DESIGN HISTORY SOCIETY

Registered charity 1155117 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The Design History Society is the leading organisation that promotes the study of global design histories, and brings together and supports all those engaged in the subject - students, researchers, educators, designers, designer-makers, critics and curators. The Society aims to play an important role in shaping an inclusive design history.

Objects

TO PROMOTE THE STUDY OF AND RESEARCH INTO DESIGN HISTORY AND TO DISSEMINATE AND PUBLISH THE USEFUL RESULTS THEREOF.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£78k
Latest spending
£88k
Registered
2013
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £9,968 for the year ended 31 July 2025, resulting in total unrestricted funds decreasing to £205,876 from £215,844 the previous year. The trustees note that the principal financial risk is a severe reduction in subscriptions to the Journal of Design History, but confirm the charity remains a going concern with adequate resources. Reserves are held substantially in cash at bank, amounting to £208,782.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: none
“The principal source of funds for the charity is income from subscriptions to the Journal of Design History.” — page 33
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Register events

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Throughout London

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/07/2025£78k£88k
31/07/2024£91k£109k
30/06/2023£74k£44k
30/06/2022£83k£23k
30/06/2021£83k£20k

Common questions

Is DESIGN HISTORY SOCIETY financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £9,968 for the year ended 31 July 2025, resulting in total unrestricted funds decreasing to £205,876 from £215,844 the previous year. The trustees note that the principal financial risk is a severe reduction in subscriptions to the Journal of Design History, but confirm the charity remains a going concern with adequate resources. Reserves are held substantially in cash at bank, amounting to £208,782. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.