Lucy Johnston – författare

The definitive celebration of the work, life and times of Sir Kenneth Grange (born 1929), one of the most revered, innovative and influential industrial designers of the modern age. 'You may not know the name Kenneth Grange, but you'll almost certainly know his work. He has designed just about everything' The Guardian The work of renowned design pioneer Sir Kenneth Grange (born 1929) has touched the lives of almost every consumer worldwide and has had a lasting influence on today’s younger designers, from Sir Jonathan Ive, Jasper Morrison and Marc Newson to Thomas Heatherwick and the founding brothers of Joseph Joseph. For decades, Grange’s iconic products – including the InterCity 125 train for British Rail, the TX1 London black taxi, domestic appliances for Kenwood, lighting for Anglepoise, cameras for Kodak, pens for Parker and post boxes for Royal Mail, among many others – have been at the centre of tastemaking and key to the establishment of Britain’s worldwide post-war reputation as an influential hub of design excellence. Based on a series of in-depth discussions between Grange and design specialist Lucy Johnston, and her exclusive access to his extensive archive, this illuminating book explores Grange’s biography and work as seen through his eyes, illustrated with sketches, letters, scale models and product photographs. The story is set in its social, political and creative context, introducing the figures who have inspired, commissioned and worked alongside Grange as his designs transformed Britain and the world and helped to shape our modern-day consumer culture.

This sumptuously illustrated book reveals the decorative seams, refined stitching, voluptuous drapery, strict corseting and slashing and stamping that make up some of the garments in the V&A’s superlative 19th-century fashion collection. With an authoritative text, exquisite colour photography of garment details and line drawings showing the complete construction of each piece, it gives the reader a unique opportunity to examine historical clothing that is often too fragile to be on display. It is an inspirational resource for students, collectors, designers and anyone who is fascinated by fashion and clothing.

Shoes is an inspiring, impeccably researched and concise history of footwear through the ages. After a general introduction, chronological chapters illustrated throughout retrace the history of footwear from the Middle Ages to today, featuring shoes and boots that once belonged to both anonymous and famous male and female wearers, from battered old ‘chimney shoes’ hidden away for good luck to the elegant styles of the Renaissance, from Elizabethan mules to the first stilettos. A detailed glossary, bibliography and index conclude the book.