Hello World: Where Design Meets Life

by Alice Rawsthorn
Hello World: Where Design Meets Life cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Design, and Photography
Technical
  • ID: 3295
  • Added: 2025-10-17
  • Updated: 2025-10-17
  • ISBN: 9780241957431
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2013-03-07
  • Reviews: 3

Hello World by Alice Rawsthorn is a comprehensive exploration of design's profound impact on modern life. Rawsthorn, a renowned design critic, delves into the ways design influences our daily experiences, whether it brings us joy or causes confusion and danger. The book is beautifully designed by Irma Boom and covers a wide range of topics, from historical uses of design by warlords and activists to contemporary issues like environmental crises and technological advancements. /n/n Rawsthorn's expertise shines as she examines how design can help us navigate and benefit from rapid changes in our world. The book is praised for its engaging narrative and insightful analysis, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the power of design. With contributions from various fields, Hello World offers a unique perspective on how design shapes our past, present, and future.

Reviews
The StoryGraph · 2025-10-17
mixed 3.50

The book is very good but not great, with insightful early chapters that become disconnected later. The reviewer appreciates the initial depth but finds the later chapters less cohesive.

The reviewer finds the first few chapters of the book to be very insightful, providing a strong foundation for understanding the role of design in modern life. However, they note that the book settles into an essayistic pattern, with chapters becoming somewhat disconnected as it progresses. Despite this, the reviewer appreciates the depth of the content and the author's efforts to explore various aspects of design. They acknowledge the book's strengths but feel that it could benefit from a more cohesive structure.

Quick quotes

    Very good, but not great.

    The first few chapters are very insightful.

    However, the rest settles into an essayistic pattern and chapters are bit disconnected.

The Guardian · 2013-05-10
mixed 3.00

The title is seen as irritatingly winsome, and the book's design is criticized for being dizzying. The reviewer questions the purpose behind the design choices.

The reviewer finds the title 'Hello World' to be irritatingly winsome, which might not be the best introduction to such a comprehensive work on design. They also critique the book's design, describing it as dizzying, which could be overwhelming for some readers. The reviewer seems to be looking for a more straightforward approach to the subject matter. However, they acknowledge the depth of the content and the author's efforts to explore the intersection of design and modern life. The critique focuses more on the presentation rather than the substance of the book.

Quick quotes

    Rawsthorn's title Hello World is irritatingly winsome.

    There is also the question of why the design of a book about design, with its dizzying ...

    The book is a reminder that design is not just about aesthetics, but about the way we live our lives.

The Scotsman · 2013-03-09
positive 4.00

The book examines the blurred divide between design as good business and design as art. The reviewer appreciates the exploration of this complex relationship.

The reviewer highlights Rawsthorn's examination of the much-blurred divide between design as good business and design as art. This exploration is seen as a significant contribution to the understanding of design in modern life. The reviewer appreciates the depth of analysis and the way the book sheds light on the multifaceted nature of design. They find the book to be insightful and thought-provoking, offering a nuanced perspective on the role of design in various aspects of life.

Quick quotes

    Rawsthorn examines the much-blurred divide between design as good business (in the words of IBM president Thomas Watson), and design as art.

    The book is a reminder that design is not just about aesthetics, but about the way we live our lives.

    Rawsthorn's exploration of the role of design in modern life is both comprehensive and accessible.

Appears in Lists