CATEGORY

The evolution of the hi- industry since World War II has been astonishing. The speed of technological innovation, from portable radios to MP3 players, has been matched only by the proliferation of designs that have sprung up in response to it. Sound Design traces the development of hi-fi design, examining, decade by decade, over 100 seminal pieces of post-war audio equipment, including the Bush radios produced in the 1950s; the Bang & Olufsen systems of the 1970s and 80s; the Sony Walkman of 1979; and today's MP3 and DVD players. A specification is provided for each, with a history of the design and its place in the development of the audio industry. Special features on the music and fashion of the time also high-light the ongoing relationship between hi- design and popular culture. The sheer range of high-quality audio design gathered together for the first time - including work by such major figures as Philippe Starck and Dieter Rams - makes Sound Design an essential guide for all hi-fi and design enthusiasts.