One of the first books to offer a critical assessment of American design in the last part of the 20th century, US Design accompanies a major exhibition that will travel the United States. Focusing on three generations of American designers and the movements they have embraced and reinvented, this exciting volume shows how -- from unique art pieces to the museums that house them, book jackets to film rifles, in-line skates to laptop computers -- nearly every aspect of life during the last quarter century has been infused with the genius and creativity of its designers. One of the defining characteristics of American design in this period has been its lack of any dominant theoretical or stylistic approach. US Design celebrates this pluralism by presenting an array of objects from architects as well as decorative, industrial, product, and graphic designers. It features the work of such international stars as Robert Venturi, Frank Gehry, and Michael Graves; "next wave" artists of the '80s such as Thom Mayne, Steven Holl, Katherine McCoy, and David Carson; and today's emerging young designers, including Karim Rashid, Christopher Deam, and Ross Menuez. Arranged both chronologically and stylistically, this generously illustrated volume offers illuminating essays that track four distinct directions this field has taken in the past quarter century. The result is an exhilarating chronicle of American leadership, innovation, and individuality in the design arts.