What do you think?
Rate this book
Made in Russia: Unsung Icons of Soviet Design
This irreverent survey celebrates the more populist and enduring work in graphic and industrial design that was a product of the Soviet era - a period that remain politically sensitive and under-explored, yet whose influence on the objects and aesthetics of Russian life and thought has been profound.
Made in Russia presents fifty such masterpieces, from pioneers of Soviet technology such as the Sputnik, the Buran snowmobile, and the LOMO camera to icons of quotidian culture such as the fishnet shopping bag, the beveled glass, a Cold War-inspired arcade game, and Misha the Olympic bear. Edited by the journalist and author Michael Idov - a Soviet product himself - and including essays from Boris Kachka, Vitaly Komar, Gary Shteyngart, and Lara Vapnyar, the collection explores the provenance of these objects in the forgotten Soviet culture and the unique climate for design from which they could only have emerged.
Made in Russia presents fifty such masterpieces, from pioneers of Soviet technology such as the Sputnik, the Buran snowmobile, and the LOMO camera to icons of quotidian culture such as the fishnet shopping bag, the beveled glass, a Cold War-inspired arcade game, and Misha the Olympic bear. Edited by the journalist and author Michael Idov - a Soviet product himself - and including essays from Boris Kachka, Vitaly Komar, Gary Shteyngart, and Lara Vapnyar, the collection explores the provenance of these objects in the forgotten Soviet culture and the unique climate for design from which they could only have emerged.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2011
3 people are currently reading
564 people want to read
About the author
Michael Idov
9 books112 followersMichael Idov is a novelist, director, and screenwriter. A Latvian-born American raised in Riga under Soviet occupation, he moved to New York after graduating from the University of Michigan. His writing career began at New York magazine, where his features won three National Magazine Awards. Michael has also been the editor-in-chief of GQ Russia. He is the author of Ground Up and Dressed Up for a Riot. Michael has worked on numerous film and TV projects, including Londongrad, Deutschland 83, Leto, and The Humorist. Along with his wife and screenwriting partner, Lily, they divide their time between Los Angeles, Berlin, and Portugal.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 8, 2011
Fun.
I like this book with its snarky, amusing commentary and funny, nostalgic photographs of everything from rockets to drinking glasses. I've learned about color-coded caviar tins, pyramid-shaped milk cartons, and Belomorkanal cigarettes-deadly for more than one reason. There are perceptive, short essays by Lara Vapnyar about her school uniform and by Gary Shteyngart about the tradition of cupping.
The Russian Tilting Doll on the cover is what drew me to the book at first... and suddenly I think maybe I even had a doll like this. How is that possible? Maybe that's where my fascination with things Soviet was first seeded? I can smell the plastic of this doll and feel its weight, hear its bell... Why is it so familiar?
Okay, I'll try to shake that off. Reading this book is like having a little Commie museum in your hands.
In the Soviet Union, collapsible drinking cups were a common sight. Coincidentally, so were collapsed drunks. p. 42
The avoska , a simple net bag, allowed citizens to be always prepared in case they crossed paths with something extraordinary--like fresh produce. p. 72
I like this book with its snarky, amusing commentary and funny, nostalgic photographs of everything from rockets to drinking glasses. I've learned about color-coded caviar tins, pyramid-shaped milk cartons, and Belomorkanal cigarettes-deadly for more than one reason. There are perceptive, short essays by Lara Vapnyar about her school uniform and by Gary Shteyngart about the tradition of cupping.
The Russian Tilting Doll on the cover is what drew me to the book at first... and suddenly I think maybe I even had a doll like this. How is that possible? Maybe that's where my fascination with things Soviet was first seeded? I can smell the plastic of this doll and feel its weight, hear its bell... Why is it so familiar?
Okay, I'll try to shake that off. Reading this book is like having a little Commie museum in your hands.
In the Soviet Union, collapsible drinking cups were a common sight. Coincidentally, so were collapsed drunks. p. 42
The avoska , a simple net bag, allowed citizens to be always prepared in case they crossed paths with something extraordinary--like fresh produce. p. 72
February 1, 2022
This book is such an utter joy, even for someone who has no connection to the objects discussed. I adored reading about them and appreciated the mix of nostalgia and exasperation the writers brought to each icon.
