Design History Society - Annual Review 2020-2021
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Design History Society Annual Review 2020-2021 Design History Society Appendix to the Trustees’ Prepared for the virtual Charitable Incorporated Annual Report 2021 Annual General Meeting, Organisation 1155117 September 2021
Annual General Meeting September 2021
Contents
08 Chair’s Introduction
20 Journal of Design History
24 Treasurer and Digital Secretary
26 Student Matters
30 Membership and Outreach
34 Communications
38 Teaching, Learning and Professional Development
40 Conference
42 Executive Committee and Ambassadors
43 JDH Editorial and Advisory Boards
44 Contacts
Appendix: Annual Statement from the Accountants
DHS Trustee Reports
DHS Annual Review 2021
Chair’s Introduction
Another extraordinary year has passed Amidst the ongoing volatility around These important first steps represent for our prizes. Our judge for the 2021
since the Trustees’ offered their travel and sensitive to the increased our ambitions to offer a free year-round Design Writing Prize, Jarrett Fuller, also
reflections in this review. Whilst so many precarity of employment amongst our calendar of activities where colleagues determined a prizeworthy submission.
have suffered tragic loss and hardship, community, the Trustees agreed with from around the world can meet to share We do warmly encourage colleagues
the Society has much for which to be Meret Ernst and Monica Gaspar, the and to develop our understanding of and from degree programmes worldwide to
thankful. We are delighted to have convenors of our DHS Annual conference aspirations for the discipline. nominate their students for these prizes
recruited committed and imaginative Memory Full? that they should harness and that we all consider submitting our
new Trustees and Editors to promote all the benefits of a virtual format in design writing in 2022.
the Charity’s aims and its journal’s 2021. We look forward to welcoming Grant-making and awards
excellence. Amidst the unprecedented established and prospective members The Society has also funded multiple
constraints and demands of the of the Society to their fascinating The Society has funded a spectrum virtual initiatives led by our Student
pandemic, these colleagues have conference programme. The Society is of important new research and Representative, DHS Ambassadors, and
sustained and enhanced our activities in also contributing a free programme of its dissemination through virtual Trustees. You can now view recordings
exciting and evolving ways. events for all (you do not have to register symposia and podcasts. The Society of the excellent virtual symposium
for the conference to join in) including offers a portfolio of three awards for Kitchen Power: National Parallels
a Student-Forum selected Keynote and undergraduate and postgraduate convened by Sorcha O’Brien last
DHS worldwide workshops, interactive small group students and five research grants for September with the National Museum
publishing workshops for prospective early career and established scholars. We of Ireland – Country Life in County Mayo
A highlight of the last year for me authors with Editors of the Journal of warmly encourage applications for our which was supported by a DHS Virtual
has been working together to create Design History and a round table with funding opportunities to host outreach Event Grant. Our congratulations to
engaging virtual programmes for editors of journals and presses across events and research symposia. The our DHS Ambassador, Gael Westhead,
our community with our students, the field reflecting on publishing and available funding amounts to £18,500. All who brought the splendid Light Switch
Trustees, Editors, and the design design history today. applications are now blind peer reviewed symposium to fruition in a virtual format
history community worldwide. The by three Trustees. In 2021, funding was in collaboration with the Science Gallery
reports in this review from our Student On behalf of the Society I have been given to fifteen proposals submitted Dublin last November. Our proposed
Representative, Tai Cossich, and our meeting regularly with cognate from applicants in the United Kingdom, Conference Liaison Trustee, Marta
Trustees for Teaching Learning and professional bodies to explore new North America and the European Union Filipová, convened the DHS Session at
Continuing Professional Development, potential collaborations and joint amounting to £6,957. (The projects and the 109th CAA conference (held virtually
Michaela Young and Fiona Anderson advocacy including the Council for lead proposers are listed in the table for the first time) on the topical theme of
(proposed to the AGM), and our Outreach Higher Education in Art and Design, which follows this introduction). We From Redevelopment to Responsability:
Trustee, Harriet McKay, capture the the International Association of remain ever hopeful that more students Environmentally (Un)friendly Design.
spectrum of engaging virtual events Word and Image Studies, the College and colleagues worldwide will apply for Our deep thanks to Zara Arshad, our
which have kept design historians Art Association and the Society of our support, please do spread the word! former DHS Communications Trustee,
worldwide in touch and inspired across Architectural Historians of Great Britain. for creating her podcast series entitled
multiple lockdowns and pressures. I warmly welcome colleagues from Although the challenges of the ongoing ‘Reverberations’ which the DHS was
These initiatives have been supported organisations worldwide who share our pandemic impacted on the number of proud to support with special funding
with energy and collegiality by our commitment to design history to have submissions received this year, we were and editing by Jenna Allsopp. Zara’s
administrator, Jenna Allsopp and our a conversation about opportunities to delighted that colleagues nominated fascinating interviews with nine
Communications Officer, Artun Özgüner. forge new initiatives. 13 undergraduate and postgraduate BIPOC colleagues eloquently capture
student essays for consideration underrepresented experiences and
8 9
DHS Annual Review 2021
perspectives within design history I read and assess every anonymised Hail and Farewell last months, Tony has already advised
and cognate cultural institutions application and proposal to provide on important enhancements to our
contributing meaningfully to reflections a baseline. All our application forms Each year several Editors and Trustees financial and grant-making reporting
and energies around decolonisation in now invite proposers to reflect upon complete their committed service for and audit trail documentation, as well
our field and beyond. and to demonstrate how their project which our sincere thanks. It is always as starting us on the path towards
might both encourage and include a bittersweet task to thank esteemed tendering for a major redesign of the
We do hope that all these excellent underrepresented histories and colleagues for all they have given to website.
