1 / 7Mid-Century Modern Design: A Complete Sourcebook
Mid-Century Modern Design: A Complete Sourcebook surveys mid-century design and architecture across furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles, graphics, interiors, and buildings. Its illustrated entries, designer profiles, and essays make it a broad visual reference, while its substantial size favors browsing at home over lightweight portability.
At a glance
- Covers applied arts, houses and interiors, and designers and makers in three main parts.
- Examples range from furniture and lighting to ceramics, textiles, graphics, posters, interior design, and architecture.
- Includes entries on nearly 100 major creators and a dictionary featuring hundreds more designers and organizations.
- Features thirteen commissioned essays and profiles of twenty seminal homes.
Reference price: $50.00
Price checked: Nov 14, 2026
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Pros and cons
Pros
- Its scope spans multiple design disciplines, so it can serve as a visual overview rather than a single-category reference.
- The A–Z section and illustrated dictionary provide useful routes for looking up designers and makers.
- The book pairs object imagery with coverage of houses, interiors, and commissioned essays.
Cons
- At 4.75 pounds, it is a heavy book to carry or hold for extended reading.
- Its broad survey format may be less suited to readers seeking a focused, in-depth study of one designer or design category.
Technical specifications
10 specifications| Publisher | Thames & Hudson |
|---|---|
| Publication date | November 10, 2020 |
| Edition | Illustrated |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 544 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0500023476 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0500023471 |
| Illustrations | 1,000 illustrations |
|---|
| Dimensions | 10.51 x 10.51 x 1.61 inches |
|---|---|
| Weight listed | 4.75 pounds |
What to know before buying
- The listed 4.75-pound weight and 10.51-inch square dimensions point to a substantial volume. Consider these physical details if you want a frequently carried book or have limited shelf space.
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Readers seeking a wide-ranging visual reference to mid-century design and architecture.
- Collectors and design enthusiasts interested in creators, objects, houses, and interiors.
- Readers looking for visual inspiration across furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles, graphics, and home design.
Less suited to
- Readers who need a lightweight book for regular travel or handheld reading.
- Buyers looking for a specialist monograph focused on one maker or design discipline.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
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Customer feedback describes the book as a comprehensive resource and useful reference for mid-century modern design. That praise matches the listing's wide coverage and designer directory, which may be valuable for browsing across subjects. Ratings are largely favorable, but the available feedback does not establish specific criticisms or explain individual rating choices.
Positive themes
- Customers praise the comprehensive content.
- Customers appreciate it as a reference.
Frequently asked questions
What areas of design does the book cover?
The listing describes coverage of furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles, graphics, posters, interior design, and architecture.
How is the book organized?
It is arranged into sections on applied arts, houses and interiors, and an A–Z of designers and makers.
Does it include information about individual designers?
Yes. The listing says it has entries on nearly 100 major creators and an illustrated dictionary with hundreds more designers, manufacturers, organizations, schools, and movements.
Is this a portable reference book?
It is a substantial 544-page volume with a listed weight of 4.75 pounds and dimensions of 10.51 x 10.51 x 1.61 inches, so it is better suited to browsing at home than carrying around.
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