John Vassos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | John Plato Vassacopoulos 23 October 1898 Sulina, Romania |
| Died | 7 December 1985 (aged 87) Norwalk, Connecticut |
| Occupation | Author, industrial designer |
| Nationality |  Greek |
| Genre | Industrial Design |
| Notable works | Contempo Phobia Perey Turnstile, RCA TRK12 television, RCA Victor Special phonograph, RCA 9YJ 45rpm phonograph |
| Spouse | Ruth Vassos |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1940–1945 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands | Office of Strategic Services - OSS |
| Battles / wars | Second World War Mediterranean Theater of Operations |
| Awards |  Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix (Greece) |
John Vassos (born John Plato Vassacopoulos; 23 October 1898 – 6 December 1985) whose career as an American industrial designer and artist helped define the shape of radio, television, broadcasting equipment, and computers for the Radio Corporation of America for almost four decades. He is best known for both his art deco illustrated books and iconic turnstile for the Perey company, as well as modern radios, broadcast equipment, and televisions for RCA. He was a founder of the Industrial Designers Society of America, in 1965, serving as its first chairman simultaneously with Henry Dreyfuss as its president. Vassos' design philosophy was to make products that were functional for the user.
A decorated veteran of World War II, Vassos was chief of the OSS "Spy School" in Cairo, Egypt from 1942 to 1945.[1]
- ^ Hueck Allen, Susan (2013), "11", Classical Spies: American Archaeologists with the OSS in World War II Greece, Ann Arbor, Michigan: The University of Michigan, p. 204, ISBN 978-0472117697