initiatives and publications will inspire participants and avoid environmentally the Society, its journal and the field of
our members worldwide also to apply for damaging practices. design history. Gabriele Oropallo stepped down from
our portfolio of grants and awards. his role as Trustee responsible for
The creation and appointment of three We have been immensely honoured to Conference Liaison. Our thanks for his
new Editor roles for the Society’s journal have such an eminent and collegial continued close collaboration with our
Towards greater equity and afford us the opportunity to develop scholar leading the Journal of Design Swiss colleagues bringing the Memory
sustainability ‘new formats’. A key motivation for History these last six years. Penny Full? Conference hosted by the FHNW
this innovation has been to facilitate Sparke is a leading light in our field, her Academy of Art and Design in Basel to
One of my main ambitions during contributions from scholars from scholarship and vision has been central fruition. Marta Filipová is proposed to
my stewardship, as outlined in the under-represented communities and to its foundation and will remain so in the AGM to succeed him and during
2020 Annual Review, is to facilitate addressing research drawn from the its dynamic future. We are delighted to her secondment has already started
our community’s reflections around broadest spectrum of practices and propose Grace Lees-Maffei to the AGM facilitating our collaboration with
how the working practices of the geographies, as well as creating new as her able successor, no doubt taking the convenors of the 2022 and 2023
Society might identify and progress ways of presenting and publishing the journal forwards with energy and conferences.
strategies encouraging greater equity design history. commitment. Our Managing Editor,
and sustainability. It is a long journey Fiona Fisher, will also be stepping down Megha Rajguru brought tremendous
ahead, but I am hopeful that we have Moving forwards, the Society has from her careful oversight in the autumn energy to her role as Teaching and
already made some important first steps committed to assessing and to reducing and we are currently seeking a colleague Learning Trustee for which we are all
towards making the Society a fairer and its environmental impact amidst to undertake this vital role. We are also grateful. Recognising the vital impact of
more impactful Charity. the Climate Emergency. Our annual proposing six new colleagues for the this area of activity for the Charity, we
conference will be hybrid, thereby Editorial and Advisory Boards to the AGM reframed the remit also to encompass
I am very grateful to our administrator encouraging virtual participation of whom Penny introduces in her report in Continuing Professional Development.
Jenna Allsopp and all the Trustees for equal standard to in-person attendance this Annual Review. We are proposing the appointment
embracing the additional administrative accessing a global community of of two new Trustees, Fiona Anderson
burdens required to achieve a fully blind scholars without recourse to long-haul Lisa Godson stepped down from the and Michaela Young, to the AGM who
review process and decision-making aviation. We will be continuing with our vital Trustee role of Treasurer; she very during their secondment have already
documentation for every element of ‘hot desk’ relationship with 70 Cowcross kindly continued in post for several developed an engaging new programme
our grant making and prizegiving. Street, rather than returning to a formal months whilst the bank mandate was of virtual events alongside our long-
All applications, be they for grants, office space. We will continue to hold our transferred. We are proposing Tony standing provision of Student and Early
awards, Trustee or Editorial roles, are quarterly Executive Committee, Editorial Presland to the AGM to take on an Career Researcher Research Grants,
blind reviewed and involve at least Board, and AGM meetings virtually. enlarged role, encompassing both the Conference Bursaries, Design Writing
two Trustees to mitigate against any duties of Treasurer and a new remit as and Essay Prizes. Our sincere thanks
potential unintended bias. As Chair, Digital Secretary. Whilst seconded these to Grace Ranola at OUP for all her kind
10 11
DHS Annual Review 2021
energy and diligence; we welcome subscriptions and there have been visual and material cultures amongst Student Forum, JDH Editors and our
Martha Bailes as her successor. 36,992 full-text downloads of Journal a wider public as well as our respective community of scholars together in 2022.
articles. communities of scholars. On Saturday
25 September at 12.30 hrs GMT, the DHS Navigating enormous uncertainty on
Finances As the 2020 Memory Full? conference is hosting ‘Design History and African many fronts sadly remains a daily
convened by our colleagues in Basel Diasporas’, a conversation with Christine experience for all of us. Nonetheless,
In the appendix to this annual review, was postponed until this September Checinska, V and A curator of the ‘Africa our aspiration is that this annual review
you will find the formal annual report and made virtual, the costs for that Fashion’ exhibition planned for 2022, encourages everyone to feel hopeful
prepared by our Accountants for undertaking have yet to be finalised Michaela Young, and Cher Potter to as well. What a lot of creativity and
the Charity Commission. It is with and paid, but even with this further be live streamed (hopefully alongside solidarity has been flowered amidst so
great relief, and with gratitude to the expenditure we forecast that there an in-person event) at the National much sadness, loss, and precarity.
Trustees and Editors for support, that should be sufficient funding to finance Gallery London. As part of the Festival’s
I can confirm that the Society has a redevelopment of the Society’s web weeklong virtual programme, I will be I wish each and all of you well in your
stabilised its finances as proposed in presence enhancing our portal to hosting a virtual conversation about mind, body, and heart. Let us remain
my introduction to last year’s review. We world, improving the dialogue with our this DHS informal public history project: hopeful for ever better days and talk
have not only secured and ring-fenced community and access to our growing ‘Remembering Things’ on Wednesday 22 together about how to make them
the minimum recommended reserves of archive of podcasts, symposia, and September at 18.00 hrs GMT. Facilitated happen in the years ahead.
one year’s operating costs, but also done keynote lectures. through this portal attractively designed
so whilst greatly enhancing our year- by Artun Özgüner, the project invites
round calendar of activities as you will everyone to share an image and their Claire O’Mahony, Chair of the Design
have discerned, alongside sustaining The year ahead memory of an everyday day object. The History Society
our traditional commitments to grant DHS will curate these contributions
making, the annual conference, and the The DHS hopes to provide a lively through its Instagram account over the
journal. programme of opportunities to meet and following months.
