The 1960s was one of the most visually exciting decades of the last century. British culture and pop design exploded internationally. Post-war blues were gone and there was a flurry of innovation in architecture, fashion and design to satisfy the emerging youth market. In the first part of a new series, Designing the Decades explores this significant period of design history to discover the designers and objects that shaped the era.
In the 1970s, the economy took a downturn. It was a time of recession, social unrest and the three-day week. This programme looks at how designers provided the public with an escape from the grim reality of their lives through glamour, nostalgia and dreams of the future.
Dubbed the decade of style, it was in the 1980s that Britain became well and truly design conscious. This was the age of the yuppie - individuals were defined by the suit they wore, the car they drove and the accessories they carried. Money was no object and status symbols came into their own.
Designing the 90s explores the popularity of loft living, which encapsulated the ethos of minimalism. The stripped back, natural look of loft living became accessible to all with the arrival of IKEA who introduced the British to simple clean Swedish furniture. IKEA became so big in the 90s that it is estimated that one in ten Europeans was conceived in an IKEA bed.