In Steven Hellers’ short essay underground mainstream, he speaks about the relationship between mainstream and underground design and how it changes over time. I believe that Steven Heller believes it to be a cycle meaning what is now the mainstream will eventually be the underground and something from many things that is ow considered taboo or underground would eventually surface and become mainstream, which is what Steven Heller eluded to in his last paragraph citing his meeting with the designer from the progressive firm in New York and how the guy talked with passion about the design that was considered the mainstream back in the day as rebellious design that he is trying to work toward making the world recognize and use.


I plan to choose the design of apples’ iPhone to be my final project’s focal point. I believe apples iPhone design has followed the contemporary movement since day one with its designs, iPhone has always been a very simple geometric design while having no keys and a flat surface which helps the design a lot so I believe the iPhone design would be considered mainstream today.


The design of the iPhone was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision of simple modern homes which Steve Jobs was one of it is inhabitants like he said his appreciation for Eichler-style homes, instilled his passion for making sharply designed products for the mass market. “I love it when you can bring great design and simple capability to something that doesn’t cost much,” he said as he pointed out the clean elegance of the Eichlers. While I don’t believe these house designs were underground they also weren’t mainstream not what everybody wanted or dreamed of but now with the same design, an iPhone is a sign of class and prestige today for people who still care about those kinds of things. The iPhone didn’t shape the mainstream it became the mainstream, today in America whenever I go out and see people using their phones I won’t exaggerate if I said 9 out of 10 would be using an iPhone as I said earlier nowadays an iPhone is a symbol for class and prestige

Isaacson, Walter. “How Steve Jobs’ Love of Simplicity Fueled A Design Revolution.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 1 Sept. 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-steve-jobs-love-of-simplicity-fueled-a-design-revolution-23868877/.

Kifleswing, Kif Legswin. “The IPhone Decade: How Apple’s Phone Created and Destroyed Industries and Changed the World.” CNBC, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2019, www.cnbc.com/2019/12/16/apples-iphone-created-industries-and-changed-the-world-this-decade.html.

Rabideau, Anthony Karcz. “18 Duvet Covers That Dress Up Your Bed (And Protect Your Down Comforter Too).” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 30 Apr. 2021, www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/article/best-duvet-covers/?sh=49e540377f0d.