History of Iconic Objects: Design That Steals Hearts
- Patryk Koper
- Jul 18, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 19, 2025
Some objects are more than just furniture or lamps—they're stories captured in form. Emotions you can touch. As a designer, I've been fascinated for years by how certain designs become timeless. Today I'll share a few that always make me smile when I see them.
Eames Lounge Chair – Design's Comforting Embrace
Charles and Ray Eames created this chair in 1956, yet it still holds the same magic. When I first sat in an original Lounge Chair, it felt tailor-made for my back. This isn't furniture—it's an experience. The leather that develops patina over time, the molded plywood resembling sculpture... No wonder it still reigns in art galleries and hip lofts.
Saarinen Tulip Chair - A Revolution on One Leg
In 1956, Eero Saarinen declared war on the "jungle of legs" beneath tables. His Tulip Chair represents rebellion against tradition in its purest form—one chair, one leg, zero compromises.
As a product designer, I see brilliant deception here. This seemingly light, organic form required incredible engineering—the cast aluminum base masked by perfectly smooth laminate makes it appear like a flower growing from the floor.
A rare case where technology became invisible in service of beauty.
What captivates me? The same quality that initially shocked: radical simplicity.
Saarinen didn't simplify the form—he purified it. The result? A chair that:
Looked extraterrestrial in 1956
Still appears fresh in 2024
Never shouts but always catches the eye
Why does it work? Because this isn't just design—it's a manifesto. When designing mass-produced objects today, I still ask Saarinen's question: "How much can you subtract before it stops working?"
Braun T3 Radio "Snow White's Coffin" – Design Ahead of Its Time
In 1958, Dieter Rams created something that at first glance resembles modern Apple gadgets—though it predates them by half a century. The Braun T3 radio, nicknamed "Snow White's Coffin" by American designers, embodies the principle "less but better."
As a product designer, I return to this object whenever I need to remember what formal discipline means. This isn't just a radio—it's a manifesto:
White plastic casing - revolutionary when electronics hid in wooden cabinets
Visible electronics - a transparent panel revealing circuitry like artwork
Single control knob - Rams proved simplicity is the ultimate challenge
in an era of cluttered panels
Why is it iconic? It was the first object to show electronics could be... beautiful. When designing devices today, I still hear Rams' question:
"Could my design be improved by removing one more element?"
Egg Chair – A Cocoon for Introverts
In 1958, Arne Jacobsen designed a chair to hide from the world.
When conceptualizing projects, I often imagine how this design
might look today—perhaps in biodegradable materials?
Or with built-in speakers? The Egg Chair still inspires
because it's not just shape—it's emotion.
Panton Chair – The Plastic Revolution
In 1960, Verner Panton proved plastic could be elegant. In my design practice,
I often revisit this project as an example of perfect technology-art synthesis.
While developing recycled tableware collections, the Panton Chair reminded me that material limitations can become advantages when treated as creative challenges.
This isn't just a chair—it's a manifesto declaring: "Look what industrial design can do!" Its organic shape, achieved through then-innovative plastic injection molding, shows how technology can serve beauty. It remains an inspiration for designers seeking the ideal form-function synthesis.
Why Do We Still Talk About Them?
Because true design never ages. These aren't just "pretty things"—they're objects with souls that:
Have history—often born from rebellion or love
Communicate with users—their forms promise comfort or attention
Inspire generations—countless contemporary chairs riff on Eames' ideas
What about you? Do you have a favorite iconic object you can't imagine your home without? Or a recent design that surprised you?
Let me know—maybe together we can find space to create something exceptional from your vision. Sometimes all it takes is breathing life
into dormant ideas!
If you're seeking unconventional solutions, I'd love to help—one iconic object can set the direction for any product's design. Reach out, and let's create something others will love as much as I love the Eames Lounge Chair. 😉
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