Projecting British Design: The Design Council Slide Collection

Last updated: 28 June 2026

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What is Projecting British Design?

Projecting British Design is a new photo-led book, and it celebrates the golden age of British product design. Inside, you will find 100 images chosen from a vast archive of more than 22,000 photographic slides. The Council of Industrial Design, or CoID, created that archive. Founded in 1944, the CoID set out to promote British design and to boost post-war exports. Later, it became the Design Council.

Crucially, the CoID embraced 35mm colour slides as both an educational and a promotional tool. As a result, projectors carried British design into classrooms, lecture halls and living rooms across the country.

Inside the Design Council Slide Collection

Over time, the slides became a luminous record of the Council's shifting priorities. They moved from everyday consumer products to engineering and technological innovation. Many slides, for example, captured award-winning designs shown at the Design Centre in London. Of course, others highlighted international examples of "good design".

However, the story took a turn in 1994. That year, the Design Centre closed, and the archive moved to Manchester Metropolitan University. Since then, the university has digitised over 13,000 of the images. Today, you can explore many of them through the Design Council Slide Collection at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Who made the book

The modernist published this edition, and the credits read like a proper design project. First, John Davis wrote the introduction. Minnie Moll, Chief Executive of the Design Council, supplied the foreword. In addition, Thomas Steeles handled the design. Meanwhile, the images appear courtesy of the Design Council and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Moll captures the appeal perfectly. She writes that looking through these slides is "like peering into a luminous time capsule". Indeed, she recalls the click of a Kodak carousel, the hum of a projector, and visionary objects like Sony Walkmans and Ford Fiestas. For younger readers, she adds, the book offers "a glimpse into an analogue world where design's impact was already profound".

Key facts at a glance

• Price: £16
• Pages: 116, full colour
• Size: 160mm x 160mm (square format)
• Images: 100, drawn from 22,000-plus slides
• Publisher: the modernist (The Modernist Society CIC), Manchester
• ISBN: 978-1-0682995-2-0
• Contributors: John Davis (introduction), Minnie Moll (foreword), Thomas Steeles (design)

Who is it for?

Above all, this book suits design lovers and fans of analogue photography. The square format also makes it a smart coffee-table piece. Moreover, it works beautifully as a present, so it sits neatly alongside our gift guide for designers. Students of British design history will appreciate the context, too.

Where to buy Projecting British Design

You can buy Projecting British Design directly from the modernist for £16. The publisher ships from its Manchester gallery shop, and stock can move quickly on niche design titles. Therefore, it is worth ordering sooner rather than later if it catches your eye.

Buy Projecting British Design (£16)

For more context, the design press has covered the release in detail. It's Nice That, for instance, explored how the book catalogues both grand and inconspicuous icons of British design.

Projecting British Design FAQs

How much does Projecting British Design cost?

The book costs £16 directly from the modernist. For that price, you get 116 full-colour pages in a neat square format.

How many images does the book include?

Altogether, the book features 100 images. The editors selected them from an archive of more than 22,000 slides, over 13,000 of which are now digitised.

Who published Projecting British Design?

Indeed, the modernist, run by The Modernist Society CIC in Manchester, published the book. Its ISBN is 978-1-0682995-2-0.

What size is the book?

Overall, it measures 160mm x 160mm, so it is compact and square. The 116 pages are printed in full colour throughout.

Does it make a good gift?

Yes, naturally. The square format and design heritage make it a lovely gift for designers, photographers and modernism fans alike.

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