ELI5: What Is Art Deco?

Art Deco is a fancy, joyful style of design from about one hundred years ago that used bold shapes, shiny metals, and bright colors to make everyday things look modern and exciting.

Imagine you are drawing a picture of the future, but instead of using soft, wiggly lines, you only use a ruler to make sharp triangles, neat squares, smooth zigzags, and glowing sunbursts. That is the heart of Art Deco. People wanted their world to feel energetic and glamorous, like a big celebration, so they put this style on all kinds of things you might see around you every day.

Here is how Art Deco showed up in everyday life:

• In the kitchen: Toasters, radios, and clocks stopped looking like boring wooden boxes. Instead, they were made of shiny chrome with smooth, curved edges and stripes that made them look like they were zooming fast, even while sitting still on the counter.
• Around town: People built tall, majestic towers like the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. At street level, theaters and diners had giant, glowing neon signs and golden geometric patterns above their doors.
• In movie theaters: Stepping into an Art Deco cinema felt like entering a magical palace, with sparkling chandeliers, velvet chairs, and bold patterns painted in gold and silver on the walls.
• In the closet: Dresses, jewelry, and watches were covered in glittery beads, straight lines, and sparkling gemstones cut into sharp, neat shapes.
• On the road: Cars, buses, and trains were designed with sleek, aerodynamic curves that looked like shiny metal bullets slicing through the wind.