ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

STREAMLINING IN DESIGN

CONTENT

1. Science and Starting Point of Streamlining

2. Entrance of Streamlining to Design: Paul JARAY

3. Other Figures in Streamlined Era

ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

1. SCIENCE AND STREAMLINING

As a simple definition, aerodynamic is a sort of physical properties of solid objects

regarding the manner in which air flows around it. In aerodynamics, there are two flow types

which are laminar and turbulent.[1] A distruption is a matter of flow in turbulent. By contrast

with it, in laminar flow, fluid flow in paralel layers so there is no distruption. In picture 1,

difference between laminar and turbulent flow can be seen.

Picture 1: Laminar and Turbulent Flow Demonstration [2]

Laminar flow is also known as stremline flow. Streamline is a teardrop contour which

provides less resistance to fluid as shown in Picture 2.

Picture 2: Streamline's teardrop contour. [3]

ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

2. ENTRANCE of STREAMLINING to DESIGN : Paul JARAY

“Paul Jaray is a name still appears in many popular works on automobile design yet is

often ignored otherwise. Jaray, however, represents a succesful cross-over not just in the

realm of engineering, but also in that of aesthesics as well.” [4] .

Paul Jaray studied at Mechanical Engineering School in Vienna and worked at Prague

Technical University as an assistant. After that, he became the chief design engineer in a

firm which design seaplanes located in Friedrchshafen. In 1915, he started working at

Luftschiffbau Zeppelin that was specialized on streamlining airships. [5]

Zeppelin company was not welcome to innovation because of patent transfer issues. In

war conditions, these issues lost their importance. After that, Jaray's studies gained speed.

His studies were about the best airship form which based on a combination of diameter,

cross section, volume and stress points . As a result of studies and calculations, teardrop

cross section was the best solution as shown Picture 3.

Picture 3: Relation between fluid flow and resistance of cross-section. [6]

End of the trials and re-calculations, Jaray's zeppelin project had higher speed aircrafts

which is showed in Picture 4 – 5 . He promoted supervising engineer after this success.

ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

Picture 4: Jaray's project LZ120 construction.

Picture 5: Jaray's last Zeppelin project: LZ210.

After WWI, Paul Jaray contunied his studies on streamlined ground vehicles. Until his

studies, car body design meant artistic and craftmanship. In addtion to his aerodynamic

knowledge, he also considered properties of new materials such as sheet steel and

ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

aliminum, and how they effect design and manufacturing process. As well as technical

background, he had to give attention aesthetics.

Jaray recognized that the flow around the body of revolution, which has a very low drag

coefficient in the free air, is no longer axially symmetrical when close to ground. As a

result the drag increases, owing to the flow seperation occuring at the rear upper side. At

the limit, where the ground clearence approaches zero, the optimum shape in terms of

drag is a half-body, which forms a complete body of revolution together with its mirror

image- produced through reflection from the roadway. This half-body, which had a ratio

of length to height of 4, was modified by Jaray so that the mid-section formedn a

ractangular cross section with rounded upper corner. In Picture 6, table shows Jaray's

designs and changes in drag coefficient. [7]

Picture 6: Drag measurements on Jaray's car.

ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

His first model Ley T6 by Zeppelin was contructed in 1921 and identified in 1922. As

shown in Picture 7, it was ridiculous looking because of high stance and narrow cross

section, but it accomplished fuel saving and negoiate climb.

Picture 7: Jaray's first model Ley T6 by Zeppelin.

In 1923, after Jaray left Zeppelin, he founded a new company for automotive design in

Switzerland and he set patent about his studies in United States because of the most

promising market. Postwar, streamline shape became a part of popular culture, and it was

seem in many object, from cars to kitchen utensils. Despite such popularity, Jaray's

automobile design idea was produced by only Tatra Company which was the

Czechoslovak Rebuclic. V-8 model was introduced by Tatra in 1934, shown in Figure 8.

