Design in Denial?

A panel of four designers will question if designers are simply capturing the cultural ‘zeitgeist’ or if design is in denial?

Once upon a time, designers were celebrated as people who dreamt of transforming the world. Today, it seems as if they are regularly blamed for that transformation: for increasing consumerism or for wasteful obsolescence. Once visionaries; todayʼs designers seems much more cautious.

Even with more access to tools, techniques and materials, designers are happy to restrict their palette for the sake of ethical, social or environmental considerations. Design is seldom discussed in its own terms. Many designers increasingly defend design by doing stuff-other-than-design. In fact, they are more likely to stress designʼs moral contribution to myriad issues including responsible consumption, social inclusion and sustainable living.

A panel of four designers will question this, asking if it is legitimate, if designers are simply capturing the cultural ‘zeitgeist’ or if design is in denial?

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