Chapter 9-The Industrial Revolution

The industrial revolution is incredibly interesting in that it was a major transfer from rural areas to more condensed urban setting. This period in time lasted from 1760-1800 and turned the design world upside down. This revolution gave birth to machinery and took away the hassle and tedious process of hand made crafts. This movement is known to be a movement that effected and influenced not just the art but society as well. I would go one step further in saying that this was more of a social movement then anything. With the industry booming after the invention of the steam engine, jobs popped up everywhere and people rushed to where the money was this led to overpopulated urban settings with poor work/living conditions. 

As for the design side of this time, we start to see advertising arising along with the industries. This meant posters were at high demands, and everyone was looking for a way to produce more posters, faster and cheaper. The invention of Gutenburgs printing press led to the creation of other printing machines that rapidly produced finished products. First was Lord Stanhope's design of a light weight all iron press, then came Fredrich Koenig and his steam powered press that pumped out 400 sheets per hour, finally came the Line'O'type that produced 4000 sheets per hour and resembled a typewriter. Along side the mass production of woodblock prints, was the invention of something completely new to the world of design. Photography began during this revolution in 1826 when Niepce took the very firs photo onto light sensitive paper. This movement known as the Industrial revolution is considered a time of scientific reasoning and the search for new ideas, it gave the world of design this identity of advertising and brought forth new inventions like the printing presses and photography.