last year’s auctions and the growth of events like Design Miami, not to mention the postal service’s upcoming series of stamps showing name designers suggest that 2011 may be a big year for collecting design.
But as Adam Lindemann explains in his new book on the subject, for Taschen, Collecting Design. collecting design is not as simple as collecting painting or photography. Lindemann, himself a collector of art and design and author of a previous book, Collecting Contemporary, shows how designer names, producer identity and uncertain supplies make collecting more complex. New style limited editions by star designers add to the issues. The book’s format is interviews with collectors, dealers, curators, and others—32 of them. With a useful schedule of design auctions and fairs around the world and a glossary of terms. These are fun and flavorful in themselves—savor Karl Lagerfeld’s commentary for instance.

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