Soft Electronics

The fascinating world of product design that emerged between the 1970s and 1990s symbolized the birth of a new age and human behavior. From coffee grinders to fondue sets to hairdryers, each home appliance was intended to help in the daily household routines—but they were also masterpieces of style. Jaro Gielens’s personal collection is one of the world’s largest selections of artifacts that pay homage to this iconic era of design. Soft Electronics explores a nostalgic and unique set of products from a very distinct time for design. Each object possesses a sense of longevity, quality, and innovation—one that has been hard to match since manufacturing was moved overseas and planned obsolescence redefined our relationship with electronic goods. 256 pages. Hardcover.