That model had pontoon panles, integrated headlamps and a tapered rear end. It also

offered 0,36 drag coefficient which meant one of the most aerodynmaz mass-produced

cars ever.

After WW2, Jaray focused on consulting for the automobile industry. In that era, he was

not only one dealing with aerodynamics and streamlining in car industry, but his works

showed link between aeronautics and ground vehicles, also formal engineering and

culturally oriented design.

ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

Picture 8: Tatra V 8 model designed by Paul Jaray. [8]

3. OTHER FIGURES in STREAMLINED ERA

The key point of streamlining was developing from natural form. It became a symbol of

modernity, progress and expectation of better future. In stramlined decades, designer

professions was irresistible. They made object which were purchased because of

appealling to consumers' hopes and desires.

In 20th century, Richard Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion idea was a congenial exception.

This word was combination of dynamic and maximum efficiency. With dymaxion

principle, he designed architectural structures, as shown in Picture 9, rowboat and

automobiles, as shown in Picture 10. His designs were pionner in streamlined decade. [9]

Picture 9: Dymaxion house designed by Fuller in 1920s. [10]

ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

Picture 10: Dymaxion car designed by Fuller. [11]

Picture 11: Illustration of Designer Raymon Loewy and his designs [12]

Another important figure, as shown in Picture 11, in the development of streamlined

design was Raymond Loewy who started his career in fashion illustrator, then his talent

showed itself in industrial design. Loewy revolutionized the industry, he consulted for

more than 200 companies. He designed in almost every product range from lipstick to

locomotives. The famous MAYA principle, which was Most Advanced Yet Acceptable,

was belong to him. “He believed that,” The adult public’s taste is not necessarily ready to

accept the logical solutions to their requirements if the solution implies too vast a

departure from what they have been conditioned into accepting as the norm. “” He

lectured in many reputable university, also he founded three design compny and his

writings include The Locomotive: Its Aesthetics (1937), the autobiography Never Leave

ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

Well Enough Alone (1951) and Industrial Design (1951). [13] As mentioned in magazine

The Verge, Raymond Loewy is the man who designed everything, basically created

Americana [14], as shown in Picture 12, 13,14.

Picture 12: Raymond Loewy's packaging design for Lucky Strike. [15]

Picture 13: His Skylab design for NASA. [16]

One important figure in the streamlined decade was Norman Bel Geddes who had fame

as innovative stage's set designer, also worked on illustrators, interior design, exhibition

design and industrial design. Geddes produced many predictions about future's

transportations, products and plans [17].

ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

Picture 14: Shell Logo, Streamlined Pencil Sharpener, PRR Locomotive designed by

Loewy.

At 1939 New York World Fair, he designed Futurama Exhibition which showed next 20

years of world such as highways, transportation etc. , sponsored by General Motors, as

shown in Picture 15.

Picture 15: 1939 New York World Fair, Futurame designed by Norman Bel Geddes,

sponsored by General Motors. [18]

He did not designed only exhibition, but also products in Art Deco and Streamlined style.

His teardrop cross section car design was an example for streamlined, as in shown in

Picture 16. “Motorcar Number 9 offered excellent visibility through the use of curved

ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

glass for the windshield and windows. The steering wheel and single headlight were in

the center. The car featured a vertical stabilizer, or rudder, in its tail, like an airplane. The

front and rear bumpers were made of chrome, and the rear bumper was attached by three

hydraulic shock absorbers. This design offered good use of interior space, providing

seating for eight.” [19]

Picture 16: Motorcar Number 9 designed by Norman Bel Geddes. [20]

Cobra Table Lamp could be shown as an example for his streamlined style, as shown in

Picture 17.

Picture 17: Cobra Table Lamp designed by Norman Bel Geddes. [21]

ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

His another streamlined design was Patriot Radio which was designed for Emerson Radio

and Phonograph Corporation in 1939, as shown in Picture 18.