to shape our discipline. The Association
From Jan-June 2020 the Journal had for Art History and the National Gallery In the autumn, the DHS is hosting a
2,002 institutional and 105 individual London approached me to facilitate number of virtual events including
Society member subscribers; full- the inclusion of design history in a new a round table emerging from the
text downloads of Journal articles ‘Festival of the Arts’ they are convening Reverberations podcast series and
amounted to 38,854. As of 30 June 2021, from 21 to 25 September 2021. The a half-day symposium convened by
2,213 institutional and 82 individual project seeks to encourage engagement Robert Lizcar of Berne Academy of the
Society members have renewed their with histories of a diverse spectrum of Arts examining design histories in a
global context, through the themes of ‘A
legacy of modern typography’ and ‘Post-
national design histories’ on 6 October
2021 (14.00-18.00 hrs GMT). Do read
the report from our tirelessly inventive
Student Representative, Tai Cossich,
in this review to learn more about her
new DHS Reading Groups bringing the
12 13DHS Annual Review 2021
Awards and grants given by the DHS January - June 2021
Award Recipient Project funded
Joe Zataar £ 500 Originally to fund a presentation at DOCOMOMO2020+1 in Tokyo Japan:
Equity, Diversity, and PhD Candidate, Preservation of Architectural Heritage "Modernist heritage in danger today. The case of the International and Permanent Fair of
Inclusion Strategic Award at Politecnico di Milano Lebanon in Tripoli by Oscar Niemeyer" some of these funds were redeployed to support
research trip to archives in Libya and Lebanon when the conference went virtual.
Janelle Rebel £300 contribution towards production subvention costs of paper, printing and
Curator of the Brizdle-Schoenberg Special Collections binding of monograph, Bibliographic Performances and Surrogate Readings.
Center, Ringling College of Art and Design
Jessica Kelly £750 contribution towards publisher’s subvention of image publishing for
Research Degree Leader and Senior Lecturer in monograph, No More Giants: J.M. Richards, modernism and The Architectural Review, 1933-
Contextual and Theoretical Studies, University for the 1971.
Creative Arts
Research Publication Sara Hume £800 contribution towards publisher’s subvention of colour plates and indexing
Grant Curator/Associate Professor, Kent State University for monograph, Regional Dress: Between Tradition and Modernity.
Museum
Charlotte Ashby £930 subsidy of production costs to allow for 20 colour and 32 black and white
Dep of History of Art, Birkbeck, University of London illustrations for edited volume of essays, Nordic Design in Translation: the circulation
and of objects, ideas and practices.
Shona Kallestrup
Associate Lecturer, School of Art History, University of
St Andrews
Vaibhav Singh £500 to cover travel and accommodation costs for research trip to India for online
Research Exhibition
Independent researcher digital exhibit and repository, Picturing practice: people, places, and print artefacts in
Grant
South Asia - trip delayed amidst pandemic.
Megan Brandow-Faller £300 towards the purchase of rare secondary and primary source material for two
Associate Professor of History, City University of New peer reviewed essays on the subject of Emmy Zweybrück-Prochaska and the Cult of
York Child Creativity.
Research Access Grant
(Professional)
Carey Gibbons £370 to cover travel costs to Vancouver for archival research for monograph, Pre-
Visiting Assistant Professor, History of Art and Raphaelite Illustration Beyond Narrative.
Design, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
14 15DHS Annual Review 2021
Awards and grants given by the DHS January - June 2021 (continued)
Award Recipient Project funded
Vanessa Vande Berghe £500 contribution to cover travel costs to present paper, ‘‘"Transformation" and
PhD Candidate, Modern Interiors Research Centre, "Hybridity": The modern interior and Orientalist Imagery’ at ‘Race and the Space
Kingston University London Between, 1914-1945’ conference at Virginia Commonwealth University. Conference
cancelled so no funds claimed.
Research Access Award Erica Tso £500 to cover travel costs for research trip to Japan for thesis, Moga as the Epitome
(Student) PhD Candidate, History of Art, University of of Interwar Japanese Femininity: A Comparative Study of Print Culture in Japan and Britain.
Birmingham Trip delayed amidst pandemic.
Sophia Tai £245 to cover UK travel for MA archival research, A systematic visual analysis of the
Master of Arts Communication Design: Typeface Tamil script.
Design Pathway, University of Reading
Genevieve Drinkwater and Freya Purcell £150 to cover domain hosting and Twitter advertising for Word on the Street, a
Virtual Event Award
MA students, History of Design, V&A/RCA digitally-mapped archive of crowdsourced photos created in the wake of the 2020
(Student)
pandemic.
16 17DHS Annual Review 2021
Awards and grants given by the DHS January - June 2021 (continued)
Jenna Allsopp Mariana Leão Moreira da Cunha
PhD Candidate, University of Brighton PhD Candidate, Universidad Complutense Madrid
Zara Arshad Jennifer McHugh
PhD Candidate, University of Brighton/V&A PhD Candidate, Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton
Tai Cossich Petra Seitz
PhD Candidate, RCA MA student, Architectural and Urban History and Theory, UCL
Fleur Elkerton Joana Sofia Baptista Costa
Student/ Precariously MA Student, V&A/RCA Research member of I2ADS
Employed Speaker
Karen Fraser Anna Talley
Bursary for Annual
Assistant Lecturer, University of Alberta PhD Candidate, University of Edinburgh
Conference
(£52 registration fee for Andrea Foffa Alex Todd
2021 DHS conference PhD Candidate, Kingston University PhD Candidate, University of Brighton
Memory Full?)
Felicity Hall
Leanne Tonkin
PhD Candidate, Kingston University
PhD Candidate, Nottingham Trent University
Hannah Kempster
Gael Welstead
MA, Human Centred Design at Common Thread
Denise Lai
MA Student, V&A/RCA
Design Writing Prize
and Student Essay Prize
Winners to be announced at conference £176 registration fee for 2021 DHS conference Memory Full?
