shop america, midcentury storefront design 1938-1950, edited by jim heimann and steven heller
in postwar america, everything pointed to a bright future. sheer optimism and opulence informed everything from automobile design to architecture, infusing design with larger-than-life planes and curves. storefront design of the era is particularly indicative of this phenomenon, incarnated here in an extensive collection of hand-illustrated shop window designs from 1938 to 1950. these spectacular plans for grocery stores, shoe shops, beauty salons, bakeries, and more are reminders of a time when stores were sacred shrines for the congregation of american shoppers — impressive and even slightly intimidating, just like the future itself. collected for this unique book, the designs viewed in retrospect reveal the mindset of a unique period in history. in addition to an extensive selection of drawings are historical black-and-white photographs of actual shops built in a similar style. shop america offers a rare look at mid-century commercial america as it pictured itself.

english, german and french. hardcover. 10.8”w x 13.8”h. 246 pages.

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