All things bright & beautiful

“This is the story of how British, against all the odds, became design-conscious; the ironic, admirable and fascinating history of British design from the Crystal Palace onwards. It begins with the 1830s, when people first began to realize that British standards were abysmal, and takes us up to the present day, with our government-supported Council of Industrial Design, our design-school system which is the envy of the rest of Europe, and the high level of design appreciation among the general public.”
 
"All things bright & beautiful" is a captivating account of how Britain, against considerable odds, evolved into a nation recognised for its design awareness. The book offers an engaging and often ironic exploration of British design history, beginning in the 1830s when awareness of low standards first emerged.
 
From the grandeur of the Crystal Palace to the establishment of the government-backed Council of Industrial Design, it charts a journey of remarkable transformation.
 
It highlights the rise of a design-school system admired across Europe and the growing appreciation of good design among the British public. A compelling read for design enthusiasts, historians, and anyone interested in the cultural shifts that shaped Britain’s creative identity.