Art and Design: Product and Furniture Design

The world's largest chartered body of professional designers, CSD represents designers in all disciplines and is governed by a Royal Charter

Based at the Smithsonian Institution, US, investigates how design affects every aspect of daily life and the study of historical and contemporary design.

This UK organisation "helps business and other organisations to use design more effectively by providing knowledge based tools, events, information and resources." Look up the latest facts and figures on design. Browse information from expert authors on design disciplines, issues and methods. And dip into learning resources, articles and podcasts. Keek up-to-date with design issues driving social and economic change.

The Design Museum in London focuses on industrial design, in particular mass-produced items. In the Design at the Design Museum section read biographies and short interviews with a range of contemporary designers

This is a browsable directory of information about design companies and consultants in the UK. Sections covered include engineering design, fashion design, industrial design, interior textiles, ergonomics, graphic design, interior design and internet design.

This professional body represents the interests of designers in Ireland. The site includes a calendar of events, publications, annual reports and newsletters

This organisation aims to work towards a sustainable future through environmentally and socially responsible design practices.

This site includes the history of the Italian product design company since its foundation in 1921 and an illustrated overview of its products from 19 designers. Other features examine the influence of the Bauhaus and Christopher Dresser and review special projects currently being pursued by Alessi.

This resource dedicated to architecture and design. Divided into four main sections, the site has information on products, design materials, current architectural design and design history. The product catalogue can be browsed by product group, manufacturer or designer, and includes interior and exterior furnishings, lightings and accessories. The online design museum displays images of "objects that have made history in the design world". These are arranged by product group, designer or auction house and are accompanied by descriptive information, estimated prices and current auction results

This site gives professional, emerging and student artists a free platform to showcase and sell their original artwork". The core of the website contains browsable artists' pages, grouped into the following categories: photography, illustration, painting, Web design, fine art, fashion, film and animation, graphic design, and product design. Artists can submit a statement and up to ten images, from which Artshole produces an individual Web page and promotes it via one or more of its categories.

The awards programme promotes Australian design - from a wide range of industry sectors, including building and construction; furniture and lighting; fashion and textiles; packaging; and interiors - both at a national and international level. The website provides background information about the awards and the award process. It illustrates the entries of the most recent nominations and features full details, including product name, ergonomic and environmental considerations and why the product represents design excellence

This is a good resource for modern, post-modern and contemporary design of the 20th-21st centuries. You'll find searchable indexes on designers and producers, on furniture, lighting, dinnerware, accessories, glass, ceramic, plastic, wood and metal ware. It also provides an excellent categorised links section plus virtual exhibitions, essays on design issues, an events calendar and a design discussion forum.

This site provides access to "detailed research, case studies, educational materials, information for designers and a showcase of the best design against crime". The site is aimed at designers, those involved in crime reduction and people commissioning designs, as well as students of design disciplines.

This online magazine is aimed at the international design community: designers, architects, manufacturers and other design interested people. The site contains articles on design history and on the "contemporary creative scene", plus interviews and information about leading designers, photographers and artists. There is a wealth of information about exhibitions, fairs, competitions and other design-related events. The site contains a vast range of material and is illustrated throughout with photographs and graphics.

This is a membership organisation made up of designers, who are selected by an independent panel of industry professionals. One piece of work by each designer is illustrated and full contact details are available. The designers can be selected by name or company name and they can also be browsed in the following categories: ceramics & glass; furniture; interior / exterior design & products; silver, gold, jewellery & metalwork; and textiles & fashion accessories.

Dexigner is a large design resource guide and directory, which is organised by subject. It includes short news items from sections on product design, graphic design, fashion design, architecture, digital art and contemporary visual arts. There is also a database of designs, designers and design companies, as well as a list of current and forthcoming design events and competitions.

This is a product design company based in the Netherlands. The Droog collection comprises the work of over a hundred designers in the following categories: lighting; furniture; tabletop; kitchen; bathroom; accessory; and various. The site contains images and information on all products from the Droog collection, news on current and upcoming Droog exhibits, and links to articles written about Droog. It also provides information on Droog's educational activities, projects and publications.

The official website includes information on the innovative technology used in the Dyson appliances.

View the portfolio of this international design consultancy. Search by client, industry (such as computers, industrial goods, furniture or sporting goods) or practice (such as digital interactions, exhibits & displays, research, packaging).

This is the official web site of the World Packaging Organization. There is a section on industry projects, a listing of packaging products and services and an alphabetical index to worldwide packaging companies.

Philips Design's corporate website includes information about the company, design awards, job opportunities

This is the official website of industrial designer Raymond Loewy (1893-1986). His portfolio includes the Scenicruiser coach for the Greyhound Bus Company (1946), his Studebaker Starliner Coupé (1953), and logotypes for the Exxon Oil Corporation (1966) and for the Shell Oil Company (1967). The website includes: a news section; biographical information; a chronology of career highlights; a listing of Loewy exhibitions from 1949 to date; a selected list of Loewy clients, products, product lines and projects.

The RSA's student annual awards scheme offers a range of challenging projects which comment on the changing role of the designer in relation to society, technology and culture.

Vitra is an international design company which develops and manufactures furniture and other products for the office and home. This site contains descriptions and images of the company's full product range, designed by a variety of well-known designers. There are also profiles of the architects and designers associated with Vitra, including Charles & Ray Eames and Philippe Starck.

This site, compiled by consultant Edwin Datschefski, aims to provide information on designing products that are good for people, profits and the planet. Twelve chairs are used to illustrate the author's basic principles of sustainable product design. This section contains further examples, and an article, on sustainability and design. Other sections highlight bicycles, in which examples are given of bikes whose interesting features can be plugged together to make an ideal bike, and solar factories.

The Centre for Sustainable Design (CfSD) was established in 1995 in Farnham, Surrey, UK at what is now the University for the Creative Arts (UCA). The Centre has led and participated in a range of high quality research projects and has organised more than a hundred conferences, workshops and training courses focused on sustainable innovation and product sustainability. CfSD is recognised worldwide for its knowledge and expertise, having worked closely with business, policy making and research communities for two decades.

This organisation aims to work towards a sustainable future through environmentally and socially responsible design practices

This web ezine promotes environmental responsibility and green consumerism. The categories search box provides access to categories such as design, architecture fashion and sports gear. There are features on the latest environmentally friendly consumer goods and inventions, and articles on green consumer issues.

This site showcases examples of some badly designed items "because they so not follow human factors principles". Each example is illustrated with a photograph, description and design suggestions. The designs are arranged into four categories: 'things', 'displays', 'controls' and 'signs, names and labels'.

This site addresses the environmental issues that confront disabled and elderly people. The Institute promotes accessibility and universal design through education, technical assistance and design advocacy. The site provides details of these, and links to many universal design and disability resources

This website includes definitions of ergonomics, information on how ergonomics is used and details about ergonomic design. The 'resources' section includes news and information, as well as a list of registered organisations.