British Design from 1948: Innovation in the Modern Age

This landmark book celebrates the best of British design, documenting the transformation and impact of designers' work over the years between the post-war 'Austerity Games' of 1948 and the 2012 Olympics. As well as essays by leading curators and commentators, British Design from 1948 incorporates pieces by key practitioners (including Peter Saville, Barbara Hulanicki, Paul Smith and Tom Dixon) to build a comprehensive survey of over 350 of the finest examples of fashion and textiles, furniture, ceramics and glass, theatre design, graphics, photography, architecture, fine art and sculpture from this period. In addition to discussing works commissioned for official purposes, including the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the Festival of Britain, the book highlights the globally influential, and very British, counter-culture, from the sixties boutiques of Mary Quant and Ossie Clark through to the club cultures of Punk, the New Romantics and Rave.

Christopher Breward is Head of Research at the V&A and co-curator of the exhibition British Design 1948-2012. He is a widely published author on the history and culture of fashion. Ghislaine Wood is a curator specializing in twentieth-century art and design in the Research Department at the V&A. She has curated and co-curated several major exhibitions including Surreal Things (2007), Art Deco 1910-1939 (2003) and Art Nouveau 1890-1910 (2000).