Henry Dreyfuss (Henry Dreyfuss; 1904-1972) was an American artist and master of industrial design, known worldwide for numerous projects for consumer and commercial products. Many of his products have become international classics: the telephone Bell 300, new York locomotive, the vacuum cleaner company Hoover, camera instant Polaroid photography, TVs, refrigerators, interiors of aircrafts and much more. His design philosophy was based on finding the needs of the people for whom he created a device.
“Find out who your consumer is, what it does and what it needs”.
Famous American designer was originally from Brooklyn (new York). His career in 1924, he started as a theater artist, but in 1929 went to independent businesses. He opened his design office, the activity of which was focused on industrial design. His creative principle study of consumers differed from the views of other designers, ignorant of who exactly will use to develop their products. In order to better understand users, he had to work seller, bus driver, assistant phone master. His approach had immediate and long-lasting commercial success.
In 1936 Henry Dreyfuss and his team have created one of the most popular products of the twentieth century: Desk phone Western Electric 302 Bell Laboratories. This model sold successfully for eighteen years.
Also in 1936, the designer was designed vacuum cleaner Hoover model 150 is specially for Housewives. It was easy to transfer around the house, easy to vacuum in tight spaces, the cord can be easily hidden.
In the late 30-ies of Henry Dreyfuss’s designing a locomotive named for the new York Central railroad.
In 1939, under the guidance of American designer watches are available Classic Westclox Big Ben.
In 1949 Henry Dreyfus decides to modify a previously issued Bell 500. Changing the design of the tubes and wires, he made a plastic phone more convenient for conversation, keeping it on the shoulder.
In the early 60-ies of the master of industrial design has developed for Bell touch-tone telephone and a telephone handset with rotary disk.
His company was also involved in the design of the American ships S. S. Independence and S. S. Constitution for American Export Lines.
It is project Henry Dreyfus was made the first instant camera shooting Polaroid SX-70 in 1972, considered an icon of industrial design. The model had a foldable design, allowing you to easily carry it in your bag or in a coat pocket.
5 October 1972 he was gone. He and his terminally ill wife decided to end their lives by suicide in the car by carbon monoxide. Before he died, Dreyfus transferred all the archives of the design Museum, a part of the network of the Smithsonian institution. It was an amazing man whose name is rightly inscribed in the history of design. Henry Dreyfuss did not try to stand out fanciful ideas, and for creating consumer products with ease-of-use, elegance, brevity, and functionality.