In the 21st century, design appears to have become truly global. But a harder look at design and globalisation raises questions. Is design contributing to the positive effects of globalisation by fusing cultural knowledge in pursuit of benefits that are universal? Or does the design industry merely chase ad hoc commercial opportunities and devise better products for an international lucky few? What happens to local identity in a global design culture? Have today’s global design hotspots moved East to Bangalore and Shanghai; or do London, Milan, Rotterdam and New York still generate the questions and the answers that move design forward?

In this critical debate, two keynote presentations will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by Joe Kerr, Head of the Department of Critical and Historical Studies at the Royal College of Art.

The keynote speakers are Reinier de Graaf, Partner at Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) and John Thackara, Director of Doors of Perception.

The panelists include sociologist Professor Leslie Sklair and writer Sukhdev Sandhu.

The debate is organised jointly by the Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Council and will take place on Friday 14th October 2005 (14:00 - 16:40).

For further information contact Catherine Ince.