Engineer Emil Rathenau founded AEG as the Deutsche Edison Gesellschaft für angewandte Elektrizitäts (DEG) two years after seeing Edison’s lighting at the Paris Exposition Internationale de l’Electricité in 1881. The company was renamed the Allgemeine Elektrizitäts Gesellschaft (General Electric Company) in 1887.
It quickly expanded its operations from the production of light bulbs to the production of electric motors, domestic appliances, transformers, and other electrical equipment and the construction of power plants both at home and abroad.
Early 20th Century
By the early years of the twentieth century, the business had expanded into many areas of industrial development and transportation, making it a highly recognisable company. The firm also put a high value on architecture, employing renowned architects and designers as a critical component of its corporate identity. Otto Eckmann, for example, was responsible for several promotional and typographic designs, including the company’s appearance at the Paris 1900 Exhibition. The appointment of Peter Behrens as artistic advisor to AEG in 1907, with responsibility for the corporate identity of all aspects of the firm, was perhaps the most important. From commercially popular arc lamps, lights, clocks, kettles, and fans to promotional materials, exhibition pavilions, showrooms, factory buildings (including Berlin’s famous Turbine Hall in 1909), and workers’ housing and furniture, there was something for everyone. Such designs adopted an efficient, contemporary aesthetic symbolising the modernity of the industry that created them, an outlook that was consistent with the modernising tendencies of the Deutscher Werkbund, which was founded in 1907.
He also revamped the AEG logotype, which had been introduced in 1898 in an abbreviated form. While the company continued to play a significant economic role after Behrens’ departure in 1914, it no longer employed such high-profile designers. The company redefined its operations in the post-World War II era. It stopped producing electricity in the late 1970s. It shifted its focus to microelectronics, domestic electrical appliances, and business-oriented electronic communications technology.
Sources
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The Design Encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.
Woodham, J. M. (2006). A dictionary of modern design. Oxford University Press.
More Design Firms
Robert Dudley Best: Lighting the Way in Modern Design
Robert Dudley Best, heir to a lighting factory, rose to prominence in British design. His Bestlite lamp series reflects timeless…
Keep readingThe Luminescent World of Didier La Mache: A Journey Through Design and Light
Didier La Mache, a French designer known for visionary lighting and furnishings, creates harmonious designs that transcend materiality, embodying symbolism…
Keep readingThe Luminary Legacy of Isamu Noguchi: Unveiling the Model H Lamp
Isamu Noguchi’s Model H Lamp blends traditional Japanese craft with modern design. Noguchi’s Akari series softens electric light, embodying philosophical…
Keep readingIlluminating Elegance: The Artistry of Villaverde Lighting
Villaverde, a luxury lighting consultancy founded in 2003, blends fashion and interior design with 15 years of lighting industry experience,…
Keep readingHaberdashery: The Poetics of Light Illuminating Design
Haberdashery, a renowned British lighting brand led by Ben Rigby, elevates spaces with innovative light designs blending art and function.…
Keep readingThe Artistry of Lee Broom: A Modern Maestro of Design
Lee Broom, a pioneer in luxury furniture and lighting, integrates traditional craftsmanship with modern elegance, redefining design and inspiring future…
Keep readingEmbracing the Night: The Art and Evolution of Landscape Lighting
Landscape lighting balances aesthetics, function, and environmental impact. While addressing safety and recreational needs, it must consider challenges like light…
Keep readingFontana Arte: A Journey Through Glass and Light
Fontana Arte, established in the 1930s by Gio Ponti, is a cornerstone of Italian design. Despite post-war challenges and shifts…
Keep readingExploring the Vibrant World of Bethan Laura Wood
The blog post discusses the prolific career of Bethan Laura Wood, an internationally recognized English designer known for her uniquely…
Keep readingFranco Raggi: A Luminary in Italian Design and Architecture
Franco Raggi, born in 1945, has contributed greatly to the design and architecture fields for over five decades. His designs…
Keep readingFranco Mirenzi ( b. 1942 ) Italian Industrial Designer
Franco Mirenzi, born in 1942, is an Italian industrial designer known for his furniture, lighting, and hi-fi equipment. His recent…
Keep readingUlrike Brandi Licht (b.1957), Trailblazing German Lighting Designer
Ulrike Brandi, a German lighting designer, achieved acclaim through innovative creations and sustainable designs. Her notable projects and awards solidify…
