Art Deco

The Art Deco period took place during the 1920's and was shaped by two main groups, the functionalists and the decorators. The functionalists focused on mass production and considered the social good as well as emphasized the value of engineering and industrialized design. The decorators on the other hand crafted exquisite, labor intensive objects that were aimed for an elite market. Art Deco design as a whole was directly related to the decade and what was going on throughout the world. In the aftermath of World War I, the world was in a time of prosperity and caught up in the "roar" of the Twenties.

In France, where the movement started, there were many figures that were considered the pioneers in the movement. Although Art Deco refers to buildings as well, the movement was focused more on furniture, textiles, jewelry, and lamps. The designers were supported throughout the movement by shop owners who hired them to create window displays. All of the major department stores in Paris during this time were supporters of the Art Deco movement.

Art Deco in the United States began as an appealing design that was often seen throughout store windows and in office building lobbies. It was soon found as an appealing and appropriate way to build skyscrapers. Because of the concern that the skyscrapers would turn the cities dark by blocking the sunlight, buildings were required to step back as they progressed up resulting in the top most floors being no more than 25% of the lot size. Due to this, the distinctive style of Art Deco skyscrapers can be identified by tapering tops finished off with a spire on top. These characteristics can be seen in other aspects of Art Deco design such as the use of metal, the focus on vertical lines, and the love of zig-zag motifs.