The "Everyday Design' Pioneer; Innovate: Vassos strove to turn commonplace items into works of art.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)

Byline: KEN SPENCER BROWN

Can art be practical? John Vassos thought so. And that's exactly how he approached his work.

Everything was fodder for Vassos, and he put no limits on the items he undertook. The industrial design pioneer's portfolio includes the modern turnstile, early TVs and military camouflage. With each item, Vassos combined problem-solving with an aesthetic touch. He merged form and function. And he turned common things into objects of beauty.

His influence goes far beyond his own work. While heading one of corporate America's first in-house design units for RCA in 1933, he helped spark the idea that savvy design is a crucial part of a product.

Vassos (1898-1985) was also one of the first to treat industrial design as a field worthy of study and a profession in its own right. He co-created the first education programs on the subject in the early 1940s and organized early trade groups.

Born John Vassacopoulos in Constantinople (now Istanbul), Turkey, Vassos had the early advantage of education. His father, an ethnic Greek, headed a private school and edited one of the local Greek-language newspapers. He encouraged his son's interest in art.

Not Just For Art's Sake