What is a brand? … a product or service by a particular company under a particular name.

What is a logo? …a symbol or other small design adopted by an organization to identify its products.

What is a design classic? A design classic is an industrially manufactured object with timeless aesthetic value. It serves as a standard of its kind and remains up to date regardless of the year of its design.

What is a trend? In terms of Product Design, a trend could be described as the way a product or a type of ‘technology’, develops along a particular path, over a period of time. The Raleigh Chopper bicycle, introduced in the 1970s, set a trend in cycling for teenagers. It was the ‘must have’ bicycle of it’s day.

The Evolution of Design in the 20th Century

Technology Push and Market Pull How Design Evolves Technology Push and Market Pull Technology Push is a process by which the advances in science and technology are used to create new products that consumers might want. For example, mobile phone have developed from a simple communication device for making calls to personal computing devices or ‘personal digital assistants’ (PDAs). Market Pull describes how the inspiration for new products often comes from the needs of society. Market research and analysis of existing products can help manufacturers improve their products. A good example is the development of gloves that allow you to still use a touch screen phone. Environmental, Social and Political factors might also influence the need to develop new products. For example Fair Trade chocolate and electric powered cars.

The Great Exhibition of 1851 During the industrial revolution technology was developed that for the first time allowed manufacturers to mass produce consumer products (Technology Push). These products were showcased in the Great Exhibition of 1851, unfortunately though the products were not well received. Many products were too elaborate, of poor quality and difficult to operate. By 1900, manufacturers had begun to understand that products needed to reflect the needs and wants of consumers. The role of the product designer was born. video

The Arts and Crafts Movement William Morris founded the Arts and crafts movement at the end of the 19th Century. His designs included furniture, wallpaper and textiles, but the style also influenced many architects. He was keen to promote the production of quality products made using expensive materials and traditional techniques

Art Nouveau A French design style first developed by artists of the early 20th century that was based on stylised organic shapes. Although Art Nouveau was replaced by 20th-century modernist styles, it is considered now as an important transition between the classic revival design style and modernism.

Art Deco Beginning in France in the 1920s Deco emerged from the Interwar period when rapid industrialization was transforming culture. One of its major attributes is an embrace of technology. This distinguishes Deco from the organic motifs favoured by its predecessor Art Nouveau.

Modernism Modernist designs began to focus primarily on the function of the product and the needs of the user. This was a switch of priority from earlier decorative styles. Forms used were more geometric so as to be easier to mass produce and modern materials like steel and the first plastics were used.

Bauhaus The Bauhaus was a school of art and design, founded in Germany by Walter Gropius. Between 1919 and 1933, Bauhaus designers experimented with new materials, mass production methods and innovative forms. The underlying principal was that form should follow function.

De Stijl De Stijl is a Dutch art and design movement founded in 1917. It made use of geometric shapes and bright, primary colours. The look of the design pieces often took priorty over the comfort and practicality.

Post-Modernism In the early 80s post-modern designers and architects reacted against the simplification of modernism and wanted to add more decoration and excitement to the look of their products. Functionality was of minimal importance, the designs of The Memphis Group were typical of this style.

Organic Modern Design (Blobjects) In the later part of the 20th century the development of CAD and CAM has given designers the flexibility to design shapes in any forms that they can imagine. This technology push has lead to the popularity of product in amorphous or blob-like forms.