Hardware Podcasts

S2E30 1,000 Design Patents | Thomas Rinaldi

Being an Engineer · 9 Jul 2021 · 46m · Episode 30

What this episode covers

Architectural designer and author Thomas Rinaldi discusses his book 'Patented: 1,000 Design Patents,' which curates 1,000 design patents to highlight the history of industrial design and forgotten designers. Rinaldi explains that design patents protect the appearance of objects rather than their function, offering a database to study the evolution of everyday items like staplers, radios, and cell phones. He details how manufacturing techniques and materials, such as Bakelite or stamped metal, dictated the aesthetic shifts from classical motifs to streamlined Art Deco styles. The conversation also covers the rigorous process of writing and publishing non-fiction books, emphasizing the need for perseverance and the educational value of researching historical contexts.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Phaidon
Products
Patented: 1,000 Design Patents, New York Neon, Hudson Valley Ruins
Tools
Google Patents
Materials
Bakelite, Catalin
Also
Raymond Loewy, Henry Dreyfus, Philippe Starck, Everett Worthington

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