Nick's Thoughts on Design

The term "Art Deco", as is now well known, comes from the title of the celebrated exhibition of decorative and industrial arts held in Paris in 1925: l'Expostion Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. It was not a term used at the time, however. In the 1920's and 1930's contemporary design was known as Art Moderne in France and Moderne or Modernistic in the United States. The expression "Art Deco" was not coined until 1968 as the title of a book by Bevis Hillier on the decorative arts of the 1920's and 1930's.

The photos below, of a contemporary yacht interior, exemplify what is argueably the most complete and oppulent style of interior achieved in the 20th Century.

The Art Deco style permeated architecture, art and sculpture, fashion, textiles and carpets and ceramics. Art Deco style is apparent even in the mundane, such as the design of book covers, school texts and household appliances. The Style influenced the design of automobiles, aircraft and ships. There is stylized Moderne literature and music from this period. Even politics (Mussolini), and philosophy (Ayn Rand) were influenced or augmented by this aesthetic.

While "Art Deco" is a style that was originally borne from the custom world of uber-luxury, in the United States the style was streamlined and mass produced through industrialization making objects of great style available to everyone.