American design, like much of American culture, perennially oscillates between populism and elitism, between the revolutionary beauty and availability of Tupperware and the exclusivity of Tiffany"s. This book traces the development of American design from the "armory practice" of early American machinists to the branded, consumer-oriented design....

The Museum of Modern Art and 5 Continents Editions recently launched this series of books dedicated to industrial and graphic design....