In a new and exciting approach to design, objects from toothbrushes to trains, from jewelry to jukeboxes, from clocks to clothing to calculators to coffee tables, are examined in detail. Each spread focuses on a specific item and shows the chronological development of that object from inspiration to contemporary innovations. Information-packed captions and annotation give details on the dimensions, variations, and production years of each design. An in-depth introduction takes an international look at the designs that surround us and examines the major movements of the 20th century, including Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Modernism, and postmodernism. An A to Z biographical directory features profiles on the key designers of the century. This directory, along with a comprehensive glossary, gives readers the background knowledge they need to discover contemporary design. The Look of the Century captures our times like no other design book.