Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

An essential overview as well as a theoretical critique for all students of design history. Walker studies the intellectual discipline of Design History and the issues that confront scholars writing histories of design. Taking his approach from a range of related fields, he discusses the problems of defining design and writing history. He considers the different methods that leading scholars have used in the absence of a theoretical framework, and looks critically at a number of histories of design and architecture.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Walker defines the discipline of design history and explores its theoretical and methodological problems. He examines issues confronting design historians, suggesting they investigate the social sciences by studying the writings of major anthropologists, sociologists, and general historians. He states that design history's critical potential in regard to society will not be fulfilled if it becomes merely a servant of the design system. The book defines the work of design historians, which is divided into six categories: empirical study--the study of photographs, artifacts, drawings, and models; research and information gathering--the study of documents for awareness of socioeconomic context; theoretical work--the categorizing, classifying, comparing, interpreting, and evaluating of design artefacts; writing and communication--the compilation of inventories, catalogs, and indexes; professional activities--forming organizations and holding conferences to further the discipline; employment--a few historians are private scholars, free-lance writers, or journalists. Walker (art and design history, Middlesex Polytechnic, England) is the author of two books on the interrelationship between art and mass culture. There is a chapter titled "FORM/female FOLLOWS FUNCTION/male: Feminist Critiques of Design," written by Judy Attfield, a designer and design historian who specializes in the area of feminism and design. The book is nicely organized, with chapter notes and references and an excellent bibliography. Usable at any level. -V. M. Juergensen, Mohawk Valley Community College