Winterthur is constantly evolving and finding new ways to tell stories with Americana. Winterthur Program in American Material Culture student, Carrie Greif, studied, catalogued, and curated Winterthur’s first gallery exhibition on 20th century design during the 2018-2019 academic year. Her investigation focused on the meaning of the midcentury modern office, the materiality and construction of midcentury modern furniture, and the reason that an institution rooted in traditional Americana chose to furnish the institution’s professional spaces with midcentury modern furniture.

Unity by Design explores what American design means in a cross-generational context to expand our appreciation of early Americana and 20th century design.