What Was Design? Declarations and Definitions from a Century of Creative Quest revisits one of modernity’s most debated concepts through 87 concise historical definitions by designers, theorists and philosophers. Sometimes complementary and often contradictory, these statements trace a century of changing ideas about design and its roles in culture, society and commerce.

An accompanying essay by editor Florian Walzel examines why the meaning of design remains so elusive. Editorial advice by Jurek Werth; book design by Paul Jürgens.