%C2%A9 1955 Henry Dreyfuss
This is Joe the Average American Adult Male, 1955
Henry Dreyfuss; Draftsman: Alvin R. Tilleyexpand_more
Black marker over graphite on blue linenexpand_more
Anonymous giftexpand_more 2011.25.1
Not on Viewexpand_more
Alvin Tilley, an industrial designer who specialized in anthropometrics, worked for nearly 50 years for Henry Dreyfuss Associates in New York, one of the leading American industrial design studios. Tilley's studies of human proportions were published in several books and became fundamental references in industrial design. The earliest, "Designing for People" (1955), featured three protagonists: Joe, Josephine, and Joe Jr.--created to epitomize the average American body types. Their carefully analyzed and measured figures are the result of an exhaustive study of the widely varied human population. The goal was to find an elusive "average" to serve as a model to guide industrial designers to create better designs that serve a wider public.
Details
- Title
- This is Joe the Average American Adult Male
- Artist Life
- 1904 - 1972
- Role
- Designer
- Accession Number
- 2011.25.1
- Provenance
- Henry Dreyfuss Associates, New York, 1955-1996; private collection, St. Paul, 1996-2010; gave to MIA
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
© 1955 Henry Dreyfuss