The long journey from good to great to greatest
When does a good design become a great design and when does a great design become a design icon?
One answer to this conundrum is when the design has not only proven its aesthetic appeal but also demonstrated that it is functional and works better than expected. To become a design icon or a true classic, it must last a long time, at least three generations, to show that it isn’t simply a fashion fad.
For examples, take a look at the “I Love New York” logo with the big red heart, designed by
Milton Glaser in 1977 or the Lounge Chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames, first released in 1956. Designs that have lasted much longer include the facade of a Georgian terrace house, much copied to this day, with symmetrically placed windows and a central door with portico above or the even older arched spans of a Roman viaduct, used in the 19th century in road and rail construction and still used today.
There are many more to choose from and one of the smallest and most iconic is the Zippo lighter. The brainchild of George Blaidell in the 1930s when he noticed in his country club in Bradford (not the beloved city in West Yorkshire but the oil boom town in Pennsylvania), an Austrian cigarette lighter being awkwardly lit by a friend who had to use both hands to ignite the ugly contraption. It was made of very thin metal which was easily dented and damaged. He was, however, impressed that it had a small chimney that enclosed the flame, making it wind proof in even the wildest gales. It took him three years to perfect the design which was launched in 1935.
By June this year, production exceeded 600 million. It is easy to use, easy to light with one hand, refillable and all Zippos have a guarantee that whatever its age, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge.
During the Second World
War, production went almost exclusively to American servicemen when the cases were made from textured black steel (rather than chromed brass) as this was a more readily available material. It was also claimed that they would not glint in the sun which was possible with the shinier finish.
As cigarette sales have declined over the past few years, so have sales of Zippos but they are also commonly used by campers for lighting fires and in the home for lighting candles.
Not only has the Zippo been around for 85 years, it has become a true design icon. The distinctive “click” as the lid is opened has been granted a sound patent legally confirming its uniqueness, memorability and distinctive relevance.
Even if you don’t own one yourself, you’ll easily recognise a Zippo as it features in more than 2,000 films and many TV programmes.
In 1960, Steve McQueen took a part in a TV drama playing a gambler who accepts a bet that a Zippo will light first time, ten times in a row. After eight successes, the plot abandons the bet and on the ninth attempt, the lighter most unusually fails. In
Die Hard 2, Bruce Willis crawls through duct work illuminated solely by the flame of his Zippo.
Collectors know that the marks on the base of the Zippo indicate the month and year that it was manufactured. The letters A - L represent the month and the year appears in Roman numerals starting with II for 1986. Other codes apply for earlier years and demonstrate reverence for this iconic design.