THE TRADE VALUE OF GOOD DESIGN. [To the Editor of
the SPECTATOR.]
Sue,—In a recent issue, one of your correspondents pointed out that manufacturers persistently stated they made what the public asked for. Now, if we are to accept this statement, it is the public who are to blame for so many of the badly designed articles we see in the majority of. the shops. With many others, I am not prepared to accept the manufacturers' statement. Many of our manufacturers have misjudged the taste of a large proportion of 'the public.
How many of our manufacturers make to the taste of the traveller ? This individual, I maintain, should be something more than a good salesman ; he should know all about the wares he sells, and what is good and bad in design. Many of our manufacturers are blind to their own interests, and quite fail to understand the value to their business of a good designer or person of taste. I could give many instances to prove that good art is good business.
The secret of the success mentioned by Mr. Martin Hardie is due to the dose collaboration of the artist and manufacturer. These designs for chocolate boxes, which, by the way, come from that distinguished house of printing, The. Baynard Press, London, S.E., are perfectly fit for their purpose—the first important essential—and, further, are bright, gay, and arresting.
We cannot afford to ignore this question of better design in our manufactured_ goods. Our competitors in the world's markets fully realize that good. design is one of the first factors that count. As a nation, do we ?—I am, Sir, &c.,
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