The Design of Everyday Life

How do common household items such as basic plastic house wares or high-tech digital cameras transform our daily lives? The Design of Everyday Life considers this question in detail, from the design of products through to their use in the home. Drawing on interviews with consumers themselves, the authors look at how everyday objects, ranging from screwdrivers to photo management software, are used on a practical level. Closely investigating the design, production and use of mass-market goods, the authors offer new interpretations of how consumers' needs are met and manufactured. They examine the dynamic interaction of products with everyday practices. The Design of Everyday Life offers a fresh perspective on material culture, drawing crucial--and previously overlooked--links between design, consumption and use.

Elizabeth Shove is Professor of Sociology at Lancaster University.
Matthew Watson is Research Fellow in the Department of Geography at Durham University. Jack Ingram is Professor of Product Design at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, UCE. Martin Hand is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Queen's University in Canada.