International Decorative Art

Postmodern and beyond, c. 1970-present

Postmodern design (c.1970-c.1990) is noted for its unusual use of materials, such as the cardboard Easy Edges chairs (1969-1973) by American architect Frank Gehry or the combination of plastic and metal for several of Michael Graves's designs of teapots and other items for Target stores. An important Postmodern style developed with the Memphis-Milano Movement active from 1981 to 1987, led by Ettore Sottsass and including Michele De Lucchi, Shiro Kuramata and others. It was an Italian design and architecture group based in Milan, Italy, whose products included furniture, ceramics, glassware, metalware and textiles.

With new design happening now, no one—except perhaps today's designers—can say what's next.