Patented - by Thomas Rinaldi (Hardcover)

About the Book

An unprecedented, substantial, and extraordinary celebration of more than a century of fascinating product and industrial design, as shown through their detailed original patent documents - the ultimate 'flick book' of modern design with hundreds of works by iconic and lesser-known designers

Book Synopsis

An unprecedented, substantial, and extraordinary celebration of more than a century of fascinating product and industrial design, as shown through their detailed original patent documents - the ultimate 'flick book' of modern design with hundreds of works by iconic and lesser-known designers

From legendary design classics to anonymous objects that are indispensable in homes and offices, this one-of-a-kind collection of original patent documents celebrates the creative genius of designers, inventors, creators, innovators, and dreamers the world over. The range is phenomenal: patents by Eero Saarinen, Charles Eames, Isamu Noguchi, Ettore Sottsass, Raymond Loewy, and George Nelson sit alongside everyday designs for tape dispensers, pencil sharpeners, food processors, desk fans, and drink bottles to create a valuable reference that's also an irresistible browse.

Review Quotes

"[Patented] presents a fascinating cross-section through more than a century of material culture, the simple black and white line drawings reflecting the changing tastes and technologies of the decades." - The Guardian

"Thomas Rinaldi rounds up 1,000 lightning bolts of brilliant design... the result is a gratifying and much-deserved presentation." - The Financial Times, How To Spend It

"Wonderful to idly leaf through." - The Financial Times

"A window into the history of modern design." - Monocle on Design

"Some of the earliest glimpses of innovations that have changed the world as we know it today." - Design Week

"From the vending machine to Elon Musk, Steve Jobs to the bicycle, an idiosyncratic history of America from 1900 to 2020 told through designs and the inventors who patented them." - New York Times Book Review

"The neatest book on the market that breaks down some legendary classics and fascinating products in industrial design" - Vanity Fair

"It's fascinating to see how much, or how little, certain objects have evolved over the years" - Curbed

"The patents in this book tell a bigger story: that there's beauty (and a lot of fun) in the objects we encounter every day but don't necessarily think of as 'designed'." - Fast Company

"If you've ever wondered about the original design of the Porta Potty, the iPhone, or tape dispensers, then Thomas Rinaldi's book is for you." - Hyperallergic

"A read that's sure to satisfy your inner design-history nerd." - Elle Decor

"Did not disappoint" - Alison Stewart, host of All of It

"A new and essential reference for any designer." - Acquire

"It's the ultimate for the bookworm dad who loves his DIY." -Fatherly

"At over 1,000 pages, Patented is thicker than an old phone book but much more fun to thumb through." - BookPage

About the Author

Thomas Rinaldi is an architectural designer based in New York City with degrees from Georgetown and Columbia Universities. He has written several architecture books and his photographs have been published in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and New York Post. He has lectured widely, including at the New York Public Library and the Society of Architectural Historians.