(undergraduate and
postgraduate)
18 19DHS Annual Review 2021
Journal of Design History
The Journal of Design History (JDH) is mooted. The members of the Editorial New board members and Clive and Toshio for their service and
owned by the Design History Society Board have continued to work as normal succession planning support over many years. Our new
(DHS). Founded in 1988, it has been during the pandemic preparing material colleagues will help us expand our
published since then by Oxford for the Journal in conjunction with the The most significant change to the international reach significantly and we
University Press (OUP) under a five-year staff members at OUP. Volume 33, issue Editorial Board this year has been the look forward to their input over the next
renewable contract that agrees equal 4 was regrettably delayed until February addition of three new members – Sarah few years.
profit share between OUP and the DHS. this year, although the time lost was Cheang (Royal College of Art, London);
Four issues are published annually. The largely regained as Volume 34, issue 1 Livia Rezende (University of New South The post of Chair of the Editorial Board
profits generated by the JDH are used was published online in March. Both the Wales, Sydney, Australia); and Jane was advertised, and interviews planned
to promote study and research in the September 2020 and the January 2021 Tynan (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the for the Spring. No applications were
history of design, both in the UK and meetings of the Editorial Board were held Netherlands). Their collective brief is to received initially but a subsequent
internationally. OUP’s budget for 2021 online. extend the work of Zoe Hendon (whose expression of interest will be confirmed
predicts an income to the DHS of £74,772. remit was to focus on contributions at the AGM. I will remain in post until
relating to Archives, Collections and October 1st 2021, with follow through
Although there have been several staff Special Issues and Virtual Special Curatorship, and to whom we would until the end of the year. The Chair
changes at OUP, Grace Ranola continues Issues like to extend enormous thanks for her Elect is currently leading the selection
to be our main point of contact and considerable contribution to the Journal) process for the new Managing Editor,
we would like to thank her for all her A special issue based on the 2018 and to facilitate the publications of succeeding Fiona Fisher, who will also
hard work undertaken on behalf of the New York conference – Design and more ‘new formats’. This extension of step down on 1st October. Four other
Journal. The Covid-19 pandemic has Displacement – which Sarah Lichtman the conventional format of the Journal to editorial board members will also step
inevitably been challenging and I would is co-editing with Jilly Traganou, and include a range of new types of ‘writing’ down later this year.
like to express my enormous gratitude, for which Claire O’Mahony is acting as is one of the most important shifts to
on behalf of us all, to Fiona Fisher (as the assigned editor, is in process, while, have occurred in its history. It will enable
managing editor); to the team at OUP; together with Esther Cleven, Jeremy the publication of work that has hitherto Open Access
and to all the editors, for keeping the Aynsley is working on a special issue been excluded thereby widening access
momentum going over the last difficult on the Bauhaus based on papers given to the Journal. Open Access continues to be a challenge.
year and a half. We have managed to at the 2019 Newcastle conference. Two Grace Ranola recently confirmed to us
keep the Journal production (almost) papers from the convenors of the 2021 We have also appointed some new that, ‘OUP plans to ensure our journals
to schedule and, most importantly, to Basel conference, Memory Full? are also members of the Advisory Board, while are compliant with Coalition S funders
maintain its quality. in the pipeline. Several virtual special some long standing members have wherever possible through either a)
issues proposed by editorial board stood down. Fredie Floré from the being a fully OA journal, or b) through
Given the challenges presented to members have also been formally University of Leuven; Helena Kaberg Read and Publish deals (for hybrid
production and sales by the Covid-19 approved including Typographic Histories from the National Museum, Stockholm; journals). The discussions are ongoing.
pandemic we have been asked to (Priscila Farias and Jeremy Aynsley) Ana Maria Fernandez Garcia from
consider cutting some costs by only Histories of Fashion and Textile Design the University of Oviedo; and Deidre
publishing our book reviews online and (Rebecca Houze); and Gender and Design Pretorius from the University of Social media
moving to printing the Journal digitally. History (Sarah Lichtman). Johannesburg have agreed to join the
We have agreed to try the latter later Board, while Clive Dilnot and Toshio Sorcha O’Brien continues to lead the
this year. The idea of moving from four Watanabe are stepping down. We would journal’s social media communications
to three issues a year has also been like to take this opportunity to thank with the aims of encouraging high
20 21DHS Annual Review 2021
quality submissions; promoting content
to engage wider audiences with the work
of the Journal; and spreading knowledge
about the connection between the DHS
and the JDH.
As this is my last annual report as
Chair of the Editorial Board, I’d like to
say thank you to everyone I’ve been in
contact with over the last five years
for making my time at the Journal so
rewarding and enjoyable.
Penny Sparke, Chair of the Editorial Board,
Journal of Design History
22 23DHS Annual Review 2021
Teaching, Learning and Professional Development
This is slightly shorter report than usual will limit the potential losses to the Progressing this work may become
because of significant issues which Society and in balance also limit the easier as the financial work reduces. The
hampered the transfer of control and profits that might be accrued. Given the improved financial position offers some
payment duties from Dr Lisa Godson past history of conference funding this opportunities to consider a range of
to the new Treasurer. This was entirely seems an appropriate safeguard. options for development.
due to Barclays’ failure to manage In addition, and with excellent support
the mandate transfer process which from the Chair and Administrator efforts Linked to the Grants work some
was only resolved when the formal are being put in place to generate further thinking has been developed
complaint process was invoked by the standardised documents for repeating to ensure that all grant recipients fully
Chair. Transfer was fully effected in April activities such as invoices along with acknowledge DHS funding in any digital
2021 and much thanks are due to Dr updates to Grant Awards and the like content created through the Grant
Godson for her continued willingness to to ensure that the Society’s support is funded activity, including adding the
undertake duties well beyond the end of reflected in the work that is helping to DHS logo to web sites and identifying
her formal tenure. fund. the funding in podcasts and so on.
Confirmation of the willingness of the
The annual accounts for the JDH have applicant to abide by this request should
Treasurer’s work been received and approved. There is a be a factor in any award decisions.
very small increase in the overall 20-21
Following successful transfer of income compared to 2019-20. This is due Tony Presland, Treasurer and Digital
authority and duties much of the to an increase in open access revenue Secretary
Treasurer’s time, with much support and some cost management on behalf
from the DHS Administrator, has been of OUP which has offset a reduction in
targeted at bringing the accounting subscription income. While this is very
system (Xero) records in line with welcome it highlights the underlying
Barclays details, including reinstating concern about long term income from
the automated link between the two the Journal.
systems. This provides a more ‘real time’
view of current assets and liabilities.
