The Work of Influential Designers

AQA GCSE Design and Technology (8552), Section 3.3, requires you to study the work of influential designers and understand how their designs have shaped the world. You should be able to discuss at least two designers, their key products, design philosophies and influence. This lesson covers several important designers from different design disciplines.

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Why Study Influential Designers?

• To understand how design philosophy shapes the products we use.
• To learn how designers solve problems creatively and innovatively.
• To appreciate the social, cultural and technological context in which designs are created.
• To inspire your own design work in the NEA.

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Philippe Starck (born 1949, France)

Design Philosophy

Philippe Starck believes that design should be democratic — good design should be affordable and accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy. He combines playfulness with function.

Key Products

Product	Year	Significance
Juicy Salif lemon squeezer (for Alessi)	1990	An iconic sculptural design that prioritises aesthetics over function — it is famously difficult to use as an actual juicer. Starck said it was "meant to start conversations."
Louis Ghost chair	2002	A transparent polycarbonate chair inspired by Louis XV furniture. Injection-moulded in one piece, affordable, stackable and recyclable. Sold over 1.5 million units.
Parrot Zik headphones	2012	Combined advanced technology (noise cancelling, Bluetooth) with elegant, ergonomic design
Broom chair (for Emeco)	2012	Made from 75% reclaimed wood waste and polypropylene — a sustainability-focused design

Exam-Relevant Points

• Starck challenges the idea that design must always be purely functional.
• He uses injection moulding and modern polymers to achieve affordable mass production.
• His work raises the question: should a product be functional, beautiful, or both?

AQA Exam Tip: When writing about Starck, focus on his philosophy of democratic design and his use of modern materials and manufacturing processes. Link his products to AQA topics like material selection and manufacturing.

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Sir James Dyson (born 1947, UK)

Design Philosophy

James Dyson is driven by engineering innovation and solving everyday problems. His approach is iterative — he famously made 5,127 prototypes of the DC01 cyclone vacuum cleaner before perfecting the design.

Key Products

Product	Year	Significance
DC01 cyclone vacuum	1993	First bagless vacuum cleaner. Used cyclonic separation instead of a bag — constant suction, no loss of performance as the bin fills.
Airblade hand dryer	2006	Dries hands in 10 seconds using a thin sheet of air at 690 km/h. 80% less energy than warm-air dryers.
Supersonic hairdryer	2016	Motor placed in the handle (not the head), making it lighter and better balanced. Intelligent heat control prevents heat damage.
Zone headphones	2022	Noise-cancelling headphones with air purification — addressing urban air quality and noise pollution simultaneously

Exam-Relevant Points

• Dyson's design process is a textbook example of iterative design — continual prototyping and testing.
• His products demonstrate how technology and engineering can solve real-world problems.
• Dyson invests heavily in R&D (research and development) — the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology trains future engineers.

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Vivienne Westwood (1941–2022, UK)

Design Philosophy

Vivienne Westwood was a pioneer of punk fashion and a passionate advocate for sustainability and political activism through design. Her philosophy: "Buy less, choose well, make it last."

Key Contributions