British Prime Minister Tony Blair launched the Design Council's Millennium Products initiative in 1997 by challenging UK businesses to present products and services placed on the market since January 1995 that exemplify contemporary innovation and creativity as we enter the new millennium.

From thousands of submissions, a panel of experts from business, science, the arts and design selected 1,012 products they considered to be truly innovative, forward-thinking and problem-solving. These products offer solutions to the challenges we face in the new millennium. By celebrating Millennium Products the exhibition aims to inspire innovation in Britain and around the world.

Millennium Products range from a high-tech artificial leg by Chas Blatchford to Sir Norman Foster's Reichstag in Berlin, from the JCB Teletruck to Teletubbies, from the drug Viagra to the Guinness "Surfer" advertisement by Abbot Mead Vickers, from an interactive music programme by Audiorom to TX1, the new London taxi.

Millennium Products exhibition, produced in partnership with the Design Council, visited Singapore, Brunei, China, South Africa, Korea and Australia. The British Council, Foreign Commonwealth Office and Trade Partners UK collaborated on a series of innovation seminars to accompany the tour.

Exhibition design by Conran Design Group

For further information please contact: Alison Moloney