Socio-economic influences

Question 1

Socio-economics

Answer 1

how society and economic conditions interact to create the circumstances of design

Question 2

Post WW1 influences on design

Answer 2

rationing of materials such as timber forced designers to replace them with other materials such as metal tubing
new industrial equipment influenced designs to be mass produced
desire for modern functionality (e.g. at Bauhaus) to replace the failings of older thinking which had lead to the war
Modernistic designs

Question 3

The effect of the second world war on design

Answer 3

Bombing, embargos, and concentration of material into the military limited available materials forcing other materials to be used
rationing lead to “utility” designs, strong simple and fit to function so all people had basic needs met
similar to arts and crafts movement

Question 4

Contemporary influences

Answer 4

desire for flashy exciting designs after rationing
more vibrant colours and shapes not always fit to purpose
Post modern designs

Question 5

Council of Industrial Design (COID)

Answer 5

set up in 1944
aimed to improve standards for design and increase competitiveness and variety in British products

used two exhibitions to promote british design:
‘Britain can make’ (1946) and ‘festival of Britain’ (1951)

Question 6

Technological influences on contemporary design

Answer 6

polymer manufacturing and synthesis: increased decorative shapes and colours in designs massively increasing possible variety of similar products
Transistors: increased demand for miniature electronics incorporated into designs
plywood manufacturing: designs become more made attractive but low cost products with cheaper manufacturing more available