Keep readingBoris-Jean Lacroix (1902-1984) 🇫🇷 French Lighting Designer
Boris-Jean Lacroix (1902-1984) was a French lighting designer known for his extensive work in various design fields and his innovative…
Keep readingExploring Lighting Designers: A Collection of Notable Posts
In this collection of recent posts, we delve into the world of lighting design and explore the remarkable contributions of…
Keep readingLivio Castiglioni (1911-1979): Italian Industrial Designer and Lighting Innovator
In 1938, Castiglioni and his brother Pier Giacomo Castiglioni set up a studio with Luigi Caccia Dominioni, which closed in…
Keep readingLange Gerd (b.1931): A Trailblazing German Designer
Lange Gerd, a German designer, revolutionized the design industry with his versatile furniture and lighting creations, gaining recognition through prestigious…
Keep readingJean Dourgnon (1901–1985) French Lighting Designer
Jean Dourgnon was a French lighting designer and engineer who studied at the École Supérieure d’Electricité and joined the Association…
Keep readingJean Perzel (1892 – 1986) Austrian Lighting Designer
He began painting on glass at a young age and worked as a stained glass artist in Munich. He worked…
Keep readingFlos Italian Lighting Manufacturer
Flos, established in 1962 by Dino Gavina, specializes in lighting. The company has a strong design legacy and has worked…
Keep readingRoberto Pamio (b.1937) Italian Architect and Designer
He became active in 1961 as an architect and furniture and industrial designer; (with Renato Tosso) collaborated on furniture and…
Keep readingFriedrich Adler (1878 – 1942), German Sculptor and Designer
Friedrich Adler, born in Germany in 1878, was a versatile artist known for his work in art, design, and teaching…
Keep readingSerge Mouille (1922- 1988) French Lighting Designer
Serge Mouille was a French Lighting Designer; he was born and active in Paris. Mouille studied silversmithing, École des Artes…
Keep readingChristian Dell (1893 – 1974) German Metalworker Designer
Christian Dell, a German silversmith and Bauhaus metal workshop foreman, pursued industrial design and returned to silversmithing, leaving a legacy…
Keep readingToshiyuki Kita (b.1942) Japanese Furniture and Interior Designer
He set up his own design office in Osaka in 1964; in 1969, he began designing furniture for Italian and…
Keep readingSteve McGugan (b.1962) Canadian Industrial Designer
Medical Technology and Telecommunications Steve McGugan (b.1962) is a Canadian industrial designer. He was born in Vancouver and professionally active…
Keep readingAndre Salomon (1891 -1970) French Lighting Engineer
Andre Salomon (1891-1970) was a prominent French lighting engineer, active in Paris. He collaborated with renowned architects and designers, contributing…
Keep readingLisa Johansson-Pape (1907 – 1989) Finnish Designer
Between 1928-30, she designed furniture for Kylmakoski; 1928—37, she was a textile designer for Friends of Finnish Handicraft. From 1952, its…
Keep readingYki Nummi (1925 – 1984) Finnish Interior Designer & Colourist
The versatile designer Yki Nummi (1925-1984) was born in China to a missionary family. He studied in Finland and after…
Keep readingElio Martinelli (1922 – 2004) Italian Lighting Designer
He and others founded a lighting company in 1942. In 1956, he founded the lighting firm Martinelli Luce in Lucca,…
Keep readingÓscar & Sergi Devesa Spanish Industrial Designers
In 1987 Oscar and Sergi Devesa founded D&D Design to work together in product design for national and international companies…
Keep readingDamon (1920s & 1930s) French Lighting Design Firm
Damon was located at 4 avenue Pierre-I-de-Serbie in Paris during the 1920s and 1930s. It was well-known for its innovative…
Keep readingBeautifully Balanced Más Table Lamps – Korean Design
Studio Más, known for designing products and furniture that are simple yet unique, released their Lamp Más in 2018. Created…
Keep readingPio Manzù (1939 – 1969) Italian Industrial Designer
Pio Manzù, an Italian designer, created the iconic Fiat 127 and Parentesi lamp. His work spanned automobiles, lighting, and environmental…
Keep readingYou may also be interested in
Otl Aicher (1922 – 1991) German industrial and graphic designer – Encyclopedia of Design
From 1946 to 1947, Otl Aicher (1922 – 1991) attended the Munich Academy of Fine Arts. He later became closely affiliated with Ulm’s highly influential and radical Hochschule Für Gestaltung after founding a studio there the following year. From 1954 to 1965, he was a co-founder and lecturer in visual communication.
Hermann Gretsch (1895 – 1950) designer for Arzberg – Encyclopedia of Design
Hermann Gretsch was a German architect, engineer and product designer. In the 1930s, Gretsch worked for the Porzellanfabrik Arzberg. This German ceramics manufacturer is perhaps most widely recognized in the history of design for its clearly articulated, undecorated, yet distinctive white designs by Gretsch, the 1382 tableware service of 1931.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.