Designlitteratur

Designlitteratur is the body of written works that examine design as a cultural and professional practice. In Swedish-language contexts the term covers theoretical writings and critical discourse, spanning design history, design theory, pedagogy, and applied texts for designers. It encompasses multiple design disciplines, including graphic, industrial, and interaction design, as well as material culture and aesthetics.

The literature appears in various forms: monographs, edited volumes, peer-reviewed journals, textbooks, catalogues, and exhibition texts; increasingly, digital essays and blogs. Major topics include design theory and methodology, historiography, critique of design practice, user-centered and experience design, sustainability, ethics, branding, and the social implications of design. Researchers often cross disciplinary boundaries with art history, sociology, psychology, and engineering.

In education and professional practice, designlitteratur supports curricula and research, guiding students and practitioners in critical reading and reflective practice. It documents movements, regional production, and institutional histories, helping preserve design as cultural artifacts and informing contemporary practice.

Challenges include terminological variation across languages, gaps between academia and industry, and issues of access and preservation in the digital era. As design disciplines evolve toward digital media, designlitteratur continues to expand to include design thinking, service design, and related interdisciplinary writings.