Design - History & Criticism

As featured in Wall Street JournalThe most innovative, iconic, and influential products ever designed - from 1663 to the present day Originating from the highly acclaimed and groundbreaking three-volume Phaidon Design Classics, this new book presents 1,000 of the world's greatest objects in one...

Discover the fascinating evolution of branding with Richard Shear's A History of Brands. In this comprehensive yet concise guide, Shear traces the origins and growth of some of the world's most recognizable brands. Through a Western cultural lens, he examines how branding has transitioned...

"A fascinating cultural history" (People) of how Japan adopted and ultimately revived traditional American fashion A strange thing has happened over the last two decades: the world has come to believe that the most "authentic" American garments are those made in Japan. From high-end...

A powerful guide to why even the most well-intentioned innovations go haywire, and the surprising ways we can change course to create a more positive future, by two celebrated experts working at the intersection of design, technology, and learning at Stanford University's acclaimed d.school....

A landmark survey of one of architecture's most controversial yet popular styleThe Brutalist aesthetic is enjoying a renaissance - and this book documents Brutalism as never before. In the most wide-ranging investigation ever undertaken into one of architecture's most powerful movements, more than 850...

A charming, illustrated gift book combining two timelessly stylish subjects - Audrey Hepburn and the city of Paris. Both classic, both inimitable, both fashion icons - Audrey Hepburn and Paris are a match made in heaven. Falling in love with the city at a...

A beautifully designed coffee table book celebrating the one and only Barbie(TM) This official Mattel book celebrates the life and contributions of Barbie. With hundreds of images and sections ranging from Style Icon, Barbie Evolution, and Fashion as well as a detailed timeline and...

Bending the Rules is a fascinating, provocative, and highly entertaining visual exploration of identity and gender through fashion. Celebrated costume designer Camille Benda seamlessly weaves together the cutting-edge and the historical--spanning high fashion, dress in film, trendsetting brands, art history, and more--showing that gender...

A richly illustrated book focused on Black designers, how they shaped the history of modern design, and how their designs in turn influenced modern Black life. In twentieth-century Chicago, generations of Black artisans, craftspeople, art educators, clothing makers, commercial illustrators, sign painters, furniture makers,...

Author: Siska LyssensPublisher: Lannoo PublishersPublished: 02/17/2026Pages: 256Binding Type: HardcoverWeight: 1.80lbsSize: 8.91h x 6.94w x 1.11dISBN: 9789020988680About the AuthorSiska Lyssens is a Belgian journalist and author based in the US who specializes in art, fashion, and design. She has contributed to major publications like Vogue,...

A luxurious book that showcases the spirit and essence of Chanel's iconic style through the medium of fashion photography "Jérôme Gautier's text is excellent."--The Wall Street Journal Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel (1883-1971) was undoubtedly the most influential fashion designer of the 20th century. Her...

A beautifully illustrated history of the many inventive, poetic, and alluring ways in which color swatches have been selected and staged The need to categorize and communicate color has mobilized practitioners and scholars for centuries. Color Charts describes the many different methods and ingenious...

Discover the legendary stories behind the most iconic sneakers, brands and collaborations in history with social media sensation Tonton Gibs. Discover the legendary stories behind the most iconic sneakers and collaborations in history. From trailblazing OG models to groundbreaking partnerships, this book explores the...

Full of vivid patterns and lively designs, this compact clothbound gem is a delightful journey through Danish fabric prints from the 1920s to the presentThe distinct craft of textile printing has played a significant role in defining the internationally renowned Danish modernism movement. Beyond...

The legacy of denim in America, as seen through early FSA photographs of "blue collar" workersThere is perhaps no other fabric so inextricably associated with a country as is denim with the United States of America. First popularized by Levi's iconic jean designs in...

A historical and philosophical exploration of the impact of design on underserved communities, examining the field's shortcomings as well as its potential to create positive change. Through essays that delve into history and practice, and case studies that demonstrate practical strategies, Design Against Racism...

A long-overdue English translation of Munari's seminal tract on the everyday value of architecture and design educationThe first ever English translation of Bruno Munari's Design and Visual Communication (1968) fills a gap in Munari's output for the English-speaking world and provides a highly relevant...

An illustrated journey into the artistic possibilities of modern design, by the enfant terrible of Italian art and design for most of the twentieth century A Penguin Classic Bruno Munari was among the most inspirational designers of all time, described by Picasso as "the...

Poised at the start of the 21st century, we can see clearly that the previous century was marked by momentous changes in the field of design. Aesthetics entered into everyday life with often staggering results. Our homes and workplaces turned into veritable galleries of...

Your handy, inspirational reference guide to the iconic Art Deco Style. Art Deco was a bold rejection of everything that came before it, trading Art Nouveau's flowing arabesques and the Arts & Crafts movement's natural forms for clean lines and a distinctly industrial aesthetic....