John Heskett (1937-2014)

摘要

Born in Coventry, John studied Economics, Politics and History at the London School of Economics in the late 1950s, following two years of military service in the Royal Artillery. These two experiences seem fundamental to the approach he applied to design, as being significant to all human life, at the individual and the national level, in the home or in the corporation, in times of peace and of war. John did not shy away from the troublesome conundrums of design, the unresolved issues and its sheer complexities. For me, one of John's most important pieces of work remains Industrial Design (Thames & Hudson, London, 1980); long in print, it has been widely translated and read around the world. Both that book and Design in Germany 1870-T918 (Trefoil Design Library, London, 1986), investigating the role of design in the aggressive nationalism of the German Empire, reflect his on-going commitment to presenting the role of design in economic and social change. For me, as a young Ph.D. student, his approach proved invaluable in opening up my perspectives on design history, as well as serving as a basis for a long friendship. I remember vividly the first time I met him on a DHS conference visit, informally capturing an audience of peers with his insights as we waited to board a bus to the next venue.