The Design Culture Reader, Vol. 1

As it becomes increasingly obvious that the designed world is not shaped by rational principles of utility, economy or even aesthetics, we need new ways to think about design. This reader provides a formidable set of 'tools' for understanding how and why things fill our world and our minds... David Crowley, Deputy Head of the Department of Design History, Royal College of Art, London For those working the field of design whether they be makers, theoreticians or historians, The Design Culture Reader is a thought-provoking and challenging text. Ben Highmore juxtaposes canonical essays with unexpected but revealing writing, drawing both into an argument for rethinking the place of design in contemporary critical thought. His introduction, 'A Sideboard Manifesto', will be, without doubt, keenly debated. Louise Purbrick, Senior Lecturer in the History of Art and Design, University of Brighton Design is part of ordinary, everyday life, to be found in every room in every building in the world. While we may tend to think of design in terms of highly desirable objects, this book encourages us to think about design as ubiquitous (from plumbing to television) and as an agent of social change (from telephones to weapon systems). The Design Culture Reader brings together an international array of writers whose work is of central importance for thinking about design culture in the past, present and future. Essays from philosophers, media and cultural theorists, historians of design, anthropologists, cultural historians, artists and literary critics all demonstrate the enormous potential of design studies for understanding the modern world. Organised in thematic sections, The Design Culture Reader explores the social role of design by looking at the impact it has in a number of areas especially globalisation, ecology and the changing experiences of modern life. Particular essays focus on topics such as design and the senses, design and war, and design and technology, while the editor's introduction to the collection provides a compelling argument for situating design studies at the very forefront of contemporary thought. Ben Highmore is Reader in Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Sussex. He is the author of Everyday Life and Cultural Theory , Cityscapes and Michel de Certeau . He edited The Everyday Life Reader and is the reviews editor of New Formations. Cultural Studies / DesignHighmore, Ben is the author of 'The Design Culture Reader, Vol. 1', published 2008 under ISBN 9780415403559 and ISBN 0415403553.