John Vassos

Who was John Vassos?

John Vassos was a noted American industrial designer and graphic designer.

Vassos was born in Romania to Greek parents, and moved when young to Istanbul, Turkey, where he drew political cartoons for his father's newspaper. After serving in the British Naval Support Systems during World War I, he emigrated to Boston in 1919 where he attended the Fenway Art School at night. In 1924 he moved to New York, where he opened his own studio creating window displays, murals, and advertisements. He also attended the Art Students League of New York, studying under George Bridgman, John Sloan, and others.

In 1924, Vassos created his first industrial design, a lotion bottle popular as a hip flask during Prohibition. In 1933 he designed the widely popular Perey turnstile still used in many subway stations. Other notable designs included a streamlined paring knife, Hohner accordions, computers, an electron microscope, corporate logos, and shotguns. Between 1927-1935, Vassos also illustrated nine books, including literary works by Oscar Wilde and graphic-oriented books cowritten with his wife.

Vassos designed the cabinets of the RCA Corporation's first commercially available television sets.