Style Moderne was an international term for the Art Deco architectural style that flourished in the 1930s through the end of World War II. It was heavily influenced by aerodynamic architecture. Streamline architecture stressed curved forms, long straight lines, and occasionally nautical elements as well. Streamline buildings featured rounded corners, square or rectangular shapes, and flat roofs. They were often built on grade sites and were designed to conserve space.

Art Deco became a style for both the decorative arts and commercial works but did not gain momentum in Western Europe until the Art Deco movement spread across Eastern Europe and into Japan. From the very beginning, this architectural style was characterized by geometric patterns and designs that mirrored the natural world and included a variety of natural materials such as terracotta, granite, slate, and steel. Streamlined buildings, or stylized appearances as they were called then, often featured straight lines and geometric shapes. The emphasis was on functionality rather than ornamentation.

This style may be further categorized into two main sub-styles: The first was known as Viennese art nouveau and the second, known as Art Deco. The main influence of art nouveau had been Dadaism, which broke from tradition by presenting abstract art nouveau prints. Viennese art nouveau was more geometric and utilized many geometrical forms such as rectangles, hexagons, and trapezoids. It also included some realist painting, although the subjects were often distorted. Art Deco, was founded by Italian artists who used the influences of modern art and architecture to present an artistic vision. Many early art Deco paintings featured on geometric shapes and were geared towards women.

Art Deco designs focused on flat surfaces with rounded corners, often using multiple planes and curved edges. Geometric shapes and straight lines are used heavily. Straight lines that cross over each other are considered aesthetically pleasing. Although the Art Deco style was mainly found in large urban areas, it can be seen in smaller towns and countryside. Art Deco design can be found in many buildings such as the Metropolitan Museum in New York City, the British Museum in London, and the Museum of Modern Art in Paris.

A contemporary art style called Fauvism is related to the Style Moderne, though it differs because of the geometric shapes used. It can be seen through the use of rounded corners, which are meant to soften and elongate the appearance of the artwork. Geometric shapes are used, but not as prominently as in the previous style. Most of the decorative elements are straight. Geometric shapes are less popular among modern artists as they are considered pretentious.

A style called Eames was founded by an American artist named Samuel Simon. Eames was a pioneer in incorporating decorative art with architecture. His designs were influenced by traditional materials like ivory, velvet, glass and wood. Style elements from the Style Moderne and Fauvist arts can be found in Eames’s furniture and ceramics. Aesthetics play a very important role in the aesthetic design of most Eames products, including his chairs, tables, and lighting fixtures. Modern technology has also influenced Eames style creations in automobiles, pianos, television, and computer equipment.