A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE - By Rona Arato

Industrial Design is both as old as humanity and as new as the
20th century. Humanity has always looked for ways to feed,
clothe and protect itself. When the first caveman carved a
stone into a spear, he engaged in design. Hunting, gathering
and cooking propelled geographically diverse societies to
produce similar tools, many of them in classic formats still in
use today.

Fast forward to the 20th century. The industrial revolution, which
turned agrarian societies into largely urban-based
populations, produced a virtually unlimited demand for
consumer goods. New manufacturing methods developed in
the late 1800s and early 1900s meant that products could be
mass-produced. New materials, manufacturing methods and
extended distribution routes allowed people to enjoy products
from distant places which, in turn, lead to an explosion of
global markets. Enter the modern Industrial Designer - a
marriage between artisan, engineer and production
consultant. Industrial Designers are trained professionals who
design for mass-production. In other words, where an artisan
hand-fashions one vase, an Industrial Designer figures out
how to mould hundreds or thousands for widespread
distribution.

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