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Design Research: The Store That Brought Modern Living to American Homes

Alexandra Lange and Jane Thompson, with a new essay by Alexandra Schwartz, a foreword by Rob Forbes, and an afterword by Paul Goldberger

$49.95

Discover the indelible impact of the groundbreaking store that helped to bring mid-century design to America, through the work of such icons as Alvar Aalto, Marcel Breuer, Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen, and Marimekko

Pre-order now. This product will ship from February 24th, 2027.

About the book

‘Without question, D/R was the most influential force in twentieth-century America in creating an awareness and appreciation for modern design in the consumer world.’ – Rob Forbes, Founder of Design Within Reach

Before there was Design Within Reach, Crate and Barrel, or Pottery Barn, there was Design Research. Also known as D/R, the store is credited with single-handedly bringing modern interior design into the lives of ordinary American people.

Founded in 1953 by Ben Thompson, Design Research was famed for its careful curation of colorful, patterned homewares from around the world. D/R sold furniture, textiles, and accessories by innovative mid-century designers, including Alvar Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames, iitala, Arne Jacobsen, and Hans Wegner, presenting beautifully designed products in stunning vignettes to create an inspiring shopping experience. High-profile customers included Jackie Kennedy – who purchased her first iconic Marimekko shift dress at D/R – and Julia Child.

Design Research: The Store That Brought Modern Living to American Homes explores the store’s indelible impact on American design and culture. Part scrapbook, part intimate oral history, the book features insightful interviews with Thompson’s collaborators alongside a treasure trove of nearly 300 images: original photography, catalogues, product shots, ephemera, and more.

Though Ben Thompson’s stores no longer exist, their legacy can be seen almost everywhere we shop. Design Research is essential reading for anyone interested in design, from casual fans and creative thinkers to professionals and serious collectors.

About the author

Jane Thompson was a designer, writer, and urban planner. In collaboration with her husband, Benjamin Thompson, Jane was involved in the revitalization of Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, the Navy Pier in Chicago, and Union Station in Washington D.C. Jane received numerous awards for her work, including the National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

Alexandra Lange is a journalist, design critic, and author. Her essays, reviews and profiles have appeared in numerous design publications including Architect, Harvard Design Magazine, and Metropolis, as well as in The Atlantic, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, and the New York Times. In 2025 she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism for a series in Bloomberg CityLab on how urban design and architecture affect children and families.

Alexandra Schwartz is Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art, Craft & Design at the Museum of Arts and Design, New York (MAD). Her recent exhibitions include Garmenting: Costume as Contemporary Art at MAD and 52 Artists: A Feminist Milestone at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. She is the author of Ed Ruscha’s Los Angeles and the co-editor of Modern Women: Women Artists at The Museum of Modern Art and has taught at Columbia University, SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology, and the University of Michigan.

Paul Goldberger is an architecture Pulitzer Prize-winning critic, author, and educator. He currently holds the Joseph Urban Chair in Design and Architecture at The New School in New York City.

Rob Forbes is a designer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of furniture company Design Within Reach.

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