Design: The Key Concepts

by Catherine McDermott

Published 31 October 2007

This is the essential student’s guide to Design – its practice, its theory and its history. Drawing from a wide range of international examples, respected design writer Catherine McDermott explores key topics including:

  • international design – from Europe to Africa
  • design history – from Art Nouveau to punk
  • sustainable design, recycling and green design
  • design theory – from semiotics to gender, to postcolonialism
  • design technology, graphic design and the web.

Fully cross-referenced, with up-to-date guides for further reading, Design: The Key Concepts is an indispensable reference for students of design, design history, fashion, art and visual culture.


This book takes a look at the most essential and inspiring pieces of design that have been produced in t he modern age, with something to please everyone from the la y person to the purist '