January 1, 2012
The people in Soviet Union lived in a different world, not only socially and politically, but also by the objects they used to get by in their everyday lives. The design of most items in the USSR was of very particular kind: sturdy and durable, practical over beautiful, cumbersome rather than usable, and most of the time inspired by and reverse engineered from the western technology, often adding some unusual Soviet twist. Most of the time creations were uninspired, entirely forgettable, prone to malfunctions and even hazardous, but occasionally this process came up with something unique. Made in Russia is a brave attempt to create a (non-complete) catalogue of sorts into these most iconic pieces of Soviet design.
The selection of items is nicely varied, covering very different aspects of Soviet life. There are large, state-defining building and engineering projects such as Sputnik and Ostankino Tower is Moscow, small everyday items like the collapsible cup and girls' school uniform, and various cultural icons, spearheaded (as they should be) by none other than Misha the Bear. Some of the items have become objects of shame, some are still adored and manage to bring the tears into eyes of every Soviet person within certain age. Some are forgotten (and quite rightly so), others are still in use, and one has even sneaked its way to IKEA stores world-wide. All in all, it's an excellent selection of 50 items.
Each piece is presented with a full-page picture and short show-and-tell introduction. They are brief and quick to read, while managing to cover the use of the item, the social background where it emerged from, and occasionally also what using it was like. The amount of information could have easily been doubled to create a more complete overview of each item without making the book a glut to read, which is probably my biggest complaint. However, even in the current form the introductions manage to paint a satisfying picture of most of the subjects. 3 sections of full-color pictures that support the individual descriptions are also fascinating to view.
Another small issue is the slight discord in the tone of the book in couple places. Most of the time the voice of the writers is suitably gentle and even nostalgic, highlighting and understanding the oddities without being condescending. In two or three occasions this however changes to strangely aggressive and even bitter, which stands out against the general style.
Overall, Made in Russia is a book for the curious. It's a snapshot of a different world, a different era, through a fascinating selection of items. You do need a touch of interest in the Soviet era or design in general to appreciate it fully, though.
The selection of items is nicely varied, covering very different aspects of Soviet life. There are large, state-defining building and engineering projects such as Sputnik and Ostankino Tower is Moscow, small everyday items like the collapsible cup and girls' school uniform, and various cultural icons, spearheaded (as they should be) by none other than Misha the Bear. Some of the items have become objects of shame, some are still adored and manage to bring the tears into eyes of every Soviet person within certain age. Some are forgotten (and quite rightly so), others are still in use, and one has even sneaked its way to IKEA stores world-wide. All in all, it's an excellent selection of 50 items.
Each piece is presented with a full-page picture and short show-and-tell introduction. They are brief and quick to read, while managing to cover the use of the item, the social background where it emerged from, and occasionally also what using it was like. The amount of information could have easily been doubled to create a more complete overview of each item without making the book a glut to read, which is probably my biggest complaint. However, even in the current form the introductions manage to paint a satisfying picture of most of the subjects. 3 sections of full-color pictures that support the individual descriptions are also fascinating to view.
Another small issue is the slight discord in the tone of the book in couple places. Most of the time the voice of the writers is suitably gentle and even nostalgic, highlighting and understanding the oddities without being condescending. In two or three occasions this however changes to strangely aggressive and even bitter, which stands out against the general style.
Overall, Made in Russia is a book for the curious. It's a snapshot of a different world, a different era, through a fascinating selection of items. You do need a touch of interest in the Soviet era or design in general to appreciate it fully, though.
May 18, 2014
Having survived Stalin and the war, the people, it turned out, needed toys.
Moscow is now at a time when the apartment buildings are getting their water cut off for "maintenance". I put the word "maintenance" is quotes, since it's never apparent what kind of maintenance is done, why it's required every year, and why only the hot pipes are affected. An expat friend of mine asked me why this happens, and I had nothing better to say than "Who knows? It's always been this way". Which seems like a very Russian thing to say.
