Alice Rawsthorn’s piece in the NYT illustrates a very sad point that unfortunately I haft to say I agree with… British design: not what it used to be.
Perhaps an over used expression in the UK “not what it used to be” but when looking at the evidence it is all there.
The British skills and talents are as vibrant as ever, smashing boldly and defiantly into the stylized lives of the world’s populace.
However where is the ‘state design’ the institutional security of over engineered big red objects that can withstand a blitzkrieg, 320 days of drizzle and generations of use?
I think the reason is quite simple… little in the twenty first century is designed to last beyond the 'trend' its created in!
Celebrities are crowned with ‘best before dates’, governments are consumed with popular policy making for the next term, not the next generation and the masses are consumed with fast trend McPrimark living.
Jonathan Glancey in the Guardian continues in this vein following up Rawsthorn’s article.
As we are entering times of ecological, economical and social trepidation we require confident design not just consumed with time bombed fashion trends but designing to stand the test of time.
Investment in the future with the world beating talents of British Designers… it’s worked before!
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