymond loewy said,
'the coke bottle is the most perfectly designed package in the word.'

loewy is often mistakenly credited with designing the
coca- cola bottle, although he worked for the coca cola
company for decades, designed several coke related products,
and even redesigned the famous bottle in 1954.
(the first coke bottle was developed for coca-cola in 1915
by the root glass company of terre haute, indiana
- the bottle has undergone several redesigns in its 100-plus years).
his contribution to that particular icon, the original contour
of the 'mae west' bottle, was to 'slenderize' the already
existing version, giving it a more refined silhouette and
making it sexier to a new generation.
see

- bill 5-10-2007 2:30 am [add a comment]

Robert Rauschenberg, Coca Cola Plan, 1958:

- tom moody 5-10-2007 2:46 am [add a comment]

i like it, can i have it:>)
- Skinny 5-10-2007 5:03 pm [add a comment]

drag it to your desktop and its yours.

- bill 5-10-2007 5:07 pm [add a comment]

i was watching the mets-giants game this afternoon and couldnt help but notice the giant coca-cola bottle sculpture out beyond the left field fence.
- dave 5-10-2007 3:17 am [add a comment]

two excellent choices. i always liked that helicopter at moma. vehicles do make sense. army jeep, model t, shelby gt, stingray bike, super-surfer skateboard. and then there's pyrex lab glass and klh audio stuff.
- bill 5-09-2007 10:40 pm [add a comment]

anti design since wind resistance was no issue. that after the whole 20c wind tunnel design thing.
- bill 5-09-2007 10:41 pm [add a comment]

I think maybe the Model T Ford.
- steve 5-10-2007 9:38 am [add a comment]

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