About the book
Science, Art & Design and Engineering
The modern world was built through imagination as well as calculation. During the twentieth century, British scientists, engineers, artists and designers developed ideas that changed transport, communication, medicine, buildings, products and the appearance of everyday life.
Science, Art & Design and Engineering brings these connected stories together in an accessible survey of British creativity and problem-solving. It considers major achievements while also showing how innovation responds to war, industry, public need and changing tastes. Scientific discovery can inspire engineering; engineering creates new design possibilities; art and design influence how technology is understood and used. By placing these fields beside one another, the book reveals a century of experimentation, success and occasional failure. It is written for curious readers who want to appreciate both the people behind important developments and the broader society that encouraged, resisted and ultimately absorbed their work.