In addition, a standardised approach Digital work
to agreeing and making payments
has been implemented which revolves Very limited work has been undertaken
around a weekly payment cycle. This on improvements to the core DHS
should ensure that key suppliers, staff website. Some efforts have been made
and grant recipients are paid in good to understand requirements for a
time. refreshed site and there are a number
of common themes coming forward
Work has been undertaken to consider but more work is needed to turn these
the financial risks associated with materials into a set of requirements
conferences and Memorandums of capable of being used for a tender.
Understanding for future conferences
24 25DHS Annual Review 2021
Student Matters
DHS student-led events April 13, 2021 / DHS and social media hope others would have too. The initial
-With Gael Welstead, Jenna Allsopp, programme was nothing more than August 14, 2021 / Dear penpal — Karen
1. Looking back — DHS Virtual Student Artun Özgüner a grid, with dates, themes, talented Fraser, Felicity Hall, Fleur Elkerton
Forum 2020-21 -Chaired by Jennifer McHugh people, and an obvious sense of urgency Meet-up session
that showed in improvised elements of
Students have shown extraordinary 15 attendees our plans. It allowed us, nonetheless, August 14, 2021 / Oral histories of
resilience since the start of the Event not recorded to slowly sharpen our tools whilst researching (session 1) — Andrea Foffa
pandemic in all corners of the world, and envisioning the future of the society’s Community-building session
it was no different in the Design History student-led virtual activities. In the
Society. I feel honoured to represent a June 1, 2021 / Lightning talks: Design + process, I have been determined to August 21, 2021 / Oral histories of
constituency who, in the midst of the History + Practice ensure incoming students are welcomed, researching (session 2, poster) — Anna
life changing events of 2020, showed -With Jennifer McHugh given the opportunity to meet each Talley, Alex J Todd, Jennifer McHugh
remarkable commitment to the DHS: other and to participate in forthcoming Hands-on workshop session
with short notice, students more 19 attendees students’ initiatives. Moving forward, I
immediately involved with the society Video will be made available on YouTube am enthusiastic about strengthening Details of the programme were
(ambassadors, recent award and writing shortly this nascent community and making it published on dedicated webpage. Each
prize winners) ensured we were able to ever more welcoming. session generated a set of "lasting
offer to our larger community a series of outcomes" that were displayed on a
bimonthly events between the society’s Details about the events and speakers "pop-up digital archive."
2020 and 2021 general meetings. were posted to a webpage specially 2. Moving forward — DHS Student
designed to display the programme. Forum at Memory Full?
Here is a recap of the 2020-21 round of I found the dedicated page a useful Acknowledgements
student-led events: means of assembling and updating A second round of activities led by
information. Prior to each event, students will take place in August I am indebted to everyone who has
October 20, 2020 / Design in Quarantine the relevant information could be 2021, as a warm up for the 2021 DHS helped make the student-led events
-With Fleur Elkerton and Anna Talley conveniently gathered from the Annual Conference. In response to the happen: Jenna Allsopp; Fleur Elkerton;
-Chaired by Jennifer McHugh page and replicated in the society’s conference’s theme "Memory Full? Andrea Foffa; Karen Fraser; Felicity Hall;
website. It also allowed us to work in Reimagining the relations between Denise Lai; Artun Özgüner; Anna Talley;
37 attendees two rounds of announcements: earlier design and history," two workshops and Alex J Todd; Gael Welstead. In particular,
75 views on YouTube to date publication of the website with overview one meet-up session explored the motto I am grateful to Jennifer McHugh who
of the programme; followed by later "Forget-Full?", a reference to students chaired and helped plan the 2020-21
announcements for each event through discussions had, during preparatory round of activities. Jennifer’s report of
February 2, 2021 / What is a design the society’s website. meetings, about material practices her experience with the DHS can be read
historian that produce erasure, ostracism, in the society’s blog.
-With Andrea Foffa, Denise Lai, Alex J. Looking back, I am glad to say the DHS forgetfulness.
Todd Virtual Student Forum 2020-21 was The degree of trust Claire O’Mahony and
-Chaired by Jennifer McHugh a rewarding space for experimenting Sandra Bischler, student representative the DHS Trustees put in our ability to
different formats, skills, and approaches from the conference’s team in Basel, and step up to the challenges brought about
41 attendees to holding virtual events — I have I liaised closely with other volunteers to by the "zoom-turn" was truly humbling
33 views on YouTube to date personally learned a great deal, and I prepare and conducted these sessions: and a source of encouragement —
26 27DHS Annual Review 2021
speaking for all students, I sincerely interested in developing a proposal, and Space Between, 1914-1945 in Virginia, USA:
thank them for their continuous support. those interested in dropping in for the ‘"Transformation" and "Hybridity:" The
reading sessions only. modern interior and Orientalist Imagery’.
To the Memory Full? convenors and the (£500 awarded to contribute towards
DHS Conference Liaison, I express my flight costs). Vanessa Vanden Berghe,
deepest gratitude, for encouraging Student awards — Research Access Ph.D Student, Kingston University.
the involvement of students in the Award and Virtual Event Award
conference and for acknowledging
the community-building role of our I continue to promote the student Tai Cossich, Student Representative
activities. Their offer for students awards by preparing promotional
to curate a keynote speaker for the material for our social media channels,
conference was truly humbling. In the and ensuring the events of the DHS
process, my determination has been to Student Forum include spaces to talk
ensure ample consultation and direct about the awards and to listen to past
participation of students (whilst keeping awardees: All 2020 awardees have been
an eye on the deadlines). Furthermore, invited to present their work as part of
Monica and Meret could not have the forum’s activities; and the DHS and
appointed a better liaison: working Social Media event on April 13, 2021,
with Sandra Bischler has been a great included a session, led by Jenna Allsopp,
pleasure. specially dedicated to the awards.
