Design, History and Time

This important volume addresses the nature of time in relation to design and its histories.

Design, History and Time reflects on the nature of time in relation to design, in both past and contemporary contexts. In contrast to a traditional design historical approach which emphasizes schools and movements, this volume addresses time as a continuum and considers the importance of temporality for design practice and history.

Contributors address how designers, design historians and design thinkers might respond to the global challenges of time, the rhythms of work, and the increasing speed of life and communication between different communities. They consider how the past informs the present and the future in terms of design, the importance of time-based design practices such as rapid prototyping and slow design, time in relation to memory and forgetting, and artefacts such as the archive for which time is key, and they also ponder the design of time itself.

Showcasing the work of 15 design scholars from a range of international contexts, this book provides an essential text for thinking about changing attitudes to the temporal.