Hazel Conway introduces the student new to the subject to different areas of design history and shows some of the ways in which it can be studied and some of its delights and difficulties. No background knowledge of design history, art or architecture is assumed.

A unique and comprehensive resource for student and professional furniture designers, providing in-depth answers to their questions about aesthetics, function, materials, manufacturing and sustainability. In this second edition Stuart Lawson emphasizes the principles of a circular economy and what this means for furniture design and consumption. He considers the latest technological developments such as 3-D printing and the use of innovative materials such as bioplastics. He also examines the capabilities and potential of CAD-based design optimization, AI and machine learning-driven generative design processes. The book features case studies on pioneering, contemporary and historical designers and includes an illustrated directory of materials and manufacturing processes.