I also continue to support the awards
3. Further ahead — Reading groups submission and evaluation process
in liaison with the DHS Chair, Claire
Commencing in January 2022, the DHS O’Mahony. The student proposals
will host two student-led reading groups awarded in the last funding streams are
with monthly meetings. This initiative listed on the Chair’s report. In the last
aims to support emerging researchers round of funding streams, the following
interested in developing their ideas student proposals were awarded:
through debate and peer-review in a
friendly environment. Word on the Street. A digitally-mapped
archive of crowdsourced photos created
Participants of two initial groups will in the wake of the 2020 pandemic. (£150
work together on a panel proposal, to awarded to cover domain registration,
be considered for presentation at the Twitter advertising and software
DHS 2022 Annual Conference, and will subscription). Genevieve Drinkwater and
collaborate with each other to develop Freya Purcell, MA students, History of
their work to publication standards. Design, V&A/RCA.
The reading groups are open to all: those Paper presentation at Race and the
28 29DHS Annual Review 2021
Membership and Outreach
2020 has provided the occasion to A major new initiative for the DHS
reflect upon how the Society might outreach programme has been the
open up to a non-member audience initiation of an on-going collaboration
and to attract attention, and further with The Africa Centre London. The
membership, from an interested but not Centre re-opens in spring 2022 and
necessarily academic following. Whilst a series of joint activities are being
it is vital that we retain our primary planned for rolling out online and in Membership and subscription type as a percetage of total
remit as a learned society it is proposed The Africa Centre’s Southwark venue
that going forward, the Society make spaces. In particular we are very excited
every effort to increase inclusivity and by the opportunities that this new
broaden its demographic reach in the UK relationship affords for thinking about
and globally. the groundswell of all number of design
initiatives on the African continent.
The series of events planned for the
remainder of 2021 have been designed
with this ambition in mind. Harriet McKay, Membership and Outreach
Officer
Swiss Spotlights – September 2021
This series of micro-talks was designed
to be screened on Instagram Live during
the week of the Design History Society
Conference as a fringe event. It offers
5 minute ‘infotainment’ talks which
share a view of a few key Swiss designs
such as Helvetica and Victorinox. The
series has been conceived of as a means
of extending a welcome to different
audiences, to advertise the society and
invite low-key and easily accessible
opportunities for commentary and
feedback from the general public.
This approach will also provide the
format for outreach events to be
announced early autumn 2021 which
will form part of the Festival of Arts
programme during the week of
September 20th.
30 31DHS Annual Review 2021
Membership and subscription by type: January - June 2021 Membership and subscription by country YTD January - June 2021
individual members
Membership and subscription by type: January - Decemeber 2020
32 33DHS Annual Review 2021
Communications
This AGM completes my second year I focus on Instagram and Twitter. As CO the DHS Virtual Student Forum and the
in this role as the Communications I continue to believe that Instagram is April funding stream. Along with the
Officer (CO) of the Society. Continuing full of potential to reach out a diverse DHS administrator, we seek to reflect all
from spring 2020, this year too has been audience in vibrant and lively visual activities and funding opportunities of
challenged with transition to virtual formats and therefore my efforts have the Society in a timely manner on Twitter
platforms, and making the efforts of the mostly been on this platform this year. as well as other channels.
Society in reaching out as effective as Our DHS Ambassador Gael Welstead
possible under these new circumstances organised an Instagram takeover by On the DHS Facebook channels, the DHS
imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A our postgraduate Student Essay Prize administrator has succesfully gained
year after the surge of the pandemic, I Award winner, Karen Fraser who shared back admin rights for the group which
am confident to say that it has taught her research experiences from her was so far run anonymously and the
as many lessons on making our efforts travels to France in an engaging manner. sharp increase in the audience there
more sustainable and inclusive in The takeover by Hannah Kempster, testifies to the accurate and coherent
trying to reach out a wider audience of the undergraduate Student Essay information flow Allsopp oversees.
students, researchers, academics and Prize Award winner, is currently being
practitioners from all corners of the organised. I am content to see that in
globe. the last year such efforts have resulted DHS Podcasts
in an increase by more than half in our
As the CO of the Society, my main areas Instagram audience, doubling the 2020 In other news, I have worked to totally
of activity usually fall within daily growth rate of our Instagram audience. revamp the DHS Podcasts visual identity
updates on the website, maintaining a It is likely that the takeovers by the DHS to comply with the DHS corporate image.
lively social media presence on Twitter awardees and the promotion of the blog The channel now has its own logo and
and Instagram; publishing the quarterly reports through Instagram stories have customizable tag images for each of
newsletter; and liaising with the DHS all played a part in this expansion of the speakers of the podcast episodes.
Ambassadors. As ever, we have sought the audience. These Instagram events The Society considers DHS Podcasts to
to carry out these activities with a more will continue to engage more DHS become a vibrant new media channel
content-aware approach, paying equal awardees, students, scholars and/or to reach out its audience on pressing
attention to the brand value of the DHS, trustees, and practitioners. We wish to matters around the wider discipline.
thanks to the coordinated efforts of all continue exploring new ways to integrate Therefore a more pertinent visual
members of the executive board, the DHS Instagram to the activities of the Society branding was necessary for the channel.
Ambassadors and our administrator in more interactive and outreaching The DHS podcasts can now be streamed
Jenna Allsopp. ways. online via Spotify and iTunes as well.
The Society has continued to improve
Social Media its presence on Twitter. From July 2020
on, we have added 500 new followers
The upkeep of social media channels to reach a total of 3,910 followers. The
continues to be shared with the DHS highest increase of followers occurred
administrator who oversees the feed on between February and April 2021,
Facebook and Linkedin accounts, while pointing to some extent to the effect of
34 35DHS Annual Review 2021
DHS social network presence DHS Website and Blog more pertinently with our social media
activity whilst they are utilising their
Followers Followers award.
