Design Secrets: Furniture: 50 Real-Life Projects Uncovered by Laurel Saville & Brooke Stoddard

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

 Reviewed by James Novak

Overview:

Love furniture design? Then you must get your hands on this book! This is one of those rare books that give you a ‘fly-on-the-wall’ look into the design process of some amazing recent furniture by designers like Tom Dixon, Ron Arad, Piero Lissoni, Ross Lovegrove and many more. Each object includes background information on how the project came about, quotes from the designers, information about the specific manufacturing process and materials, concept sketches, photos of prototypes and the manufacturing process, as well as the final product. Best of all, the selected items all use different materials and manufacturing processes, so you get a really good understanding of a variety of processes, and will surely find plenty of inspirational ideas.

About the authors:

Laurel Saville is a freelance writer who has written for a variety of design-related books and magazines. She also works with companies to develop communications programs, including brand strategy and sales support materials. Brooke Stoddard, curator of this book, has been a design journalist for many years, and has been the style editor of House and Garden magazine. She is a featured speaker at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City.

Relevance to product design: 10/10

If you’re like me, simply looking at pretty photos of furniture in magazines and on websites can get a bit boring. Sure they look fantastic, but what did the early concept sketches look like, how many prototypes were made, how did the designer and manufacturer decide on that material or colour?... This is the book that answers those questions and more, speaking to you as a fellow product designer, rather than a potential customer.

Is the book informative?:  10/10

This book is full of really useful information; Saville has asked the designers the perfect questions to get the most useful information about the design process, material selection, etc. Beyond the great furniture, it’s just as interesting to see how some of the best designers in the world draw sketches or make cardboard prototypes; yes they are human, and they do make mistakes!

Is the book easy to read?: 9/10

Saville has a really captivating writing style; simply read the introduction (which provides a humorous yet honest summary of what it means to be a product designer) and you will know what I mean. There is quite a bit of writing to accompany the numerous images for each project, but it is enjoyable to read and provides a lot of information.

Is it aesthetically pleasing?: 9/10

Plenty of colourful photos, CAD models, sketches, diagrams and details; what more could you want? You can easily flick through the book and learn something new every time without even having to read the text.

Is it a favourite book?: YES

This is the type of book I have always wanted; something that gives you an insight into the entire process behind some of the most exciting furniture from around the world. If you are interested in designing innovative furniture, I believe this book is an invaluable resource that will not only inspire, but provide a lot of information designers will not often share with others.