Picture 18: Patriot Radio designed by Norman Bel Geddes in 1939. [22]

ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

REFERENCES

[1] "Aerodynamics." Science of Everyday Things. 2002. Retrieved January 03, 2015 from

Encyclopedia.com:http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3408600078.html

[2] “Snow and Avanlanche Glossary” Laminar Flow. Retrieved January 03, 2015 from

http://www.avalanche-center.org/Education/glossary/laminar-flow.php

[3] “Physics and Biomechanics of Swiming” Streamlining. 2010. Retrieved January 03, 2015

from http://swimright23.webs.com/streamline.htm

[4] Syon, Guillaume de. 2008. The Teardrop That Fell From the Sky: Paul Jarayand Automotive

Aerodynamics. Albright College, Reading, Pennsylvania. ITEA Journal 29: 14-16

[5] Broehl, Hp. 1978. Paul Jaray Stromlinienpionier von der Kastenform zur Stromlinienform.

Bern

[6] Streamlining and Aerodynamics. 2002. Retrieved January 03, 2015 from

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/aerodynamics/q0094b.shtml

[7] Hucho, Wolf-Heinrich . 2013. Aerodynamics of Road Vehicles: From Fluid Mechanics to

Vehicle Engineering. Elsevier.

[8] “Automotive History: Hans Ledwinka’s Revolutionary Tatras”

Curbside Classics. Retrieved January 04, 2015 from http://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-

histories/automotive-history-hans-ledwinkas-revolutionary-tatras/

[9] Bürdek, Bernhar E.. 2005. Design: History, theory,and practice of product design. Birkhauser.

[10] “AD Classics: The Dymaxion House / Buckminster Fuller” Archdaily.com. Retrieved

January 04, 2015 from http://www.archdaily.com/401528/ad-classics-the-dymaxion-house-

buckminster-fuller/

[11] “Bucky Fuller & Spaceship Earth Exhibition”. Retrieved January 05, 2015 from

http://www.e-architect.co.uk/exhibitions/bucky-fuller-spaceship-earth

[12] Illustration of Raymond Leowy by Caoto. Retrieved January 05, 2015 from

https://www.flickr.com/photos/caoto/

[13] “Loewy Biography” Retrieved January 05, 2015 from

http://www.raymondloewy.org/loewy-biography/

ID 693: A History of Modern Product Design 222013002 Zeynep AYKULFinal Paper 2014-2015 Fall

[14] “Raymond Loewy: the man who designed everything”. Retrieved January 05, 2015 from

http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/5/5068132/raymond-loewy-the-man-who-designed-everything

[15] “Raymond Loewy: the man who designed everything”. Retrieved January 06, 2015 from

http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/5/5068132/raymond-loewy-the-man-who-designed-everything

[16] “Raymond Loewy: the man who designed everything”. Retrieved January 06, 2015 from

http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/5/5068132/raymond-loewy-the-man-who-designed-everything

[17] Gorman, Carma. 2003. The Industrial Reader. Allworth Press, New York. Pg. 135.

[18] Ferlis, Robert A. “The Dream of an Automated Highway”. Retrieved January 06, 2015 from

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/07july/07.cfm

[19] “Model of Motorcar No. 9, Norman Bel Geddes, ca. 1932” Retrieved January 06, 2015

from http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/permanent/windows/southeast/

norman_bel_geddes.html

[20] “ Norman Bel Geddes’s teardrop car model. Photo by A. Van Dyke. Retrieved January 06,

2015 from http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2014/07/30/futurist-and-father-of-streamlining

-norman-bel-geddes-feted-in-new-exhibit/

[21] Retrieved January 06, 2015 from https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/lighting/table-

lamps/norman-bel-geddes-cobra-lamp/id-f_308049/

[22] “HEILBRUNN TIMELINE OF ART HISTORY“ Retrieved January 06, 2015 from

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2001.722.11