'The industrialized designer' : Gender, identity and professionalization in Britain and the United States, 1930-80

This book contributes new perspectives on the identity of the industrial designer, particularly from a gendered perspective, through a critical interrogation of the 'heroic male designer'. It explores the professionalisation of industrial design in Britain and the US from 1930–80, a 'new profession' that emerged in the 20th century. -- .

What does it mean to be called an industrial designer? This book traces the remarkable rise of this professional identity in historical perspective from a position of anonymity in the early twentieth century, to mid-century professionalisation, to decline and disintegration by 1980. Drawing on new, extensive, original archival research, it uncovers the history of a profession in a state of re-invention, 1930-1980 in Britain and the United States. The book tests assumptions about the relationship between the professions in the two countries, bringing them into comparative historical perspective for the first time. The gendered dynamics of professionalisation and their interaction with the representation of the heroic male designer are interrogated and critically examined. Building on new gender perspectives to the history of the industrial design profession, the book calls for a re-examination of the limits and boundaries of what constitutes professional identity and work. -- .