Streamlining

Streamlining was firstly applied to transportation in the early 20th century. This was to improve the hydrodynamic and aerodynamic performance when travelling at higher velocity. However, the application of rounded, smoothly finished with a tear-drop form, influenced industrial designers and started being used for household goods.

The image on the side is the Boeing 247 the first modern commercial airliner that was developed in 1933 from a military bomber.  As in 1939 the second war hit the world, these shapes of the airliners made a huge impact. 

The origins of the streamlining appearance can be traced to the 19th century when studying the natural life and an appreciation of the efficiency of organic form of fish and birds. 

These ideas were applied to submarines and automobiles which included a long, slender shape, pointed at the front to improve penetration and tapered at the rear to reduce turbulence on airliners.

Dymaxion Car No. 3, 1934

If we go back a bit in time there was the Zeppelin that had the 'streamlined' shape. The first Zeppelin was patented in 1895 and was used as an airline transportation. It's design has the look of the tear-drop shape where the front point smoothly links the rear part for better aerodynamics.

In this period there was also a need for product differentiation and this is where industrial and product designers took over. Aesthetic elements became important in everyday products. The images below show how design of a simple office stapler had evolved in its shape but having the same exact function. 

Star Paper Fastener, 1896

The Hotchkiss Stapler, 1936

Unknown brand name, 2011

As already mentioned, the Boeing 247 is believed to be the first modern commercial airline. This incorporated advances in the use of materials including all-metal construction. Many of the products were made from Bakelite  which is a thermostat plastic suited to mould of streamlined forms. 

During the world war there was a financial depression and in order to fix prices, instead of investing in the development of new products, designers were employed to re-design existing products to make them look new and so they gave them a 'stream line' look. Although this meant of innovative designs, there were also who criticized this style because they suggested that it was too ugly. Thus, this movement stopped in 1950 where eight years later was coined the Pop Design which was more fun and attractable.

References:

Mike, 2013. Deicing Boot Goes Commercial. [online] Available at: http://deicinginnovations.com/?p=5981 [Accessed 2nd January 2014]

Anon, 2013. Antique Stapler Gallery. [image online] Available at: http://www.officemuseum.com/stapler_gallery_magazine.htm [Accessed 2nd January 2014]

Anon, 2012. Antique Stapler Gallery. [image online] Available at: http://www.officemuseum.com/stapler_gallery_strip.htm [Accessed 2nd January 2014]

DesignLaunches, 2011. Core Stapler adding Design To Utility. [image online] Available at: http://www.designlaunches.com/gadgets/core-stapler-adding-design-to-utility.php [Accessed 2nd January 2014]

Superstock, 2014. Zeppelin LZ 10. [image online] Available at: http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1895-24188 [Accessed 2nd January 2014]