'Donald Deskey' (
1894-
1989) was a native of
Blue Earth, Minnesota. He studied architecture at the
University of California, but did not follow that profession, becoming instead an artist and a pioneer in the field of
Industrial design. In
Paris he attended the 1925
Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which influenced his approach to design. He established a design consulting firm in
New York City, and later the firm of Deskey-Vollmer (in partnership with
Phillip Vollmer) which specialized in furniture and textile design. His designs in this era progressed from
Art Deco to
Streamline Moderne. In the 1930's, he won the competition to design the interiors for
Radio City Music Hall. In the 1940's he started the graphic design firm Donald Deskey Associates and made some of the most recognizable icons of the day. He designed the
Crest toothpaste packaging, as well as the
Tide bullseye. His company is still in operation in
Cincinnati. A collection of his work is held by the
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.
External links
★
Donald Deskey at IDSA
★
Donald Deskey at The American Artists Bluebook