In September 2015 the world lost Phil Patton--prolific design writer, teacher and tantalizing wordsmith. Patton's insatiable curiosity, sense of humor and keen eye made for the most compelling reads. Whether it was chronicling design minutia, quirky anecdotes or bizarre tales, Phil's hundreds of books, columns, articles and posts always delivered a new account. As his editor at "i-D" magazine, Chee Pearlman said, "His insight takes the reader beyond the object to an understanding of its broadest sociological context." No topic eluded him, and for a large part of his 40-year career he championed automobiles, technology and product design. Roger Black, designer, writer and longtime colleague and friend of Patton's wrote, "He taught "The New York Times"--by example--to cover design. The domino effect, the rest of the media followed."
With an introduction by Edward Tufte and foreword by Caroline Baumann, this volume compiles 40 selections representing the wild range of interests and fascinations that occupied his thoughts. Punctuated by images of ideas and lists from notebooks he carried everywhere, "Top This and Other Parables of Design" is an intimate and portable companion for those who choose to always have a witty, informed friend around.
Phil Patton (1952-2015) was a design journalist, curator and author. He wrote regularly about automobile design for "The New York Times." His books include "Open Road: A Celebration of The American Highway"; "Made in USA: The Secret Histories of the Things that Made America"; "Bug," a cultural history of the Volkswagen Beetle; and "Dreamland," about the culture of experimental aircraft. He served as a curator for museum exhibitions, including "Cars, Culture and the City" at the Museum of the City of New York (2010), "Curves of Steel: Streamlined Automobile Design" at the Phoenix Art Museum (2007), and "Different Roads: Automobiles for the Next Century" at The Museum of Modern Art in New York (1999). Patton taught in the Design Criticism Program at the School of Visual Arts and was a contributing editor to "Esquire," "i-D" and "Departures" magazines. He was also a regular contributor to "CBS News," "Today," "CBS Sunday Morning," "The Charlie Rose Show," "Fresh Air," "All Things Considered" and "Talk of the Nation."