Design thinking between rationalism and romanticism

This article presents a longue durée history of modern design thought, with particular focus on recurrent ideological frictions.
Drawing on design history, design anthropology and cultural studies, the authors present an overview of more than 200 years of developments in European and North American design thought, from the formation of the modern design profession to the formation of a science of design. Shifts in the conceptualization and practice of 'design' are illustrated by a seismographic metaphor. The article contributes to the history of design thought by presenting the influence of specific, sociocultural configurations within the conceptualization of design.