Design History Society Annual Conference 2016
Design and Time
School of Art & Design, Middlesex University, London


Design and Time addresses recent debate about global perspectives on time, the rhythms of work and the increasing speed of life.

This international conference is hosted by Middlesex University in partnership with the Design History Society. Keynote speakers include Professor Elizabeth Guffey (State University, New York), Professor Jeremy Till (University of the Arts, London) and Professor Leslie Atzmon (Eastern Michigan University).

The conference will consist of four strands, each tackling the theme of ‘design and time’ from a different angle:

Spaces, Interiors, Places

Objects, Materiality, Things

Remembering & Forgetting

Experiencing Time


The full programme has now been announced here. We are proud to be welcoming over 60 speakers from all over the world, showcasing the best of current design history thinking.  

Forty years ago in 1976, the Second Conference of Twentieth Century Design History took place at Middlesex Polytechnic on the theme of 'Leisure and Design in the 20th Century'. That conference placed Middlesex right at the heart of the then newly-emerging discipline of design history.  In the current era of rapid prototyping and slow design, this is an opportunity to reflect on the changing nature of time in relation to design history. 

For more details please see the conference website.  Early bird booking is available until the end of July.


Downloads/ links

Conference Website