The DHS website is being updated on an
2019-20 2020-21
almost daily basis to provide an accurate
Twitter 3383 3910 information flow on the activities and
funding opportunities of the Society. DHS Ambassadors
Along with DHS administrator Jenna
Facebook
749 1455 Allsopp, we continue to dedicate more A highlight of this year was our DHS
(group)
content to non-profit events, calls, and Ambassador Gael Welstead’s one-day
Facebook 2059 promotions, keeping our doors open to symposium, titled "Light Switch: an
2015
(page) (+1935 likes) the larger community. In the upcoming online symposium exploring the loss of
year our focus will be placed on exploring darkness," held in the Dublin Science
Linkedin 1726 1905 new ways to rebuild the DHS website Gallery on 28 November. Delayed many
as a more interactive and inclusive times due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
communication channel, along with the the final virtual format of the event
Instagram / help of the Digital Secretary. encompassed ideas from multiple
331 530
Ambassadors disciplines that observed electric light
This year we had a decrease in our blog and its impact on our everyday lives.
report feed, prompted by the postponing Speakers included design historians
Quarterly Newsletter of the annual conference Memory Full? Sorcha O’Brien and Lisa Godson,
The DHS newsletter plays a crucial and the consequential lack of the historian Kristin Hussey, chronobiologist
role in the Society’s transparent Conference Student or Precariously Andrew Coogan alongside physicist
communications strategy to all Employed Bursary awardees. The blog Brian Espey and architect Donal
members, delegates and subscribers. reports are penned by the Society’s Lally. I wish to offer my gratitude to
In May 2020 there were a total of 1032 awardees and they offer an invaluable Gael for bringing together such an
subscribers to the DHS newsletter, which insight into the richness of the research invaluable group of speakers and a
at the time of writing (July 2021) counts the Society supports through its many vibrant discussion around the material
1221 subscribers in a steady increase. The funding pathways. We will therefore implications of electric lighting.
level of engagement with the newsletter continue to make the DHS blog more
varied this year with 60 percent of the visible and interactive as a showcase of Last but not the least, I wish to thank
audience being highly engaged, and a these invaluable contributions to history all our three retiring Ambassadors, Gael
20 percent being moderately engaged in of design and material culture that the Wesltead, Andrea Foffa and Alex Todd for
the content of the newsletter. Together Society seeks to encourage and promote. their contributions to the Society in the
with the help of the Chair and the DHS Increasing the visibility of the blog last two years. This autumn the DHS will
administrator we will continue to explore reports via Instagram story posts have be launching a new call for this role.
a more inclusive and engaging content enabled us to showcase our awardees
that offers a full account of both the and their research, aiming to inform and
Society’s activities and news from our encourage more applicants to consider Emin Artun Özgüner, Communications
global community. DHS funding pathways. Therefore, in the Officer
future we aim to engage our awardees
36 37DHS Annual Review 2021
Teaching and Learning
After three years as Teaching and prompted by the global pandemic, Workshops to discuss their ideas for articles with
Learning Officer Megha Rajguru’s term we have aimed to maximise the editors from the JDH, getting feedback
came to an end in January 2021. Megha opportunities available to expand the Teaching and Learning Design History on the abstracts they submitted as part
made significant contributions to Society’s reach, inclusivity and influence. in the Virtual Space of the workshop. The second virtual
the work of the DHS, including sitting workshop will address the theme
as a member of the DHS Equalities In May 2021, we launched our first series ‘The Current and Future Landscape of
Working Group, co-convening the 2020 Essay Prizes and Design Writing of events under the theme Teaching and Publishing Design History.’ It is aimed
DHS College Arts Association panel Prize Learning Design History in the Virtual Space. at experienced researchers, early career
‘Decolonising Design History’ and The first event Meeting the Challenges researchers and postgraduate students
acting as DHS liaison to Zara Arshad We organised and promoted the two of Virtual Teaching took place on 21 May and there is no limit on the number of
in the delivery of her podcast series, Student Essay Prizes and the Design followed by Student-centred Learning international participants. The Editor of
‘Shifting Perspectives: Decolonising Writing Prize, which all had extended Strategies (4 June), Virtual Learning: the JDH, Penny Sparke and Editors from
Design History.’ In addition, she oversaw submission dates to account for the Museums and Heritage (18 June) and other leading publishers will give 5-7
the re-launching of the Design Writing impact of Covid-19. In order to encourage Virtual Learning: Archives and Objects (2 minute position papers before joining
and Student Essay prizes. Megha also high quality submissions, we have July). The series saw 16 design historians, a 30 minute roundtable discussion
organised a number of successful events undertaken a range of promotional teachers, curators and practitioners and question and answer session. The
during her term, including the Annual activities, including recording a podcast share their experiences of transitioning final workshop in the series will be a
Publishing Workshop and Objects on the Design Writing Prize. This to the virtual space. Participants from virtual ‘Meet the Editors Drinks Evening’.
Matter: Design Education and Learning podcast, available on the DHS website, a multiplicity of contexts worldwide Participants had the opportunity to
through Objects in the Museum. We comprises a conversation with this allowed us to map a variety of informally discuss an idea for a journal
would like to thank Megha for all her year’s Guest Judge, Jarret Fuller about challenges, responses and innovations article, book, or other publication with
hard work and significant contributions his professional practice, the practice of across our disciplines, career stages and one of these editors and receive their
to expanding the field of Design History. design writing and the Society’s Design institutions. advice.
