Donald Genaro
{{Infobox person
| name = Donald M. Genaro
| image = Donald M. Genaro.png
| image_size = 400px
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1932
| birth_place = Hoboken, New Jersey
| death_date =
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| nationality = American
| other_names =
| occupation = Industrial designer
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}}
Donald M. Genaro (born 1932{{Cite journal |url=http://www.telephonecollectors.org/JournalsSamples/2004-10sw.pdf |title=A Conversation with Donald Genaro – a Living Legend of Telephone Design |first=Jonathan D. |last=Finder |date=15 October 2004 |volume=18 |number=10 |journal=Telephone Collectors International Singing Wires Newsletter |pages=1–5}}) is a retired American industrial designer. He was president of Henry Dreyfuss Associates up to 1994.{{Cite web |title=Haworth's Notable Characters: Donald M. Genaro |url=http://www.haworthnj.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B234B8511-9395-4018-BB82-21EA8D2FCFFC%7D&DE=%7B3939E1E3-D1ED-46BE-BCB9-8EF17D9F2E3C%7D |publisher=Official Web Site of Haworth, New Jersey}} He has been recognized by The New York Times for his contribution to industrial design.{{Cite news |first=N.R. |last=Kleinfield |title=Industrial Design Comes of Age |date=10 March 1985 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/10/business/industrial-design-comes-of-age.html}}
Biography
Genaro was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, where he attended public school. He served an apprenticeship at the architecture firm of F.W. Fisher but left to serve the U.S. army during the Korean War. After mustering out he entered the Pratt Institute where he graduated in 1957 with a degree in industrial design.{{Cite web |url=http://www.pratt.edu/support_pratt/donor_recognition/honor_roll/alumni_donors_year/ |title=Alumni Donors (by class year)", Pratt Institute |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120212908/http://www.pratt.edu/support_pratt/donor_recognition/honor_roll/alumni_donors_year/ |archivedate=2011-11-20 }} A year before completing his studies, Genaro started a work/study program at the offices of Henry Dreyfuss and he remained with the firm after graduation.
Genaro took on several projects among Henry Dreyfuss' corporate clients and was made an associate in 1963. He became a partner shortly thereafter and worked alongside Henry Dreyfuss until Dreyfuss' retirement in 1969. Genaro then remained the senior partner{{Cite news |url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/1991-04-07/the-yearlong-trek-to-at-and-ts-safari |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130831201119/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/1991-04-07/the-yearlong-trek-to-at-and-ts-safari |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 31, 2013 |title=The Yearlong Trek To At&T's Safari |date=7 April 1991 |accessdate=21 August 2013}} until his retirement from the firm in 1994. Throughout his career Genaro oversaw product development, ergonomic, graphic and architectural/interior design projects for AT&T, Bell Labs, John Deere, Polaroid, Singer Corporation, American Standard and Bankers Trust, among others. He has also consulted with Olivetti, British Aircraft Corporation, Matsushita Electric and Hitachi.
Genaro has lectured on design at Ohio State University, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia University, the Pratt Institute and the Rhode Island School of Design.
After retirement, he assumed the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood, New Jersey.
Notable designs
One of Genaro's most notable designs is the compact 1965 Trimline phone which was designed for AT&T with the Bell Labs and manufactured by Bell System's Western Electric company. This design was notable for moving the dial from the base to the handset, a legacy carried on in all modern cell phones. It was also among the first phones to use the RJ11 modular phone plug and jack, a connecting device now found on numerous products.{{Cite web |url=http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=3040 |title=Trimline Telephone |accessdate=21 August 2013}}
Genaro also worked on Singer Sewing Machines, the Bard-Parker scalpel, John Deere tractors, Polaroid cameras, building and aircraft interiors for American Airlines, the [http://www.personna.com/personna/blades/shaving/detail/flicker-razor-for-women/ Flicker razor], and sinks and faucets for American Standard, among others.
Achievements and awards
File:Trimline ergonomic analysis.png
In 1985, The New York Times described Genaro as "one of a small but growing fraternity that decides the shapes, sizes and colors of everyday products—pens and stoves, belt buckles and cars". His designed have obtained awards from professional organizations and publications, as well as coverage in Fortune,{{Cite news |title=The 25 Best-Designed Products |work=Fortune |date=May 1977 |first=Walter |last=McQuade}} Business Week, Time{{Cite news |title=Classic Values, New Forms |journal=Time |date=2 January 1984 |pages=72 & 73 |first=Wolf |last=Von Eckardt}} and Advertising Age.{{Cite news |title=AT&T Finally Ready With Ultimate Phone |work=Advertising Age |date=18 April 1985 |pages=3 & 58 |first=Lenore |last=Skenazy}} His designs feature in collections at the Museum of Modern Art and National Design Museum. He holds over 150 US patents.
Professional organization membership
Genaro is a member of the Industrial Designers Society of America.
Personal life
Genaro lives with his family in Haworth, New Jersey, in a house he designed in the mid-1960s.
See also
Notes
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External links
- [http://imprint.printmag.com/animation/saying-goodbye-to-an-old-friend-the-hardwired-attbell-systemwestern-electric-telephone/ J. J. Sedelmaier, "Saying Goodbye To An Old Friend - The Hardwired (AT&T/Bell System/Western Electric) Telephone"]
- [http://www.answers.com/topic/henry-dreyfuss-associates-llc "Gale Directory of Company Histories: Henry Dreyfuss Associates LLC"]
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Category:American industrial designers
Category:Pratt Institute alumni