The Genius of Design

Disc 1
Episode 1: Ghosts in the Machine
From 18th-century entrepreneurial craftsmen such as Josiah Wedgwood to 20th-century industrialists like Henry Ford, design moved from the workshop to the factory.

Episode 2: Designs for Living
After World War I, the social landscapes of America and Europe changed. Design evolved with it, as the cult of modernism reshaped architecture and consumer goods.

Episode 3: Blueprints for War
World War II thrust designers to the front lines in a global clash of ideologies, and a sense of urgency inspired greater ingenuity in form, materials, and production.

Disc 2
Episode 4: Better Living Through Chemistry
In the shift from wartime production to a consumer-driven economy, designers focused on user-friendly functionality, especially the miracle material: plastic.

Episode 5: Objects of Desire
When a consumer society constantly demands new stuff, what does it do with the old? The digital age brings new design challenges—including the goal of sustainability.

• 12-page viewer’s guide with articles on parties at the Bauhaus, changing American road signs, Ford’s eco-friendly factor, and a gallery of famous design flops
• Biographical sketches of influential designers
• Discussion questions and more designer bios and famous flops at athenalearning.com

Packaging:Boxed set
Run Time:242 minutes
Format:Widescreen
Number of discs:2
Language:English
Subtitles:No
Color or B&W:Color
CC:No
SDH:Yes
Region Code:1
Aspect Ratio:16:9
Rating:NR

"Elegant history of design"—The Daily Telegraph(UK)

"Fascinating"—The Times(UK)

"Brilliant, insightful"—The Guardian(UK)