The allure of color is time honored and undeniable, but its inspired use in product design is a relatively new development.

More than a century ago the Bauhaus movement changed the use of color in design. After World War II, pigment-imbued molded fiberglass Eames chairs allowed buyers to express their individuality through colorful seating, altering the way we think about furniture. The Eames chairs of the 1950s symbolize the cultural intersection of design, technology, and color that continues to influence designers to this day.

From the pale blue Anglepoise lamp to Marimekko’s hot-red poppy print and the wine-red Bookworm Bookshelf, this book includes classics, future classics, and equally exciting contemporary pieces. A Century of Color in Design delivers a snapshot of twentieth-century history through the lens of design, exploring the origins and rationale behind the design and colorization of some of the century’s most iconic furniture and objects.