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How did Eliot Noyes redesign IBMâs products in the 1950s and 1960s?
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Industrial design
Octagonal electric teakettle of hammered silver, with cane-wicker handle, designed by Peter Behrens for AEG (Allgemeine ElektricitÀts Gesellschaft), Berlin, c. 1909.
During the 1950s and 1960s, industrial designer Eliot Noyes played a pivotal role in reshaping the product line of IBM. As a consultant, Noyes was instrumental in establishing a cohesive design identity for the company, moving away from disparate product aesthetics toward a unified, modern corporate look.
His most notable contribution during this period was the design of the Selectric typewriter in 1961. This product became a hallmark of his work, reflecting a commitment to clean, functional, and innovative industrial design that helped define IBMâs reputation for technological leadership and professional excellence throughout the mid-20th century.1