The reason I bring this is up is the book that I've just read - "Made in Russia: unsung icons of Soviet design". It gives a great overview of the consumer goods, and some other iconic artifacts, that every Russian of the Soviet and post-Soviet era is accustomed to. These items were the products of their time, but they've also shaped the life and style of Soviet citizens. All of these items, while practical and lasting, were of questionable aesthetic value and often bizarre design. Here's what the editor of this book has to say about that:
The core of the Soviet consumer experience was the same for decades. Nobody gave half a thought to where these horrors came from, or who designed them. They had no provenance. You inherited them at birth, all at once. They were part of life's kit, an ever-receding background noise.
This answers the question about the malfunctioning pipes and other Russian features that puzzle foreigners and seem mundane to natives. Why wouldn't the communal soda machine have just one glass that you'd rise out with water and reuse countless times?! Of course, the most coveted item of the Soviet era was a simple plastic bag! Why does it surprise you that the most efficient homeopathic remedy looks and feels like an instrument of medieval torture?!
The articles that comprise the book are a bit dry. They touch upon the origin story and practical use of each item. The real gem are the personal essays written by Russian immigrants, who remember these strange times and even stranger products with resentment but also fondness. And while I was flipping through the pages and exclaiming "Oh yes, I had that same one!", I began feeling nostalgic too.
Moscow is now at a time when the apartment buildings are getting their water cut off for "maintenance". I put the word "maintenance" is quotes, since it's never apparent what kind of maintenance is done, why it's required every year, and why only the hot pipes are affected. An expat friend of mine asked me why this happens, and I had nothing better to say than "Who knows? It's always been this way". Which seems like a very Russian thing to say.
The reason I bring this is up is the book that I've just read - "Made in Russia: unsung icons of Soviet design". It gives a great overview of the consumer goods, and some other iconic artifacts, that every Russian of the Soviet and post-Soviet era is accustomed to. These items were the products of their time, but they've also shaped the life and style of Soviet citizens. All of these items, while practical and lasting, were of questionable aesthetic value and often bizarre design. Here's what the editor of this book has to say about that:
The core of the Soviet consumer experience was the same for decades. Nobody gave half a thought to where these horrors came from, or who designed them. They had no provenance. You inherited them at birth, all at once. They were part of life's kit, an ever-receding background noise.
This answers the question about the malfunctioning pipes and other Russian features that puzzle foreigners and seem mundane to natives. Why wouldn't the communal soda machine have just one glass that you'd rise out with water and reuse countless times?! Of course, the most coveted item of the Soviet era was a simple plastic bag! Why does it surprise you that the most efficient homeopathic remedy looks and feels like an instrument of medieval torture?!
The articles that comprise the book are a bit dry. They touch upon the origin story and practical use of each item. The real gem are the personal essays written by Russian immigrants, who remember these strange times and even stranger products with resentment but also fondness. And while I was flipping through the pages and exclaiming "Oh yes, I had that same one!", I began feeling nostalgic too.
September 16, 2016
It was in Britain that I began to embrace leftwing, socialist politics, and here in the US that I began to understand, gradually, the persistent cold war mentality.
I remember at Sheila Fitzpatrick's talk on her new book, On Stalin’s Team: The Years of Living Dangerously in Soviet Politics at Harvard, very few Chinese students showed up; and today very few Chinese students would be interested in USSR history or variations of contemporary socialism. It just occurred to me now, that one of the successes/evils of CCP, is that they managed to eliminate cosmopolitanism in China, the curiosity to the outside world; as Hannah Adrent put it, the world alienation.
Some quotes from this book are emotionally arousing as well as intellectually intriguing: 'I was fifteen when the empire [USSR] fell apart, and can vouch for the fact that we grew up with some pretty terrible stuff.'
'the core of the Soviet consumer experience was the same for decades...To live in the Soviet Union was not to be ignorant of good design. It was to be obsessively, erotically hyperaware of it. it wool the Kremlin until 1959 to realise how starved for things the nation was.'
Soviet consumer goods were not the 'small arms fire of the government's relentless economic assault on its people'. in 1962 the USSR council issued a thesis to implement methods of artistic construction. Socialism had some interesting human faces.
I remember at Sheila Fitzpatrick's talk on her new book, On Stalin’s Team: The Years of Living Dangerously in Soviet Politics at Harvard, very few Chinese students showed up; and today very few Chinese students would be interested in USSR history or variations of contemporary socialism. It just occurred to me now, that one of the successes/evils of CCP, is that they managed to eliminate cosmopolitanism in China, the curiosity to the outside world; as Hannah Adrent put it, the world alienation.
