midcenturydesign's photostream  

I am a retired Designer/jeweller/silversmith, furniture designer and University Lecturer.
I have a Degree in 3D Design, Jewelry/Silversmithing and a Masters in Furniture Design and Technology. I was a freelance designer/maker and University lecturer for 25 years. In 1994 I was privileged to write a new furniture course. It went on to become very popular and successful. You can see some of the work produced by the students by clicking on the link - picasaweb.google.com/bacarruda/Design4Design# . Later I taught Acad, 3D Max and Rhino too.

I started collecting transistor radios in about 1985 and ended up with some 150 radios plus quite a few Bakelite valve radios. One day I concluded that a good many of these radios were darn right ugly so I decided to dispose of 100 of them and just keep those I like best. Since then I have collected post WWII domestic plastics, including radios.
I decided that the criteria for collecting should be predominantly, GOOD DESIGN but should also include examples of bad design as well as mad/kitsch design.
Deciding what is good or bad design is subjective but when studying and practicing as a designer you acquaint yourself with an expert knowledge of 'aesthetics' and what constituted good design. (and I don't mean 'popular' design)
My collecting has expanded to include Kenwood Chefs, Sunbeam Mixmasters as well as egg cups and lamp shades. I now have several thousand objects which I will gradually photograph and add here.
Where possible I have included descriptions and personal opinions regarding the designs.
Throughout my collecting I have never paid much for an item. They have almost always been used/second hand, bought from 'boot sales' or charity shops. My hobby has been a 'cheap' hobby. I have hardly ever bought anything new though, my children will sometimes buy me 'something special' like a Starck 'excalibur' or Juicy Salif. Most of the items I have are not ascribed to any known or star designer.
I still buy a few things, sometimes just to own for a while then to sell on. I had a little Uher Report L, like I once used way back in 1966/7, which I picked up at the local tip. I cleaned it and enjoyed it for a while then sold it on Ebay. Likewise a Piquot ware tea/coffee set.
I hope you enjoy what you see and feel free to agree or disagree with my opinions!