About
Deborah Jaffé is a cultural historian with a special interest in design, technology and memory studies; particularly relating to women and innovation, industrial design, company histories and souvenirs. She is the author of eight books including What's Left of Henry VIII, Victoria - a celebration, Ingenious Women and The History of Toys. Deborah studied art and design at Dartington College of Arts and the London College of Furniture before gaining her MA from the Royal College of Art. Her varied career has included work in the toy, educational and fashion industries, the visual arts and photography.
Her interest in the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the transition of British society from an artisan to an industrial economy has led to numerous research projects. Following the publication of Ingenious Women in 2003 she became a patron of ideas21. In 2010 she contributed an overview chapter on the history of women innovators to Innovating Women: Contributions to Technological Advancement. Recently, she has been looking at aspects of Industrial design at similarities and the cultural traditions of industrial design on both side of the Cold War.
The History of Toys, published in 2006, draws on her vast knowledge of the history of childhood and play equipment; her experience of working in toy libraries and on adventure playgrounds; and work in the toy and educational materials industries. In 2006 she was appointed to the committee of the Victoria & Albert Museum of Childhood at Bethnal Green.
Deborah also acts as a consultant and editor. She has researched and written company histories of Kesslers International Ltd and Cannon Avent and edits and designs specialist journals. Photographing city architecture and the detritus of urban life are a fascination and her photomontages, using images she has photographed, have appeared on the front covers of The Lancet and the British Dental Journal.
Deborah is now the editor of the quarterly journal Links, for the Newcomen Society for the history of engineering and technology. She has also been appointed to the steering committee of the National Art & Design Saturday Club at The Sorrell Foundation. Deborah frequently speaks, in the media and at lectures, in Britain and Europe on women and innovation, the history of toys and design in the Cold War. She continues to paint when time permits and her collection of ceramic jugs and souvenirs is ever increasing.
Current research is on the history of souvenirs and the importance of preserving memories, industrial design and the Cold War, and continuing work on women and innovation. Deborah is always interested in ideas and new possibilities; please feel free to contact her.
Text & images © Deborah Jaffé 2011
Site design © Alice Krelle 2011
Site design © Alice Krelle 2011