Charlotte Jane Fiell (born 27 September 1965) is a Britishauthor and historian, known for writing from a wide range of topics including design, architecture and fashion.[1] Many of her books and articles have been co-authored with her husband, Peter Fiell.
Fiell was among the first design writers to highlight ecological and ethical concerns in contemporary design, from product development to graphic communication. Her focus on these issues dates back to her 1991 debut, Modern Furniture Classics Since 1945.[2] Publishing over 70 books on design, she has become a leading author in all aspects of design.[3] Unusually for an author, she has also art-directed and designed most of her books. She has sold over 5 million copies of her books worldwide, which have been translated into 20 languages.[2][4]
Her notable works include 1000 Chairs (1997),[5] Design of the 20th Century (1999),[6] Industrial Design A–Z (2000),[7] Scandinavian Design (2002),[8][9] The Story of Design (2013), 100 Ideas That Changed Design (2019),[10] Women in Design (2019),[11] and Ultimate Collector Cars (2021).[12] She has also curated several design exhibitions in the United Kingdom, Italy and China, and lectured worldwide.
Early life and education
Fiell was born in London, before moving to Jersey in the Channel Islands where she grew up. She had a keen interest in design and art from a young age, nurtured by her grandparents Len & Mollie Hunter. They were collectors of Chinese porcelain and her grandmother was an artist, who regularly exhibited in Mallorca where they lived.
She attended St Michael's Preparatory School and later Roedean School, where she immersed herself in art, followed by sixth form studies at Branson’s Commonwealth College in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec. After an arts foundation course at Heatherley School of Fine Art, she shifted focus from fine art to art history, studying Renaissance art in Florence before earning a BA in the History of Drawing and Printmaking at Camberwell College of Arts. While still an undergraduate, she met her future husband, Peter Fiell in 1988 who shared her love of design. She then completed a postgraduate diploma with distinction at Sotheby’s Institute, where her interest in design history deepened. Around this time, she also began collecting Arts and Crafts furniture and metalware, gaining hands-on insight into design.
Career
In 1988, Charlotte and Peter Fiell co-founded a pioneering design gallery in London specializing in high-end mid-century furniture, helping revive interest in postwar design and even bringing classics like Arne Jacobsen’s Egg chair back into production. Encouraged by her tutor at Sotheby’s, Fiell co-authored Modern Furniture Classics Since 1945 in 1990, which went on to become essential course reading for architecture students in the United States.[citation needed]
After connecting with publisher Benedikt Taschen, the Fiells focused on design authorship, producing numerous influential books including 1000 Chairs, which was released in 1997.[5] In her time with Taschen, she published or edited 38 books on art, design, and architecture, selling 2.8 million copies worldwide. Fiell also spent time serving as Taschen’s Editor-in-Charge, overseeing major works like the 12-volume Domus 1928–2000 series.[13]
In 2007, the couple launched Fiell Publishing, releasing titles like Plastic Dreams and Tools for Living,[14] along with works by other respected authors.[15] In 2010, their Aesthetic Movement-inspired sitting room was featured in The New York Times.[16]
Fiell Publishing merged with Carlton Publishing in 2012, forming Goodman Fiell. She then released The Story of Design in 2013, a sweeping history from the Paleolithic era to the present. The book was praised by Museum of Modern Art's curator, Paola Antonelli and included in James Dyson's top 10 favourite books list.[17] Fiell continued publishing acclaimed works in the late 2010s and 2020s, including Women in Design with daughter Clementine—highlighted by the BBC and Library Journal. This was followed by 100 Ideas That Changed Design, which challenged conventional design thinking.
Most recently, Fiell has published an Ultimate Collector series, beginning with the 2021 book Ultimate Collector Cars. The book received global recognition and press coverage,[12] and was followed by volumes on motorcycles (2023) and watches (2025). Fiell is a long time trustee of the Guild of Handicraft Trust and its related Court Barn, Museum of Craft and Design.[18] Since 2019, Fiell has also been pursuing a PhD on Charles Paget Wade, exploring neurodivergence and collecting, in collaboration with The National Trust and University of Reading.
Personal life
Fiell resides in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, with her husband and co-author Peter Fiell. Together they have two daughters, Emelia and Clementine.[19]
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