"In the first part of this book Edward Lucie-Smith traces the history of design from its precursors in the ancient and medieval world to the Werkbund and Bauhaus, at which point industrial design can be said to have become aware of itself. The second part is a sequence of case histories which examine the evolution of design i such fields as transportation, furniture, kitchenware, communication, office equipment and packaging. The author highlights the changing role of the designer and the way in which designs have satisfied or failed to satisfy the various needs of consumer, producer, advertiser, or society."--Jacket.