Machines for Living In: Auto Interiors in the Mid-20th Century

Historians of interior design are only just beginning to study the design of rooms that are not in buildings, but rather in machines: trains cars, elevators, jet planes, and many others. 

In his latest book project, Dr. Ronn Daniel, associate professor at Kent State University, explores the interior design of automobiles. Tracing changes in technology, marketing, and aesthetics, Daniel finds that the mid-twentieth century witnessed an explosion in the variety and cultural significance of auto interiors. Daniel’s book is under contract with the University of Virginia Press.

In support of his work Daniel received funding from the Center for the History of Business, Technology, and Society at the Hagley Museum and Library. 

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