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The Evolution of Everyday Objects

How smart design makes good things great.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at 6:18 AM

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Read all the stories in Slate’s new series on the evolution of everyday design. And don’t forget to nominate everyday objects you’d like us to cover at everydayobject@gmail.com.

The History of the Key

Design_historyofobjects_keypromo

 
 
 

The Future of the Printed Book

Design_historyofobjects_bookspromo

 
 
 
 
The History of the Telephone

Design Gallery Launcher

 
 
 
 
The History of the Paper Clip

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BananaStock

 
 
 
 
The History of the Office Chair

top chair

 
 
 
 
The History of the Broom

broom factory

 
 
  

 
The History of the Button

Foil enclosures, silk thread, and pin shank buttons.
Foil enclosures, silk thread, and pin shank buttons.

Courtesy of Button Country.

 
 
 
 
The History of the Wooden Spoon

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Uros Petrovic

 
  

 
The History of the Fork

This sardine fork hails from England,
This sardine fork hails from England, 1875-1900. Sardine forks had extra tines, which helped keep the slippery sardines from falling off the utensil.

Courtesy of V&A Museum.

 
 
 
 
The History of Specialty License Plates

Arizona's specialty plate.

Arizona's specialty plate.

Arizona Department of Transportation.

 
 
 
 
The History of the Remote Control

The improved "Space Command" remote.

The improved "Space Command" remote came with four buttons—power, tune up, tune down, and mute. This version dates from the 1970s.

Todd Ehlers/ Flickr.

 
 

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