You've probably heard the term 'Mid-Century' or 'Mid-Century Modern' and if you're anything like me, never really thought much about what it actually means. Or you've searched for a definition but just found unhelpfully vague descriptions. Well, as we'll see, there's a reason for this.

Confused? You're not alone. Lets try to unpick this.

What is Mid-Century Modern?

At its most basic, Mid-Century Modern is a design aesthetic (style) that became popular in the mid-20th century (generally accepted to be 1945 to 1969). The roots of Mid-Century Modern can be traced to the 1920's and '30's, but the Second World War meant that its influence wasn't felt until the 1950's. It owed very little to what had gone before, marking a complete break with previous styles.

Mid-Century Modern was built on an optimism that we could make the world a better place through design, workmanship and innovation. Partly this was a natural reaction against the horrors and deprivations of two world wars, but it was enabled by advances in materials, technology and manufacturing, as well as growing wealth in many countries.

The term 'Mid-Century Modern' originated in the United States, informally in the 1950's but then formalised by Cara Greenberg in her 1984 book 'Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950's', long after the style had gone out of fashion.

The problem is that Mid-Century Modern doesn't really describe any single style. Try this out - think of two items you think are Mid-century and see what common characteristics they have. I'm betting you'll struggle.

Mid-Century Modern tends to be used quite generically to describe many different and often overlapping styles of the period:

• Festival Style (Contemporary Style) from Britain
• Googie style from the US
• Tiki (Poynesian influences)
• Kitsch (garish colours and style, sometimes a 'cheap-and-cheerful' appearance)
• Atomic Age
• Space Age
• International Style
• Brutalism (bare concrete)
• Scandinavian (simplicity and light, clean colours)
• Japanese (purity and natural materials)

There are no hard-and-fast rules about what's what - there's lots of overlap. The best way to see the differences are with some examples:

Googie

Googie style was influenced by technology, including the space race and atomic power. It borders on the Kitsch, with bold colours and playful, almost comic-book style. It influenced architecture mainly in the US, as well as cars with their tail-fins and rocket-style bumpers (fenders).

Tiki

Tiki style was influenced by Polynesian themes, popular in the US in the 1950's, as American servicemen returned from the Pacific war.

Kitsch

Kitsch has it's origins in Germany, in the late 1800's, as it grew-out of cheap mass production, but it tends to be thought of as a 1950's style.

Scandinavian

Scandinavia has a long design tradition of simplicity and modernity, seen most widely today in the popularity of IKEA, and mid-century design was heavily influenced by this style.

Japanese

Designers have long-held traditional Japanese design in high regard, due to its elegant and formal simplicity, workmanship and use of natural materials. As American servicemen returned from the Pacific war, Japanese styles influenced 'modern' design trends.

Festival Style (Contemporary Style)

A particularly British style that evolved was known as the Festival style, named after the influential Festival of Britain held in 1951, which was intended to be a 'beacon for change'. Festival Style was dominant in the UK through the 1950's and can be seen in many buildings, furniture and graphic design, combining a formal and modern simplicity, sometimes medieval almost heraldic influences, together with whimsical elements of colour and ornamentation.

Many British architects of the period also used the term 'New Humanism' to describe the style of buildings being designed, which I rather like, and I think it characterises this more modest and pragmatic mid-century style that evolved in the UK, combining elements of British classicism with modern US, Scandinavian and international influences.

Examples of Festival Style can be found in many British towns, as the Festival of Britain influence was encouraged to spread across the country. Some towns, such as Coventry, were heavily damaged during the war, so adopted Festival Style in their rebuilding. Here's Central Parade in Walthamstow [1], the Godiva Clock Tower in Coventry [2,3], and Christ Church, also in Coventry [4,5]:

Growing-up in the 1970's I clearly remember Festival style influences - the architecture of my school building, the shopping centres and shopping 'parades' (small blocks of shops amongst housing estates), the housing estates themselves that sprung-up across mid-century Britain and had mild Festival style influences, even the fabric design of the curtains in my school hall.

The Festival Style seemed to be most clearly defined in architecture, but it influenced all aspects of British design including furniture, fabrics and graphic design.

Here's Robin Day's Lounge Chair, designed for the Festival of Britain; Lucienne Day with her 'Calyx' fabric; and a typeface specifically designed for the Festival of Britain called 'Festival Titling' by Philip Boydell, and an example of a widely-used block serif font on the Royal Festival Hall, all designed in 1951 and displaying the Festival style in combining modernism with a humane playfulness:

Festival style in the UK evolved through the 1950's to lose much of its playfulness towards a more formal 'international' style, and evolved further to the much less ornate Brutalism of the late 1960's and 1970's. By the time I was growing up in the 1970's it seemed rather old fashioned.

Back to the Future

If we zoom back out to think about mid-century style more generally, we can say some of the key characteristics include:

• Simplicity: Mid-century design is known for its clean lines, simple forms, and lack of excess ornamentation. The focus is generally on function and restrained ornamentation.
• Bold Colours: Mid-century design often features bold, bright colours, which help to create a lively, energetic atmosphere.
• Organic Forms: Many mid-century designs were inspired by organic shapes, such as the curves of nature. This can be seen in the soft curves of furniture, lighting fixtures, and other design elements.
• Innovation: Mid-century design was a time of innovation and experimentation. Designers were pushing boundaries and trying new materials, or using traditional materials in new ways, leading to a wide range of unique and creative design solutions. Architecture of the period also pushed boundaries and often featured innovative ideas.
• High Quality Materials: Mid-century designers often used high-quality materials such as hardwood, stone, glass, and metal (often brass), and placed a premium on craftsmanship. This was often combined with the use of modern materials like plastics and fibreglass.

There are many famous designers from the period (e.g. Charles and Ray Eames, Robin and Lucienne Day) who created high-end designs, but also many less well-known companies and designers creating beautiful mid-century products for the mid-market (for example E. Gomme in the UK, who created the very popular G-Plan furniture range). The fact that these were well made means that many items survive today and are totally usable. In fact I'm typing this while sitting on a G-Plan chair at a G-Plan table.

There seems to be something fundamentally 'right' and humane about the style of the era that makes it enduringly popular. Modern-ish; not austere and minimalist, but also not overly fussy and ornate; using natural materials and organic shapes. Fashion comes and goes, but the popularity of the mid-century style seems likely to remain popular.