William Morris
Designer · Other
Articles & interviews
- "Authored the Missing Book on Design History"
Creative Boom features Tom May’s new book, *The 50 Greatest Designers: The People Who Have Created Our Environment*, which explores 150 years of design history across disciplines and continents. The book aims to highlight overlooked figures, especially women and non-Western designers, and make design history accessible to a broad audience. Published by Arcturus Publishing, it combines engaging storytelling with rich visuals to inspire designers and readers alike.
- Memorial Day Revisits Thomas Maitland Cleland’s Sharp Design Critique
Steven Heller revisits Thomas Maitland Cleland’s 1940 essay 'Harsh Words,' a sharp critique of modernist design and functionalism delivered at an AIGA event. The article contextualizes Cleland’s neo-classical stance against the rise of modernism and industrial design, highlighting his defense of craftsmanship and typographic tradition. Heller reflects on how Cleland’s arguments still resonate in today’s debates about originality and technology in design.
- Thomas Maitland Cleland’s Harsh Design Critique Still Resonates Today
Steven Heller revisits Thomas Maitland Cleland’s 1940 essay 'Harsh Words,' a scathing critique of modernist design and functionalism delivered at an AIGA event. The piece highlights Cleland’s defense of craftsmanship and ornamentation against the rise of industrial and modernist aesthetics, showing how his arguments still resonate in today’s debates about technology and design standards.
- Where Overwhelm Meets Optimism by Mark Paton
In this BP&O Voices essay, Mark Paton reflects on the role of design in addressing climate change and sustainability. He argues that creativity and collaboration are essential tools for inspiring belief in renewable energy and sustainable living. Drawing lessons from history and contemporary thinkers, Paton calls for a new creative movement that aligns design with ecological responsibility and human empathy.