The paper is concerned with the role of art and design in the history and philosophy of computing, and the role of computing in models of design and art. It offers insights arising from research into a period in the 1960s and 70s, particularly in the UK, when computing became more available to artists and designers, focusing on Bruce Archer (1922–2005) and John Lansdown (1929–1999) in London. It suggests that models of computing interacted with conceptualisations of art, design and creative activities in important ways.