The Bases of Design

"The Bases of Design" by Walter Crane is a comprehensive guide on the principles of design written in the late 19th century. This work is not merely a technical manual but a philosophical exploration of how various arts of design intertwine, stressing the importance of understanding design within the context of architecture and utility. Crane emphasizes the need for unity in design, particularly as the divisions among art forms become more pronounced due to commercial competition. The opening portion of the book sets the stage for a deeper investigation into the nature of design, rooted in architecture as "the queen and mother of all the arts." Crane outlines the complexity and variety encompassed in the study of design, which he intends to approach by exploring the origins, influences, and characteristics of diverse artistic forms. He begins with foundational questions regarding the nature of designs, how they develop in relation to practical needs, and their connections to architectural forms, setting a groundwork that suggests future discussions will delve into various aspects of design history, culture, and practice. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Walter Crane was an English artist and book illustrator. He is considered to be the most influential, and among the most prolific, children's book creators of his generation and, along with Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, one of the strongest contributors to the child's nursery motif that the genre of English children's illustrated literature would exhibit in its developmental stages in the later 19th century.