The term “streamline” arose in around 1920 in the field of aerodynamics and its experiments to examine the wind resistance of trains, cars, and aeroplanes.
Technicians used streamlined auto bodies to give vehicles optimal aerodynamism. In architecture and product design, streamlining was used in the 1930 in the USA in particular, and there established itself as a branch of art déco. Streamlined design represented speed and a futuristic appeal, and emphasised curvaceous, dynamic forms as well as long, horizontal lines. Following the Second World War, the streamlined form could be seen in the design of products such as the “Vespa” motorised scooter. In the late 1980s, it became a popular style used in the designs of people such as Massimo Iosa Ghini and Marc Newson.
