Design history

For this project I dove into the rich history of design, from the late 19th century to the present day. I captured this development in sketchnotes: a visual way of taking notes in which drawing, text and composition come together.

On the first page of my booklet I placed the quote: “The importance of small steps.” I felt this sentence fit the subject perfectly. After all, the history of design did not come from one big moment, but from countless small steps, influences and shifts. Developments that sometimes seemed invisible at first, but eventually had a huge impact on how we design, think and live today.

For the cover of my booklet I chose to draw a stained-glass window. It stands for the idea that, as a viewer, you literally take a look back in time, as if you were looking into history through a window. The stained glass gives the whole an almost museum-like, timeless atmosphere and suits the layered nature of the subject.

The project was not just about collecting facts or styles, but about making connections, following my curiosity and discovering how the past still resonates in contemporary design. By drawing, structuring and selecting, I learned not only more about design history, but also how to communicate complex information in a creative and personal way.