Design City for 2009

The Design Museum's current exhibition, Design Cities 1851-2008, argues that seven cities have each enjoyed a 'moment' when their particular economic, cultural and geo-political stars have aligned to have a transformative effect on the history of design.

The exhibition begins and ends in London, via Vienna, Dessau, Paris, Los Angeles, Milan and Tokyo. The 2008 'now' spot having already been claimed for London, where next? What are the historical shifts, fusions and fractures that will change design in our times, and more pointedly, which are their urban epicentres? Is the next design city somewhere in the booming economies of Brazil-Russia-India-China? With the growing emphasis on social design, and a new orthodoxy forming around 'design-thinking' a less tangible concept than what we knew in the 20th century as design - is the next design city in fact not the place with the most design, but the place that needs design the most?

Click here to read the statement from each city >>
Click here to read the speakers biographies >>

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