Wright, Russel, 1904-1976

"Good design is for everyone." -- Russel Wright

Industrial designer Russel Wright (1904-1976) was born in Lebanon, Ohio. He attended local schools, studied at the Cincinnati Academy of Art (1921-1922), Columbia School of Architecture (1923), and New York University School of Architecture (1938-1939). (He also briefly studied law, at Princeton University, from 1922-1924.)

From 1924-1931 Wright was engaged in stage and costume design. He established his own factory in 1930 for the production of the first informal serving accessories. He became an industrial designer for well-known manufacturers in 1933, and in 1938 he designed "American Modern," the first contemporary dinnerware in America, for the Steubenville Pottery Company. He established his own design office in 1939, and that same year designed the first solid maple "blonde" modern furniture for the Conant Ball Company.

In 1940 he originated the "American Way" merchandising program, a cooperative undertaking of 65 designers, artists, craftsmen and manufacturers, and the following year "American Modern" received the American Designers' Institute award for the best ceramic design of 1941. In 1951 he received the Home Fashions League "Trail Blazer" award for upholstery fabric and table service.

With his wife, Mary Einstein, he co-authored A Guide to Easier Living, published by Simon and Schuster in 1951, which expressed their ideas for contemporary home living, maintenance, and furnishings. Together, they publicized Wright's designs and ideas through exhibitions, books, articles, advertisements, radio interviews, and demonstration rooms in department stores, creating a recognizable "brand name" and in effect inventing the idea of lifestyle marketing centered on an individual person. Ralph Lauren, Martha Stewart and other "household names" today are their conceptual descendants.

After his wife's death in 1952, Wright retired to Manitoga, his estate in Garrison, New York. Manitoga's 75 acres had been severely damaged by quarrying and logging, but Wright restored and renovated the area using native plants and created four miles of trails. On a portion of the land, with architect David Leavitt he designed and built Dragon Rock, a Japanese-inspired home and studio which, through its use of local materials, inhabits the landscape rather than dominating it. In 1996 Manitoga was listed on the National Register of Historic Places; it is also home to the Russel Wright Design Center, managed by Wright's daughter Annie, whose mission is "to preserve the legacy of pioneer designer Russel Wright-his home, landscape, products, archives and philosophy." [See Manitoga web site, http://www.russelwrightcenter.org/redesign/home.html .]

Wright was a founding fellow of the Society of Industrial Designers (later the Industrial Designers Society of America) and its president from 1951-1952.

• 3 Apr 1904: Born in Lebanon, Ohio
• 1921 - 1922 : Student under Frank Duveneck at the Cincinnati Academy of Art
• 1922 - 1924 : Law student at Princeton University
• 1923: Student at Columbia School of Architecture
• 1924 - 1931 : Engages in stage and costume design
• 1927: Marries Mary Einstein
• 1930: Establishes own facture for production of first metal informal serving accessories in New York City
• 1933: Becomes industrial designer for well-known manufacturers
• 1934: Invents "stove to table ware" of spun aluminum
• 1937: Designs "American Modern," the first contemporary dinnerware in America, for Steubenville Pottery (goes into production in 1939)
• 1938 - 1939 : Student at New York University School of Architecture
• 1939: Opens own industrial design office; designs first solid maple "blonde" modern furniture for Conant Ball
• 1940: Begins "American Way" merchandising program
• 1941: "American Modern" receives American Designers' Institute award for best ceramic design of the year; purchases Manitoga estate in Garrison, New York
• 1950: Designs "Easier Living" line of furniture for the Statton Furniture Company of Hagerstown, Maryland; birth of daughter Annie
• 1951: Easier Living published by Simon and Schuster; receives Home Fashions League's "Trail Blazer" award for upholstery fabric and table design
• 1951 - 1952 : President of Society of Industrial Designers
• 1952: Death of wife Mary
• 1954: Receives award from the Lebanon, Ohio, Chamber of Commerce
• 1956: Assigned by the International Cooperation Administration (ICA) to develop native handicrafts for local and export use in Cambodia, Taiwan and Vietnam
• 1955 - 1958 : Serves as advisor on merchandising and selling in the wood and basketry industry in Japan
• 1956 - 1957 : Construction begins on Dragon Rock, the 11-level home and studio Wright designed for his Manitoga property
• 1965: Wright closes his New York City office and retires to Manitoga

[Portions of this chronology adapted from Robert Stearns' essay, "Robert Wright: Living with Good Design."]

From the guide to the Russel Wright Papers, 1931-1965, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)