Some quotes from this book are emotionally arousing as well as intellectually intriguing: 'I was fifteen when the empire [USSR] fell apart, and can vouch for the fact that we grew up with some pretty terrible stuff.'
'the core of the Soviet consumer experience was the same for decades...To live in the Soviet Union was not to be ignorant of good design. It was to be obsessively, erotically hyperaware of it. it wool the Kremlin until 1959 to realise how starved for things the nation was.'
Soviet consumer goods were not the 'small arms fire of the government's relentless economic assault on its people'. in 1962 the USSR council issued a thesis to implement methods of artistic construction. Socialism had some interesting human faces.
January 27, 2014
such a charming little trip down memory lane. even tho' i didn't study in russia until after the collapse of the soviet union, i recognize many of these things...from the glasses tea was served in on the train from moscow to kazan to raketa watches to lomo cameras (why, oh why, didn't i buy a couple back in 1994?) to the little bears on the chocolate packages. i was charmed from beginning to end and left longing a little bit for the soviet union.
February 22, 2014
I don't know why I find myself endlessly fascinated with the material and pop culture from the Soviet side of the Cold War, but there you go. This was a delightful complement to Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking, providing visualization and context for many of the cultural touchstones referenced in that excellent memoir. Very enjoyable, but I'd like to see a coffee table sized edition with more color pictures :)
October 29, 2015
A lovely collection for anyone with an interest in the social history of the Soviet Union. This book catalogues a range of consumer objects popular in the U.S.S.R., accompanied by personal essays by some of Russia's foremost authors.
The general theme is the implication of how Russian designers were placed in the position of hurriedly creating visually appealing goods with the Soviet demand for utilitarian function. I enjoyed it a lot
The general theme is the implication of how Russian designers were placed in the position of hurriedly creating visually appealing goods with the Soviet demand for utilitarian function. I enjoyed it a lot
October 19, 2011
"The avoska, a simple net bag, allowed citizens to be always prepared in case they crossed paths with something extraordinary--like fresh produce. It was also remarkably Soviet in affording the shopper zero privacy: One's loot was on instant and automatic display."
Fall down seven times, get up eight.
Fall down seven times, get up eight.
January 8, 2012
This is a lovely book, well annotated and interesting. The "Soviet esthetic" is the topic, and while there was much in the old USSR that was utilitarian and clunky, this book portrays many of the lovely and unique items. If you ever visited or lived in the old Soviet Union, this book will make you a little nostalgic, believe it or not.
April 16, 2013
Some fantastic photographs and some reasonable research but the text is extremely hit and miss. I feel that you are left wanting something more after poring over the pictures but wading through some pretty poor quality text.
April 17, 2023
Beautifully informative both for people who experienced most of the objects collected in this book (yours truly found some favourites) and for those who have an interest in design, history, or the Eastern Bloc.
June 1, 2014
good and very cool
January 3, 2015
I've always been fascinated by Russia and this book provides an authentic view into everyday life during the Soviet era.
August 16, 2016
great bathroom/bus stop reading. learn about the knock-off Vespa and the drining glass that IKEA mimiced!
March 23, 2018
Really nostalgic, great book! Sent me down a spiral of watching Spokoinoi Nochi Malishi.
March 2, 2025
An interesting look into the what’s and why’s of Soviet design. The personal essays provide unique insights that tell the story of not just the history of the objects, but the feelings associated with them.
I wish the book was outlined in a more coherent way, and there were some jarring book design decisions/inconsistencies, specifically around the image sections. Some had page numbers tied to the description some didn’t. Kinda odd.
I wish the book was outlined in a more coherent way, and there were some jarring book design decisions/inconsistencies, specifically around the image sections. Some had page numbers tied to the description some didn’t. Kinda odd.
February 21, 2014
Very cute, quick read. Half of it is pictures, so it's really quick to get through, but it's very entertaining throughout. The essays are surprisingly witty and the whole thing was informative and fun. It's definitely worth reading for anyone interested in the most impressive (or remarkably unimpressive) creations to come out of the Soviet period.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews