Design is all around us but have you ever stopped to think about the process and inspiration behind it? Penny Sparke’s new publication, The Genius of Design, does just that. This comprehensive tome walks us through the creative achievements found in a range of fields from textiles to ceramics to architecture. Focused mainly on the 20th and 21st centuries, The Genius of Design’s broad coverage gives insight behind the progression of design which not only includes inspiration and functionality, but also the implications of politics, economics and technology within each industry. Profiles of key designers and iconic tastemakers educate us further accompanied by glossy photos that glorify the beauty of design. Created as a printed companion to BBC2’s television show of the same name, The Genius of Design, can be flicked through as a coffee table book or read at one’s leisure with text that engages and educates.

The Genius of Design
Quadrille Publishing
2009