Design It!

Gr 4—6—This book opens with an explanation of what industrial designers do and with whom they work to make better products. Brief chapters then cover such topics as home, communications, lighting, and toy design and include a good-design checklist that takes function, usability, ergonomics, aesthetics, and greenness into consideration. The language is chatty and inviting, and the pages are full of cartoon illustrations and text superimposed on colorful geometric backgrounds. Sidebars offer a wealth of further information. Brief biographies of designers such as Raymond Loewy, considered the father of modern industrial design, and Henry Dreyfuss, a pioneer of industrial design, are included. Unfortunately, there is no index. There are few other titles on industrial design for middle schoolers. One, Anne Welsbacher's Earth-Friendly Design (Lerner, 2009) focuses on the green aspect. As an introduction, this book is an enjoyable resource, especially for students who might be interested in a career in the field.—Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI