Graphic Design 2.2: Design Futures, Project 1 ‘Back to the Future’ Research points
Reading Task 1:
The following articles explore definitions, interpretations, opinions and predictions relating to the term ‘Industrial Revolution’.
What is the Fourth Industrial Revolution | World Economic Forum
Industrial Revolution Definition: History, Pros and Cons | Investopedia
What are Industry 4.0, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and 4IR | Mckinsey & Company
These articles provide a backdrop and context to the emerging creative approaches and design practices that we will be exploring over the first two projects in this unit.
As you progress through the unit, you will gain an understanding of the broader social, cultural, technological, political and/or economic contexts that have - and will continue to - impact on the design industries and your own emerging professional practice. This will play an important role in how you choose to focus your ongoing research into the function and context of your design work.
Once you have read the articles, write a short (250 word) summary of the key points raised by the articles. Consider how these will influence your own design practice. Post your response to your learning log.
Resources:
Figure 1: Industrialization, labor and life (no date) Nationalgeographic.org. Available at: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/industrialization-labor-and-life/ (Accessed: June 29, 2025).
Figure 2: Davis, N. (2016) What is the fourth industrial revolution?, World Economic Forum. Available at: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2016/01/what-is-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/ (Accessed: June 29, 2025).
Figure 3: Chen, J. (2008) Industrial Revolution: Definition, history, pros, and cons, Investopedia. Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/industrial-revolution.asp (Accessed: June 29, 2025).
Figure 4: What are Industry 4.0, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and 4IR? (2022) Mckinsey.com. McKinsey & Company. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-are-industry-4-0-the-fourth-industrial-revolution-and-4ir (Accessed: June 29, 2025).
Figure 5: What are Industry 4.0, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and 4IR? (2022) Mckinsey.com. McKinsey & Company. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-are-industry-4-0-the-fourth-industrial-revolution-and-4ir (Accessed: June 29, 2025).