Writing Prize. Jarrett Fuller is a New
We took over the Teaching, Learning and York-based designer, writer, educator, Elli Michaela Young and Fiona Anderson,
Continuing Professional Development editor and the host of the Scratching Annual Publishing Workshop Teaching, Learning and Continuing
Officer role as a job-share in January the Surface podcasting website on Professional Development Officers
2021. Our aims have included continuing design. Amidst the pandemic, the This year’s publishing workshop
to expand the international reach of Society’s promotional efforts prompted developed into three virtual events
DHS events and to encourage interest 12 submissions for the Undergraduate spread over two days. These sessions
in and submissions for the Design Essay Prize, 1 submission for the are linked to the Memory Full? annual
Writing prize beyond the Society’s Design Writing Prize, and 1 submission DHS conference, hosted virtually at
existing membership and networks. for the Postgraduate Essay Prize. All FNHW Academy of Art and Design, Basel,
We have also focused on contributing submissions were anonymised before Switzerland in September 2021. The
to the wider strategic initiatives of being blind reviewed by two Trustees first workshop will introduce MA, PhD
the Society by organising workshops not affiliated with the author or their students and Early Career Researchers
aimed at practitioners and museum institution. Winners will be announced to how peer-review processes and
professionals, as well as students, at the Prizegiving and AGM on Friday 3 writing successful abstracts fit into the
academic researchers and lecturers. September at 17.00-18.00 hrs GMT via wider contexts of academic publishing.
Through our virtual activities, initially Zoom. Participants will have an opportunity
38 39DHS Annual Review 2021
Conference
The global pandemic has directly Apart from the panels and workshops, a Conferences. The DHS trustees and JDH also allows new ways of collecting
affected many DHS events, including virtual bookfair and a virtual exhibition editors selected the host of the 2022 and preserving recordings of keynote
the Annual Conference, presenting a tour are part of the event. The welcome, Annual Conference and agreed on a speeches and talks, which will reach new
number of new challenges for planning the AGM including essay prize giving hybrid format. The host and their theme and wider audiences.
and organisation. The planned 2020 ceremony and closure of the conference will be announced at the closing event of
conference was postponed to 2021 with with the big reveal will be livestreamed. the 2021 Annual Conference.
the same host, the FHNW Academy of The early-bird registration has now Marta Filipová, Conference Liaison Officer
Arts and Design in Basel. In early 2021, opened and the programme has The main challenges at the moment are
the DHS executive committee decided to been published. The deadline for the travel restrictions imposed by the
hold the conference fully online as the application of bursaries for students global pandemic and a potential lack
issues around health safety and travel and precariously employed speakers has of financial resources for conference
restrictions continued. been extended to secure wider interest. attendance at institutions worldwide.
Publicity is secured through common The DHS Board will monitor the situation
channels, including the conference and take appropriate actions if the
DHS Annual Conference 2021 website, the DHS website and social conditions become unfavourable for an
(online, Basel) media. in-person event. The 2022 hybrid Annual
Conference would be moved fully online
The main conference "Memory Full? if health and travel safety issues persist.
Reimaging the Relations between DHS representation at CAA
Design and History" takes place on convention, 2022 and beyond
2-4 September 2021 and is hosted DHS Annual Conference 2023
from Basel on Zoom. Generally, the This year, two proposals were received (hybrid)
conference follows the standard format for the DHS sponsored panel at the CAA
of the in-person Annual Conferences convention in 2022. Simultaneously, the The host of the Annual Conference in
but takes additional advantage of the Executive Committee represented by 2023 was selected from the pool of
virtual space in which it is organised. the Chair has agreed with CAA to run a applications for the 2022 event. The
Pre- and post-conference affiliated separate event or series of events during convenors have provisionally accepted
events will take place between 14 August 2022 in lieu of the panel sponsored by the offer, pending further approval from
and 12 September. The student forum the DHS. Format and content is to be the hosting institution.
organises three events under the title determined soon.
"Forget-full" on 14 and 21 August and a
keynote lecture by Ahmed Ansari on 1 Annual Conference impact and
September. Three publishing workshops DHS Annual Conference 2022 legacy
will take place on 27 and 31 August. All (hybrid)
these events are free and do not require The DHS Annual Conferences have a
conference registration. The benefits of the virtual conference published legacy that includes peer-
will be taken advantage of in the future reviewed articles and edited books, both
The other three additional keynote and all effort will be made to incorporate in print form and online. The online or
speakers are Alexandra Midal, Jussi online participation in the Annual hybrid format of the Annual Conference
Parikka, and Alfredo Gutierrez Borrero.
40 41DHS Annual Review 2021
DHS Executive Committee Members Journal of Design History Editorial Board
Chair (Honorary Officer) Student Representative (non-Trustee) Claire O’Mahony (Ex Officio, Chair of Rebecca Houze
Claire O’Mahony Tai Cossich Design History Society) Northern Illinois University, USA
University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Treasurer and Digital Secretary Teaching and Learning Officer & Essay Daniel Huppatz
(Honorary Officer) Prize Officer (Trustee) Penny Sparke (Chair of the Editorial Swinburne University of Technology,
Tony Presland Elli Michaela Young and Fiona Anderson Board) Melbourne, Australia
Kingston University, United Kingdom
Chair of the Editorial Board (Trustee) Jane Pavitt
Penny Sparke Fiona Fisher (Managing Editor) Kingston University, United Kingdom
Kingston University, United Kingdom
Communications Officer (Trustee) John Potvin
Emin Artun Ozguner Sarah A. Lichtman (Reviews Editor) Concordia University, Canada
Parsons The New School for Design, USA
Conference Liaison Officer (Trustee) Livia Rezende
Marta Filipová Sarah Cheang University of New South Wales, Australia
Royal College of Art, United Kingdom
Membership and Outreach Officer Sorcha O’Brien (Communications)
(Trustee) Priscila Farias National College of Art and Design, Ireland
Harriet McKay University of São Paulo, Brazil
DHS Ambassadors Journal of Design History Advisory Board
Andrea Foffa Suchitra Balasubrahmanyan Pat Kirkham
Ambedkar University, Delhi, India Kingston University, United Kindgom
Alex Todd
Ana Maria Fernandez Garcia Deidre Pretorius
Gael Welstead University of Oviedo, Spain University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Fredie Floré Yasuko Suga
University of Leuven Tsuda College, Japan
Ben Highmore Fedja Vukic
University of Sussex, United Kingdom University of Zagreb, Croatia
Helena Kaberg Jonathan Woodham
National Museum, Stockholm University of Brighton, United Kingdom
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