Critical Design in Context

Draws on examples of critical design practice from the UK, Northern Europe, the USA and South East Asia

Matt Malpass is a Senior Lecturer on MA Industrial Design and a Research Fellow in Critical Design at Central Saint Martin's College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts London, UK.

Chapter 1: Introducing critical designChallenging orthodoxyChallenging colloquialism: the problem with critical designWhat's so critical about critical design practiceWhy study critical design?Researching critical design practice'Critical' in critical design practiceIndustrial design as a disciplineThe structure and approach to writingChapter 2: HistoryA forgotten history of critical design practiceAn emerging critical design practiceChallenging hegemonyAnti-designParticipatory designUnikat Design: adding nothing but the conceptRepresentative designDesign InteractionsCritical Design at the Royal College of ArtSynergies between precedents and contemporary examples of critical designChapter 3: Theories, methods and tacticsDesign as a medium for inquiryPost-optimal design and Para-functionalityRhetorical useDiscursive designThe aesthetics of use and meaningful presenceExploratory potentialDesign fictionSpeculation and propositionConstructing publicsAmbiguityChapter 4: Criticism, function and disciplineDesign ArtDesign art and societyFunction in critical design practiceThe paradox of critical design in commercial useModelling the fieldDesign at usersDirecting critique through design practiceChapter 5: PracticeAssociative designSpeculative designCritical designDesign practice as satireThe uses of narrativeRationality and ambiguityTowards a taxonomy of critical practices in designThe taxonomy as an analytical toolApplications of the taxonomyChapter 6: Critical design practice and its disciplinary contributionSummaryChallenging disciplinary orthodoxyAn extended role for industrial design: discipline, science and societyBibliography

Matt Malpass introduces the boundaries of an increasingly influential subject area. Providing interesting examples, and making reference to interviews with key practitioners, a refreshing perspective is developed. This book is destined to become the definitive text of its type, and will be much sought by design researchers and practitioners alike.
Matt Malpass offers a much-needed introduction and overview to critical design, covering its histories, theories and practices in a delightfully straightforward and well-organised manner. Written in a clear and engaging style, the book presents a broad and inclusive approach to critical design.
Locating critical design as a response to the capture of (industrial) design by market logic, this book traces its historical and practico-theoretical antecedents as well as its salience among a plurality of like-minded contemporary design practices.
A text like this is long overdue. There has been a groundswell in interest in critical design for years. From globalism to materiality to the impact of social design, this project tackles some of the biggest problems in the field. Its ambitions are significant, as is its scope.