Design and Aesthetics is a comprehensive reader examining design history and aesthetic theory. It includes contributions from many of the writers whose word has been foundational to these two fields, including classic articles by Raymond Williams and Roger Scruton, and articles which provide an overview of current concerns and debates.

The first half of Design and Aesthetics looks at the main arguments which have emerged from contemporary analysis of the role of design in the communication process. Essays focus on the question of absolute aesthetic standards versus cultural relativism, and the role of objects in cultural and social life. The second part turns to particular areas of design history, ranging from architecture and pottery to the history of dress. Each section is prefaced by contextualizing introductions by Jerry Palmer and Mo Dodson.