ABSTRACT
This chapter prepares the reader for a greater understanding of the particular subject matter than would otherwise be possible if considering the sources without some context. It then provides pointers on how to read materials in relation to major issues and offer an overview of the shifting patterns of many aspects of design. During the nineteenth century, term ‘design’ had several meanings, both as a verb and a noun. They are often related to each other and are usually dependent upon context for precise sense of use. As the subtle graduations of goods developed ever more, meanings they held, which were designed in part to deal with the non-verbal communications, became more complex. A knowledge and understanding of narrative nature of selected objects intended to reinforce respectability was increasingly important. The idea of function as design, based on utility, was best seen in engineering design with many examples that point to the form being derived from the functional requirements.
