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Studying the work of designers, design movements and design companies, can be both informative and educational. It can help in the design of a new product or the upgrade of an existing product. Trying to design a product from scratch is a very difficult task and often results in an inferior outcome and an unsuccessful product.
Although it is a good approach to rid yourself of preconceived ideas and concepts, when designing your own product, studying the work of successful designers and companies, can be regarded as a ‘stepping stone’ to success or at least a starting point. Existing designs often inspire the development of new products and improvements to old ones.
Remember not to underestimate what nature (biomimicry) can teach us. After all, nature is our oldest and most experienced designer.
This section allows those studying design, to review a range of successful and influential designers, design movements and companies.
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IMPORTANT NEW FILES FOR YOU TO DOWNLOAD
PDF FILE - INFORMATION SHEETS / POSTERS ON 54 DESIGNERS WORTH STUDYING
NEW COLLECTIONS OF REVISION CARDS - PEFECT FOR HOME LEARNING AND CLASSWORK
PDF FILE - 42 REVISION CARDS ON DESIGNERS - ALL WITH LINKS AND QR CODES TO MORE DETAIL
POWERPOINT VERSION -
42 REVISION CARDS ON DESIGNERS - ALL WITH LINKS AND QR CODES TO MORE DETAIL
DESIGNER BOOKLETS
1. PDF FILE - Designer Exercise Booklet - examination questions and links to information and potential answers on:
PHILIPPE STARCK - CHARLOTTE PERRIAND - ZAHA HADID - JOCK KINNEIR AND MARGARET CALVERT - LUDWIG MIES VAN DER ROHE - MICHAEL THONET - EILEEN GRAY - BETHAN GRAY - MARCEL BREUER - ROBIN DAY - OWEN MACLAREN - CHARLES RENNIE MACKINTOSH - HARRY BECK - ETTORE SOTTSASS
2. PDF FILE - Set of Revision Cards - on the fourteen designers listed above.
Click here for the PowerPoint version of the Set of Revision Cards
| ICONIC DESIGNS | ||
| 1. What is an Iconic Design? |
COMPANIES ALESSI |
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| 1. Alessi - Iconic Products | ||
| 2. Revision Cards - Alessi | ||
| PDF FILE - POSTER - ALESSI |
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| APPLE | ||
| 1. Apple Incorporated | ||
| 2. Revision Cards - Apple | ||
| THE AUSTIN MINI | ||
2. The Austin Mini - an Iconic Design (Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis) TESLA (TESLA MOTORS)1. Introduction to Tesla 2. Revision Cards - Tesla Other companies - See below- The Thonet Company, Maclaren and Motivation |
DIETER RAMS
Dieter Rams - Carpenter and International Designer
Revision Cards - Dieter Rams
PHILIPPE STARCK
1. Philippe Starck
2. Revision Cards - Philippe Starck
3. Box Learning Exercise (Independent Learning)
LOUNGE CHAIR BY CHARLES AND RAY EAMES - 1956
1. Charlotte Perriand and a Sample of Her Work
2. Revision Cards - Charlotte Perriand
Box Learning Exercise - Independent Learning Exercise
CHRISTOPHER DRESSER (1834-1904)
1. Introduction to Christopher Dresser
2. Revision Cards - Christopher Dresser
PDF FILE - Christopher Dresser- Boxed Learning Exercise
ZAHA HADID(1950-2016)
1. Zaha Hadid - Architect
2. Revision Cards - Zaha Hadid
Box Learning Exercise - Independent Learning Exercise
JOCK KINNEIR AND MARGARET CALVERT
1. Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert - Motorway and Road Signage
2. Revision Cards - Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert
CHRISPHER COCKERELL
1. Christopher Cockerell - The Hovercraft
2. Revision Cards - Christopher Cockerell
THE BARCELONA CHAIR
MICHAEL THONET - BENTWOOD FURNITURE
BETHAN GRAY
1. Bethan Gray - Product Designer2. Revision Cards - Bethan Gray
Box Learning Exercise - Independent Learning Exercise
MARCEL BREUER (1902-1981)
| 1. Marcel Breuer and His Work | ||
| 2. Revision Cards - Marcel Breuer | ||
| PDF FILE - POSTER - MARCEL BREUER |
Box Learning Exercise - Independent Learning Exercise
THE ROBIN DAY POLYPROP CHAIR
REGINALD JOSEPH MITCHELL (1895-1937)
