ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Seven monographs on the designers who defined a century

publication · 2026-06-26

Wallpaper* contributor Anna Solomon curates seven essential monographs on 20th-century design giants. The list includes Gaetano Pesce, with an interview by Glenn Adamson; Hans J. Wegner, featuring Noritsugu Oda's collection of over 160 chairs; Gio Ponti, covering sixty projects; Charles and Ray Eames, exploring their multidisciplinary practice; Dieter Rams, with his Ten Principles of Good Design; Charlotte Perriand, reassessing her legacy; and Shiro Kuramata, in a two-volume monograph with an introduction by Deyan Sudjic. The books serve as both histories and art objects, offering insight into mid-century modernism, postmodernism, Scandinavian craft, and Japanese experimentalism.

Key facts

  • Seven monographs on 20th-century designers are highlighted.
  • Gaetano Pesce monograph includes an interview with Glenn Adamson.
  • Hans J. Wegner volume features over 160 chairs from Noritsugu Oda's collection.
  • Gio Ponti book covers more than sixty projects across six decades.
  • Charles and Ray Eames monograph includes their film 'Powers of Ten'.
  • Dieter Rams book traces his 'Ten Principles of Good Design' from the 1970s.
  • Charlotte Perriand volume reassesses her legacy, including Les Arcs project.
  • Shiro Kuramata two-volume monograph includes 'Miss Blanche' and 'How High the Moon'.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Wallpaper*
  • Braun
  • Vitsœ
  • Luxury London Magazine

Sources