Thames & Hudson's Mid-Century Modern collections

A new Mid-Century Modern gift set – published by Thames & Hudson and designed by Here Studio – features a wealth of iconic designs from the 20th century

(Image credit: Here Studio)

By Sujata Burman

last updated 28 October 2022

in Features

Iconic designs of the 20th century are being made reconfigured as souvenirs thanks to Thames & Hudson and graphic design studio Here Design. An era that harboured many of the 20th century's most irrefutable design titans – the Eames, Eileen Gray and Dieter Rams to name but several – has been playfully packed up into a small-and-smart celebratory gift set.

Comprising 100 postcards, a set of four concertina books and three notebooks, the Mid-Century Modern collection pays homage to classic models originally surveyed in Dominic Bradbury’s Mid-Century Modern Complete – here reconstituted as a travel-friendly selection of fun illustrations. Here Studio was inspired by the colours of the era for the design, with mustard yellows, monochromes, turquoises and bold reds prominently displayed across the cards and book jackets. The illustrations are often in black or white, the furniture and homewares rendered in simplistic outlines easily recognisable to the design savvy.

The four foldout concertinas work as reference books, with each illustration accompanied by descriptive text by Frances Amber, guest editor at MidCentury magazine. Divided into 'Tables & Storage', 'Product & Industrial Design', 'Lighting' and 'Chairs', the books travel internationally across the modern era, from Louis Poulsen’s 1958 'Artichoke' lamp to Gio Ponti's 1950 'Leggera' chair.

The matching postcards are equally as handsome, often depicting close details of the illustrated designs – all the better for sending your friends the polka dot print from the 1956 'Marshmallow' sofa by George Nelson for Herman Miller, or a repeated image of an Arne Jacobsen's 1958 classic, 'The Swan'.

Comprising 100 postcards, a set of four concertina books and three notebooks, the *Mid-Century Modern* collection pays homage to classic models originally surveyed in Dominic Bradbury’s Mid-Century Modern Complete

Mustard yellows, monochromes, turquoises and bold reds are displayed prominently across the cards and book jackets — Here Studio was inspired by the colours of the era for the design – mustard yellows, monochromes, turquoises and bold reds are displayed prominently across the cards and book jackets

Left: 'ESU', by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, 1952. Right: 'Polyprop' chair, by Robin Day for S Hille &amp; Co, 1963 — The illustrations are often in black or white, the furniture and homewares rendered in simplistic outlines easily recognisable to the design savvy. Picured left: 'ESU', by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, 1952. Right: 'Polyprop' chair, by Robin Day for S Hille & Co, 1963

The matching postcards are equally as handsome, often depicting close details of the illustrated designs

'Dalu' table light, by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, 1965

The four foldout concertinas work as reference books – divided into 'Tables & Storage', 'Product & Industrial Design', 'Lighting' and 'Chairs' – with each illustration accompanied by descriptive text by Frances Amber

The collection is playfully packaged as a small yet smart celebratory gift set

INFORMATION

Mid-Century Modern, postcards and concertina books, £14.95 each; notebooks, £8.95; all published by Thames and Hudson. for more information, visit the publisher’s website

Sujata Burman is a writer and editor based in London, specialising in design and culture. She was Digital Design Editor at Wallpaper* before moving to her current role of Head of Content at London Design Festival and London Design Biennale where she is expanding the content offering of the showcases. Over the past decade, Sujata has written for global design and culture publications, and has been a speaker, moderator and judge for institutions and brands including RIBA, D&AD, Design Museum and Design Miami/. In 2019, she co-authored her first book, An Opinionated Guide to London Architecture, published by Hoxton Mini Press, which was driven by her aim to make the fields of design and architecture accessible to wider audiences.