One of the main functions of design is its ability to solve problems. Can we honestly say that the design industry is up to the current challenge(s)? After a 20th century filled with forward looking design that broke boundaries in freedoms of expression, representation, form making and materials, the planet now seems to be consumed by the Design(ed) Object, to the extent that Architecture became increasingly defined as one. But what is the object of design, and in a world where traditionally form has followed function, what is the actual function?

With the fetishisation of design as object, comes both a nostalgia for the relic (design from past eras) and the aesthetic/craft driven tendencies of the object d’art that seems to overlook the radicalism in ideas, concepts and manifestos that often underpinned design as a progressive force. A quarter century into the new millennium, social inequality rises along with global temperatures and sea levels, while pretty new chairs and ‘stunning’ new structures continue to be launched to fawning image sharing audiences. With so much focus being on small-scale detail differences within the endless design variations of the same object types, what of the ‘concept of universals’ and where is the urgently-needed innovation and politically-savvy design that will shake the tree and bring about the changes that we know are critical for society?

Speakers:

Rob Fiehn & Fourthspace (chair) Amy Frearson, author and journalist
Tarek Merlin, Feix&Merlin
Callie Tedder-Hares, Volume Creative

amongst others….

On the afternoon….