designmanifestos.org is a comprehensive curated directory and archive dedicated to collecting design manifestos, declarations, principles, and philosophical statements spanning multiple centuries and diverse disciplines. Inspired by figures such as Dieter Rams and his seminal Ten Principles for Good Design, the repository highlights how designers, architects, theorists, artists, and collectives have historically articulated their visions, ethical frameworks, aesthetic theories, and calls to action. The collection ranges from foundational architectural treatises to contemporary manifestos addressing artificial intelligence, climate emergency, and digital rights.

Historical Foundations and Modernist Movements

The archive documents the evolution of design thinking from classical antiquity through the radical movements of the 20th century. Key historical entries include Vitruvius’s De Architectura (c. 40 BC) and William Morris’s late-19th-century Arts and Crafts manifestos. Modernism is heavily represented through foundational texts such as Walter Gropius’s Manifesto of the Staatliches Bauhaus (1919), Le Corbusier’s Vers une Architecture (1923), De Stijl manifestos, Adolf Loos's Ornament and Crime (1908), and Kazimir Malevich’s Manifesto of Suprematism (1927). It also captures radical critiques and movements including Futurism (F.T. Marinetti, Antonio Sant'Elia), Situationism (Guy Debord’s The Society of the Spectacle), and avant-garde architectural collectives such as Archizoom/Superstudio, Coop Himmelb(l)au, and CIAM's Athens Charter.

Industrial, Product, and Graphic Design Ethics

A central pillar of the collection revolves around product and graphic design principles that define quality, functionality, and ethical responsibility. Influential works featured include Ken Garland’s groundbreaking First Things First (1964) manifesto—and its subsequent 2000 and 2020 updates—which challenged graphic designers to dedicate their skills to social causes rather than purely commercial advertising. Mid-century and late-20th-century design philosophies are further represented by figures like Massimo Vignelli (The Vignelli Canon), Enzo Mari, Bruno Munari, Tibor Kalman, Bruce Mau (An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth), Charles Eames, and John Maeda (The Laws of Simplicity).

The Digital Frontier, Technology, and AI

The repository reflects the transition of design practice into digital spaces, cyber-culture, and emerging technologies. Notable entries include John Perry Barlow’s A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace (1996), Apple’s Think Different (1997) campaign, the Internet Manifesto (2009), and Jeffrey Zeldman’s Web Design Manifesto. Recent additions address contemporary technological developments, such as Yves Béhar’s Principles for a New Era of A.I. Design (2017), the Critical Engineering Manifesto, and open-source hardware declarations like the Maker’s Bill of Rights and the iFixit Repair Manifesto.

Social Justice, Ecology, and Sustainability

A significant portion of the index highlights the design community's growing response to ecological crisis, social inequality, and systemic change. Key entries address climate urgency and environmental responsibility, such as UK Architects Declare Climate and Biodiversity Emergency (2021), Design Declares (2022), the Kyoto Design Declaration, William McDonough’s Hannover Principles, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, the archive features manifestos focused on inclusivity, diversity, and systemic reform, including Decolonising Design (2016), Diversity in Design Manifesto, African Life-Centric Design, and phyto-centred or circular design guidelines.