1. R.J. Mitchell - Aeronuatical Designer - The Spitfire
2. Revision Cards - R.J. Mitchell - The Spitfire
| CHARLES RENNIE MACKINTOSH |
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| 1. An Introduction to Charles Rennie Mackintosh | ||
| 2. Analysis / Description of a Charles Mackintosh Chair | ||
| 3. Mackintosh Decoration | ||
| 4. The Furniture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh - Product Analysis 1 | ||
| 5. The Furniture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh - Product Analysis 2 | ||
| 6. Product Analysis - Mackintosh Oak Washstand | ||
| 7. Product Comparison | ||
| 8. The Mackintosh Desk Box Learning Exercise - Independent Learning Exercise |
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| 9. A Young Child's Toy Box based on Charles Rennie Mackintosh Design Characteristics | ||
| 10. DVD Storage Unit based on Charles Rennie Mackintosh Design Characteristics | ||
| 11. Storage Unit based on a Mackintosh White Desk and Chair | ||
| 12. How to Develop a Specification by Analysing the Design Brief for a Charles Mackintosh inspired Storage Unit |
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| 13. Specification Question | ||
| 14. Design One - Child's Toy Box - Mackintosh Style | ||
| 15. Design Two - Storage Box - Mackintosh Style | ||
| 16. Design Three - Jewellery Box - Mackintosh Style | ||
| 17. Design Four - DVD Storage - Mackintosh Style | ||
| 18. Design Five - Bits And Bobs Storage Box - Mackintosh Style | ||
| 19. Designing a Mackintosh Storage Unit | ||
| 20. Presenting a Design Idea | ||
| 21. Developing your Idea | ||
| REVISION CARDS - Charles Rennie Mackintosh | ||
| PDF FILE - CLASSROOM POSTER - CHARLES RENNIE MACKINTOSH |
| HARRY BECK - LONDON UNDERGROUND MAP |
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| 1. Harry Beck 1902 to 1974 | ||
| 2. Revision Cards - Harry Beck | ||
| PDF FILE - POSTER - HARRY BECK - LONDON UNDERGROUND Box Learning Exercise - Independent Learning Exercise |
(JORN UTZON)
1. Jorn Utzon - The Sydney Opera House - Inspired by Nature2. Design for a Shelter, inspired by the Sydney Opera House
Box Learning Exercise - Independent Learning Exercise
| DAVID CONSTANTINE – MOTIVATION – MULTISPORT WHEELCHAIR |
| 1. Introduction to David Constantine and Motivation |
| 2. The Multisports Wheelchair by Motivation |
| 3. Basic Design Principle - The Multisports Wheelchair - Questions |
| 4. Comparison between a Typical Wheelchair and the Multisports Wheelchair |
| 5. Examination Questions - the Multisports Wheelchair - Sustainability and Innovation. |
| PDF - Revision Cards - David Constantine - Motivation - Multisport Wheelchair PowerPoint version of David Constantine - Motivation - Multisports Wheelchair |
| PDF FILE - Click here to download a Revision Booklet / Activity Booklet |
Box Learning Exercise - Independent Learning Exercise |
| INCLUSIVITY PROJECT - LEADING TO MODEL MAKING |
| 6. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS - Public Seating for adults and Young Children |
| 7. Seating in Public Areas - Examination Question and Initial Sketches |
| 8. Model Making - Your Selected Design - for Further Development |
| 9. Development of the Best Idea and Development of Idea 1 |
| 10. Sample Development of Idea 2 and Idea3 |
| PRACTICAL EXERCISE WITH TEAM WORK - INCLUSIVE DESIGN |
| Exercise - 1. An Existing Product To An Inclusive Product - The Hand Drill |
| Exercise - 2. Your Inclusive Design for a Hand Drill |
A SELECTION OF DESIGNERS THROUGH HISTORY WHO DESERVE RESPECT
(A brief introduction to each designer)
| ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT (INCLUDING WILLIAM MORRIS) |
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| 1. The Arts and Crafts Movement 1880 - 1910 | ||
| REVISION CARDS - Arts and Crafts |
| ART NOUVEAU |
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| 1. Art Nouveau - 1890s - 1920s/1930s | ||
| 2. Art Nouveau (1880s) Compared to the Bauhaus Design (1920s) | ||
| REVISION CARDS - Art Nouveau |
| CUBISM |
