**1. Early Life and Education:**
– Raymond Loewy was born in Paris in 1893 to Maximilian Loewy and Marie Labalme.
– He won the Gordon Bennett Cup for model airplanes in 1908.
– Loewy graduated from the University of Paris in 1910.
– He served in the French army during World War I, reaching the rank of captain.
**2. Career Beginnings and Notable Projects:**
– Loewy initially worked as a window designer for department stores in New York.
– He received his first industrial-design commission in 1929, designing the Coldspot refrigerator for Sears-Roebuck.
– In the mid-1930s, he opened a London office and established his reputation as an industrial designer.
– Notable projects include the modern Art Moderne GG1 electric locomotive for the Pennsylvania Railroad and the redesign of Studebaker automobiles.
**3. Design Contributions to Various Industries:**
– Loewy was involved in designing for NASA as a Habitability Consultant from 1967 to 1973, working on projects like the Skylab space station.
– He revamped the product line of International Harvester in 1935, enhancing operator ergonomics and the company logo.
– Loewy also styled tractors for Cockshutt and Allis-Chalmers, showcasing his design influence in agricultural equipment.
**4. Legacy, Recognition, and Influence on Design:**
– The Raymond Loewy Foundation was established in 1992 to promote industrial design and honor Loewy’s memory.
– Loewy’s impact on design earned him the title “father of industrial design” and continues to inspire modern designers.
– His work on iconic designs like the Exxon logo and TWA Lisbon Lounge contributed to his posthumous recognition.
– The Raymond Loewy Foundation preserves his legacy and promotes user-centered design principles.
**5. Publications, Media Coverage, and Awards:**
– Loewy authored the book ‘Never Leave Well Enough Alone’ and has been featured in various publications and documentaries.
– His designs have been subject to academic study, and his design philosophy has been analyzed in dedicated books.
– Notable grantees of the Raymond Loewy Foundation’s annual award include Karl Lagerfeld and Philippe Starck.
– Google Doodle celebrated his design legacy in 2013, highlighting his enduring influence on the design industry.
Raymond Loewy (/ˈloʊi/ LOH-ee, French: [ʁɛmɔ̃ levi]; November 5, 1893 – July 14, 1986) was a French-born American industrial designer who achieved fame for the magnitude of his design efforts across a variety of industries. He was recognized for this by Time magazine and featured on its cover on October 31, 1949.
Raymond Loewy | |
|---|---|
 Raymond Loewy in 1950 | |
| Born | November 5, 1893 Paris, France |
| Died | July 14, 1986 (aged 92) |
| Resting place | Rochefort-en-Yvelines Cemetery, Rambouillet, France |
| Citizenship | France, United States |
| Education | University of Paris |
| Occupation | Industrial Designer |
| Years active | 1909–1980 |
| Notable work |
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| Spouse(s) | Jean Thompson Bienfait (m. 1931–1945; divorced) Viola Erickson (m. 1948–1986; his death) |
| Children | Laurence Loewy (b:1953 d:2008) |
| Website | raymondloewy.com |
He spent most of his professional career in the United States, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1938. Among his designs were the Shell, Exxon, TWA and the former BP logos, the Greyhound Scenicruiser bus, Coca-Cola vending machines and bottle redesign, the Lucky Strike package, Coldspot refrigerators, the Studebaker Avanti and Champion, and the Air Force One livery. He was engaged by equipment manufacturer International Harvester to overhaul its entire product line, and his team also assisted competitor Allis-Chalmers. He undertook numerous railroad designs, including the Pennsylvania Railroad GG1, S-1, and T1 locomotives, the color scheme and Eagle motif for the first streamliners of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and a number of lesser known color scheme and car interior designs for other railroads. His career spanned seven decades.
The press referred to Loewy as The Man Who Shaped America, The Father of Streamlining and The Father of Industrial Design.