Designer Zodiac

In the Chinese New Year, 2008 is the Year of the Rat. Curiously, the rat is one animal that hasn’t become a design trend over the past 12 years. Here are a few that have—enough for everyone to claim their sign. LILA YOMTOOB

1997—GIGAPET Modern culture’s quest for emotional connection through technology starts with “animal” pals like the Gigapet. People protest the following year when the toys break.

1998—SQUIRREL Chicago’s silk-screen warrior Jay Ryan draws rabid squirrels on rock posters. A craze is born.

Illustrations by Monika Aichele.

Download as a pdf!