"The dawn of the twenty-first century has witnessed an explosion of creativity in just about every field of design. There is a new spirit in the air and in just a few years, the assumptions of the last century about how things should look and function have been overturned by a new wave of designers employing an astonishing variety of styles and approaches. The areas of architecture, furniture and product design in particular are in the throes of a revolution. Meanwhile, the public's appetite for design is higher than ever before: there has never been as much interest in the subject as there is today. Right now, design is arguably the most exciting of all the creative disciplines and this book will be the essential guide to every aspect of international design in the start of the twenty-firstt century.<br><br><br><br>This book is the first comprehensive survey of the contemporary design landscape, guiding the reader through the often bewildering array of contemporary movements, styles and trends and identifying the most important designers working in the world today as well as the designs that will become the classics of the future. Intelligently and provocatively written, it places the contemporary scene in a historic framework and explores the cultural and economic forces shaping design now and in the future. It explains the vigorous debates under way in - and between - areas including architecture, fashion, interiors and product design in a way that is accessible and engaging. It will look at both the avant-garde and mass-market ends of the design spectrum. <br><br><br><br>"<br><br>