the work of other designers

• You will have to research, analyse and evaluate the work of past and present designers and companies to help inform your designing
• For your exam you will need to research the work of at least two of these designers
• Harry Beck


  • Technical draughtsman who redesigned the London Underground map
  • Radically different map to anything produced before but was soon copied by many other cities
• Marcel Breuer


  • One of the world's most popular architects of the 20th Century
  • Before architecture he designed and made a series of design classic chairs including the Wassily chair and bicycle handle inspired tubular steel chairs
• Coco Chanel


  • One of the world's most famous fashion names
  • Her trademark suits and famous little black dress show timeless, classic design
• Norman Foster


  • An architect who specialises in glass and metal buildings such as the Gherkin building and the Millennium Bridge in London
• Alexander Issigonis


  • Designed the ground breaking Mini and Morris Minor
• Williams Morris


  • A designer and artist best known for bold nature themed fabric and wallpaper prints
  • He was part of the Arts and Crafts movement
• Alexander Mcqueen


  • A British fashion designer well known for wild and theatrical fashion shows
  • He was 4 times winner of British Designer of the year
• Mary Quant


  • An instrumental figure in 1960's fashion
  • She is credited with inventing the mini skirt and hot pants
  • Famous for designing simple, brightly coloured clothing which revolutionised youth fashion
• Louis Comfort Tiffany


  • An Art Nouveau designer of jewellery and glass
  • Tiffany lamps use a mixture of coloured glass and leaded panes
• Raymond Templer


  • Jewellery designer in the Art Deco geometric style
• Gerrit Reitveld


  • A Dutch Modernist designer and architect
  • His designs are famous for their straight lines, simple shapes and use of primary colours
• Charles Rennie Macintosh


  • Designed the Glasgow School of Art
  • He was an Art Deco designer of furniture and jewellery as well as an architect
• Aldo Rossi


  • An Italian architect and designer famous for a range of buildings and classic product designs
• Ettore Sottsass


  • The founder of the Memphis Movement
  • As an architect and designer his designs were known for geometric shapes and bright colours
• Philippe Stark


  • An architect and designer particularly famous for furniture and kitchenware designs
• Vivienne Westwood


  • Credited for starting the Punk Rock movement
  • Her fashion collections often take inspiration from historical costume such as pirates and witches
• You will also need to study a minimum of two of these companies
• Alessi


  • During the 1970's Alberto Alessi began employing product designers to make original and fun designs for every day kitchen equipment
  • The bright colours and stylish designs were mass produced and affordable to everyone
• Apple


  • Apple phones and iPods were the first hand held electrical products to have smooth, sleek edges and simple intuitive design
  • Jonathon Ives took the 'less but better' (see Braun below) ethos to create the instantly recognisable design
• Braun


  • Braun is a German electrical company whose most famous designer Dieter Rams used the idea of 'less but better' to create a range of products including the electric shaver
• Dyson


  • Sir James Dyson reinvented the vacuum cleaner to no longer need a bag
  • He famously prototyped thousands of designs before refining his cyclone suction and bag-less design
• Gap


  • Opened in America in 1969 the Gap shop specialised in everyday jeans and shirts
  • Through creative advertising and staple products they have maintained popularity across the world
• Primark


  • Production of high fashion clothes, mass produced and changed regularly to keep up with market trends
  • Low cost due to large numbers and production abroad
• Under Armour


  • American footballer Kevin Plank started this sportswear company with an undershirt which wicks away sweat
  • The company now sells a range of sports equipment
• Zara


  • A Spanish company which sells up to the minute fashion at a mid-price point
  • It aims to keep up with current trends as they evolve