Michael Graves: Compact Design Portfolio. This item is unavailable.Michael Graves: Compact Design Portfolio

Contemporary design used to be an elitist subject. Despite the crusading populist idealism of the early Modernists, it never catapulted to the masses. Until now. Each book in the Design Briefs series contains short essays, penned by stylish writers with real knowledge and fresh enthusiasm on the subject. The essays address the designer's life, work, and influence, and are followed by numerous pages of illustrations for ongoing reference. Design Briefs: Michael Graces focuses on a leading representative of American postmodernism. The creator of very successful everyday objects - and an affordable line of household products available through Target - he tries to infuse classic and historical elements into even the most quotidian object. He has also long been interested in furniture design; his first piece of furniture, Plaza, was a dressing table (1981, for Memphis), and he has also designed tableware, lamps, rugs, and jewelry.

Julie V. Iovine reports on architecture and design for the New York Times.

Raul Cabra is the principal of Cabra Diseno, a San Francisco design firm.

Marisa Bartolucci is former executive editor of Metropolis magazine and the author of several critically acclaimed design books. She lives in New York City.