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| 1. Cubism - Analytic Cubism 1907 - 1911 - Late Cubism 1914 - 1921 | ||
| 2. Cubism and Architecture | ||
| 3. Cubism and Product Design | ||
| REVISION CARDS - Cubism |
| DE STIJL (NEOPLASTICISM) - Including Piet Mondrian, Theo Van Doesburg and Gerrit Rietveld |
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| 1. Introduction to De Stijl (Neoplasticism) | ||
| 2. Revision Cards - De Stijl (Neoplasticism) | ||
| PDF FILE - POSTER - CLASSROOM DISPLAY, DE-STIJL |
| MODERNISM / BAUHAUS |
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| 1. The Bauhaus Design School - 1 | ||
| 2. The Bauhaus Influence on Architecture - the Huf Haus. | ||
| 3. The Bauhaus Style of Writing | ||
| 4. Bauhaus Chair Design Exercise | ||
| REVISION CARDS - Bauhaus Design |
| ART DECO |
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| 1. Art Deco - 1 | ||
| 2. Art Deco - 2 | ||
| Art Deco - REVISION CARDS | ||
| 3. Art Movement - Rich Picture | ||
| 4. Storage and Transport of Small Items - Art Deco - 1 | ||
| 5. Storage and Transport of Small Items - Art Deco - 2 | ||
| 6. Storage and Transport of Small Items - Art Deco - 3 | ||
| 7. Art Deco Containers - Product Comparison | ||
| 8. Art Deco - Small Storage Container Design - 1 | ||
| 9. Art Deco - Small storage Container Design - 2 | ||
| 10. Writing an Design Specification for a Small Transportable Art Deco Container | ||
| 12. Art Deco - Small Container Design - Initial Ideas | ||
| 12. Developing Your chosen Design | ||
| 13. Work Drawings - Art Deco Container 1 | ||
| 14. Working Drawings - Art Deco Container - 2 | ||
| 15. Anthropometric Data and Handle Design | ||
| 16. Sample 'Theme' Development Design Sheet |
| POP ART - Including Andy Warhol and David Hockney |
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| 1. Pop Art - 1950s to 1960s | ||||||||
| 2. Pop Art and Product Design | ||||||||
PDF FILE - CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE WORKSHEET ON POPART
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| STUDIO ALCHIMIA - Inlcuding Alessandro Mendini |
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| 1. Introduction to Studio Alchimia | ||
| 2. Alessandro Mendini |
| THE MEMPHIS GROUP - Including Ettore Sottsass |
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| 1. Ettore Sottsass - Memphis Designs - 1 | ||
| 2. Ettore Sottsass - Memphis Designs - 2 | ||
| 3. The Memphis Group (1980s) - The Etruscan Chair 1984 | ||
| 4. Comparison of the design principles / design philosophy of Modernism (Bauhaus) and Post Modernism (Memphis Group) |
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| 5. The Carlton Dresser - by Ettore Sottsass - 1981 | ||
| 6. Further Memphis Designs | ||
| 7. Product Comparison - Memphis and Traditional Designs - 1 | ||
| 8. Product Comparison - Memphis and Traditional Designs - 2 | ||
| 9. Memphis Examination Questions / Answers - 1 | ||
| PDF FILE - CLASSROOM POSTER - ETTORE SOTTSASS | ||
| MEMPHIS PRODUCT DESIGN QUESTION | ||
| 10. Memphis Examination Question - Moodboard | ||
| 11. Memphis Design Principle and Criteria - Examination Question | ||
| 12. Sample Answer to Memphis Design Question | ||
| 13. Evaluation of your Memphis Design | ||
| 14. Product Design Memphis Style | ||
| 15. Art Movement Starter - with Memphis Designs | ||
| 16. Memphis Chair Design Exercise | ||
| 17. REVISION CARDS - Memphis Design Movement | ||
| CLICK ON THE IMAGE - FOR ART MOVEMENT SUMMARY CARDS AND EXERCISE | ||
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| 4. The Sydney Opera House - Inspired by Nature | ||
| 4. Design for a Shelter, inspired by the Sydney Opera House | ||
| 5. QUESTION - Shelving System Based on Nature - Tree | ||
| 6. QUESTION - Honeycomb Storage - Inspired by Nature | ||
| 7. QUESTION - Leaf Sunbed Inspired by Nature | ||
| 8. QUESTION - Ladybird Inspired Design - Coffee Mug - Wildlife Theme | ||
| 9. Developing the Idea - Ladybird inspired Coffee Mug | ||
| 10. Ladybird Coffee Mug Packaging |