American Designers (Page 18)

The American Designers tag highlights influential figures in furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass, metalwork, and industrial design. From early colonial craftsmen to modern innovators, American designers have shaped decorative arts and functional aesthetics worldwide. This category explores their contributions, techniques, and lasting impact on global design trends.

Topics include:

  • Early American Craftsmanship – Influential figures in Colonial, Federal, and Shaker design.
  • Mid-Century Icons – Pioneers like Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, and Isamu Noguchi who revolutionized furniture and industrial design.
  • Art Deco and Modernism – The influence of designers such as Donald Deskey and Russel Wright on American decorative arts.
  • Postmodern and Contemporary Innovators – Figures like Frank Gehry, Ettore Sottsass (via Memphis Group’s American impact), and Wendell Castle in furniture and sculptural design.
  • Fashion and Textile Visionaries – The impact of designers like Ruth Adler Schnee, Jack Lenor Larsen, and Alexander Girard on American textile arts.
Paul Howard Manship

Paul Howard Manship was an American Sculptor. He was influenced by Hindu and Buddhist Indian Sculpture.

He began his artistic education at the St. Paul School of Art in Minnesota, and he attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts before moving onto New York City’s Art Student League. Throughout his subsequent career, he created more than 700 sculptural pieces in stone and marble.Read More →

The winner of the 2018 Remodelista Considered Design Awards Best Amateur Living/Dining space is Ely Franko, for his project  The Hunter Greenhouse  in the Catskills. His project was chosen as a finalist by guest judge  Stephen Alesch , who had this to say: “What a perfect little hideout—full of surprise and compact good energy!Read More →

Wharton Esherick featured image

As a result, his sculptural furniture and furnishings are his most well-known works. For his leadership in designing non-traditional designs and supporting and inspiring artists/craftspeople by example, Esherick was dubbed the “dean of American artisans” by his peers during his lifetime. Esherick’s impact can still be apparent in contemporary artisans’ work, especially in the Studio Craft Movement.Read More →