Norman Bel Geddes

Norman Bel Geddes worked as a draughtsman in an advertising industry in Detroit and shortly afterwards he became an art director. He wrote plays, became a set designer and also designed lavish, luxurious, rich sets in New York. He was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright with whom he had worked with too. Geddes then planned on designing architecture and product styling. He later on designed a book which showed his streamlining design and approach. 

This is a design Geddes drew/painted for a theatre set and in the picture below 

you can see how he developed it beautifully

Geddes was one of the popular designers, he has a great impact on American life. during the streamlining movement he designed cars, ships and airlines. 

In the sketches above you can see that he was thinking of something new and which never existed it looked futuristic and streamlined at the same time because of it's smooth curves and tear drop shapes both of them have. He believed in the importance of the tear drop shape, as you can see in most of his designs. 

Though I have to admit that Geddes car design reminded my of a cartoon space ship - futurama. Just to realise the this has been design years ago and a cartoon of this era comes up with something similar.  He also designed metal bedroom furnishings for Simmons. One of his most noticeable kitchen designs was the Oriole stove.

The Oriole Stove is one of his most commonly used and supplied design. In the picture below you'll see furniture Geddes made from metall for Simmons.

In my opinion they didn't look streamlined thought the dresser on the left does have more of a nice curvier shape which makes it more interesting for its age.


Thames & Hudson, T&H, 2004. design since 1900. 2nd ed. singapore: C.C Graphics.