This book presentation brings into conversation three recent
publications in design history that take a critical approach to the question of professionalisation in design:
The
Industrialized Designer – Gender, Identity and Professionalisation in Britain
and the United States, 1930-1980
Leah Armstrong
Italian Graphic Design, Culture and Practice
in Milan, 1930s-1960s
Chiara Barbieri
Contemporary Chinese Graphic Design Practice
Yun Wang
Moving beyond the age-old question, "is design an art or a profession?", the books each deconstruct
and examine the conditions in which graphic designers and industrial designers worked and established identities in different
historical contexts of Britain, United States, Italy and China at critical moments of cultural, political and social transition
in the twentieth century.
Through a discussion moderated by design historian, Kasia Jezowska, the authors will
address overlapping themes and points of intersection in their work, to reflect on issues including shifting technologies,
generational cultures, crisis of identity in design, economy, politics, gender, and more.
BOOK PRESENTATION
in the course of the event
Critical Histories of the Design
Professions
Thursday, April 9, 2026 – 5 pm
University of Applied Arts Vienna
Flux 1, 3. OG
Vordere Zollamtsstraße 7
1030 Vienna
With
Leah Armstrong, Institut for Design, University of applied Arts, Vienna
Chiara Barbieri, ECAL, University of
Art and Design, Lausanne
Yun Wang, Visiting Research Fellow, Center for Design History, University of Brighton
Moderation
Kasia Jezowska, University of New South Wales and Visiting Fellow, Center for Advanced
Study, Oslo
Event in English language
Barrier-free access to this venue. Find details on
dieangewandte.at/barrier-free
The Industrialized
Designer – Gender, Identity and Professionalisation in Britain and the United
States, 1930-1980
Leah Armstrong
Manchester University Press, 2024
ISBN: 978-1526141-033
To the book
Italian graphic design – Culture
and practice in Milan, 1930s–60s
Chiara Barbieri
Manchester University Press, 2024
ISBN: 978-1526151131
To the book
Contemporary Chinese
Graphic Design Practice
Yun Wang
Bloobsbury Publishing, 2024
ISBN: 978-1350342309
To
the book
