Without the move to mechanisation in industry we would certainly not live in the advanced technological society of today.

There were many new inventions during this time including the steam engine, power loom and spinning jenny.

The process began in the mid 1700’s and lasted until around 1830.

The main features involved in the Industrial Revolution were technological, socio-economic, and cultural. 

Prior to the Industrial revolution of the mid 1700’s, Britain along with the rest of Europe were built around cottage industries. This means that each town or village would have craftsmen and women who specialised in a particular trade or skill which were often run from homes such as farms and cottages; hence the term.

A key design movement that embraced mass production and industrial processes after the war was the Bauhaus in Germany. We will look at this in more detail in the following unit.

The time after the Great War was a time of technological advancement particularly in the fields of travel. 

World exploration saw design embracing the opulent style of ancient Egypt and Africa combined with the industrial modern look.

The Art Deco and Streamlining periods cover this time and will be studied in the next unit.

Following the second world war there was period of rationing while the country rebuilt itself, but the materials and products invented during the war would still be developed and eventually have a profound influence on society, fashion, style and technology.

Anyone who has played the Fallout games will be familiar with the atomic age of the 1950’s where people were in awe of the potential of atomic power having seen its effects at the end of WW2. 

Science fiction begin dreaming up flying cars and robots of the future and the effects of radioactive mutations were to be the inspiration for numerous superhero and mutant comics that are still popular today in Marvel movies.

Beginning in the 1950s, the third industrial revolution brought semi-conductors, mainframe computing, personal computing, and what would eventually become the Internet. This was effectively the beginning of the digital revolution.

By the 1960's, plastics were commonplace and the economy in the UK, and much of the industrialised world, was booming; hence it was known as the swinging sixties. Bright colours, inflatables and psychedelic patterns were everywhere.

The end of the 1960’s saw mankind’s greatest achievement when man set foot on the Moon. However, just as the great depression of the 1930’s following the roaring 20’s, so the 1970’s saw recession and a decline in the economy in the UK. A major oil crisis meant cars were abandoned at the roadside and power cuts were common. 

However, technology continued to advance, even if it was heavily inspired by space travel. The microwave was introduced to homes in this decade as were the microprocessor, SONY Walkman, home videogames and even the first email!

The 1980’s continued the late 1970’s interest in technology with many of the items first introduced in that decade being developed into more customer friendly versions. 

Products like the personal computer, video games, CD’s, cell phones, video recorders and more. 

Much of what a teenager takes for granted today began life in the 80’s ☺ 

This was a prosperous age with Wall Street nurturing the ‘get rich quick’ culture...but this wouldn’t last, and another stock market crash was inevitable.

Advances in Technology

The 1950’s was the Atomic Age, followed by the Nuclear Age. Science and technology came to the fore during the decades following WWII and have never stopped. The development of the microprocessor in the 1970’s started the computer revolution we take for granted today. Business machines led to home computers which then developed into dedicated videogame machines.

Microchips and microprocessors allowed for the development of mobile phone technology and the internet, both of which are essential parts of our modern-day lives. Digital storage media such as CD, DVD and Blu Ray meant more immersive entertainment technologies for the consumer and advances in LCD screens and battery technology have allowed devices like smartphones and tablets to emerge; all but replacing the personal computer.

The internet, launched in 1990 but mostly ignored at the time, was the final piece in the puzzle and enabled all modern-day forms of remote communication and networking.

The world of today is one where new technologies are often more important than the world of fashion and style. Interactive media such as videogames now earn more money for their industry than films. Internet technology allows for real-time streaming of high-definition music, video and online gaming.

The synthesis and convergence of outdated concepts of technology such as organisers, music players, laptops mean that single devices such as smartphones can do just about everything we need from a digital device.

Apple’s annual WWDC conference, where they announce new versions of existing products, are seemingly more important than the catwalk at London Fashion Week. Electronic gadgets are becoming a more important part of our everyday lives with our choice of phone, colour and accessories often being more important than the clothes we wear…and we now think nothing of paying £1000 or more for a mobile phone!

New style and fashion is all but dead but for revivals and reinterpretations of existing fashions from the century.

What do you think will be the next big fashion or style trend?

What does the future hold? No one knows, but if the last few decades are anything to go by it could mean the same old records re-recorded by younger artists, fashion revivals and computer graphics indistinguishable from real life.

Technology has momentum and is unlikely to stop even though the power needed to run it may one day!

Technology is now looking at ways of having a greener planet by reducing the use of fossil fuels and looking at alternative sources of clean energy such as sun, wind, water etc.

Consumer items such as phones are as small as they can be while still fitting the human body, yet seem to be getting bigger. 3D Printing is the big word at the moment and is expected to be a common feature in the home before long.

Games, online access, streaming, and social networking are now as integrated into our lives as pen and paper were 50 years ago.

Try and imagine a single part of your day that does not rely on technology in some way…

• The first industrial revolution began in the 1700’s and introduced mechanized production to the UK and Europe.

• The Great Exhibition of 1851 is a good starting point for studies and brought about the second industrial revolution.

• The Great War (1914-1917) was a pivotal point in modernism and accelerated the mass production of products.

• The Great Depression of 1929 had a negative effects on the world economy.

• WW2 (1939-1945) was a time of utility (practical and functional) and technological and scientific progress.

• The 1950’s were the atomic age and we were very optimistic about the future use of technologies in this third industrial revolution.

• The 1960’s was a time of plastic and prosperity.

• The 1970’s were when digital technology really took off for consumers.

• The time since has been focused on technological advances and we are now in Industry 4.0.

• While a general knowledge of world history will always be useful, your study and revision should really cover the period from the Great Exhibition of 1851 up to the present day. While you are not expected to be a history expert, there were many events in history which had a significant effect on fashion and style; two things which often dictate the look and direction of design.

• Technological change also had an effect on fashion and style as well as advancing towards the technological world we live in today.

• Ensure you know the key events and how they link with design periods and key designers from the next two units.

• The below 'Design History Timeline' is a good reference point for events, design periods, trends etc.

• Do you understand the various industrial revolutions and their effect on technology and design?