Projecting British Design : the Design Council Slide Collection

The 100 images in this book are drawn from a vast archive of over 22,000 photographic slides created by the Council of Industrial Design (CoID), later renamed the Design Council. Founded in 1944 to promote British design and boost post-war exports, the CoID embraced 35mm colour slides as both an educational and promotional tool.

Over time, the collection of luminous transparencies became a visual record of the Council’s evolving priorities — from consumer products to engineering and technological innovation. Many slides depict award-winning designs showcased at the Design Centre in London, alongside examples of international ‘good design’.

In 1994, the Design Centre closed, and the slide archive was transferred to Manchester Metropolitan University, where over 13,000 images have since been digitised.

As interest in analogue photography resurges, this book celebrates the enduring beauty and significance of these slides in their original format.

'Looking through these slides is like peering into a luminous time capsule. A moment when design, colour and optimism were projected onto classroom walls and living room screens. For many, these images will stir fond memories: the click of a Kodak carousel, the hum of a projector, images of visionary objects; Sony Walkmans and Ford Fiestas. For younger readers, they offer a glimpse into an analogue world where design’s impact was already profound'. Minnie Moll

Images courtesy and copyright: The Design Council and Manchester Metropolitan University

Introduction: John Davis

Foreword: Minnie Moll, Chief Executive of the Design Council

Design: Thomas Steeles

116 Pages - colour

160mm x 160mm

ISBN 978-1-0682995-2-0