Author Interview with Penny Sparke

Penny Sparke is a pro-Vice Chancellor at Kingston University, London, where she specialises in the history of design. Her career spans almost four decades, and she has written extensively on the topic of design. In this quickfire Q+A session with Penny, we find out more about her beautiful new book.


Bookarmy: Can you tell us a little about your new book, The Genius of Design?

Penny Sparke: It looks at design from both an elite and a popular, a professional and an amateur perspective, and understands the concept as both a product and a process that it is inextricably linked with industrialisation i.e. it has its roots in England in the eighteenth century.  It also sees design as playing a role within both production and consumption. It covers architecture, furniture, graphics, fashion and the decorative arts.


BA: Why is design so important?

PS: Because of the role it plays in all of the above and the fact that it affects every minute of all our lives.


BA: You have an extremely successful career in design, covering lecturing, curating and of course lots of writing. When and how did you first become fascinated by design?

PS: From as long as I can remember. I think I was especially inspired by the glamorous Art Deco factories on the A4 that I used to see from the bus on my way to school.


BA: What are you reading at the moment? Would you recommend it?

PS: Stefan Muthesius’s ‘The romantic Interior’, and I would.


BA: Are you working on anything just now?

PS: I’ve just begun a project on  the changing role of plants and flowers in the modern interior.

---

Related Articles
Interview with Caroline Cox