Design Heritage: Concepts, Contexts, Politics

The symposium has three main aims:
1. To examine the interface of design and heritage, and design history and heritage studies. Much of the material we term ‘heritage’ is designed, from landscapes and buildings, to rituals and artefacts, but the people who study, disseminate and work with heritage are principally archaeologists, curators,
historians and educators. Design historians also study landscapes, buildings, rituals and artefacts among other things, albeit typically of the modern period. Our approach brings together the material of design and heritage and the expertise invested in studying and communicating about each of these, to explore their convergence and divergence to the benefit of all interested in design and heritage and their relationship, past, present and future.
2. To develop the research in progress for Design and Heritage: Concepts and Contexts, an edited collection which will provide the first extended study of the interface of two related phenomena, design and heritage, and their respective fields, design history and heritage studies. The book explores three key
themes: firstly, understanding the various concepts and terms related to heritage at play in different fields and regions; secondly, exploring the distinction between tangible and intangible heritages and what these categories mean for design history and design heritage, and thirdly, questioning ownership
and belonging, and the politics of design and heritage. Presenters will share work in progress – the proposed symposium will provide an opportunity for authors to engage with and receive feedback from the audience and share their work with one another.
3. Share our work on design and heritage with the Design History Society community, including design historians, heritage studies practitioners, students, contributors to our project and respondents.