Rowena Reed Kostellow

Rowena Reed Kostellow (July 6, 1900 – September 17, 1988) was an American industrial designer and professor. Alongside her husband, Alexander Kostellow, and other designers and artists, she co-founded the first industrial design education course at Pratt Institute.

Early life and education

Rowena Reed was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 6, 1900, as a child of three born to a physician and housewife.[1] She pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and later studied sculpture at the Kansas City Art Institute.[2]

Career

After marrying Alexander Kostellow, they moved to New York City where she studied sculpting under the direction of Alexander Archipenko. She spent one year in Europe learning sculpting and painting before returning to North America.[1] In 1929, the duo moved to Pittsburgh to teach at the Carnegie Institute of Technology,[3] where they co-founded the institute's first industrial design education course.[4]

By 1938, Reed and her husband were invited to the Pratt Institute by designer Donald Dohner to co-found Pratt's first industrial design department.[5][6] Her husband stated that their teaching approach on industrial design "drew on modern scientific methods that supported self-expression as well as design for industry".[7] As a result of her accomplishments in industrial design, she was named program chair in 1962, a position she held until 1966.[3]

Reed Kostellow died on September 17, 1988, at the age of 88.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Gail Freet Hannah (July 2, 2013). Elements of Design: Rowena Reed Kostellow and the Structure of Visual Relationships. Princeton Architectural Press. pp. 22–24. ISBN 9781616891749. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  2. ^ "Rowena Reed Kostellow, FIDSA". idsa.org. 17 March 2010. Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Carroll Gantz (July 15, 2014). Founders of American Industrial Design. McFarland. pp. 71, 85, 151. ISBN 9781476616506. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  4. ^ Kolko, Jon (May 24, 2012). "The Impact of Rowena Reed Kostellow". ac4d.com. Austin Center for Design. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  5. ^ Glueck, Grace (July 9, 2004). "Design Review – The Art of Making Things That Look Good and Work". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  6. ^ Arthur J. Pulos (1988). The American Design Adventure, 1940–1975. MIT Press. p. 164. ISBN 9780262161060. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  7. ^ C Akner.Koler (2006). "Expanding the boundaries of form theory Developing the model Evolution of Form" (PDF). Design Research Society. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  8. ^ "Rowena Kostellow, 88; Taught Design at Pratt". The New York Times. September 17, 1988. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020.