‘Be4U’ - FURNITURE DESIGN HISTORY

1. Project Background
As furniture designers it is your duty and responsibility to be aware of design history - in addition to creating
the future, you will also be the custodians of the past. It is essential to understand how design styles evolve with the introduction of new materials and processes and with changing social influences and fashion.
A database of ‘classics’ can lead you to a greater understanding of the design process and inspire ground breaking new design whilst avoiding clichéd or derivative design.

Project Aims:
- to explore the work of prominent twentieth century designers
- to look at the influence of design fashion on furniture aesthetics
- to examine the opportunities (and constraints) created by emerging technologies
- to examine the influence imparted on the design by selected materials
- to gain an insight into the evolution of furniture design

Research Project Objectives:
Research the work of six prominent furniture designers chosen from the following lists, and collect images
of at least five furniture designs from each designer. Choose only two designers from each list
Explain in approximately 100 words of text (per A3) how their work has been influenced by social, cultural
and fashion trends, emerging technologies and materials, etc. Note any similarities or otherwise between