The given article proves the correlation of technical progress, industrialization of society and the art development. The author makes a conclusion that the art development entailed the design formation, which had a great influence upon the producers’ competition and the appearance of capitalist system of economy in Great Britain. The author analyses important research works of Russian specialists, representing different historic directions and methodological aspects.

Key words: design history, England, industrial revolution, technical progress, the London school of the design, the first industrial exhibition, modernization.