Raymond Loewy (art deco, designer, 1893-1986)
Loewy studied electrical engineering in his native France before emigrating to America after serving in the First World War.
Following a brief spell as window dresser at Macy’s, he worked as a fashion illustrator on Harpers Bazaar.
He recognised the potential of applying the principles of commercial art to the actual products of industry and in 1929 was commissioned to modernize the Gestetner mimeograph machine.
In 1930 he set up his own design consultancy and in 1935 he revamped the Sears Roebuck refrigerator, signing the ‘Coldspot’, and in doing so brought the streamlined, white curves of the moderne style into kitchens across America.
He published influential futuristic designs for taxis, cars and trains as well as designing locomotives for the Pennsylvanian Railroad and the distinctive Greyhound Coach (1940).