Walter D. Teague Criticizes Detroit (1960)

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1959 Cadillac Tailfin - photo by Christer Johansson


I've been digging through the archives at the Teague Design office in Seattle, hoping to find the story of his life for a biography and documentary.  Once in  awhile I find some gems that are worth sharing.  This quote is from Teague's "The Responsibilities of the Industrial Designer," An Address by WDT to the Detroit Chapter, Industrial Designers Institute. Published in Road & Track, January 1960.



In regards to american car styling of the late 1950's when the tail fins grew to extreme heights:

"[I am] definitely and unreservedly hostile to recent trends in American automobile design... I agree heartily with millions of others that our characteristic car design has in recent years become lousy, ugly, vulgar, ostentatious, impractical, and excessively costly..." 

"In my opinion, Detroit got into trouble because it got out of step with the rest of American industry and the taste of the American public."


Walter Dorwin Teague, 1960

More to come...

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