MADE magazine-vox pop on ‘Future of UK Design’ January 2010

Working with ‘next generation’ product designers every day at the Cass, I can tell you what becomes increasingly apparent; Graduates today aren’t interested in styling, they refute brand loyalty (whilst actively engaging in it!) and reject hi-tech for its own sake. They are re-imagining both traditional and emerging material applications (often with a nod to their heritage), they are exploring experiential design and wanting to produce products which aid real-world social experience, via the work (not through the screen). Each day at University, I’m surprised and delighted that the physical experience and the elegance of fine craftsmanship is making a renaissance. As for ethics, designers today expect it; choose responsibly and design for the longterm. It isn’t the big society, it’s looking after their future and ours…